THE MOST PERFECT TOMATO!

[@davidsinclair4138]

I planted 6 Celebrity tomato plants in Dutch buckets, used Master Blend fertilizer . got over 60 tomatoes off the first level, middle and top level to go, Never had so many tomatoes Woo! Hoo!

[@greenthumbacresfarm7068]

I can tell you herbicide drift is a real thing and something I had to deal with this year. They sprayed on a too windy of a day and my gardens all got drifted on. I am surrounded by soy or corn fields on 3 sides of my property. Corn this year so they sprayed the heavy broadleaf and awful stuff called atrazine. I had to replant alot and throw away alot of produce that was close to harvest.

[@LazyDogFarm]

No doubt it's a real thing. But fortunately, we haven't ever had any issues with that here although the spraying is rampant. Even the guys in the airplanes seem to be pretty dang good about only spraying what they're supposed to be spraying. They use a chemical additive that supposedly makes it drop faster and not drift.

[@greenthumbacresfarm7068]

Midwest... home to endless acres of corn and soybeans. My recent research has lead me to discover that about 70 million gallons of Atrazine is sprayed annually and is becoming an issue with runoff contaminating fresh water supplies that is used for drinking water.

[@canadiangemstones7636]

I love the homespun wisdom that Tickle drops, either in the garden or his awesome show, Moonshiners. Ever talk to Tim, or is that a parole violation? Sure do miss seeing old Tim ‘n Tickle roaming the woods, making shine!

[@LazyDogFarm]

I haven't seen my old bud Tim in a while. He's been busy working on getting all his legal shine endeavors off the ground.

[@beverlyboyce1041]

My dad would make a high ridge of soil and then planted the slips on top of ridge. It worked great

[@LazyDogFarm]

That's the way I usually do it in the tilled plots. It does work great.

[@judyjohnson1012]

Glad you enjoyed that samich!!!

[@carochiqui1]

Darn! That sandwich has my mouth watering!

[@OldesouthFarm]

I grew my slips from some sweet potatoes I bought from the store. I put up some shade cloth over my tomatoes. It has been so hot, the plants were suffering. My tomatoes are happy now. I also have been using my lawn clippings dried as mulch, using what I can for free.

[@LazyDogFarm]

Sometimes the heat can really work on those newly planted slips. But once they get rooted in the soil, they should take the heat just fine.

[@TMesser74]

I just grabbed some organic sweet potatoes feom Publix and put them in a pot . I pulled the slips and Tried rooting them in water first. That didn’t go so well. So I planted them straight in the garden on three occasions. That worked best. But the best ones were when it had just rained and the ground was saturated. I didn’t have to do anything to them and they are thriving! First time with sweet potatoes and looking forward to harvest!

[@LazyDogFarm]

Good to hear you were able to get them going!

[@elizabethdelzer1067]

I am about to plant my two varieties of Sweet Potatoes, Georgia Jet & Bauldaguard. I am so very excited, but yet scared. I Love Sweet Potatoes !!! Prayers for A Good Harvest in 100+ days !!!

[@LazyDogFarm]

You got this! Sweet potatoes are easy to grow! Enjoy your planting!

[@jtharp9265]

Yummy yummy to that mator sandwich travis . God bless you & Mrs Brooklyn & the Fam.....🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@dand7056]

My chickens keep getting in the fence and pecking the Paul Robeson tomatoes. They know what is good. It is my favorite tomato so far . I hope it hangs in there in this heat. Great looking sandwich with the bicolor.

[@localunion874]

Haha thanks for the heads up gotta keep my lone paul robeson survivor away from them. Been having to really baby it though think its finally taking off.

[@diannemiller4754]

Oh my I surely do love me a nice mater sandwich. August can't get here soon enough.

[@vfmnx]

Love the cannel! Catching up on some of these older videos ❤

[@tonyhamilton4861]

You should toast that sandwich after you assemble it for the ultimate mater sandwich

[@vickihalverson6328]

I'm growing Vardaman and Covington this year here in Kansas. I'll let you know how they turn out. I've grown Vardaman before and they did well, but this is my first year for the Covington. Sweet taters are one of my favorite plants to grow, its fun to dig them and see what little gems you get.

