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Post by LoveSalads on Apr 3, 2024 19:46:53 GMT -5
I have 4 different Tomato plants that are the same age but the differences are amazing. Thx to lynnee I have 2 Veranda Red toms in 1 bounty with about 60 toms and 30 or so more flowers at maybe 10 inches. I have had blossom end rot and tossed a few out but still a ton of toms growing.  20240403_175101 by I would say 2 more weeks and I will be trying these. Bounty 2 and 3 have 2 Sugar baby cherry toms at about 18 inches but only a dozen or so toms and that many flowers also. I am guessing 3 weeks before I am using these in my salads.
 20240403_175106 by And Last Cherokee Purple slicer tom in a bucket. 20 or so flowers but zero toms set on this monster plant. 3 foot wide and over 3 foot tall.
 20240403_175047 All totally different but planted on the same day in the same garden. Hoping for the best.
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Post by tompepper7 on Apr 4, 2024 0:03:40 GMT -5
The differences of the growth of various varieties of tomatoes makes me think it is best to have one variety at a time.
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Post by lynnee on Apr 4, 2024 9:54:29 GMT -5
The Cherokee Purple is a big tomato--maybe you will get some fruit set if you prune fairly aggressively? Maybe the plants can't support fruit along with so much foliage? Interesting that you got some blossom end rot with the Veranda Reds. I didn't think that happened to cherry tomatoes!  |
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Post by LoveSalads on Apr 6, 2024 9:26:07 GMT -5
Cherokee Purple Day 59 update. These toms were not here at day 56 at least I did not see them. I pollinate every day and they are slightly bigger than golf balls already. Wow they grow fast. Hopefully many dozen more to follow.  20240406_094725 by
 20240406_094735 by You can see just how dried up the flowers are on the second picture. Happy to have a few started now. |
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Post by LoveSalads on Apr 6, 2024 9:34:38 GMT -5
The Cherokee Purple is a big tomato--maybe you will get some fruit set if you prune fairly aggressively? Maybe the plants can't support fruit along with so much foliage? Interesting that you got some blossom end rot with the Veranda Reds. I didn't think that happened to cherry tomatoes! I have had blossom end rot on several cherry tom grows. I usually only use AG nutes for cherry toms. Once in a great while I will add cal mag. I use the cal mag on the larger toms but add it on the odd weeks instead of with the normal nutes. I never know If i have mixed it well enough as not to get nutrient lock out. It is usually just a handful of toms over the entire grow so , I can live with that. |
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Post by lynnee on Apr 6, 2024 17:02:05 GMT -5
My husband would like to come to your house for some Cherokee Purples, LoveSalads! We used to get them all the time from a local Farmer's Market. He's going to have to be content with whatever Dwarf Awesomes and Green Zebras I can grow. Or maybe add in Home Slice and Vivacious and Taxis (no seed yet). I'd really like to get some GZs into production before I try the big Purples.  |
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Post by LoveSalads on Apr 7, 2024 13:42:52 GMT -5
Day 60 a few of the Veranda Reds are turning. Woooooooooo Hooooooooo can not wait to try these. A new variety for me , thx to lynnee .  20240407_100338 These Veranda Reds are all different sizes wonder if they are going to taste somewhat different with the varying sizes.
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Post by lynnee on Apr 7, 2024 21:30:53 GMT -5
Veranda Reds are generally sweeter than the AG cherry tomatoes, especially if harvested when bright red. Let us know what you think of them! Love your photo.  |
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Post by LoveSalads on Apr 13, 2024 18:58:55 GMT -5
Day 66 ..... This Cherokee Purple tomato plant is probably not for indoor growing but is fun. It is giving the 100 watt light a run for it's money.  20240413_191814 I found another little baby tom. The other 2 will be baseball size in a few more days.
 20240413_191909 By looking at the plant you would never guess how much has already been trimmed away. |
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Post by lynnee on Apr 13, 2024 21:43:02 GMT -5
Those are wonderful photos, LoveSalads! That is one vigorous Cherokee Purple plant!  I've thought about trying to grow CPs--which my husband likes--but kind of thought that the plants would be huge.  |
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Post by LoveSalads on Apr 21, 2024 9:09:26 GMT -5
Day 74. Everything is growing and looking good.  20240421_090354 V.R. Veranda Reds best producer out of the group I planted this go. Lots of red toms and pretty tasty. I use these for salads and cut them in half for BLT's which works out great. They are pretty good size for a cherry tomato. Thx lynnee 20240421_090413 S.B. Sugar Babies. Not real prolific but very tasty. I use these just to pop in my mouth and also in salads. This cherry tomato likes to grow tall. I think next round I will put 2 Bounty's back to back and a 100 watt light above them to let them grow up. I think they will easily exceed 3 feet.  20240421_090443 C.P. Last one in this group. Cherokee Purple. This plant is a monster and keeps growing out and up. I have to constantly trim. The first fruits to set are now baseball size. many more have set. I have blossom side/end rot on a few that I will remove. I am still just using the AG nutes and cal-mag supplement. This bucket would be hard to test levels as there is no easy access to the sump and, with outdoor garden season going time is at a premium. So I shall see what I get and call it good.  20240421_090531 rot With all the different varieties I started I am happy with the results so far. |
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Post by LoveSalads on May 9, 2024 8:02:44 GMT -5
Day 90 the Cherokee Purple plant is now a tree or bush.  20240507_131101 OOOOOOO OOOOOOOOO Finally some color be happening .  20240507_131022 I am thinking these will top the scale for my indoor trials of slicer tomatoes. Another week or so and it will be time to find out. |
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Post by LoveSalads on May 15, 2024 8:05:33 GMT -5
Day 97 and have picked 2 tomatoes. Delicious flavor and texture, have had several BLT's . The second one will be peanut butter n tomato. Takes a long time to get slicer sized toms but yeah, it's worth it.  20240515_083753 Cherokee Purple
 20240515_083915 C.P.
