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Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 25 Entries.
Tuesday, January 2 View Page
Found a stray sucker on the 4.86 Qtip decided to try to root it for a backup plan and possibly early clones for this spring.
 
Wednesday, January 3 View Page
Found a stray sucker on the 4.86 Qtip so decided to try and root it for a backup plan and early spring clones.
 
Thursday, January 4 View Page
Was able to buzz some pollen from the first 7.07 Qualley bloom today. Just a single but looking for seed production so hope it sets. The top of the plant started growing downward for awhile but now is turning back upward. I left a couple suckers in case I decided to chop the top that was growing downward. Going to let them go another day or two and clip for clones.
 
Sunday, January 7 View Page
4.86 Qtip flowers getting ready to open. Looks like two possible if they set and fuse together.
 
Wednesday, January 10 View Page
The 7.07 Qualley pollination was successful and I am trying to cross the 4.86 Qtip and the 7.07 Qualley. The 4.86 double flower is dropping pollen and had a 7.07 at the right stage so why not. My main goal this first year of growing giant veggies is too establish seed lines of my own to develop. I don't have any mega's on the 7.07 even in the next truss above so have decided to use the 7.07 for seed stock. That seems to be a worthy goal for a winter grow. My goal of germinating my first giant tomato has been reached now next goal is to bring one to full ripeness. Will worry about size this summer when conditions are prime. Of course will take a big one this winter but will be happy to just establish some seeds and my first cross (4.86 M X 7.07 F).
 
Thursday, January 11 View Page
4.86 Qtip double dropped pollen from the left bloom yesterday and dropped a lot of pollen from the right side bloom today. Added more pollen to the 7.07 cross since there was such a nice pile of it. So my guess is the left side DAP was yesterday and right side DAP today.
 
Thursday, January 11 View Page
Grew nicely overnight about 1" long or wide looking at the pic. Looks like it is going to be a nice shape if it fully develops. The other bloom set hasn't shown any new growth so still time to decide but really liking the looks of the one set currently so leaning toward it alone...today at least...
 
Saturday, January 13 View Page
Removed the cross after it set. Accomplished the set so am happy with that. Final decision went to the 7.07 alone. The 7.07 is right at 10 days old now so looks like it may be good to go hopefully. Sprayed and root drenched with Neem Oil yesterday. A few fungus gnats have been popping up so time to hit them. This is the second application of the season first was Dec 19, 2017 which knocked them out until now.
 
Thursday, January 18 View Page
Pollinating this second bloom on the 4.86 for backup. Dropped lots of pollen today so should be pollinated now. I believe the double bloom is forming a tomato now by the looks of it. Can't really see the bloom is curved back and away but appears to be developing a tomato.
 
Thursday, January 18 View Page
Going to need some giant onion slices to go with my giant tomatoes slices :) Three Ailsae onions germinated so far.
 
Saturday, January 20 View Page
The 4.86 double has one side with a small tomato and possibly a very small one on the right side also. Will know for sure over the next few days.
 
Wednesday, January 24 View Page
The 4.86 double pollination was successful it appears. Might have even been a third bloom in there also will be able to tell in a few days. Lost the 7.07 to BER the other day so trying to grow another truss on that plant to try again. Not sure exactly why but added calcium and am going to bump the temp. up a bit by increasing the time the lights are on. Also setting up a more regular water schedule. Will be watching the bottom of the 4.86 double closely to see if it hits it also.
 
Friday, January 26 View Page
Cover crop taken out by -5 degrees for about 4 or 5 days this year. It was cold enough to knock the clover out and possibly the annual rye grass. They were both sheltered under the brassicas so will see if any survived. It has been a cold winter around here this year. Winters like the late 1970's again. Hopefully it will help knock some over wintering pests out.
 
Thursday, February 1 View Page
The 4.86 tomato has a ugly black spot forming on the very left of it which I am pretty sure is BER. Trying an experimental treatment that is unlikely to stop the progression on this tomato but perhaps help the next. At this point both plants are in experimental mode. Have a megabloom experiment going with the 7.07. It has produced two single blossoms so far so trying a little experiment to see if I can get one to form on it.
 
Tuesday, February 6 View Page
The 4.86 tomato is still growing slowly and the 7.07 is forming another truss so will see if any mega form on it this time.
 
Thursday, February 15 View Page
Giant Onions starting to grow a little finally.
 
Sunday, February 18 View Page
Trying to find a great tasting heirloom cherry tomato for a few years now. This years trial is a Black Cherry tomato which should have a good flavor and hopefully small size. Looking for a good salad tomato.
 
Monday, February 19 View Page
Some of the brassicas survived this harsh winter it appears. Plan to let them go to seed and use those next year. Nice to have living plants as long as possible each year. The other cover crop in the background was mainly rye grass and seems to be greening up again. Exact same mix as the brassica plot but planted two weeks later. Amazing the difference timing makes. Raked back the leaves on the primary vine path and have small rye grass and a few daikon radishes starting to grow. We are having a warm spell so thought I would check figured some radishes might be starting. Added more daikon radishes and crimson clover since a big rain is on the way to settle them in good. Will rake the layer of leaves back over them before the cold weather returns. Feels great to work even a little garden soil :)
 
Friday, February 23 View Page
The 4.86 is still growing. BER spot on bottom of big section hasn't gotten any bigger and tomato seems to be growing well. Hopefully it stays that way. This is at 44 DAP. A small possible 4th tomato in the middle of the picture. So looks like the twin might actually be a quad.
 
Friday, March 2 View Page
Looks like I will have mature seeds from the 4.86 just started turning early today. Going to let the main portion get good and red for the seeds and then pick it. Next picture will be on the scales. My guess is between 0.50 and 1.0 lbs.
 
Friday, March 2 View Page
Started all these at the same time. My compost pile special on the left, 6.23 wixom in the center and 8.22 porkchop on the right. Going to try and cross these together as bloom timing permits.
 
Sunday, March 4 View Page
Decided on my early giant line just one of each though. Will plant the majority a few weeks after the early ones. Hoping to have them in early April protected from the weather as needed. Did a surface till and planted daikon radishes, clover, and buckwheat in the area to keep the weeds at bay until I plant plus supply nutrients later for the tomatoes.
 
Tuesday, March 6 View Page
Weighing in at 1.2 lbs which makes me very happy for my first giant tomato considering it was indoors. Accomplished most of my goals and learned a lot about the giants to apply this spring and summer and now have seeds to play with :) So great success from my perspective.
 
Tuesday, March 6 View Page
Here's a pic from the bottom side. The two biggest red sections measured 14 inches together and the top green tomato was about 7 1/2 inches circumference.
 
Tuesday, March 6 View Page
And a view from the top...
 

 

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