DON'T GROW THESE TOMATOES!

[@LazyDogFarm]

Do you prefer growing determinate tomatoes, indeterminate tomatoes, or both? Let us know! SHOP LAZY DOG FARM FIG TREES: lazydogfarm.com/collections/fig-trees 0:00 Intro 0:55 Tomato & Pepper Seeds Germinating 2:08 Our Spring Seed Starting Schedule 2:50 Determinate vs. Indeterminate Tomato Varieties 7:07 Planting Tomato Seeds in Trays 11:45 What Can You Do About Rust on Fig Trees?

[@Mrbfgray]

We get temps well above 110F in July/August here in farther N. Commifonria lowlands often, weeks of 100 to 105 typically, they don't set fruit much during that time but they carry on fine maybe into November, we are dry, essentially desert in that season however. If I do them right I have adequate supply of fruit to consume all along, which is my modest goal. Seems our dry summers make for very different results.

[@ChristinesBackyardGarden]

Hello. I've always thought indeterminate was best because they're supposed to last all season. However, living in GA zone 8b, it gets too hot for them to last all season. Last year, I wasted a lot of time trying to get indeterminates to grow. Some plants didn't produce any tomatoes, and the few that did had blossom end rot. By July, the only thing I had still standing were me sweet 100 cherry, and I basically had to give it life support every day to push it to August. 😂 This year, the Hoss hosinator and red snapper are going to be my main tomato plants as they will hopefully give me an abundance of tomatoes in a short period of time for canning. Thank you for the information. What brand of perlite do you use when planting your seedlings?

[@judyreynolds305]

West Texas Arrid gardening! Yep been using afternoon shade 40 years…learned it from my Pap! Tomatoes love it with A lot of consistent watering!

[@TrixieJFerguson]

I live in south-central Texas and I plant my tomatoes in a part shade location. They get morning sun until around 1 p.m. and then shade the rest of the day. I have not had a problem with my indeterminates fizzling out in the hot season. I think the shade does a lot for the plants and it would seem that tomatoes don’t need nearly as much sun as the world would have us believe.

[@sonnyamoran7383]

I'm hoping the same for my indeterminates. I'm growing lots of determinate for canning. I don't have the freezer space to store. My sister does the canning for us. She really loves that part. I just do the growing.

[@tylerhartley8531]

yes that and reflective mulch like straw helps too

[@tambrasmith4199]

I do the same thing and I’m in south central Texas also

[@loristrout4741]

I am in Kingsport, Tn.. Last year I grew about 15 Yellow Pear Tomato plants. The ones in my front yard dud much better I think just for that same reason they got full sun in the morning but were shaded by the house all afternoon. The plants in the back that got sun just about all day got fried despite getting the same water and nutrients that the front ones got. The front tomato plants gave me tomatoes way past Halloween and the back plants started dying in late July. However the basil I had planted near the front yard tomatoes were spindly but tall and the basil in the back that was in full sun all day were huge. Also had broccoli come up with tiny heads no bigger than my thumb and bolt immediately. Cabbages got too cold in fall and turned mushy. Will use a fine mesh cover this year on them also because of bugs liked them better than I did. Growing Agastache to bring in more pollinators and Amaranth to cook as cereal grain and spinach like vegetable green. 2 kinds of fennel and will be growing different varieties of Heirloom Tomatoes Bread and Salt, Big Rainbow, Black Strawberry. 2 eggplant varieties(husband's favorite vegetable) both Chinese varieties. Amsterdam Celery. And of course his favorite tomato yellow pear. I saved seed last year. Oh yeah my bok choy last year did the same as the broccoli came up and bolted without giving me something to eat. So this year I am Yod Fah broccoli and Choy Sum and Shanghai Green Choy.

[@flintwithers8460]

They sell tomato shade netting so definitely not!

[@sonnyamoran7383]

I agree. Every southern gardener should be tuned in at least. And anyone interested in learning more about production farming should also be here. There is always something to learn here.

[@tsmcbride06]

As a rookie grower, I found Floradade tomatoes easy to grow and maintain. Cant wait to taste them in a few weeks. In Central Florida

[@gidget8717]

Down here in Florida, if you determinant tomatoes you can get in two crops. One in spring before it gets to hot and another crop in the fall. That is, IF a hurricane doesn't blow through!

[@EdKirkpatrick10]

I've been growing a hybrid determinate "Amelia 0800 " for 4 years now, they size out a little bigger than a tennis ball, but taste great, can well, and really produce, I'm in Milledgeville Ga

[@iwanttobelieve5970]

I started buying heat tolerant tomato seeds. They aren't colorful but they do well in the heat and even produce even better in the heat. There's a smaller selection of heat tolerant tomatoes but they are out there.

