Red Heirloom Cherry Tomatoes

[jcosmo]

Wow! Looks like a jungle!

[Shawn]

These are doing so good, Can't wait to see them all ripening

[Kate]

It is a jungle. These plants are nothing like any tomato I've ever grown. Having pretty much zero experience in hydroponics, I don't know if it's the growing medium (water), the food, the Aerogarden, the plant itself (Red Heirloom), or what. I've grown cherry tomatoes many times before, but every tomato plant of any type I've grown, has been taller, sometimes MUCH taller, and MUCH less dense. The images on the Aerogarden site are accurate. These things are like something from a horror movie. Not that I'm complaining. Unless they attack, I'm good.

I can't wait either, Shawn. It's exciting. People say they're really tasty.

I ordered a TDS PPM meter. I don't know if it's truly necessary, but after reading on this and other forums about sudden, sometimes catastrophic issues likely related to nutrient levels, I'm guessing it's good to know just what's going on.

[Kate]

So I need help/suggestions here from the more experienced hydro growers.

My TDS/PPM was 32 before I fed. Horribly low. They take SO much water every two days. It's at 560 today (as it was yesterday), after feeding 11ml nutes and scant less than 4ml Calimagic, yesterday. Tomatoes like twice that, but I'm hesitant to add more. Anyone have any suggestions? Should I add more?

[MaryL]

I have next to no experience with tailoring nutes to tds so I’m afraid I’m not much help. I’d only try increasing the nutes in small increments. Your garden is looking so good I’d hate to see it nute burned.

My question then is where do you start?  It’s a little perplexing to me because when I go to measure tds, I have just added nutes and water to the Fill to Here line, so you can’t dilute it more if you add too many nutes.

[Shawn]

For me, I have never tested those at all. I used to go nutty checking pH but no longer do that either.  I just add the Nutes and Mooch and the gardens seem to do well.

[Kate]

Here's a new pic of my babies (from Hell) that are still going nuts. I took this today, so it's a week from the last image. I did go ahead and feed again a few days ago. Even doubled, the TDS/PPM was only at 860, still nowhere near the 1100-1350. They seem happy so far though, so I'm not messing with them any further.

[MaryL]

Well they sure do look good.

So these would be going on about 10 weeks and they are FANTASTIC!
 They seem very happy with that you have been doing! Kudos!

[Kate]

I started them on January 16, so they'll be 11 weeks on Tuesday. They do seem happy and healthy. I hope they continue to do well and the tomatoes themselves continue doing so well, AND are tasty!

[Kate]

Thankfully, new flowering appears to have finally stopped and the last of the flowers have closed and are setting fruit. It’s absolutely impossible to even begin to count the number of tomatoes that have set on these plants. Dozens, is as close as I can get.

Please remind me next time I do these that two is more than enough, if they all stay healthy, continue to take over my house and all the fruit ripens.

[Shawn]

LOL, yes we always say no more then two when planting peppers and or tomatoes.

[Kate]

Apr 9, 2018 4:48:08 GMT -5 Shawn said:

LOL, yes we always say no more then two when planting peppers and or tomatoes.

Somebody should tell Aerogrow that. The 7 Pod Kit comes with 3 of these suckers. I got 3, so I started 3. I'll bet they just "yuk it up" back there at the old warehouse, unless their customers get far better growth and yield than they anticipate they will. There is "enough" room, but it's really overkill.

It's laughable that people, (who clearly can't read or decipher clear images), complain in Amazon reviews that they didn't get 7 or 9 planted pods to start.

[drbanks]

Those are some good looking plants.  Yes, max of 2 in a Bounty.  In anything smaller, I can also count on one plant to pretty much fill the whole thing if you let it.

I love this one the most.  I've got a pretty good harvest out of the Golden tomatoes in my Farm Plus, but they just aren't as tasty (to me) as these red cherries.

The only problem I have with them is that I keep picking and snacking on them as soon as one ripens, so I never actually get a bowl full from harvesting, and never end up cooking with them or even making a salad.

Still, a very nice amuse bouche on my way out the door in the morning.

[Kate]

I have a feeling that I'll end up standing in front of the plants shoving tomatoes into my mouth. Not a pretty picture, and greedy too. Muwahahaha!

[drbanks]

My boss had one of these planted in an AG, and couldn't figure out why the toms never ripened.  Then, one day he caught his daughter picking and eating the ripe ones.

Can't blame her.  Hard to resist.

My dad used to do that and said he hated the AG because he never gets ripe ones...yet he picked and munched everytime he passed by!

[MaryL]

Last summer all my tom projects were outside, and when I’d go out to do my swim I’d pick the ripest and munch on a bunch before getting in the water.  I figured I needed the sugar and vitamin C.    No wonder I didn’t always have a bowl full for my husband at dinner time.

You are going to have a mad harvest!  They look great!!

[Kate]

Here's hoping. They're not turning color yet, but several are getting quite big, so it should be soon for those.

[Kate]

Well, I lied. Like a rug.

I have several tomatoes that are just starting to change color. I don't think it's enough to see in an image as yet, but they're definitely starting, compared to the very green of their younger "siblings".