[@karenzorn773]

That mater sandwich looked fabulous. It's definitely mater time.

[@johnoshiro8885]

I'm growing Okinawan sweet potatoes again in potato bags as I do every year. This year I grew my own slips but I got the original slips from Baker Creek. I saw this year they sold out of the slips quick. They like a good bit of phosphorus so I add a few handfuls of bone meal when I plant them.

[@LazyDogFarm]

I tried those one year. Not a real heavy producer for us, but they were quite tasty.

[@johnoshiro8885]

They sell these at Asian markets in So.California for $10 per pound. I bet you could get a lot of money selling them in the south, too.

[@nikitavanhoose405]

I grew Kellogg's Breakfast last year, and it produced some of the largest tomatoes I've ever grown, or seen. I had one that was almost as big as a volleyball, and I'm not exaggerating. Hillbilly Potato leaf tomatoes make some monsters, and so do Gold Medal tomatoes. One of my favorite plain red heirloom tomatoes is one named Mortgage Lifter.

[@fuzebear5583]

You are just too funny. I just got my sweet potato this week.

[@patricklittledew6261]

I have 14 different types of Heirloom's going. Saute red onions, fresh soft mozzarella, sliced tomatoes, stack them up on plate, reduced balsamic and olive oil, finish with basil, salt and pepper. Serve with warm bread! Chef I once worked for called it Tomatoes in all their glory

[@LazyDogFarm]

Yum!

[@mirandam8021]

Wow I want to try that

[@carolynmoody9460]

Blessings ❤️

[@Shelzbells]

Oh boy , I cannot wait to bite into some of my tomatoes. We are zone 5B so a bit behind you all, but it wont be long. Im growing Probably 30 or so varieties this year. I have maybe 45 plants. I will be feeding the neighbors LOL

[@theone031]

I promise you theres nothing better than a homegrown tomato sandwich! If you do not like a BLT then we can't be friends lol.

[@krmcc01]

I usually get my first ripe tomato here in southeast TN around the 4th of July, and damn it's so refreshing.

[@robertswaney6484]

Got to have your Dukes to have a good tomato sandwich. I grew up with Dukes.

[@LazyDogFarm]

The best!

[@leahness3588]

That samich looked amazing. I need to order some Dukes so I can have the real southern experience. I planted Paul Robeson for the first time last year ...it's a winner baby!!! I also had great success with Black Krim, Dr Wyches, Jet Star and Super sauce. Love me some mators.🍅🍅🍅🍅❤😁👍

[@btwh007]

We have had a hard time with our tomatoes. Squash bugs and stink bugs stung them so bad and the plants started dying when they were full of small green tomatoes. This week we pulled them all up and hope to do better next year. Yours look great and I love your channel.

[@LazyDogFarm]

Sorry to hear they bit the dust so early. Most of ours are hanging in there. They look rough on days with intense heat, and then they'll somewhat recover on overcast days.

[@Scott-jf1nh]

Enjoyed seeing Paul Robeson tomato. I have 2 of them growing right now and they have small green fruit right now. Really looking forward to seeing how they do. The plant itself is a muscular specimen. It took the seeds 19 whole days to germinate in March. All the other heirlooms I have took 3-6 days. I almost gave up on them. I’m in very N Atlanta, GA zone 7B and yes, we get lots of mid 90s and 100s in the Summer too.

[@cinderoftheland1496]

You are so cruel! I just planted my tomatoes here in zone 5. My mouth was watering! No Dukes here in western NY but will ask my family, who will be visiting from the south to smuggle some in for me 😂

[@markware7748]

Hey Cinder... Duke's (It's Got Twang) may well be available from Weis Markets in Binghampton or at least the Duke's website says so.

[@johnoshiro8885]

I get my Dukes from Amazon.

[@hilltophomeplace6802]

I grew Paul Robeson’s and Black from Tula’s this year as well as the Cherokee Purple and other varieties. My opinion is the dark tomatoes beat out all others for flavor. They’re just delicious. For the yellow tomatoes, I grew an heirloom variety called Claude Brown’s Yellow Giant from Sustainable Mountain Agricultural Center and it beat out the Kellogg’s. It was very tasty. Love them all and will grow them all again, but the ones I mentioned were just the best in my opinion. Take care.