[@charlescoker7752]

Tip on Indeterminate tomatoes. I'm zone 8 A. Louisiana Just before it starts getting hot in the middle of May. I uses a white shade cloth, really it was a white row cover over the tomatoes. Had tomatoes all the way into end Sept. The Tomatoes never willed down during the heat of the day.

[@FubarKen]

I broke down and will be trying determinant tomatoes this year. It was hard to find any seeds at the big box stores and I ended up with early girl and best boy. Hopefully they at least taste better than what they sell in the produce isle.

[@JolleanSmith]

That was probably one of the best explanations of Indeterminate vs Determinate.

[@TheMixingBowlHomestead]

The best explanation ever on indeterminate vs determinate tomatoes. Very helpful. This is my second year gardening at a larger scale to preserve food so this helps me a lot 👍 thanks

[@bobbygreen2291]

I like to grow both determinate and indeterminate tomatoes here in western North Carolina,,I live in Alexander county and we have many nights in summer where temperatures fall in to the fifties ,,but not in July or the first of August. This summer was extreme drought here but I irrigate and had a wonderful harvest without disease setting in plants until the third week in July ,,,right now I have started my third planting of squash and second planting of late keeper tomatoes.

[@beverlyboyce1041]

I'm in Texas, I have about 200 tomato seedlings going. Most of mine r determinate varieties. I did Red Snapper, Bella Rosa, Phoenix, and some of the New dwarf tomato project varieties. I do a few indeterminate varieties like Big Beef, Chef's Choice and Sunsugar

[@jeffdickey1966]

This year I am growing a broad selection of determinates, all with a good "heat set" gene. I live in Zone 8B in Texas, so it's hot and humid. Varieties include Amelia, Jolene, Estiva, Red Snapper, and Bella Rosa. All can be acquired through Johnny's, Harris and Seeds N Such. The best starts I have ever grown. Started Jan 15 and by Feb 16 they were all 5-6" tall.

[@floridacoder]

My indeterminates survived the summer here in the Tampa area. They didn’t produce anything and definitely suffered, but they survived and recovered after I put up a shade net and are currently, late October, producing. I think they would do much better if I didn’t wait so long to put up the shade net.

[@sandramorton5510]

I am in Florida, I grow indeterminate in the Fall and Determinate in the Spring. Great video Travis.

[@aileensmith3062]

We generally plant 34 tomato plants a year. Last year 18 different varieties. Thinking this year we will whittle it down to about 14-15 varieties. All we plant are indeterminant tomatoes. Generally we can begin harvesting late June or early July. With a bit of luck we may be harvesting into mid November. So a few hundred pounds of us to eat fresh out of the garden, can, sun dry, make into various sauces and so forth. It is quite common and having weeks of 100 degree plus days here. Although hot and dry and not humid like in your country. We use a combination of tomato cages and overhead hanging. Yes, we have some TALL tomato plants too. One mega difference for us has been a shade cloth. Yes extra work but we do love our tomatoes! We do the best that we can to avoid purchasing the tasteless whatever tomatoes from the grocery store! As always we love watching your videos!

[@RonChew-ko1mm]

I garden in Charleston SC and my 40% shade cloth goes up on May15. Everything that can possibly climb has overhead and vertical support to maximize space. The entire perimeter has cables (crop wire) and the shade cloth hangs to the ground which keeps pickleworm and squash vine borer moths out. I only plant parthenocarpic cucumbers. I hand pollinate squash. My tomatoes start being unable to self pollinate by mid May due to humidity so I start with the little paintbrush with them. The only indeterminates I grow in the Spring is Sungold and this year your Edox. I grow New Girl and Muskvich in Winter in 7 gallon grow bags and bring them in on the few cold nights.

[@bigl4765]

You nailed it, determinate vs indeterminate! Even the taste on determinate have improved greatly over the years! Breeders have done a great job!

[@littlebiscuit53]

I received my figs and have been very worried about them. They've been in serious shock from shipping and the cold spell we had as soon as they arrived. It got down to 10 degrees for two days. I don't have a greenhouse so I've kept them inside which has stunted their growth and one started to yellow and drop leaves. Thanks for the update on the figs and the note about rust. They look beautiful and I can't wait for them to start growing in my yard!

