I drill 3 holes both on the bottom of the cups and on the sides of the cups near the bottom, then I place them in a pan and fill the pan with water to a level above the side holes. It's easier for water to absorb the cup from the sides rather than the bottom and the bottom holes are better for drainage after the seedlings have sprouted. Works beautifully.
The gardening community is so open and friendly about their techniques, it is heartwarming. I will remember this when I am an old wise garden guru someday and I will happily pass all my knowledge to anyone willing to listen!
I know this video is a year old, but I wanted to say that this is the very best information for growing tomatoes that I’ve ever seen. Thank you so much for the detailed information.
I rewatched this video from last year!! Took me a bit to find it but I remembered it had so much education in it and didn't want to miss a step when tomatoes seedlings reached higher than top of cup! Thanks for all you share!!
I am in zone 6b and start my tomato seeds in March under grow lights and a heat mat (made from looping incandescent rope light zip-tied to metal shelving!). My germination rate is always TOO good! ha This is a great idea because I have always started the seeds in smaller trays and had to keep transplanting the little plants!! Thank you for teaching this older 60-year-old lady some new tricks! I want to watch your other videos, too!
I started mine in the small decomposable pots. I am going to switch to solo cups this year, I think, it make perfect sense about getting the stems to grow the roots, and I am betting my survival rate for tomatoes will be much higher this year. also, if, when the plants are outdoors, prune the offshoot vines and stick them in a jar, or half gallon milk jug, full of water for a few days to let them grow roots and then put them in the ground. its a great way to get a couple of plants to make a dozen plants.
I germinate my seeds in a glass of water, then use tweezers to pick up the ones that sprouted and put them in solo cups. Germination rate is great this way, plus you avoid wasting space if a seed doesn't germinate. Just make sure to check them every day.
Watched a video where a guy cut up aloe Vera plant added water and blended it well, then strained it, poured it in container over paper towels, and put seeds on top. He said it's got great nutrients and vitamins, all you need to germinate them for planting. I'm going to try it.
We live in Michigan and my grandfather built a small greenhouse off a south-facing basement window. He would plant flats of tomato seeds in March. The sun during the day kept the greenhouse warm and a light bulb at night kept it from freezing in the night. By Memorial Day weekend, when we planted our annual vegetable garden, we had tomato plants to transplant. He had a composter in the back of the yard to provide soil for the flats.
So important to get the plants to root as deeply as possible! When you have the seedlings buried along the stem like this, then further bury them in the garden, they are FAR more resilient against drought, wind/storms, and they can mine for more nutrients. What a great video for tomato gardeners! 🍅
After years and years of growing tomatoes, I came across a gardener online who explained "HILLING" tomatoes. I only grew a plum tomato last year and hilled them (same principle as yours) and they were GORGEOUS tomatoes, which I was proud to give some to a neighbor. However in years past growing different varieties, I had so many I could CAN for the first time in my life. I still have jars in my cupboard.
The cup idea, along with cutting the lower leaves and filling the cup, is one of the best ideas I've heard on growing tomatoes. I've started and replanted and replanted literally hundreds, probably thousands, of tomatoes but this process eliminates all of that. Brilliant. And edit to add: I love (want) the Atari shirt!
I start low in the Solo cups as well. Then I move them up to 32 oz. plastic fast food cups. They fit perfectly into the bottom! Once those are full, I trim another 18" up from there, and they get planted sideways. I start my cuttings around Halloween and seeds at Christmas, so I have plenty of time to do this. If they get a bit big, I'll just cut back to a sucker to keep them in check. I only grow indies, so this works great for me.
I save my cottage cheese and yogurt containers to start seeds just because I have a lot of them. They are 24ounce containers. Great idea to only fill them half full in the beginning. Great video.
This video and your tomato trellis helped me out beyond measure last year. It was my first year gardening and while I had plenty of failures with other plants, my tomato and pepper plants did amazing thanks to your advice. My tomato trees grew to about 10' tall even with me spacing them too close together and being out of town for the end of the season. You are awesome and I am so thankful for your priceless advice and expertise. May God bless you to the fullest!
I'm in zone 5, this is a genus hack. I can't believe in all the years I've garden I've never thought of it. Thank you so much! This is how I will start my tomatoes from now on. I start months before my last frost date or I wont get anything, before my next on set of cold sets in. I long grow season for us is 4.5 months.
Hi, I'm Patricia from Mississippi. I started watching your videos today. Love how your videos are a family affair ❤️ Happy growing, and God bless you and your family.
I started all of my tomatoes (12 varieties!) from seed last year with great success and was able to share extra plants with others. Some of my faves are Sungold, Chef's Choice Orange, Persimmon, Virginia Sweets, and Indigo Rose, all of which I'm starting again from seeds. Thank you for your videos, I've learned a ton!!!!
I’ve used your technique ever since the original tomato video. It works! I’m growing Sungold, Mexico, Carbon, Paul Robeson, Margarita and San Mariano. Good luck to all tomato growers!
I like to use a clear plastic cup with holes inside the red opaque cup and throw in a stone between them if necessary to keep them apart. That way they have the drainage but can sit on the windowsill without making a mess.
