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  • Showing only topics in ~hobbies with the tag "vegetables". Back to normal view / Search all groups
    1. Looking for a better tomato

      Well, my tomato season is basically over, and I have to say it was pretty disappointing. I've been gardening in the same place for 25ish years, and the microclimate has definitely changed. More...

      Well, my tomato season is basically over, and I have to say it was pretty disappointing. I've been gardening in the same place for 25ish years, and the microclimate has definitely changed. More heat, more humidity, more rain when we get it but less rain overall.

      I've been growing my tomatoes in 20 gallon metal trashcans for various reasons, and that had been working great, but in the past two years the heat has wreaked havoc on them.

      Last year was basically total failure. This year I had 1 sort of success-- Rosella Purple grew, gave me a few delicious fruits early, shut down all summer but stayed alive, and then gave me a couple more in the last few weeks. I grew Floridade on someone's recommendation for it's heat tolerance and it did produce all summer but I really didn't like anything about it. I grew a cherry tomato I thought was Black Cherry (which I really enjoy) but turned out to be some other, red cherry that was OK but nothing special.

      I'm hoping there are people on this site who have some recommendations? I'm supposed to be US Zone 7, but it is really pushing zone 8. I'm looking for complex flavors, lowish acid and the ability to pollinate in 90-105 degrees.
      I prefer beefsteak-style or at least low acid. I prefer "black" varieties for the depth of flavor. I prefer open-pollinated for the politics.

      Or maybe you could share some tricks you've discovered to help tomatoes deal with the heat?

      I'm hoping to get a head start on planning for next year.

      24 votes
    2. What are you growing in your garden this year?

      I went all out this year, I meant to just grow a couple tomatoes from seed and some basil I had from years ago and it exploded into a whole thing, we’ve got peppers, a rosemary bush, lavender and...

      I went all out this year, I meant to just grow a couple tomatoes from seed and some basil I had from years ago and it exploded into a whole thing, we’ve got peppers, a rosemary bush, lavender and a fig tree that is a cutting from my friends fig tree.

      My tomatoes are just starting to come in!

      What have y’all got growing?

      26 votes
    3. Has anyone built a backyard greenhouse before? I'm looking for inspiration, tips, and critiques!

      I'm in zone 4b so it gets frigid here in winter, I'm thinking wood burning stove and I bought the thickest double walled plastic panels for the roof that I could find. I'm just finishing an...

      I'm in zone 4b so it gets frigid here in winter, I'm thinking wood burning stove and I bought the thickest double walled plastic panels for the roof that I could find. I'm just finishing an insulated slab and I'm about to start framing. Please share with me any photos, plans, or guidance you might have! I have no idea what I'm doing!

      21 votes