[@tommathews3964]

I'm with you on the black maters!! I grow a good mix every year, Paul, Black Krim, Cherokee Purple, Black Brandywine, etc. Didn't grow any Black from Tula this year, thanks for reminding me of that beauty!

[@hilltophomeplace6802]

@@tommathews3964 I got it from Seed Savers. Very good!

[@tommathews3964]

@@hilltophomeplace6802 I believe that's where I got mine last time I grew them, which has been a few years. Thanks again for the reminder! I may second crop some of them!

[@rickthelian2215]

I like that Alphabetical Order Planting Method 😉 Enjoy those Tomatoes Travis...😀🇦🇺

[@LazyDogFarm]

Thanks 👍

[@marysills4317]

I’m growing sweet potatoes for the first time. I only found some Beauregard.

[@cityofoaks]

Me too. I don't know what variety I've got... I rooted my own slips from organic grocery store sweet potatoes. I didn't know that there are so many varieties. I'm getting an education!

[@citylotgardening6171]

We always plant Georgia Jet variety it grows the best for us here in central Indiana

[@Chris-op7yt]

serious tomato envy here, where winter has just begun.

[@christinecrowley7132]

Your a lucky,well feed man.

[@LazyDogFarm]

Thanks Christine!

[@caseyarmstrong7064]

Travis, as I mentioned in my last post when you were discussing about pruning them to 1 main line. I live in zone 9b and we get 20/30 days of 100 degree +. I did exactly what you did, and my plants/tomatoes looked horrible. I firmly believe as you say that they just can’t handle the heat. They need all the plant to help shade itself, and help produce great looking tomatoes. I’ve done that this year and my tomatoes are looking great. Great video man.

[@khaskin18]

Hey! Me too! Are you in Texas? Our tomato's leaves are all curled. They're producing fruit, but idk if they'll get to their full potential. I'm thinking of having my DH build a structure to put up shade cloth. It's just so much time, money, effort to grow plants that just don't put out. Our potatoes and corn were kind of a bust. And I can't live on peppers alone! 🤣🤦🏻‍♀️

[@jameshall9873]

Yes I'm thinking that is the problem single steming in the south hot weather cuz I have one Arkansas traveler that I single stem cuz I didnt have enough cages and it did kinda what his did kinda look welted at the top but the other Arkansas travelers that's in cages and bushy is heathy as can be so I think you on to something with that

[@khaskin18]

@@jameshall9873 ok thanks! I've heard that people leave the suckers on and let them get bushy so they shade themselves. I have other non-edible plants that have a bunch of dry, crispy stuff on them, but I leave it to shade the new growth instead of trimming it up to look nice. I guess it'll work with maters too! Lol

[@caseyarmstrong7064]

@@khaskin18 I am in Fresno California

[@melissasullivan1658]

The issue with that though is that despite them having enough shade it’s still too hot to pollinate, so you may have healthy leaves but you’ll get a poor fruit. For me, I say screw the leaves. They can curl and look hideous as long as the fruit is still getting pollinated/grown before it’s way too hot to ripen. Edit: Oh I’m in sacramento, btw.

[@amyshaler7134]

I planted Vardaman sweet potatoes this year. Got the slips from Steele Plant Co with your link. Growing them in raised beds, and the description mentioned them being more of a bush variety. Thanks for the tomato update. I have spoken to many friends that are also suffering tomato plant loss this year. The first ones of mine to die have not been my indeterminate, it’s been the Bella Rosa and Snapper. Grew beautiful plants and set lots of fruit before the plant just started dying. I’ll investigate closer for some of the problems mentioned. I honestly think it’s been the crazy dry and hot weather. I did, however, get a few tomatoes already. My lemon boy and black krim are still cranking out tomatoes.

[@LazyDogFarm]

That's crazy that the Red Snappers died. They're always my most vigorous and hardy tomato plants of any of the varieties we plant.