 20240512_131021 C.P. 1 under and 1 over a half pound. The bigger one split slightly but I will still enjoy thoroughly. I am not sure how many more tomatoes are on that bush but I will trim and look daily for signs of red throughout the forest. |
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Post by scarfguy on May 15, 2024 8:14:56 GMT -5
As you know, I'm all into growing BIG! Glad to see your giant tomato plant is a success!
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Post by LoveSalads on May 15, 2024 12:37:54 GMT -5
Really a nice color on your tomatoes, LoveSalads ! As you know, I'm all into growing BIG! Glad to see your giant tomato plant is a success!
I almost turned that plant into compost at day 56, lots of dried up flowers but zero tomatoes started. From day 30 -40 There is always flowers going and soon after tiny toms. Of course I am glad I stuck it out but still haven't figured out why all my flowers were drying up and most falling off or turning hard on the vine. Interesting grow for me I guess, if you give it the room and persevere good things sometimes will happen. I looked high n low in there today and see at least 5 more toms growing and, more flowers ready to pop. |
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Post by lynnee on May 15, 2024 17:08:17 GMT -5
My tomatoes drop their developing blossoms when the room gets too hot; or when the plant desperately needs pruning because it has too much greenery to support; or when it has run out of nutrients between R&Rs. Your Cherokee Purples have better color than the ones H and I used to buy at our favorite Farmer's Market tomato stand, LoveSalads! |
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Post by LoveSalads on May 17, 2024 10:17:45 GMT -5
My tomatoes drop their developing blossoms when the room gets too hot; or when the plant desperately needs pruning because it has too much greenery to support; or when it has run out of nutrients between R&Rs. Your Cherokee Purples have better color than the ones H and I used to buy at our favorite Farmer's Market tomato stand, LoveSalads ! I am guilty of all the perils you listed. This room is my tomato/fish room so is 6-10 degrees warmer than the rest of the house because tomatoes/fish don't like constant 60's they like the bump into the 70's at least during day time or at some point in a 24 hour period. All the cherry toms seems to thrive in the 70/80's but yeah sometimes to warm for an extended period when I forget to open that door. I usually only trim off dead or dying foliage or ,what's growing into the light. If I have the room I let it grow as the plants seem to love that. This plant I have done more lower trimming than ever, probably just because it is so large. I bet I am starving this monster of nutes. Every other gallon it gets cal-mag or AG nutes I rotate that. With no real way to check levels on this grow I just watch the plant and hope it talks to me as I do for most all my grows  The taste/size of these tomatoes has been very satisfying but I probably will stick to the Paul Robeson's for indoor slicers as I think they do not get this huge. I have seen many other larger toms here I might give a go after garden season. I appreciate all the input from everyone here as I have learned/absorbed a ton of info from our group of AGA's. |
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Post by LoveSalads on Jun 6, 2024 19:51:33 GMT -5
Day 119. The Veranda Reds 3rd batch. The second was only a dozen or so this batch will be several dozen. They are very tasty and great in salads. I will grow these again.  20240606_195056 V.R. The Cherokee Purple toms have been going crazy these past several weeks. I now have at least 7 maturing and 4 or 5 more tiny ones. The bigger ones will be 6-8 ounces each. Best slicers I have grown yet. The plant is a monster and slow to produce but, what a sleeper tomato plant. I hope it is producing till the outdoor garden catches up.  20240606_195114[1] Cherokee Purple |
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Post by lynnee on Jun 12, 2024 18:03:38 GMT -5
LoveSalads, those Cherokee Purples are absolutely outstanding!  They look even better than the ones that H and I used to buy at our heirloom-tomatoes-a-specialty stand at the Farmer's Market. (The seller supplied San Francisco Bay Area restaurants with tomatoes, as well as FM customers.) H is a real tomato snob, and he loves the Cherokee Purples when they are really fresh. We never purchased many at once, because they apparently get mushy after a few days. (I wouldn't know, because I'm not particularly fond of tomatoes, and only eat the low-acid varieties.)
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Post by LoveSalads on Sept 6, 2024 13:20:34 GMT -5
I did not want to do this but gnats flying around the tomato plant said, it's time. Day 211 and still producing well the Cherokee Purple slicer is history. Now I have a dilemma I was going to go with Paul Roberson for the winter indoor run but, since I have the space and the bucket I will have to ponder this. Any suggestions I will gladly take. I will not tear down the Veranda Red unless the gnats head there. It is the last tomato plant in the room as I am going to replant what I liked from the summer outdoor garden.  20240906_135810  20240906_135740  20240906_135752 And that's the end of the C.P. |
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They look even better than the ones that H and I used to buy at our heirloom-tomatoes-a-specialty stand at the Farmer's Market. (The seller supplied San Francisco Bay Area restaurants with tomatoes, as well as FM customers.)