[@marysurbanchickengarden]

I like the determinate for canning but I prefer a big juicy indeterminate beefsteak for a mater sandwich, so I plant both. Your right about the heat and humidity getting the indeterminate by the end of July in the south. I've heard that spraying them with aspirin will keep them going through the heat, but I'm sceptical.

[@kennethflynn2469]

We grew indeterminates under 50 percent shade cloth. Noticed temps stayed around 75-80 all summer under cloth. Tomatoes grew tall and we picked plenty

[@jackieclark5814]

I wish I knew about determinate and indeterminate tomatoes before I started my seeds. I really like your u tube channel. I will be following you guys from now on!!

[@melissakingery4393]

I'm in Texas too last year the only tomato's that provided tomatoes through hot summer was the Silvery Fir Tree Tomatoes, they had a great flavor! I have about 6 or 7 determinate to grow this season

[@sonnyamoran7383]

I have one area in my garden that gets morning sun only. I'm going to try growing my indeterminate tomatoes there this year just to see if that helps extend the tomatoes life. I'll let you know how it turns out. Gets 6-7 hours of morning sun in the summer.

[@Crankinstien]

In Tulsa Oklahoma I plant all indeterminate. Never determinate

[@jimoyler1780]

Love Red Snapper, Tachi, and Super Sweet 100's. Getting them going soon!

[@patriciap4952]

We have been growing the dwarf varieties heirlooms the past season. Doing a lot more determinate and just one row of indeterminate this season.

[@heethn]

I also grow both up here in MD but I usually manage get two crops of determinates in.

[@Jeremystitan]

Here in Tennessee I have always grown indeterminate tomatoes. Last year was my first year growing in raised beds and the indeterminate tomatoes were such a pain, so this year I am switching to determinate tomatoes. Mostly

[@cathyscroggins1420]

I’m in Texas and our big box stores always have a lot of determinant tomatoes..big beef, better boy, early girl. You can still can from indeterminates all you do is store them in your freezer until you get a bunch and then can. Jess from Root and Refuge does that and a lot of her followers grow what she does.

[@INeedABeatDJ]

Those tomatoes you mention are indeterminates.

[@susanpayne5592]

That's what I do with most of my tomatoes. I may not have time to can them during the summer so I place them in freezer. During the winter, I'll thaw them and have several canning days.

[@workinprogress3609]

I throw ALL my canning tomatoes in the freezer. It makes taking the skin off, a breeze.

[@meauxjeaux431]

@@workinprogress3609 EXACTLY ! Nice to see somebody else that knows what they are doing.

[@Tyler0789]

I live in zone 6a and I only grow indeterminate varieties on cattle panel trellises. They will last all the way until first frost and grow potentially 20ft plus. Just my 2 cents .. if you're using regular tomato cages go with hybrids or determinate varieties

[@garrettscott4094]

I have not experienced that with indeterminate tomatoes here in Birmingham AL. Sure maybe they slow down in peak summer, but for me that's when the tomatoes are getting ripe, and then in August there the go with fresh blooms giving tomatoes all until my first frost. I do know that if their Leaf temperature hits 90 they really start to struggle, but that is not the same as air temperature and is a whole video on its own.

[@tommathews3964]

I'm with you on that assessment. I live in the Bham area and garden in Eastaboga. If you can get some partial shade, it sure helps, but I find it's not necessarily the heat that is our worst enemy, it's the things associated with it, like humidity and the pests and fungal issues. It's a war of attrition sometimes in my garden come high summer!

[@sislertx]

Well i took ur variety suggestions and the squirrels are already salivating....the dogs sure enjoyed the carrots..i never planted so many carrots so many times.

[@Yankee_Doodle_Stacker]

This year I grew about 25 plants this year. brandywine suddath, Big Brandy, Cherokee purple and Cherokee Carbon, Some red snapper that wouldnt stop producing, Rosella purple(the only one that died like its supposed too) sungold (superior taste to sunsugar) , sunsugar and None of the larger tomatoes would stop producing they just slowed down. I ripped everything out this weekend for fall crops but its still so freaking hot here in VA 23664.

[@tater357]

I've always planted an indeterminant variety because Dad always liked a BIG slicing tomato. But after watching a couple videos last year and watching my last harvest attempt, I decided to switch to Determinant because I want a heavier yield. That way I can make some salsa or soups to can. And still have enough left over for sandwiches. PLUS, I like the idea to be able to plant a fall garden earlier in the season while I still have time for certain more fall friendly crops.

[@Donnybrook10]

I live in upstate NY and get San Marzanos all Sept and into October some years depending on weather.