[@WhatWeDoChannel]

That tomato sandwich looks really good, I can’t wait! In other years I seem to recall that you didn’t sucker your heirlooms, maybe all that extra foliage helps keep the plants protected from that hot sun. Klaus

[@LazyDogFarm]

The extra foliage probably does help with the sun damage, but having the air flow seems to help with disease and thorough insecticide application.

[@denniswillie949]

Hey Travis we have our Beauregard and Puerto Rican red slips planted about 5 weeks ago they’re up and running trying keep grass out of them we are in the process of planting another row this evening just to try . Enjoy your videos and sharing your knowledge Thanks and God Bless

[@LazyDogFarm]

Good deal! Thanks for sharing Dennis!

[@kirstmlarson1]

Last year in central Ohio, we had a long June heat wave of over 90 for a few weeks. It really stressed my heirloom tomatoes and they succumbed to disease earlier in the season than the should have. This year, I’ve planted about 25 heirlooms, and 25 of the Bella Rosas.

[@LazyDogFarm]

Good to have a backup plan with those determinates.

[@izzyguerrero3909]

I'm just growing tomato from seed.the weather looks nice

[@poodledaddles1091]

Thanks

[@nancytharp8213]

Drooling on the tomato sandwich tasting. Thanks for sharing 🙏 😎 🏖 🏝

[@BamaRollOn]

Zone 8a here in central Alabama and we are waiting on our first ripe tomatoes. We have had a couple ripe ground cherries! We “planted” Beauregard sweet potatoes left over from last season in a small raised bed. We harvested enough slips to plant 2 larger raised beds and the small bed we used to grow the slips. Loved not having to buy slips this year!

[@LazyDogFarm]

Nice!

[@michaelmorris1802]

I planted Vardem? This year, never planted a bush variety before, thought I would give it a try. Also have a pile of volunteers that came up from pin taters I didn’t get up last year. Just letting them grow… just to see what if anything grows underneath those… they happen to be I a space between two of my garden plots as I reconfigure to something a little more manageable than a single 50 X 200 plot.

[@nickparton8324]

Man oh man that mater samich looked good !

[@michaelharvey6038]

oh yeah great sandwich

[@tommathews3964]

You're killing me with that mater sammich! That's living, my friend! I thought you'd like Paul Robeson, he's a good one for sure! I've got Paul, Kellogg's, Cherokee Purple, Black Krim, and Brandywine going for my heirlooms. I've pulled 3 up so far with similar symptoms to yours. That's one reason I plant so many! Got fruit coming on but still a little way til sammich time! Looking good on those sweet taters!

[@LazyDogFarm]

Not sure why I waited so long to try Paul Robeson, but it's definitely a keeper!

[@tommathews3964]

@@LazyDogFarm Those heirlooms are a pain to grow and take care of but they're worth it to me!

[@billyrichardson4306]

I got the bush porto Rico and vardeman (24 plant combo ) . Been going for a week and a half or so.

[@junkyardgardener8690]

Trav wish you would consider doing a podcast here and there so we could grill you with questions and shoot general gardening BS! My first year doing sweet potatos. need advice on decease and insect management! I'm sure it's coming.and weather to hill at planting, during maturity or to hill at all.i also plan to use NS 8-5-5 at planting and Agro thrive 3-3-5 there after if that suffices. Edit : I'm going to be two weeks behind the channel on planting so I'm sure my questions will be answered in the next sweet potato update.

[@LazyDogFarm]

I'm considering doing a membership-based live stream. Haven't ironed out all the details yet, but it's very likely.

[@saraschoen9818]

Trying to kill me down there with that tomato sammich already 🥹

[@mattpeacock5208]

That one you cut open for a sammich has no snot in it at all!!!!! Perfect for sauce....or a sammich....or just eating by itself

[@LazyDogFarm]

There's another one we'll show next Monday that is meaty like that as well.

[@naturesbenefits7407]

I think it will be delicious 😍

[@rickjay4639]

I am definitely jealous. We won't have ripe tomatoes until the end of June maybe the first week of July. But we then have fresh tomatoes until October sometimes November.

[@MrSymbolic7]

I finally beat you to getting a crop in the ground , I planted my sweet potatoes back in April and they are taking over even in a drought my backyard raised bed looks like Jurassic Park and my wife hates it !

