@MissS Just got mine planted so will let you know about germination in the next week.

In the meantime this Guido is turning into an early contender, already easily over a pound

MissS wrote: ↑Mon Apr 29, 2024 10:36 pm How's everyones's competition seeds germinating?

About 4 months to early for mine, will keep you updated when I sow them

My dynamic duo is growing so slowly! Hurry up, guys! Been keeping them protected from the mess of storms this week; they have buds!

I wont be able to plant my competition seed until Fall, and may not even then depending on how hot summer gets. I'm completely out of room for anymore tomatoes except for the short space I plan to put squash in.

Planted 2 seeds each of Big Lou A and Big Lou B. All four seeds germinated.

What's Big Lou? Is that the same as Aunt Lou's Underground Railroad? Those are beautiful, lush plants you have!! ❤

TomatoNut95 wrote: ↑Tue Apr 30, 2024 3:20 pm What's Big Lou? Is that the same as Aunt Lou's Underground Railroad? Those are beautiful, lush plants you have!! ❤

Big Lou from my competition tomato grown last year. It was an unlabeled plant grown in my pathway. It had no water, fertilizer, pruning or caging. It had multiple fruits and still managed to produce my largest tomato. Given that, I would love to see what it does when it is loved and cared for. I bet it would be awesome.

MissS wrote: ↑Tue Apr 30, 2024 4:48 pmGiven that, I would love to see what it does when it is loved and cared for. I bet it would be awesome.

I have one Big Lou going (currently taller'n 12"/~30cms), keeping company with Big Zac Hybrid and Big Bubba.

I assure you's it will get the same care as the rest of my plants...which is DANG FINE, if'n I do say so myself.

Most of my Tomatoes, Peppers, Squarsh, and Cukes are headed up to the porch tomorrow.

The Gotch

MissS wrote: ↑Tue Apr 30, 2024 4:48 pm

TomatoNut95 wrote: ↑Tue Apr 30, 2024 3:20 pm What's Big Lou? Is that the same as Aunt Lou's Underground Railroad? Those are beautiful, lush plants you have!! ❤

Big Lou from my competition tomato grown last year. It was an unlabeled plant grown in my pathway. It had no water, fertilizer, pruning or caging. It had multiple fruits and still managed to produce my largest tomato. Given that, I would love to see what it does when it is loved and cared for. I bet it would be awesome.

I would like to add that my competition seed last year was from Dan Sutherland. He has more world records than anyone on the planet. So, it has some very very nice genes.

I learned that you may not wish to use a cage around your monster plants because if you get that BIG one, it may not fit through the wires. I also learned that if you get a substantial fruit that you should consider making a hammock for it, much like used for cantaloupe when you grow them vertically. A tomato stem just can not support a 7 lb tomato without some help.

MissS wrote: ↑Sun Feb 11, 2024 1:24 pm Here is a good thread on one woman's experience growing giant tomatoes. It's very informative.
http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=29799

Also a link to Marv Meisner's book 'Giant Tomatoes'. Well the link won't work for me. There is a book on Amazon titled 'Giant Tomatoes' if you are interested.

