The Junction's 2023 Giant Tomato Contest

[MissS]

Here is Dan Sutherland's largest tomato this year. He is the world record holder. Think that we can beat him??? Yes, it's 17 lbs.!!!

Where's the talented Herr Sutherland call home?

The Gotch

I believe he resides in Washington State. He also grows some huge giant pumpkins. That is where I first heard about him in my giant pumpkin growing days.

[karstopography]

Seventeen pounds, remember when a four pound tomato was enormous? Seriously, seventeen pounds is double what the record was not that many years ago.

I wonder what if anything he does to encourage those massively fused blossoms type of fruits? I am actually trying to weed out any tomato cultivars that are noticeably worse than their peers at setting fruit with fused blossoms as I’d rather not have my tomatoes end up being those kinds of monstrosities, but I’m not growing to set any world records and it would be interesting to know what special steps Herr Sutherland has developed to encourage these mega-tomatoes of his. I understand that air temperature comes into play with fused blossoms, maybe he sets things up timing wise in the particular climate there or manipulates and controls the air temperature with greenhouses, tunnels or something. There must be other things, lighting, fertilizer, pruning that he’s figured out to produce produce that size.

There’s certainly way more going on than just luck and nice fertility getting tomatoes to be that impossibly large year after year. I would not blame him, though, if he kept his mega-tomato growing secrets to himself.

[MissS]

I believe that a lot of it is genetics. He has been growing and saving his seed for years. Tomatoes that are grown for competition will reliably produce mega blooms for you.

I have been researching a lot on growing giant veggies. Give them plenty of phosphorous at the start to promote root growth and flowering. After fruit set feed them potassium to develop the fruit. You also limit the number of fruits per plant and only one tomato per truss if you are growing multiple fruit. Of course soil is a major element and compost is a must.

[steve ok]

Epstein's Big Zac a.jpg

Epstein's Big Zac b.jpg

Epstein's Big Zac c.jpg

Since only karstopgraphy has posted a result in this thread at 2.05.8, this puts me in second place. It also puts me in last place, which is where I predicted I would end up.

[MissS]

@steve ok And what variety is this gorgeous beauty?

[steve ok]

@MissS Epstein's Big Zac
I found it interesting that there were no seeds in the tomato.

[Cornelius_Gotchberg]

Huggin' the rail and using the whip, the Gotch moves into 2nd Place with a Big Zac:

thumbnail_IMG_2218.jpg

The Gotch

[Cornelius_Gotchberg]

I found it interesting that there were no seeds in the tomato.

Had you's considered entering it in the The Junction's 2023 Ugliest Tomato Contest...asking for a friend.....

The Gotch

[MissS]

@MissS Epstein's Big Zac
I found it interesting that there were no seeds in the tomato.

I find that hugely interesting. How could one grow that big and be unpollinated/sterile As I leave the room scratching my head.

[Uncle_Feist]

Gentle left spur in the 4th rib, a gee and then a gee haw for a quick leap around the nag in second..

[Cornelius_Gotchberg]

Gentle left spur in the 4th rib, a gee and then a gee haw for a quick leap around the nag in second..

Which variety?

The Gotch'll always have the last ~ 20 hours....and nag...moi...?

The Gotch

[Uncle_Feist]

Pink Stacy. @Cornelius_Gotchberg

[Cornelius_Gotchberg]

Pink Stacy. @Cornelius_Gotchberg

She's a real beaut!

The Gotch

[Mark_Thompson]

@Uncle_Feist This seems like a fun game, can I play?

King Kong

IMG_6638.jpeg

[Uncle_Feist]

Haha! Absolutely @Mark_Thompson as long as you're a good sport. I'll remember to leave half a pound of plant material attached next time.

[Cornelius_Gotchberg]

@Uncle_Feist This seems like a fun game, can I play?

King Kong

The Gotch is always nice to people on the way up, 'cause he knows he'll pass 'em on the way back down....

The gotch

[MissS]

Now this is a fun race this year. I'm thoroughly enthralled.

image.png

[Cornelius_Gotchberg]

Now this is a fun race this year. I'm thoroughly enthralled.

A MARATHON...not a SPRINT

The Gotch

[Mark_Thompson]

@MissS When is the official close date of the 2023 contest? Asking for a friend that thinks he may be able to get in another season in his warm climate.

[AKgardener]

so far last place with a pea size tomato