[@LazyDogFarm]

Haha! I bet it does!

[@lindawilbert3202]

I got sweet potatoes for the grocery store where they sell locally grown. I thought that I have a good chance to get a decent harvest. So I have no idea what kind I have. To get slips I just put them in some soil and kept them moist. Once they had sprouted I placed those in water to grow roots. I'm in zone 8b

[@hardstylzz5024]

Trying this myself got 2 sweet potatoes already ready to cut into slips gonna put this in 3 gal containers, looks like might have 8 to 10 containers to put them in.

[@AliciasInTheKitchen]

Now you are just trying to make us all jealous with that mater sandwich! Kellogg's Breakfast is my favorite for making tomato sandwiches, but it's gotta have Blue Plate instead of Dukes. I just put up my first garden tour of the year this morning, and I forgot to tag it for #bigmater!

[@allantrafford6262]

You need to start a forum.

[@tifreakhachey]

I envy you soooo much! Our maters will only be ready in August! Zone 4B upper Canada. Took your style/advice and planted the heavy producer hybrids. Also planted about twenty other variety just for fun. Lots of kinds nowadays. Will see what turns out!

[@adryawebb2556]

It's hard to pick a top favorite tomato variety but my top 3 are Supersteak hybrid, Beefmaster hybrid and Mortgage Lifter

[@randybingham1342]

Nice maters Travis, we're still waiting on ours but they look good. Danny at Deep South inspired me to try and grow my own slips this year. I used a few of our stored Georgia Jets from last year and had great success. We've got sweet potatoes tucked in everywhere!! 🤣🤣

[@leroneerwin7605]

WOOWEEE! That sammich bro. GOT! TUH BE MO CAREFUL!

[@LazyDogFarm]

Gotta be very careful -- only for professionals ... lol

[@melissac3313]

I had a lot of problems with my heirlooms last summer. I took a break from them this year and planted hybrids this season. But their taste does make up for it.

[@Floreypottery]

Probably right on the heat been their I used some asprin spray to help mine come out of stress

[@tailgategardeners7752]

Planted centennial and covingtons so far. Waiting for our beauregards to come in from Steele now. Also, we set up a shade cloth in our mater plot to see if it would help us extend the life of our maters in this Louisiana heat. I’ll let you know if it helps. Great video as always.

[@LazyDogFarm]

Definitely keep us updated on the shade cloth!

[@creative227]

I think I’ll try shade cloth on my tomatoes. The heat is early this year I hope I can keep them going all summer!

[@great0789]

I feel like I should let you know the secret to fast and easy tomato picking with clean vine breaks every time. Put your finger on the knuckle just above the fruit and press while simultaneously pulling up on the fruit. They immediately detach every time. Awesome video like usual!!! Thank you. My son still says alright alright alright…. All the time. It is his catch phrase now. Lol

[@cityofoaks]

Thanks. I'm going to try that.

[@matthewking2209]

Man that mater sammich had me drooling, maybe you have a plot that gets a little shade for them heirloom maters next year. I thought the Kellogg did good for you usually? If you cut some draws with a few leaf nodes and put them in a mason jar with some water they will grow roots in about five days.

[@LazyDogFarm]

Kelloggs does usually do well, but I'm not surprised we lost a couple plants this year. The plants we still have are looking good though.

[@metalmartha2571]

Wow it’s amazing to see how beautiful your gardens are! I’m still just putting tomatoes in the ground now I live zone 3B. Was just wondering, when you plant in straw do you worry about snakes and spiders? Lol that’s the only plus of living in a cold climat like I do the spiders never get bigger than your thumbnail legs included lol. Looks like you’re having a fantastic growing Season. Always love your content from your Chanel 🤘🏻

[@LazyDogFarm]

Spiders don't bother me. Snakes do a little. But I've never seen any snakes in the straw.

[@robertkat]

The perfect tomatoes grow in a Green House.

[@LazyDogFarm]

Very true!

[@stephenpeek124]

My favorite heirloom is Cherokee purple. They aren't as productive as modern hybrids (I plant Mortgage Lifter) but the flavor is far superior.