[@workinprogress3609]

I'm just sticking to determinate this year. When they are spent, I'll just pull them up and plant okra.

[@sonnyamoran7383]

I'm growing mostly determinate tomatoes for that very reason. I do try 2 or 3 if the others just because I can and there are so many different looking ones.

[@davidward1259]

Travis, you do know that there is at least one person out there trying to Google where to buy "Go Dawg's Perlite" near them.... As to rust, cedar apple rust has been my bane. We our apple tree, and the replanted one both to that. Gave up on apples and we planted a ornamental cherry in that spot. We are in zone 8A and I totally agree the tomatoes don't like the main heat of our hot Georgia summers. There are some determinate varieties with the "heat set gene" that do well (ok, better), but for the most part it's a 2 planting thing for us, one in early spring and another for late summer and fall harvest. I like to take cuttings from the full grown ones around July 4th to start in pots (they root without anything special needed) and by early August they are ready to go out into the garden for some fall tomatoes. The fall ones are not as big, nor as many due to the shortening daylight each day, but you will get some and by using cuttings, I don't have to use more seed.

[@juliekraft4102]

Yes, determinate allows us to do electric roasters of sauces to can,but I still do a few indeterminates for a Ohio summer slicing supply. As with everything in my life, diversification works for me.🤗

[@TalkingThreadsMedia]

“Purple Reign” is a good variety in the determinate category. Grew it in 2020, 2021, and 2022. Checking out a new variety in 2023 - will let you know how it goes. Sounds like I need to check out your Edux. Thanks. Best wishes from Kate in Olympia, WA

[@terryallard1918]

Great video Travis. I’m going with determinate tomatoes this year. Bella,Summerpick,Red snapper. I am going to have a few indeterminate though. Mortgage lifter,big beef and Amish paste. Gets pretty hot here in Tennessee too and I’m not gonna fool with trying to keep them healthy way into cooler weather. Be here before we know it.

[@FlomatonFamous]

In the back of my mind I knew the difference between Determinate/indeterminate. Thanks for bringing this information to the forfront. Solid information as usual. Time to step up the Determinate amounts.

[@LazyDogFarm]

Yeah you definitely would benefit from going determinate-heavy where you live.

[@FloraM44]

I grow mostly indeterminate varieties of tomatoes, but I'm up here in Canada so for once we have a long growing season compared to you guys! I see way more diversity in indeterminate varieties (not sure if that's just my impression or if it's reality), and I love trying different flavours. My favourite varieties for eating are Abe Lincoln, Cherokee Purple, Kellogg's Breakfast, Great White. Even the ones we use just for canning are indeterminate: San Marzano, Roma, Amish Paste. But we like to make mixed harvest tomato sauces too. Cherokee Purple is excellent combined with some standard-tasting tomatoes! All-white tomato sauces are okay but it's kinda weird having their fruitiness on pasta lol

[@cblair8501]

We have similar tastes in tomatoes 🍅!

[@FloraM44]

@@cblair8501 nice!! Do you have any faves I didn't list? I'm growing 66 varieties this year so maybe I'll get to try some new faves!

[@hollysharvest]

Great video, as always! The rust discussion was interesting. I live in Southern California, where figs grow like weeds, and I've never seen rust on a fig tree. I think it might have something to do with our climate. Our humidity is very low once you get away from the coast, and it almost never rains during the warm season. Our rainy season is when figs are mostly dormant. P.S. I'm moving toward more determinate tomato varieties for exactly the reasons you mentioned. It's around 100 degrees here for about 4 months in the warm season and so indeterminate tomatoes just won't survive the summer.

[@LazyDogFarm]

Lucky you to not have to deal with fig rust!

[@diannevaldez8670]

@@LazyDogFarm or the humidity. I live in the SW and have heat to deal with but little humidity. Having both would be more than I want to think about. My son just moved near you (St. Claire?) and he will have heat and humidity to deal with. :/

[@mindypereda9660]

I'm in Southern California also and I agree totally. I'm growing determinate tomatoes this year and just a handful of indeterminate.

[@josephauld6565]

I like determinant they are full of fruit.

[@travisevans7502]

I was watching a KZbinr who was saying that you want to spray your fruit trees before a rain because that's when the spores pop he treats several orchards it seemed to work pretty good for me last year I made the mistake of plant a apple tree with 4 different grafted varieties which most aren't recommended for my climate you can grow them but I definitely have to spray for apple scab

[@janetlavoie2441]

Best information regarding the tomatoes I've found. Thanks.

