Tomato Questions?

I need some advice on how to germinate tomato seeds. I have no idea on how to grow these so anything you can tell me would be appreciated. I am going to start these indoors and then transplant outside once they are 1' or so. I have these varieties i am going to grow they are all heirloom.

Oxheart, Manalucie, San Marzano, Beefsteak, Cherokee Purple, Marglobe, Large Red Cherry, Roma, Ace 55, Yellow Pear.

I would like to grow 2 plants of each so how many seeds should i germ to make sure i get 2?
I am going to be using organics only so any suggestion on your preference would be appreciated. Also organic pest control tips.
What do you reccomend lighting should be and light schedule?
Thanks........

Oh yeah There is also a groundhog in my backyard but i dont want to get rid of him he is cool. He is always chillin on the picnic table + he lets me know when summer is coming. (And so far no sign of him sorry)I do not want to share my tomatoes with him though, as i am greedy! Anything i can do?

use peat pellets to start the seeds. as for the ground hog hes gotta go or therell be trouble

I"m growing the "super 100" variety. I started them by using jiffy pots or peat moss pots. I put one in eachpot and cover with the plastic top that comes with it. About 1-2 weeks they pop up, once they do, get them out of the dome and underlight. I had a 100% germination rate. If you want 2 strong tomatoe plants then grow five a keep the strongest 2. I kept mine on a windowsill. They are now about 3 inched tall, but I will keep them inside for a few more weeks. If you have lights it can't hurt to keep them under 24/7 until you move them outside.

With good seed you should just about get everything you plant to germ. I always add a couple extras incase of damping off, but then have to find a place to plant all the extras..lol..life can be cruel at times.
I like to use the nute enriched grow cubes.. They are dark like soil and made of a neutral ph sponge like material. Once they break the surface and show 2 true leaves, i cover the tray with coco coir to preserve moisture and reduce any funky growth on top of the cube. They are very hardy plants, and will require a rapid transition from regular r/o water to full nute mix in no time.
Full nutes after 6 leaves is my guide. They will grow mass roots rather quickly
and when you transplant, bury them up to just below the first set of branches..they will root every inch you bury.
Good Luck

Here are my babies..
Plum Dandy Roma & Hybrid Big Boy

KAOSOWNER said:

Oh yeah There is also a groundhog in my backyard but i dont want to get rid of him he is cool. He is always chillin on the picnic table + he lets me know when summer is coming. (And so far no sign of him sorry)I do not want to share my tomatoes with him though, as i am greedy! Anything i can do?

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Cant say that it works, but I hear you go to a dog groomers and get a big bag of clipped hair, put balls of it in panyhose, and hange it "low" on stakes or on your cages..works for rabbits

Thanks for the advice on germinating and transplanting. It sounds great I should be able to manage that. About the groundhog Can i bury a fence or will he just dig under.? I try to feed him carrots and such when hes out. will this keep him fat and happy or will he still go after my delicious tomatoes? Any suggestion on organic pest control?

I don't think the goundhog will screw with tomatoes.
Last summer I had a big one that hung around my apple trees and ate the dropped fruit. He loved them. One day I walked up behind him while he was absorbed in the fruit, ........and said Boo! when I was about three feet behind him. Man, did he take off! I think he was pissed at me for the rest of the summer, but they are pretty cool.

I have learned to appreciate the groundhog plus i am a hermit come winter so I really keep an eye out my window to see when he starts coming out. I will keep some precautions like maybe a fence buried a foot and a half deep and try and give him snacks like years before.Maybe he will appreciate me as i do him and leave my tomatoes alone.

Im new to groundhog, they are rather common here in Jersey. I have one living under my shed. I watched him this summer working the yard and to my suprise he was usually after the broad leafed weeds. Upon seeing this I refrained from praying any herbaside and avoided his meals when weedeating the yard. He or She is a fat one for sure.. a little skittish but a bit of an exibitionist. I will try and treat him to some snacks this summer. Unfortunitly I have to move the shed to another location due to the fact its currently over my property line. Im a little torn as to what to do.. put the shed on blocks high enough so as not to become a den for critters or put it to the ground and let what happens happen. There is no shortage of place for them critters in my yard as it backs up to many many many acres of woods.