[@dwaynesmith6340]

I agree, but I do love my Mortgage Lifter tomatoes. 🙂

[@cliftonmcandrew4786]

I live in Kern County California we don't get the humidity that you get but we do get 110 in the summer I've never lost a tomato plant they do stop producing because of the Heat

[@LazyDogFarm]

The humidity is rough on them down here.

[@mkc0005]

We made BLTs with our first batch last weekend. So far I've like the Brandywine Red the best followed by the Kellogg's Breakfast and bringing up the rear, the Mortgage Lifter. To me the Mortgage Lifter was a lot waterier than the other 2. We had an armadillo problem the night after we planted and I lost 4 other varieties that were planted but saved these three large varieties. A quick electric fence and we haven't had a problem since.

[@LazyDogFarm]

I've only grown Mortgage Lifter once, and wasn't a huge fan. But many folks swear by it.

[@allantrafford6262]

That Kelloggs looks delicious. Will try them out later this year. I personally like the yellow varieties. Been eating lemon boys like crazy and waiting on the Mr stripeys to ripen up.

[@LazyDogFarm]

Lemon Boy is a good one!

[@INeedABeatDJ]

Have you noticed a difference in Indeterminate pruned vs unpruned in regards to size or total yield? For every article you see to prune, you also see one that says to not prune.

[@LazyDogFarm]

I'm not noticing a huge difference in yield. What I am noticing is that the pruned indeterminates are easier to spray effectively because we can access and coat the entire plant. As a result, we haven't had hardly any insect issues on them. The downside to that is more foliage usually helps protect the plant on really hot days. So it's a catch 22. I do prefer the pruned method though -- just makes for a cleaner, more tidy setup.

[@mysticmeadow9116]

Umm, that mader sammich looks yummy. 🤤 I'm growing food pantry sweets that sprouted before we could eat them all. Should be interesting to see what (if any) grows. Did you check calcium levels in your soil? I'm in 8a GA and I almost lost my maders last year due to deficits in calcium. Now I save my eggshells, wash & dry them, run them in the coffee grinder and top dress. Worked great and saved my crop. Happy Growing!

[@LazyDogFarm]

We did a soil test on all 10 plots back in the spring and they showed that our calcium levels were good. Had a few early determinates with some blossom end rot, but that was it.

[@MIgardener]

That Paul Robeson tomato was beautiful! How’s your giant crimson doing?

[@LazyDogFarm]

It's very productive and seems to handle our extreme humidity okay, but the tomatoes aren't very "giant." The first round of production was a little smaller than a tennis ball. But the later fruits do appear to be getting larger. Is this something you've seen as well?

[@KajunHomestead]

You made me hungry.

[@joshuab738]

Tomatoes: I ended up not single stemming with cord, but leaving 2-3 stems and running up netting this year. Not as wild as my caged ones but not as clean as my single-stemmed ones last year. I have noticed the plants are doing better this year with this system --- bigger, more fruit, larger fruit. I think the additional leaves help a lot. Sweet potatoes: planted my heirloom Korean sweet potatoes this past weekend. Panted a whole 10x4 raised bed of them this year and several pots as they grew so well last year. I have never really worried about spacing for them. I grow my own slips and just try to fill up the area I have with them. They grow so wild once they get started that you can go through and cover up stems to get more roots if there are holes. However, I always end up having to till after sweet potatoes --- so no till seems not to work for me on them. If I don't till after, I can get sweet potatoes that start to come up again the next year even if I miss the smallest root piece -- or so it has seemed to me --- or maybe the type that I am using is more invasive as it is a native Korean (cooler weather) type.

[@Rick3196]

I planted two rows of Georgia Jets. I put fertilize on one row and no fertilize on the other. The vines on the fertilized row are prettier than the unfertilized row. We will see in the end which makes the most sweet taters.

[@LazyDogFarm]

Nice experiment!

[@aaronlangham3884]

They actually are spraying pine plantations heavily now. Considered common practice particularly for loblolly pine. I think this deserves further research into how it can effect gardens.

[@LazyDogFarm]

Interesting. Considering that pine straw is mostly used as plant bedding around here, that seems like that would be prohibitive to the quality of the end product. But I guess any chemical residue would affect trees and shrubs differently than vegetable plants.

