Comments on: Fusarium Wilt in My Tomatoes?

By: Swemson

Swemson — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 03:26:18 +0000

After trying about 20 different varieties of tomatoes in my garden, I’ve found one that’s the best by far. It’s the “Goliath”, which can be found in several sub-varieties including Bush Goliath & Goliath Hybrid. This plant is very distinctive, in that it’s big & sturdy, with a stalk that’s 2 to 3 times as thick as others, and far bigger leaves as well. It also produces really large tomatoes. Last year I had several that weighed over a pound.

But the big thing is the flavor of these huge tomatoes. Nothing even comes close. When fully ripe, they’re a deep red in color, but as they get fully ripe on the plant they become somewhat fragile and susceptible to splitting from extreme heat in warmer climates. You can avoid this by picking them a few days before they turn 100% red. Another way to prevent this is keeping the plants covered with a highly porous piece of burlap, and if you can keep a misting system over them, to keep the burlap moist (1 minute of spray every 15 minutes is good), you’ll get terrific results.

Try the following once you grow some of these beauties: Put a little Paul Newman’s Light Balsamic Vinaigrette in a large flat container, and then cut several humongous thick slices and lay them flat inside. Cut some thin slices of purple onion to put over the tomato slices, and drizzle a bit of the Balsamic Vinaigrette on top of each. Sprinkle lightly with grated parmesan cheese & salt & pepper to taste. Serve the slices as sides on a dinner plate or by themselves as appetizers or in place of a salad. Cut them in quarters with a sharp knife.

By: Rick Blucas

Rick Blucas — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 10:13:48 +0000

Another good thing to do is to apply a thin layer of mulch around your plants. . . .this can keep the dirt from being splashed up on the leaves during watering or rain, and help lessen the exposure to soil-borne diseases. Also try plants that are disease resistant. Rotate your crops as much as possible.

By: Roger Walling

Roger Walling — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 03:33:57 +0000

Copper sulfate is the trick for defeating the fungi but be careful with the application as is can harm humans if applied to strongly and be sure to wash your fruit very very well before deciding to eat them. Read up on the dossage needed to achieve the results you’re looking for and make the application well before harvest time so that it has a chance to dilute with the rains. The fungi growth can be a result of heredity with tomatoe plants that’s carried forward every year if tomatoes are grown in the same conditions in the same beds as previously infected crops. Burning the remains of the plants and other dried vegetative residue after the season is healthy for your garden area and adds ash to the soil. till it in and throw in any old crushed egg shells (calcium) and pelletd lime to sweeten the soil and lower the PH content to around 7%. Lime allows the fertilizer to work better. If a measureable amount of animal manure is being used every year it should be dried seasoned manure instead of wet and raw manure. Acidity can build up with to much animal manure so the regular use of lime will allow the breakdown of the manure to progress to where the nitrogen level of the soil is very attractive to your plants. A dried Copper Sulfate mixed up and put into a pump up sprayer makes the application trick easy. Application about an hour after a light rain is the perfect time and it’s best before the fruit blooms start to come on.
Any way, Happy Gardening! and I’m glad you guys are doing well with the bee’s. before you know it you’ll be a bee charmer! ;>)