[@nmdispatchlady]

While I am in the southwest, I am also at 6500' There are years that we can't get anything in the ground until Memorial day because it is still to cold at night, but within a few weeks we will be over 100. What I have learned to do is plant when I can and WAIT, keep them alive till the heat passes usually around the beginning of August and we have a late summer early fall tomato harvest. I plant both and if I can find a place to park them in the shade during the heat of the day I will get a few tomatoes. If I can get them out around Mothers day I will have some fruit set before the heat sets in and get some during the summer but not a ton. I like getting them later in the year, not nearly as hot while I'm canning. I have also tried the southern ripe and they do better than the others dealing with the heat.

[@tamararoberts9307]

I LOVE your over shirt ! Love the colors. Reminds me of peacocks ❤️ I want one !

[@archstanton9703]

I’m growing a mix of both inter determinate and inter-determinate tomatoes as follows: Bella Rosa, Red Snapper, Rubee Dawn, Ace 55, Bush Steak, Celebrity, Early Girl, Estiva, Mochi, Torongina, Black Fire, Sunrise Bumble Bee, and a few dwarfs. After last year I said to myself less is more and here I go again growing more tomatoes than I have room for, but hopefully I’ll get lucky with one of these varieties. I won’t be growing Black Krim, Chef’s Choice Black, Flamenco, Hossinator, Roadster, Grand Marshall, Thunderbird, and a few others that didn’t do very well here in our desert garden.

[@wildhawker]

Estiva is one of my favorites here in Las Vegas.

[@archstanton9703]

@@wildhawker That’s good to hear. Maybe it’ll do well in AZ. Thanks for the reply!

[@vickycollins6656]

Travis, I fell for the popular option that indeterminate are better than determinates.

[@EventHorizon34]

The best indeterminate variety I’ve grown is Better Boy and Big Beef (hoping to grow the plus types in these varieties for spotted wilt virus protection this year) with limited success with Cherokee Purple. Tried a determinate variety (Amelia) last year and it didn’t work out to well. Of course it was a last minute decision and it was late in the growing season. Going to get a much earlier start and go from there.

[@jamestboehm6450]

Pueblo peppers took longer to germinate when I grew them. They are a very good pepper.

[@tambrasmith4199]

I plant some of mine in the shade.. I’m in central Texas… the Abe Lincoln’s and sweet 100’s did great for me last year but the tomato cages kept falling over… never had that problem before.. I have sum hossinator tomato seedlings going this year… I usually don’t plant determinant tomato plants

[@tambrasmith4199]

We will see how they do…

[@kittiew260]

My tree definitely wasn't rust. It was from cold shipping. I'm trying to bounce back under grow lights. It dropped all the leaves within a week, receiving it. Frost damage, for sure. I wish I could get outside, but 8 inches of snow is preventing that. Still 9 weeks away from transplanting it.

[@LazyDogFarm]

Let us know if it doesn’t make it. We’ll be glad to send another.

[@grandeernesto4756]

Cinnamon is another great anti fungal that is plant safe, I sprinkle it on my strawberry plants before they germinate and it helps

[@reddevil331]

Are you on your own now? Always liked the content! Used to seeing you somewhere else. Keep up the good work!

[@LazyDogFarm]

Yeah we started this channel back in April of 2021.

[@MrSnapper1d]

They commercial grow tomatoes here across the river and use determinate tomatoes and they are the shipping tomatoes that are hard.Thats mostly what the plants are that are sold around here.Not the best tomatoes but they are almost perfectly round.Nice looking but lack the flavor and are hard even up until they go bad.Now for good tomatoes the old indeterminate tomatoes are the best.Big,thick mater and mayonnaise sandwiches are all I want!!!!!!

[@malcolmt7883]

I just like to see how high my tomato trees can get, had some 8 footers last year.

[@JunkyardGardener]

The fam and extended family is really counting on me this year for a tomato harvest so I'm going all-in 😂 . Started seeds the last week of January due to my location going to have to step up my determinates until my restock of nature safe for pre plant arrives after using it last year I don't see myself growing without it. Feel like I had my teeth pulled after paying that shipping 😂 . When we gonna get that LazyDog coupon code ! Shame we can't buy direct from the source! I purchased 300lbs just so it made since

[@LazyDogFarm]

I know. I need to talk to the Nature Safe folks.

[@daleharris6213]

Hey Travis, I was going back and rewatching some videos from a few months ago and in the video about changing your drip irrigation setup you were showing a jar of your fermented hot sauce and asking if anybody had any suggestions for cutting the 'heat' of the sauce. I make my own Red Savina Habanero hot sauce, too, and have found that carrot juice works well for tempering the heat some without drastically changing the flavor profile.