[@crystals14acregarden61]

Looking at your 2 rows of trellises, can you run shade cloth from one row to the other somehow? I hate giving up lol

[@LazyDogFarm]

I probably could, but not sure it's worth the effort at this point. We'll probably devise something next year.

[@dstringf]

Kelloggs breakfast tomato is one of my favorite varieties but I just can’t grow them here in the Atlanta metro. A couple of really hot days and they just give up.

[@LazyDogFarm]

Ours did pretty well last year, but it wasn't as hot as this year. The two plants we have are giving us plenty though.

[@r.louiseworley-parsley4208]

I have about 70 heirlooms in 95 to 102 degrees. You did not mention the curly top virus transmitted by leaf hoppers. I considered leaf hoppers just annoying until I saw the damage this year from the virus.

[@simmran1]

I'm glad someone mentioned curly top virus (transmitted by leafhoppers), because when I saw your last video that's the first thing that came to mind. The effect does resemble 2,4D damage, so that's probably why over spray was mention by another viewer. I agree with the above assessment.

[@LazyDogFarm]

I don't know that I've ever seen a leafhopper in my garden, certainly not this year. Definitely something to be on the lookout for though.

[@markware7748]

@@simmran1 I don't seem to have leafhoppers here but aphids and thrips will do the same type of damage as disease vectors. Once your tomato has been bit, it's too late. They're already infected. I make it policy to spray Azera every two weeks, even before I see signs of aphids just to beat 'em to the punch.

[@r.louiseworley-parsley4208]

@@LazyDogFarm I did not see any in my tomatoes. I have about 150 tomato plants. I noticed some in my melons. I had never heard of the virus, but I did not think it was a fungus and it was just different from anthing I have seen and I have been around gardens my whole life (61 years). Based on photos and symptoms, the virus fit. From what I read, it just takes one bite from a virus carrying leafhopper. I have both a large container garden and a small inground garden and this was in my container garden. Gave me a helpless feeling. Love your informative approach.

[@ColRubyDimplesManacha]

That sandwich looked mighty tasty! Can't wait to try Paul Robesons, first time growing them here too.

[@LazyDogFarm]

Hope you like them as much as we have!

[@mankind2112]

Mercy sakes Trav, you got my mouth watering with that Tomatter sandwich brotha! Got my Red snappers with loads of blooms, won't be long now.

[@ajs4287]

That shade cloth might extend your tomato growing season. You should try it if you get a chance. I'd be interested to see the results. I've grown indeterminates up a bamboo trellis very similar to yours with moderate success(im back using concrete wire cages), but I believe shade cloth would have really helped the trellis method. There's just not much foliage left there when you run that single vine up a string and the sun burns them up. They look really good though, all your gardens do.

[@suepatterson2702]

It's been an odd year for tomatoes here. I lost a few .Just as the crop was turning color the tomato would rot where the first color showed. I just picked all the green tomatoes and removed the plants. Just planting Georgia Jets this season. They are reliable.

[@daviscountryfarm6452]

we planted beaugard and centennial

[@LazyDogFarm]

Both solid varieties!

[@iwanttobelieve5970]

I have been buying heat tolerant tomato varieties seeds because last year I lost all my tomatoes early to disease because it’s hot and constantly rainy in my region. You might want to check them out.

[@janinebell7027]

We've mysteriously lost a few plants this year too. All heirlooms. The potato leafed variety seemed to be hit the hardest. Definitely been hotter earlier here in West Tennessee.

[@alohaann6106]

Kellogg’s Breakfast tomatoes…. The best! About to up pot my KB seedlings for a bit of succession planting. Zone 7 here and think this is going to be a hot hot summer. Speaking of, half of the current tomatoes have leaf curl. Guessing the high 90 temps last week. Possible? Keep those videos coming!

[@LazyDogFarm]

Those high temps can cause stress which in turn causes that leaf curl.

[@carolavant3778]

Those are some pretty tomatoes! Mine are coming along - Just like last year, I've got some BER, but I'm sure it's due to the weather and the heat. Last year, my plants just outgrew the BER a week or so after the rain let up. I'm sure this year will be the same, as they have plenty of what they need.

