Tomato Trays?

jjphoto 3/21/2010, 12:19 am

Surely this has been discussed, but I did a search and didn't see anything. Please forgive me if I overlooked it.

Has anyone had any experience with those red tomato trays that go at the base of the plant? They say it increases yield up to 40%. Any truth to that or is it just a gimmick?

My friend says he put some red plastic underneath his tomatoes last year and thought it was going to work out well but he got hailed out so it's hard to say.

I get bored when the weather's bad and I can't get outside and work so I start browsing the garden toys... dangerous habit. Tomato Trays? Icon_wink

Jeff Buffington 3/21/2010, 12:43 am

I've heard it has something to do with the absorbtion of different light frequencies.

I found a research paper from 2004 done at Texas A&M .... here

It compared several methods of mulching. Not necessarily the plastic 'trays' you were speaking of, but similar, neverless.

jerzyjen 3/21/2010, 9:17 am

If you decide to try them, buy them from "here" - the SFG store. They are a ton cheaper than burpee.

I dont have the experience yet, i bought a couple to try and will compare results with my non-covered plants.

Lavender Debs 3/21/2010, 10:07 am

Thanks Jen, I was going to order from Burpee and decided too much $$$$

Deborah ....not really in tomato country but keeps trying

chocolatepop 3/21/2010, 10:59 pm

I was wondering the same thing! for that expensive red "mulch" aka plastic I was going to try dollar store red plastic table covers Wink

Niece (the cheapo)

Wyldflower 3/21/2010, 11:45 pm

Just wondering if I should use a similar treatment for my peppers, and maybe the eggplant - I'm thinking red plastic tablecloths Wink

LaFee 3/26/2010, 5:09 am

Ahh, but I'm CERTAIN that for peppers you'd have to have a nice bright green, and for eggplant a dark purple...aubergine, anyone?

(KIDDING) Tomato Trays? Lol

Guest 3/26/2010, 9:37 am

"from what i understand the red color is suppose to help ripen the tomatoes faster, i have no proof mind you but allways wanted to try it myself." <<<< what i posted under boffers "whats that gizmo" post" alltho i never thought bout using a red tablecloth that would be cheaper than the trays, might not last as long tho. i was thinking of using 5 gallon bucket lids cut to fit the 1 foot squares.

boog/mike

Lavender Debs 3/26/2010, 10:11 am

boog wrote: i was thinking of using 5 gallon bucket lids cut to fit the 1 foot squares.

I like that idea. It is just that I don't remember seening any red bucket lids. I have some old Tupperware lids that are red, Hummm.

Guest 3/26/2010, 10:24 am

i used to work at a plastics plant in ohio debs i know i can buy them from them, but you can find them if your willing to put in a little effert.

boog/mike

boffer 3/26/2010, 10:28 am

gizmos, I tell ya!

Growing red toms in the PNW is nothing but a crap shoot from year to year. It's all about the weather.

If you research and find the 10 most important things to do or not do to get red toms, I've followed that list faithfully and gotten nothing for my efforts but fried green tomatoes.

Then there was last summer, when I did everything wrong nearly to the point of total neglect, and I was rewarded with the best tasting, largest crop of red tops that I've ever grown. We had record setting temps last year.

That kinda narrows down my choices about how to grow toms. Only plant them during a hot summer!

Lavender Debs 3/26/2010, 10:39 am

boog wrote:....you can find them if your willing to put in a little effert...

I'll bet I could! I have a defective shopping gene, and don't get out much, but on your assurance that they commonly come in more then white and green, I'll start looking for them.

Deborah ,,,,a little farther north than Boff, and has topped pizza with green tomatoes (can't understand the excitement about green zebra tomatoes, aren’t tomatoes usually many shades of green?)

boffer 3/26/2010, 10:48 am

Deb,
We need to find some capital for a massive marketing campaign:

"Green Tomatoes-helps build strong bodies 12 ways"! (hey, it worked for wonder bread)

Then we would have one less item on our 'last summer's disappointments list'

Lavender Debs 3/26/2010, 11:04 am

A-1 Anti arthritic
Green tomatoes keep the gardener flexible with a constant search for a glimmer of red .....or orange or yellow or even lighter green!

B-2 Broke
Green tomatoes keep a gardener dependent on good garden produce for a healthy body since all the cash has gone into the latest gadget to guarantee a bumper crop of red produce.

C-3 Compassion
Green tomatoes, no matter how huge they become, encourage humility (should that be humiliation?) and compassion for fellow gardening chefs whose kitchen windows are filled with green globes in hopes of red shoulders before rot.

D-4

jjphoto 3/26/2010, 11:10 am

Boffer - the saying around here is that if you want your tomatoes to flourish, just ignore them and go out and beat them with a broom every once in a while.

**mckr3441** 3/26/2010, 11:57 am

Good Grief! In Ohio people run away from you when they see you coming with your bushel of red tomatoes! You can't GIVE the darn things away in August around here. We eat more tomato sandwiches, tomato salads, tomato sauce, tomato everthing in August. Lucky to have any green ones left to fry in Sept/Oct.

Tomato Trays? Lol

Lavender Debs 3/26/2010, 12:01 pm

Turn North by Northwest Claire, we will run toward YOU.

**mckr3441** 3/27/2010, 7:25 pm

Deb, I'll send you a care package in August Tomato Trays? Lol

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