[@cliftonmcandrew8984]

Hey Travis, I just order some of your turkey creek seeds. When do you plant your tomatoes?

[@LazyDogFarm]

Mine are already up and going in trays. We'll probably put them in the ground in late March/early April.

[@C3Voyage]

Here's my pros/cons as you asked. Determinate or indeterminate, the limitation is pollen viability, which shortens the season, in really hot and cold climates. Determinates don't set better in the heat than indeterminates. What it seems likely is you're timing the general finish of a determinate with the onset of heat that desiccates pollen. That's a good strategy. The plants can handle the heat if they have shade during the afternoon. Without shade, the plants will stress and that leads to all kinds of problems--insects, disease, and other issues such as nutrient uptake...and more. The main plus for indeterminates is the large selection over determinates, especially heirlooms, for the home gardener. The last issue with determinates is that most are hybrids which knocks out saving your own seed which many prefer. I do see some advances in determinates in major ag targeting home gardeners, but they're mostly busting out hybrids, for obvious reasons, still. When my tomato genetics hit the market, it will change the nature of heat and cold fruit set allowing the fruit to grow (no flower drop) in any environment the plant itself will grow. That means the hottest and coldest of areas. Would that be helpful?

[@LazyDogFarm]

That would be very helpful!

[@wildhawker]

This may be the last year I grow indeterminate tomatoes (I’m in Las Vegas and the production falls off by mid-July, then disease pressure sets in with the monsoons). I’m trying a few hybrids this spring-Chef’s Choice Pink, Purple Boy, and Big Beef; we’ll see how they do. If they don’t produce well in the peak season I may try to run some Red Snapper for a fall crop.

[@sislertx]

Heat gets em

[@sislertx]

Not mine. They only have in determinate...or maybe some one comes gets them all.

[@Justme-sb8mn]

You’re 100% correct on maters. Only thing is indeterminate maters offer better flavor size and variety in my opinion. Single slice on a Blt comes from old school indeterminate. I still do brandywine every year but I try new varieties trying to find that magic. If I could find a determinate with the flavor and meaty flesh I’d love to grow it. Any suggestions Travis?

[@LazyDogFarm]

Hard to beat Red Snapper IMO.

[@Justme-sb8mn]

@@LazyDogFarm I’m going to try them out. I’m picky about flesh to gel ratio but I have watched you grow them for a few years

[@bobbun9630]

This might not be the most popular point of view, but... I live in the Arkansas Ozarks. Yes, it's further north, but because it's also hundreds of miles from the nearest climate moderating body of water, the climate is still quite harsh in the summer. I'm quite jealous of truly deep South growers who can enjoy a long season for cool weather crops in the winter--spring here sometimes seems like a two week period between frostbite season and heatstroke season.. Anyway, I can expect 90's with occasional 100's consistently during July and August, fairly often in June and September. I plant indeterminate tomatoes, and they do just fine.

[@robertlamarjr1702]

Great video. Thank you sir. Can you ship to Texas?

[@LazyDogFarm]

Sure can!

[@floridacoder]

If you were doing a upick operation and wanted something to pick over a longer period of time would you do indeterminates? Or determinates and space out the planting? In the deep south. And using shade cloth when it gets real hot.

[@LazyDogFarm]

I would do determinates and maybe stagger the plantings a little. More tomatoes per square foot without much trellising effort.

[@jo-annjewett198]

Our tomato season starts early and ends by the end of May to early June. So determinate just makes sense but I like to plant a couple indeterminate just because. Maybe just maybe one will survive. We don’t have mild summers!! Did I mention I already have tomatoes on the vine. This one is Celebrity Plus. I live on the Texas Gulf Coast.

[@rickjay4639]

I think the issue with your short season has more to do with the humidity than the temperature. I live in northern California and we get temperatures in the 110 range every summer. The tomatoes don't thrive in those temps but they do survive. The thing is the humidity is low like 20 30 percent. That's also why we have such a big problem with fire.

[@LazyDogFarm]

Good point. The humidity here can be suffocating.

[@msmarygardner]

@@LazyDogFarm gotta cut through it here in florida

[@misstlc7136]

😂The mustache didn't quite fool me. Lol

[@texasgardenerrobert8341]

What happened to your brass siphon fertilizer setup?

[@LazyDogFarm]

I still have it. But the open 5 gal bucket can get funky after a while, so I decided to go with the contained injector system for now.

[@davidcarmichael8006]

Hey Travis who makes that green house and what size?