[@shelbys6919]

I don't think it's your heat, I think it's your humidity. I grow nothing but heirlooms in the desert and they do fantastic. 100+ degree weather

[@LazyDogFarm]

Probably right.

[@theone031]

I'm thinking it might have something to do with the pine straw. The pine resin is like turpentine and probably threw the ph off in the soil. Who really knows though it could be several things. That's growing for ya lol.

[@kimberlybenienministries2715]

This is good information. I’m in Texas and I’m hoping to try som heirloom varieties. Thank you.

[@psalms125selah]

Travis the problem is the strong solar rays and heat from the Sun, my tomatoes on the south end of my home curled up bad, and the ones in a north garden, under some partial shade from trees till 1 pm, then they get full sun, they are producing and looking great, I've been watching other channels that are having the same issues as we are! Also the rows in the north garden are covered over in leaf mulch, whereas the ones in the south garden have hay mulch around them to try to keep the soil moist and cooler! Soil temps seem to be playing a big part in plant stress in many of my crops this year, including all my cucurbit crops! I know for a fact that the hay I'm using doesn't have any grazeon or herbicides in it, So my South Gardens tomatoes that get full sun from 10 am and till sundown are getting mostly all day sun exposure, whereas my North Garden only gets a half a day of sun exposure! Pretty soon we all might need to grow our food under shade cloth if the summers if they are going to be this harsh on the plants! I noticed that my Fig trees don't like my full day of Sun exposure either down here in Florida, that's why I instinctively knew to plant them in partial shade/ Full Sun like my Neighbor did next door! Lived here in Florida all my life, and I can notice a big change in the strength of rays of the Sun, In low 90 degree weather here your skin never felt like it was burning within 2 minutes of full Sun Exposure! Even Danny from Deepsouth Homestead has been talking about the effects that the Sun is having on his outdoor crops!

[@donnalovintexas8760]

I don't know the variety of sweet potato I am growing. I bought a package of organic mini sweet potato at a local grocery store. I planted them in a tote and now have beautiful slips to pick out and plant. That is on my list this week. No one in my family eats sweet potatoes but me. Actually I live alone but all my family lives within visiting distance. I am in zone 8A in East Texas. It is hot and no rain expected for at least a week. Ya'll Stay Safe and Have a Blessed Week.

[@LazyDogFarm]

Hope those mini sweet taters do well for you Donna!

[@dontaylor8451]

Travis!!!! I watched your video, you know over at that other place, and you used drip tape, so that's what I did on the Georgia Jets I planted on the second. Should I try to ease it out from next to the tattors? Yes new to most of this gardening in ground, moved from city in January. My tomatoes look like heck, but are producing. My sister-in-law next door has beautiful plants but few maters.....

[@LazyDogFarm]

I have used tape on them in the past ,but I haven't the last couple years. You can leave it. It's not going to hurt anything. Just my personal preference not to use it anymore.

[@markware7748]

I've never grown a Paul Robeson tomato but it's worth noting that it's of Russian genetics like Black Krim and others with that smokey, rich flavor. Paul Robeson himself was a noted actor, singer, and civil rights activist in the '50's and 60's. His distinctive bass/baritone voice is still worth hearing on KZbin recordings. Jasmine Street Farm

[@LazyDogFarm]

Thanks for the history lesson Mark!

[@MikeSchoon]

Growing 2 sweet potato varieties this year: Murasaki from Johnny's (purple fleshed) and my second generation Sprouts grocery store variety that I haven't identified but are really nice looking with their green leaves with purple verigation (orange fleshed). Have the cutoffs for my drip tape, too.

[@johnoshiro8885]

Murasaki have purple skin and white flesh.

[@MikeSchoon]

@@johnoshiro8885 You ruined the surprise when I dug them! 🤣

[@johnoshiro8885]

@@MikeSchoon 🙂

[@taluis1]

Paul Robeson is a great tomato, but I believe Brandywines (Pink and Yellow) are better. I grow both types, so no worries. I also love Mortgage Lifter tomatoes. Hard to grow Brandywines here in Tennessee because of the heat and humidity, but it's worth the effort.