2022 Tomatoes are planted

[AgentOrange]

Not that any are interested, but here is a mator update. Some of this will be repetitive as I might also post it on a Clemson Forum.

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Finally got my mators planted today. It was a lot of work, will be sitting on my ass the rest of today.Pilsner.
I harvested the rest of the spinach, lots of it still growing well.

I am using 5 of these pots again.

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Last season my mators grew too well, enough to open a road side stand.
Here is my Bride with them:
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I dumped the dirt from a pot into a wheel barrow. I am using last year's dirt again (saves me $70).
I mixed in Tomato Tone and dolomite. I would have liked to have gotten the dolomite mixed in a couple weeks back, but that is not what happened.

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The wicks from last season were there, so added them back plus two more to the pot. I have no idea if that helps, but know my mators were well watered from the bottom last season with this system.
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Filled dirt to the top, dug a small hole on each corner to hold a half cup of fertilizer.

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I built a 2" mound on top and stretched a plastic cover over. These are watered from "wicking" up from the bottom. This does work, and importantly keeps the plants at a consistent moisture level.

Then I repeated that for the other 4 pots. The plants are tucked away and ready to grow. They get full Sun on my dock and lots of fresh river water.

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I got some beer and am sitting on the porch dreaming on my first mator sandwich.:witless:

[AgentOrange]

This year scaled back a little. I put two "determinate" plants that reach just 3 feet high in pots 2 and 4.
I used something new to me - 'Summer Sandwich'. "A rich, juicy slicing tomato perfect for sandwiches with delicious, old-fashion tomato flavor". I hope that is true.:tongue-new:
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In pots 1 and 5 put 'Park's Whopper CR Improved'.
In the middle (pot 3) put a 'Big Boy'.
Those are mators I have grown for years, and they are hard to beat for size, flavor, and yield.

[Chuck Farley]

Your tomatoes did much better than mine last year. Earlier today, I ordered the tomato tone and dolomite lime from Amazon. I'm going to use new dirt this year, but depending on how yours does this year with old dirt, I may try that next year. I'm going to get one of those cement mixing boxes to mix mine on top of the boat dock. Can't easily get a wheelbarrow up there. I think I'll try your idea with the wicks. I probably won't put mine out till the end of April, although it's probably safe now. You'll have a head start on me. As usual, I've started my plants from seed.

[Chuck Farley]

Hey man, help me out with some proportions. How much of the dolomite lime and tomato tone did you mix in with 2CU ft of soil?

[Marty Gass]

I am getting tired just thinking about all that work. I have had to cut back on tomatoes as they cause an issue with the arthritis I have in my hands from rock climbing and over doing it in '99 and 2000.

[AgentOrange]

Mator plants are growing fast and look healthy. All have blooms. It looks like another good year of tasty mators.

Today I took out my dock ladders and replaced them with dock stairs. Now, if I had a dog, she could run up.
Loosing my dog almost killed me. Rosie would not need these as no way was she going into the water.

All I have now is a Bride as old as me. We like to swim in the Tugaloo. Now after we dive in, we can walk out.
Don't even ask how much this set me back

[Chuck Farley]

Well, I was a lot later than you getting my tomatoes planted. I used some of your advice as far as soil amendments. I had some rubber tree rings that I cut to size with my table saw to use as mulch, and got a soil humidity guage so I can water when needed, and not over water which I've probably done in the past. I also planted a few pepper plants which I started from seed. Here's my 2022 tomatoes as of last week.
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I've got to see those dock stairs. I need some. This week is catching up on things around the house before leaving for 5 days at St. Simons Island. Saturday, I've got an all day hand gun training class conducted by the Toccoa PD.

[Mike Kelly]

Looks like ya'll got the tomato plants up and running. I predict a bountiful harvest. Let me know when they come and I'll bring the white bread, mayonnaise, pepper and salt. Umm Good!

[Marty Gass]

now you made me hungry

[AgentOrange]

Looks like ya'll got the tomato plants up and running. I predict a bountiful harvest. Let me know when they come and I'll bring the white bread, mayonnaise, pepper and salt. Umm Good!

Did you mean "white bread, DUKES, pepper and salt"???

[Mike Kelly]

I thought Dukes was the only mayonnaise that existed!

[AgentOrange]

Well, I was a lot later than you getting my tomatoes planted.

Snapped this today when coming in from fishing.

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[Marty Gass]

Hellmans Real Mayonaise. That is what we had until I came down south. I think it is the best...still.

[Mike Kelly]

I remember hearing about Hellmans when I was growing up, but the only brands in the stores was Blueplate & Dukes. Hellmans must have been a more expensive brand. I don't think I ever have tasted it before. Dukes has a distinct taste to it. I remember the ads on tv as "Hellmans, The Real Mayonnaise".

[Marty Gass]

there was another tv add that ended "bring out the Hellmans and bring out the best". Odd what we remember.

[Mike Kelly]

You jarred my memory. I remember that ad also. Hellmans must be some good stuff. I may purchase a small jar and have a taste test.

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All this mayonnaise talk reminds me of a story about Ted Turner. He was traveling around the country side in North Ga one day. Him and his driver pulled into a small country store out in the middle of nowhere. Turner went in to purchase a small jar or mayo. When he got to the counter to pay, the owner told him it was $4.00 and some odd cents. Turner stated that he would not pay that much for a small jar of mayo and besides, it would ruin before he used all of it. He sat the jar of mayo back on the counter and left. I guess that's one reason he has much $$$$$$.

[Marty Gass]

Ted owned channel 36 in charlotte in the early 70s. He was on the air begging for money from viewers to keep it going. He said he would pay back money when and if things turned around. Of course they did but I bet he never paid anyone back a cent.

[AgentOrange]

As self punishment he married Hanoi Jane Fonda.
In the Post today is a story where Jane and her then husband would pile into bed with Dennis Hopper.

[Marty Gass]

What keeps critters from getting into the plants and eating the fruit? We have grown several tomato plants here over the years and just gave up. I saw no need to add fruit to the salad bar of plants in my yard.

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She is and was a pig. She has never had acting talent. Many thought she was hot but she got into movies because her dad had clout. I think she would have made a decent porn star though.

[Chuck Farley]

In my case, and Bill's case, the plants are in containers on our boat docks. I haven't seen a squirrel or deer on my dock. I also don't see slugs. I have found tomato horn worms though. Moths lay eggs on the plants and hence the tomato horn worms. I don't like to spray, but BT is harmless to humans and I'll start spraying with BT at some point.
http://npic.orst.edu/ingred/bt.html