Hydro garden Dutch Bucket / NFT Update

[Freshwater]

July 6th harvest -

The birds got through the netting...I decided to pull just a few of the ripe ones!




and later packed away in their perfect tomato cabinet ...

[T'Mater]

Man that is sooo colorfull.

Do you do your own pollinating or let nature do it? I've got what i thought were sweat bee's hitting my flower's now. I still hit all the blooms with an electric tooth brush just to make sure.

[GpsFrontier]

Ya, lots of good yummy looking tomato's. Those dark red ones look especially yummy. I may try some of those type myself in the future.

[crad]

FW those look good next question is how did they taste and is that pepper jack on them?

[Freshwater]

Thanks Guy's,


It's been a ton of fun, and this season has been easier on me. Hopefully next year will be a breeze...

Originally Posted by T'Mater

Do you do your own pollinating or let nature do it?

Na, I have to "rape" the flowers (or so I have heard it put). Morning or evening I shake, and/or flick the blossoms to pollinate.


Hey GPS, I highly recommend some dark red heirloom tomatoes. Especially if you have never had them from your own garden...they just taste better... My favorite are the Black Krim, but I am still waiting for my first "Carbon" variety.

Originally Posted by crad

FW those look good next question is how did they taste and is that pepper jack on them?

It's Mozzarella, Basil, Salt/pepper, olive oil... or a Caprese Salad


Insalata Caprese - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[T'Mater]

Hey Fresh, how's the garden going? Do you grow any beefsteak tomatoes? That's what i'm growing, and man i finally have a ton of green ones, just waiting for them to get a bit bigger and finally rippen. Was just curious how long it usually takes? (ya i know i'm being impatient again, but it seem's like when i ask a ? from being impatient, with in the week things start answering for themself LOL)

Give us some updated pic's if you find some time. Guess i should get off my butt and show everyone my system.

[Freshwater]

Hey all,

Just finish a big trim, and lowering of the plants. Excuse the mess, I just took a couple quick snaps with the insta-matic while I was working.

The garden is still producing great tomatoes. The biggest challenge is keeping the vines organized. Last year was a disaster, this year is better. One of these seasons I will get it figured out. The plants range from around 7 feet to 10-11 feet right now. Last year I started to run into trouble at 12+ feet, but I think that was more due to powdery mildew than length. I also got a 2 month jump on this seasons grow.

I've pulled 2 plants out, and broke one of the "Carbon" plants at about 4 feet from the bato, believe it or not it shot out a new shoot and looks to be recovering. I've allowed new sites/plants to sprout up at the bottom of some stems 12" or less from the base. Most are within a few inches. I've also cloned a dozen or so "new" plants and have planted them at the base of the adults. Once these "new" plants get started I will slowly cut back the full grown plant to allow the babies to take over.

Christmas or bust!!! That's the goal, last year I only made it to December 5th. We will see...









See some new growth here ... bottom photo


I am still getting hit by birds and rodents...I am winning but have prob. lost 50 or so this season...pisses me off, but have yet to be without...I've started pulling them a few days early to maximize my harvest.