[@LazyDogFarm]

Atlas Greenhouses in Alapaha, GA -- 10'x16'

[@hmmm..2733]

Thanks so much! I’ll be canning tomatoes again this year…last year I did all indeterminate. I squished then froze the tomatoes in jars until I was ready to can. This year will do lots of determinates and see how it goes. QUESTION: I need to transplant my tiny fig tree I rooted a year ago. When is the best time to transplant? While it’s still dormant?

[@LazyDogFarm]

Wait until you're done with 40 degrees or below in your area.

[@jasongoodman3174]

If you don't have an injector for fertilizing seedlings, I have a 1 gal spray pump. what is the best way to fertilize seedlings

[@LazyDogFarm]

Just mix it in the sprayer and spray the top of the seedlings a few times a week.

[@Sanecrist]

I tried determinate tomatoes last year and I will never go out of my way to grow them again. Not to say I’d never grow them. But it was a terrible experience. Like you said, if you’re in the middle of the country indeterminates will work better. I’m zone 6a. My determinate struggles went as follows: 1. Because the plant makes all its fruit at once it took so long to get a crop. And the plants struggled the entire time. It was slow growing in the spring, which is standard. And slow growing in the heat, which is also standard. Considering I plant late compared to you, the determinates got hit with high temperatures while still trying to bounce back from the cool nights we get because our seasons are… more seasonal than the south. It was a lot to expect a plant to put out all its fruit at once during that. 2. Once they did have fruit, it was flavorless. Just a disappointment. Some plants, I had to harvest green and wait to ripen in the house because I had to save them from frost. The ones that were ripe when picked were just bad. I might as well have gone to the grocery store. 3. What a pain to harvest! Sure the plants are shorter, but you can’t prune them! They get so bushy, you have to move leaves out of the way, which snaps the vine. So you pick everything that was hanging on that vine and still have to wait for the greener ones to ripen to can them. 4. Because of all that, I still never had enough ripe tomatoes to can a big batch. Which is why I was excited to try the determinates. My issues might have been mitigated by using chemical fertilizer, but I’m just not going to do that. If I want to can tomatoes, I’d rather plant enough indeterminates and plan to can multiple times. This year, I think I’ll try buying from an auction for maters to can. That tomato fiasco was so frustrating. I don’t think so would handle it again.

[@workinprogress3609]

I came to this decision about green beans. It was a lot easier going to the local farmer to get my green beans to can.

[@josephauld6565]

Is there anything against planting 2 plants together?

[@b.p432]

Indeterminate maters don't work well for me either. 7b. Red Snapper is my favorite too. How much agrothrive are you adding to your injector for seedlings?

[@LazyDogFarm]

Just a splash or two. Maybe 4 oz or so. But I feed them every time I water.

[@Shelzbells]

What is the perlite for again??? I'm assuming to keep the fungus gnats out of the soil???

[@LazyDogFarm]

Keeps the soil from crusting, helps with aeration, and yeah -- fungus gnats.

[@Shelzbells]

@@LazyDogFarm Ok great Thank You

[@Shelzbells]

@@LazyDogFarm Where do I find that brand of perlite you mentioned? Im not finding it anywhere

[@palmsandsand]

First year growing tomatoes in full, but if seed germination is any indication, I’ll say my determinates are leading out of the gate.

[@jasonostrowski3972]

Hey Travis I received my Conadria from you guys and your right noticed a little rust. Oh well it happens. My question is I have had it in my green house keeping it watered for about a week now. Came out of shipping shock just fine. When do I need to put in the ground. Thought about waiting until I know for sure frost is done so I don’t risk popping the leaves off. Please help

[@LazyDogFarm]

I'd wait until your 100% sure you're done with 40 degrees or below outside.

[@tentuxboy]

Hey Travis, any idea when you may have the Turkey Creek tomato seeds available on your website for sale?

[@LazyDogFarm]

Hopefully tomorrow or definitely by early next week.

[@tentuxboy]

@@LazyDogFarm Great! Thanks!

[@79PoisonBreaker]

do you plant the indeterminant tomatos closer (1 per foot) since they dont need the same room determinants do?

[@LazyDogFarm]

I haven't in the past, but I could!

[@greganderson2740]

I tried growing the Toronjina as you had recommended them previously. To me, they have an orange like citrus flavor where as the sun sugar has more of a sweet tomato flavor. I like them both but I prefer the Sun Sugar personally.

[@LazyDogFarm]

I can see that. I’m a big fan of the citrusy flavor.