Is this the link?
https://www.giantpumpkin.com/TomatoEbook/toc.html

The Tomato Bible - By Marvin H. Meisner, M.D.
Table of Contents
Overview
Foreword
Acknowledgements
Chapter 1 Introduction
Chapter 2 A Brief History of Tomatoes
Chapter 3 Selecting Your Seeds
Chapter 4 Preparing Your Soil
Chapter 5 Timing Your Tomatoes
Chapter 6 Starting Your Seeds
Chapter 7 From Seedling to Transplant
Chapter 8 Hardening Your Plants
Chapter 9 Transplanting Into the Garden
Chapter 10 Protecting Your Plants
Chapter 11 Mulching Your Tomatoes
Chapter 12 The Power of the Megabloom
Chapter 13 Pruning Your Plants
Chapter 14 Staking and Supporting Your Tomatoes
Chapter 15 Tomato Pollination
Chapter 16 Fertilizing Your Tomatoes
Chapter 17 Watering Your Tomatoes
Chapter 18 Estimating Tomato Weight
Chapter 19 When to Pick Your Tomatoes
Chapter 20 How to Store Your Big Tomato
Chapter 21 Tomato Diseases and Physiological Disorders
Chapter 22 Saving Your Seeds
Chapter 23 Crossing Tomatoes
Chapter 24 A Basic Composting Plan
Chapter 25 Are you growing a cover crop?
Chapter 26 Aerated Compost Tea
Chapter 27 Interpreting Your Soil Test
Chapter 28 Growing Degree Days
Chapter 29 Hot Weather Tomato Protection
Chapter 30 Common Grower Mistakes
Chapter 31 The Mycorrhizae Story
Chapter 32 Gordon Graham's How To Book
Chapter 33 Growing in Containers
Chapter 34 Growing Tomato Plants from Cuttings
Chapter 35 Charles Wilber, Growing Organically
Chapter 36 "How to" for a Beginning Grower
Chapter 37 Germinating Old Tomato Seeds
Chapter 38 Grafting Tomatoes
Chapter 39 MacCoy and the New World Record
Chapter 40 A New Kid in Town
Chapter 41 Domingo
Chapter 42 What next, a Ten Pounder?
Chapter 43 Summary
Chapter 44 Some Repetition and a Few More Tips
Chapter 45 Question and Answer
Appendix 1 Recipes
Appendix 2 The Anatomy of a Tomato
Appendix 3 Tomato Basics
Appendix 4 Plant Pruning and Support
Appendix 5 The Great Tomato Hunt
Appendix 6 Suppliers
Appendix 7 Contributors
Appendix 8 Glossary
Appendix 9 Testing Labs
Index

I think my first one pounder this season will be Dester. Or maybe Red Barn. Hoy is making some big tomatoes. I never thought I’d get a two pound plus tomato until Domingo blew through that barrier last year.


I don’t think I will get a two pound tomato this season.

@steve ok I think I have an extra copy of that book that I got for free due to a shipping problem. If anyone is interested I can go look.

@Mark_Thompson , how for are you prepared to send the extra copy of do have on

Whwoz wrote: ↑Sat May 04, 2024 3:31 am @Mark_Thompson , how for are you prepared to send the extra copy of do have on

One too many Toohey’s my friend? I looked up shipping to a random address in Surfer’s Paradise just to get an idea and it looks pretty prohibitive, apparently the book is too big for First Class Package, but if you want to DM me your address I can try get an exact quote.

Ouch, better pass at that rate. Thanks anyway

Media mail is pretty cheap here in ‘murica, free to whoever wants my second copy

Mark_Thompson wrote: ↑Mon May 06, 2024 10:59 am Media mail is pretty cheap here in ‘murica, free to whoever wants my second copy



IMG_0164.jpeg

Me!! Me!! Me!!

@MissS All the seeds you sent me sprouted, even the ones with only one seed, so very pleased with that.

Also I would like to submit to the contest a monster of a Guido, thank you @Cornelius_Gotchberg for the seed. Hoping to break the two pound barrier a few times this summer, but this is a start.

Mark_Thompson wrote: ↑Tue May 07, 2024 12:24 pm @MissS All the seeds you sent me sprouted, even the ones with only one seed, so very pleased with that.

Also I would like to submit to the contest a monster of a Guido, thank you @Cornelius_Gotchberg for the seed. Hoping to break the two pound barrier a few times this summer, but this is a start.

Only three (3) of five (5), Big Lou included, of the Competition Seeds germinated in these here parts.

And despite that Monster Guido looking a little under-ripe, The Gotch is one proud Papa!

Will it metamorphose into a BLT...?

The Gotch

Cornelius_Gotchberg wrote: ↑Tue May 07, 2024 12:41 pm And despite that Monster Guido looking a little under-ripe, The Gotch is one proud Papa!

Will it metamorphose into a BLT...?

The Gotch

‘Twould be a crime not to turn that into a BLT. Give it a few days to ripen fully and you’ll be seeing me on that other thread for sure. I’m also going to save a few seeds from it, seems worthwhile to give it another shot this year.