I've noted previously that this has been a really good gardening season for me. Feedback from friends/seedling customers close by indicate that it isn't uniform; some are sharing my good fortune, others not. This just reinforces how different things can be due to very local weather, pests and diseases. This is a theme that emerged last year as well - my garden was pretty awful, while some of my seedling customers who live quite close by had very good years. Go figure!
It is easier to note those varieties that are struggling, which are far outnumbered by the healthy plants.
As far as Indeterminate tomato varieties in my driveway, I've lost the following: Favorite, Golden Queen, Polish, Magnus, Big Boy and Lucky Cross - apparently all to Fusarium Wilt. Magnus was the first to go and produced very few tomatoes. Golden Queen and Favorite went pretty much at the same time, but I did get a few fruit to sample and save seeds from. Polish, Big Boy and Lucky Cross are recent catastrophes, and all yielded very well before saying goodbye. It is also interesting to note that of these half dozen, three are old commercial varieties from the 1880-1900 period, one is a handed down heirloom, one is a creation of mine, and one a hybrid.
A few of the indeterminate varieties are struggling, but putting up a good fight - these include Lemon Drop, Nepal, Lillian's Red Kansas, Giant Syrian and Hugh's. Of this batch, only Giant Syrian was shy to yield - the others are doing quite well. Yellow White is very healthy, when looking at the plant, but all of the fruit so far develop gray blossom ends and have been pretty much inedible.
What is amazing is that 25 varieties are still thriving, and this is what makes 2014 quite a different experience for me when compared to last year...at this time, most of my plants were dead or dying.
When considering the Driveway dwarf varieties, the following are gone: Tasmanian Chocolate, Sleeping Lady, Chocolate Champion, Big Green Dwarf, Boronia, Rosella Crimson, Dwarf Wild Fred, Confetti, Tennessee Suited, Uluru Ochre, Fred's Tie Dye and Adelaide Festival. Sweet Adelaide is barely alive. Sweet Scarlet, Wherokowhai, Blazing Beauty and Rosella Purple are rallying. Of this set, pretty much all of them provided a decent yield before taking the long trip to the rear woods. The problem in nearly all cases wasn't Fusarium wilt, but something that killed the plants more quickly; my suspicion is Bacterial wilt.
Again the good news is that 18 plants are in great shape and are not only providing great tomatoes, but continuing to set fruit.
If I was a pessimist, I'd bemoan the loss of 17 tomato plants and iffy health in another 10. But as an optimist, I will delight in the fact that as we ease into August, 43 tomato plants continue to thrive, yield tomatoes and set fruit for future picking.
I've not said too much about the tomatoes in the side garden. Of the indeterminate plants in the front row - 4 Sungold, 3 Cherokee Purple, Coyote and Mexico Midget, and Tiger Tom - all but Tiger Tom (which is fighting a good fight against Fusarium wilt) are in near perfect condition and yielding well. The plants in grow bags in bales at the rear of the garden are a mixed bag. The problem is lack of sunlight, which was expected. My plan was to use the area to test straw bale growing and accept whatever tomatoes managed to be produced by the relatively sun-starved plants.
It is easier to note those varieties that are struggling, which are far outnumbered by the healthy plants.
As far as Indeterminate tomato varieties in my driveway, I've lost the following: Favorite, Golden Queen, Polish, Magnus, Big Boy and Lucky Cross - apparently all to Fusarium Wilt. Magnus was the first to go and produced very few tomatoes. Golden Queen and Favorite went pretty much at the same time, but I did get a few fruit to sample and save seeds from. Polish, Big Boy and Lucky Cross are recent catastrophes, and all yielded very well before saying goodbye. It is also interesting to note that of these half dozen, three are old commercial varieties from the 1880-1900 period, one is a handed down heirloom, one is a creation of mine, and one a hybrid.
A few of the indeterminate varieties are struggling, but putting up a good fight - these include Lemon Drop, Nepal, Lillian's Red Kansas, Giant Syrian and Hugh's. Of this batch, only Giant Syrian was shy to yield - the others are doing quite well. Yellow White is very healthy, when looking at the plant, but all of the fruit so far develop gray blossom ends and have been pretty much inedible.
What is amazing is that 25 varieties are still thriving, and this is what makes 2014 quite a different experience for me when compared to last year...at this time, most of my plants were dead or dying.
When considering the Driveway dwarf varieties, the following are gone: Tasmanian Chocolate, Sleeping Lady, Chocolate Champion, Big Green Dwarf, Boronia, Rosella Crimson, Dwarf Wild Fred, Confetti, Tennessee Suited, Uluru Ochre, Fred's Tie Dye and Adelaide Festival. Sweet Adelaide is barely alive. Sweet Scarlet, Wherokowhai, Blazing Beauty and Rosella Purple are rallying. Of this set, pretty much all of them provided a decent yield before taking the long trip to the rear woods. The problem in nearly all cases wasn't Fusarium wilt, but something that killed the plants more quickly; my suspicion is Bacterial wilt.
Again the good news is that 18 plants are in great shape and are not only providing great tomatoes, but continuing to set fruit.
If I was a pessimist, I'd bemoan the loss of 17 tomato plants and iffy health in another 10. But as an optimist, I will delight in the fact that as we ease into August, 43 tomato plants continue to thrive, yield tomatoes and set fruit for future picking.
I've not said too much about the tomatoes in the side garden. Of the indeterminate plants in the front row - 4 Sungold, 3 Cherokee Purple, Coyote and Mexico Midget, and Tiger Tom - all but Tiger Tom (which is fighting a good fight against Fusarium wilt) are in near perfect condition and yielding well. The plants in grow bags in bales at the rear of the garden are a mixed bag. The problem is lack of sunlight, which was expected. My plan was to use the area to test straw bale growing and accept whatever tomatoes managed to be produced by the relatively sun-starved plants.
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