Re: And So It Begins ...

acara 4/15/2011, 11:17 am

MasonGarden wrote:Hahahahaha! Cages and trellises and stakes! Oh, my!

There would be strings too ... if I had an attachment point Very Happy

Ha-v-v 4/15/2011, 4:48 pm

acara wrote:
MasonGarden wrote:Hahahahaha! Cages and trellises and stakes! Oh, my!

There would be strings too ... if I had an attachment point

So, this comes with "no strings attached" lololololololol I kill myself !! lol!

acara 5/1/2011, 9:10 pm

Slideshow

May 1st & the flowers are starting ...

Got my first Hibiscus bloom today;

And So It Begins ... - Page 2 102_2939

SFG's are doing well despite the neglect ...

And So It Begins ... - Page 2 102_2941

Didn't have time to put the topper and outriggers on the 1x8, so I just threw up a temporary Florida trellis for the top growth:

And So It Begins ... - Page 2 102_2944

Blackrose 5/1/2011, 9:48 pm

Looks great acara!! I have to ask though (don't I always?), why did you cut the leaves off the vines on the bottom half of your tomato plants?

acara 5/1/2011, 10:41 pm

I do it on most of my edible plants

A) It's bug, fungus & disease bait ..IMHO
B) I take everything off thats not new growth or fruit ... keeps the resources focused on the bloom/fruit.
C) Lower leaves typically only provide shade for the fruit. I grow my stuff on the shade-side of the trellis, so it serves the same function (prevent sun scald), without draining resources.
D) Taking the surrounding growth off once the fruit sets also allows me to keep an eye on my fruit, instead of finding "little surprises" in all the growth.

I gave up growing "pretty tomato plants" years ago ..... I'm in it for the stuff that taste good with bacon & mayonaise Razz

Plus ... I'm lazy & have a bad back. Bending over to take care of plants is not in my game plan!!

It's also one of the reasons I pinch blooms at the base of the plants.

Blackrose 5/1/2011, 10:47 pm

I

to you oh wise tomato growing guru. I will take your wisdom to my own garden and grow luscious tomatoes to nosh on with mayo and bread.

rofl

Thanks acara! That makes perfect sense and is a great tip!

acara 5/1/2011, 11:05 pm

This first Russian heirloom sandwich is for u Cool

This is why I pinch/prune my tomatoes ....... cause if it's not bigger than your bread, its not a real 'mater sandwich .....LOL

Blackrose 5/1/2011, 11:08 pm

sherryeo 5/1/2011, 11:14 pm

Wow, Acara! If that's what pruning your tomato plants does, I guess I'm going to have to figure out how to prune the plants properly! I've never had much luck with my tomatoes here on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, but would dearly love to have some turn out that well! Of all the veggies, I'd like to have great tomatoes the most!!! Did the sandwich taste as good as it looked?

acara 5/1/2011, 11:18 pm

Its was great .... and so are the second and third ones Very Happy

I think I hear my arteries hardening from all the bacon and mayo.... Embarassed

sherryeo 5/1/2011, 11:22 pm

I think I heard or read somewhere that there's a special ingredient in tomatoes that cancels out the artery-clogging effects of the mayo and the bacon! Anyway, that's my story and I'm sticking to it!!! And So It Begins ... - Page 2 410210

Miss M 5/1/2011, 11:28 pm

WOW!!! Acara, that's brilliant!

You say you do that with most of your edibles? Do you mean peppers, eggplants, beans... Is there anything you don't do this type of pruning with?

I guess if there is no shade, it would be good to leave a light smattering of leaves, but most could come off.

I've been wondering just how many of those leaves a tomato plant needs. I can't even see where the plants are anymore, much less the tomatoes. I'll start taking leaves off, slowly. Don't want to shock them. What a Face

FarmerValerie 5/2/2011, 8:59 am

I like mine with lettuce and tomato
Heinz 57 and french fried potatoes
Big kosher pickle and a cold draft beer
Well good God almighty which way do I steer for my
Cheesburger In Paradise

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And So It Begins ...