[@shadyacrefarm1005]

I think the sun sugar is the best. It’s like tomato-candy.

[@WhatWeDoChannel]

Another reason I choose determinate tomatoes is that they seem to get the most attention from plant breeders so they tend to have the best disease resistance. Klaus

[@LazyDogFarm]

That is true.

[@Battleforabilliondollars]

How did you secure the plastic to the green house your standing in? Because I have a frame just like that I want to turn into a greenhouse

[@LazyDogFarm]

The sides of the greenhouse have these "channels" where the plastic is secured with wiggle wire.

[@jeffmartin693]

I think we all have about the same amout of time, north or south, to get the tomatos grown. down south you just get to start sooner, while up north we have to wait. seems you guys are eating tomatos before we even get blooms. I grow both determant and indetermant, just for harvest times for canning.

[@justinhunter3330]

I purchased the large pumpkin on your site. I live in central Florida when should I plant them ?

[@LazyDogFarm]

I'd plant them as soon you're done with any freezing temps. You'll want to transplant them if you can.

[@justinhunter3330]

With the hot summers in Florida that won’t hurt them correct ?

[@emilyneal7888]

I haven’t seen any budding yet on my fig trees. Should I fertilize them before they break dormancy or after.? What’s best to fertilize them with.

[@rivercrockett343]

Same here, no budding, our fig tree looks dead so far this year (Feb 20, 2023, Zone 8A). Our fig hasn't produced more than 3-4 figs since the ice storm two years ago when it died back to the ground and then sprouted up. I guess I'll wait...

[@LazyDogFarm]

I usually fertilize mine with Agrothrive Fruit and Flower once they break dormancy.

[@marvinbrock960]

Which Determinants taste like a Better Boy or Beefmaster? The determinants I’ve tried just don’t have the pop.

[@LazyDogFarm]

I'm not a huge fan of Better Boy, but my favorite determinates are Red Snapper and Roadster.

[@ThatBritishHomestead]

I grow tomatoes based on what they look like LOL i love anything thats unusual. we are growing 48 varieties so you know its something we are obsessed with lol i think most of indeterminate

[@Pamsgarden213]

What is on top of your seedlings?

[@LazyDogFarm]

Perlite

[@Angela_Alaimo]

The only place I could find Toronjina tomato seeds last year, and too late to plant, was in the Johnny's greenhouse/high tunnel section. This year they are gone. Where are you getting those seeds from, please?

[@Angela_Alaimo]

@Jasmine Street Farm Thank you. The search for the elusive Toronjina has me so intrigued I may break down and invest, haha, in a packet

[@LazyDogFarm]

I got mine from Johnny's a couple months ago. Didn't realize they were out.

[@Angela_Alaimo]

Haha! Are y'all ready for a laugh? I 86'd the catalog and went to the Johnny's site. Not only are Toronjina tomato seeds available, they're on sale!

[@wildhawker]

I noticed that you prefer larger plants for indeterminate tomatoes. Do you pot up your indeterminates (from plugs to into 3”+ pots) to give them room to grow into larger plants before transplanting into the garden? Or do you just let them grow larger in the trays and not worry about root-binding?

[@LazyDogFarm]

Yes we do "up-pot" the indeterminates. I like a taller plant with those so I can plant them really deep.

[@wildhawker]

@@LazyDogFarm Thank you for the quick and helpful reply!

[@CarrieNita]

Torangino growth habit is so much healthier

[@LazyDogFarm]

I agree. Much more manageable too.

[@FloraM44]

Is it the heat or the strong sun that causes your indeterminate tomatoes to die off? I'm curious if a shade cloth would extend their life?

[@wildhawker]

I grow in Las Vegas. I’ve found that shade cloth can extend the time the plant grows, but the production drops off as the heat destroys the pollen and the plant throws the bloom. Eventually you deal with disease pressure when the monsoons hit, and you might as well pull the plants and replant for fall.

[@cynthiamartinez5884]

Shade cloth would help keep it from dying (at least not as fast) but the heat would prevent pollination. They would produce again in the fall but then you'd have to water them twice a day all summer waiting for temps to go down.

[@wildhawker]

@@cynthiamartinez5884 Precisely. Trying to hold them over summer is a pain, plus they’re usually pretty beat up by fall with disease.

[@FloraM44]

Makes sense, thanks for the answers! I'm way up in Canada so the timing of things in different places is so interesting!

[@timpetersfarmgarden9792]

Travis is your green house a snap together house

[@LazyDogFarm]

No it's got some pretty heavy duty screws that hold it together.