I would love to bring you more hard-core gardening experience type information but I am completely emersed in the harvest season and relishing the fruits of my labour. I just ate lunch — a fried egg sandwich on spelt toast with a slice of garden tomato, fresh basil, mayo, and oyster mushrooms — and I couldn’t wait to get back to my computer to tell you about the delicious black pear tomato. Perhaps I am glorifying it because it’s the first large tomato of the season and the first tomato is always THE BEST TOMATO THE WORLD HAS EVER KNOWN! However, this tomato was juicy, sweet, and rich tasting. It cut easily into a perfect sandwich slice packed with dense meatiness in the centre and fresh and juicy towards the edges; not at all mushy or mealy. Don’t you think the shape looks like a cute little hobo sack?
I’m definitely adding this one to my list of new faves.
A few tips for container growing:
- Grow it in the largest container you can find – This variety is an indeterminant which means the plant itself grows quite tall, requiring a lot of root space. I used a plastic garbage can and drilled holes into the bottom for drainage.
- Grow one plant per container – Do not be tempted to shove a couple of transplants into the same container. That little plant is going to grow up fast. Competition for space in the container will result in a reduced yield.
- Don’t let the soil dry out completely – Water consistently and give your plant a lot of water each time. I give mine about 4L of water daily! Plants that aren’t watered enough are prone to Blossom End Rot which shows as a mushy black spot on the bottom of the tomato.
- Fertilize – I fertilize my plants regularly with sea kelp throughout the growing season. You can get it as a liquid concentrate or store up batches of “tea” made by steeping dried kelp meal in mason jars. Kelp meal is high in potassium which is a good plant stress reliever. This will sustain your plant through the odd day of drought and neglect. But of course there are no miracle potions for utter delinquency!
Fertilizing! I know this is why I screwed up my tomato in a container this season. For some reason, the idea of having to fertilize makes me cringe. I’m terrified I’ll screw it up and add too much. I keep telling myself I’m overreacting and to just do it! But I still keep putting it off and putting it off…in this case, I was too late and the poor little pathetic tomato plant was sad and yellow.
I picked two Paul Robisons this morning. Can’t wait to get home to eat them!
Taryn: You can have too much nitrogen but I wouldn’t worry beyond that. If you use organic fertilizers like kelp meal you won’t burn your plants.
You’ll know you have too much nitrogen when you’ve got a lush tomato plant (lots of leaves) and little to no fruit. Then all you do is cut back on your nitrogen-based fertilizer (I use fish emulsion) and prune back a bunch of the leaves and stems.
Worm castings are a good all-purpose fertilizer and you can’t overdo it.
Don’t be afraid!
Assertagirl: What are Paul Robisons like?
Assertagirl: I just happened upon a pic of the Paul Robeson by chance. A nice looking black tomato. Black tomatoes are my fave
The black pears are so cute, very nice and tasty. The Abruzzi tomatoes are a bit mushy but man you sure do appreciate the taste in a salsa or even frozen in winter. The black plums are yummy but the skin is tough, but that may be my fault due to the fact that I went away to run up some hills and asked my neighbour to water. When I got back, he said: “when does your timer go on?”
So.
I don’t pay attention to the skin on black plums cause I roast them in the oven for delicious sauce. That is awful yet hilarious about your neighbour.
Thanks Gayla! “Don’t fear the fertilizer” is my new mantra now. Although my tomato is long gone this year, I will be taking your advice for my fall crop. They are getting fertilized tomorrow!
I’ve read in the YGG forums about increasing phosphorus in the fertilizer when you want to push the blooms…. so, what about Miracle Grow?? I know it’s inorganic, but I also know I have a whole bag of it under my sink!! :-)
Phosphorous is essential for flowering but I have never had to push it to get blooms. I have added some Rock Phosphate or Bone Meal in the spring (I often prep even my container soil ahead of planting) but that’s it. I have on occassion worked a bit in as a side dressing but that was only when I skipped the early season amending. You can also get organic mixes specifically for tomatoes that are worked into the soil throughout the growing season if figuring out amounts is tricky.
I personally can not endorse using Miracle Gro.