Yeah my groundhog has a hole under my shed and another under my kids play house. My wife has tried to get rid of him in the past by covering those holes and putting bricks around the shed and playhouse but he is one determined groundhog and does not want to leave. Which is fine by me

Blood meal. Mix it in with the soil when you transplant outside and dust soil around plant after rains. Good source of goodies for the plant too, I have about 60 tomato plants every year and with two ground hogs running about, have so far not had one chow down on my matoes......they seem to prefer the seedlings and small stuff.

KAOSOWNER said:

Thanks for the advice on germinating and transplanting. It sounds great I should be able to manage that. About the groundhog Can i bury a fence or will he just dig under.? I try to feed him carrots and such when hes out. will this keep him fat and happy or will he still go after my delicious tomatoes? Any suggestion on organic pest control?

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Thanks much flowergurl I will definately do that sounds great to me. 2 for 1 special i love those

KAOSOWNER said:

Oh yeah There is also a groundhog in my backyard but i dont want to get rid of him he is cool. He is always chillin on the picnic table + he lets me know when summer is coming. (And so far no sign of him sorry)I do not want to share my tomatoes with him though, as i am greedy! Anything i can do?

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buy a trap at lowes u can get box traps that wont harm it and u can put it in car and transfer a few miles away
that best thing i know if he doesnt leave the area u can kiss all ur plants goodbye lol.

groundhogs are usually considered pests to farmers. But i think they are cool and can understand your not wanting to get rid of it or see any harm come to it. If the hog wants at your plants, the hog will most likely get them. But you can try completely encasing the root zone in wire. They can dig like ... er ... well groundhogs which is to say - very well.

Here is a true groundhog story - an older fellow I know used to hunt groundhogs as a favor to farmers and to put meat on the table. Before you turn up your nose, keep in mind this was during the depression and this fellow was quite poor.

Anyway, this guy - a young boy then would hunt the groundhogs with his beagle. Now beagles are smart and good trackers and if the dog wasn't held back, would follow the groundhog right into his hole. And holding back the dog is a good idea since the groundhog will fill the hole behind him so the dog can't follow anymore. and the groundhog will, if given the chance, fill in the other side of the hole and trap the dog underground. The only way to rescue the dog is to dig it out.

So the moral of the story - groundhogs are pretty crafty creatures and the hog takes a hankering for tomatoes he will most likely get them.

This is when you should get nervous: I call this "Love at first sight"

Redrum said:

This is when you should get nervous: I call this "Love at first sight"

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LOL - tomato goggles!!!

rotfl ha ha ha ............ That is a great pic. E-mail thanks for the story in a way it has made me appreciate the hog so much more. I think he has a new name as well hog it fits perfect as i live where they make them Harley davidson's. I am up for the challenge but the little hog better be careful because i am crafty in my own right. I will put wire under and around everything and if that and some bloodmeal dont work i will paintball him a new color.

KAOSOWNER said:

rotfl ha ha ha ............ That is a great pic. E-mail thanks for the story in a way it has made me appreciate the hog so much more. I think he has a new name as well hog it fits perfect as i live where they make them Harley davidson's. I am up for the challenge but the little hog better be careful because i am crafty in my own right. I will put wire under and around everything and if that and some bloodmeal dont work i will paintball him a new color.

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I'm glad you enjoyed the story. It is true and the teller of the tale did lose a dog that way - couldn't find it underground.

enjoy your new buddy!

i grow Matos every year in my backyard and they always get lil black bugs on em
so insted of gettin sum chemical shit to kill em
i just mix water with soap n spray it on the leafs
gotta go Organic
better way to live!