Surprising, my favorite tomato is Kellogg's Breakfast, which I've planted for many years. Beautiful, huge, juicy and sweet. Just love it A new second choice is Copia, a stunning striped yellow, flavorful and very productive. The tomato I'm looking forward to planting is Omar's Lebanese, a large sweet pink, with superb flavor. Truthfully, I love all the tomatoes I plant because each variety has its own appeal.
I love the names and how enthusiastic you all are so this year I am persuaded to plant Kelloggs, Cherokee. 1 plant I did last year called Japanese Black Trifele and another French one, a Lebanese, German, Bulgarian and a Russian variety. I am in London so I cant get some new varieties due to costs but they will be here next year.
Thank you for showing me what I have been doing wrong for many years. I am hoping with this new found knowledge to bring in a bumper crop of tomatos this year.
This will be my first time growing San Marzano tomatoes, I live in a apartment so once they are ready I will put them in my fire escape, but im gonna plant on Sunday the seeds. wish me luck.
Location makes a huge difference when it comes to tomatoes. Here in Oregon, Amish paste has a tendency to succumb to blight. For me, San Marzono’s grow AMAZINGLY! By the time we neared the end of the “grow season” I had to top off the plants as they were about 8’ tall and I wanted them to focus on ripening the tomatoes still on the vine. We also took a lot of the green ones and made a mock salsa verde. That turned out soooo good!
I'm glad I read all the way through these comments. I'm also in Oregon and had good luck with Roma's and San Marzanos last year (although they were a bit late coming on, and had lots of fruit still on them at frost time) , but was tempted to try the Amish paste based on Brian's comments. I think I'll stick with what worked for me. Although....I'm in Southern Oregon, and it is dang hot and dry here in the summer. Are you further north Liberty Micro Farm?
@@pamthompsonarbogast3687 I am about an hour south-ish of Salem. We don’t usually get as hot in the valley. Except for about a week or two around July or August.
I had the healthiest plants that I grew from seed under a grow light. They transplanted very well and all of them succeeded. I’m asking for another grow light bc it’s very uplifting to start growing indoors while it’s so bitter outside. It’s hope through the winter of promises for spring
Also, I just want to state the obvious, you have received so many views because you have a great speaking voice and you have a likeable sense about you, and the most important for me, is you aren't all over the place. Very informative I will tell everyone I can, keep up the good work! You are awesome!!
Love your idea for using solo cups. We use them all the time for picking raspberries. We just pull a plastic bag over the cup & dump. Less damage before freezing. Love multi use items.
One year after this video and it's seed planting time again! I've got black cherry and a Roma variety appropriate to my colder climate that I planted last year and will plant again this year. I also am trying the San marzanos out this year, and a Chocolate tomato. Now I'm tempted to see if I can get some sungolds and Burpee beefsteak after watching this.
I planted Pink Girl and Cherokee Carbon tomatoes last summer, and they both had outstanding flavor. Both were on the meatier side. The Pink Girls were all nicely shaped (round) and about the size of a baseball. The Cherokee Carbons I grew were mixed sizes, and weren't uniformly round like the Pink Girls. They had a bit of a squashed shape with more creases. The flavor of both at peak ripeness was outstanding though. Cherokee Carbon tomatoes were dark fleshed.
Its the middle of feb 2023 and im about to take full advantage of this wisdom and knowledge on growing my stupice, pineapple, principe borghese, black krim, green zebra, yellow brandywine, Chadwick cherry, roma and pink brandywine tomatoes! Im so excited because these are my first ever seeds to grow and their non gmo heirloom organic seeds so i couldn't be happier doing this, thank you for these extremely helpful important tips on growing! 🌱 🍅 👍
My grandfather grew Ace tomatoes when I was growing up. I still use the Ace VF55 in my garden. They were the first advertised as a coreless tomato. They are medium to large with good flavor
Thanks Brian, Open Arms Farm here from Northern Michigan. We are also growing sungolds this year. We will not be planting them for a couple weeks yet as we are in zone 4B. Then we will be moving them into hoop houses. We appreciate your tips and tricks, and we apply them to a larger scale. Last year we were blessed to be able to donate over 4,000 pounds of fesh organic produce to the underserved in our community. We appreciate you sharing your learnings from your Garden, andwe find that many of them are scalable to larger operation such as ours. Keep doing the good stuff!
I think it's great you share your crops. I do want to tell you that you should also be putting some things up for your selves, for your pantry, if you aren't. We've got some rough times coming up and freeze drying, canning or drying them out and setting yourselves up for the upcoming turmoil that is surely to come. Maybe keep half of what you were giving away and still have the othet half to share. Save some for you. It's not selfish and your still giving. Peace and blessed days vicki
I have never started growing tomatoes from seeds. Your method makes sense & seems so easy. So here goes nothing. Lol anyway you came right to the point & thanks for all the info. Great job! 17:04
Kellogg's Breakfast is the BEST. I took your word for it last year and couldn't be happier. It makes a GREAT slicer - but it also made the best tomato sauce I've ever had in my life. Thank you again! Edit to add: I'm glad I'd not ordered cherry toms yet. Now I've got some Sweetheart cherry coming!
Hey excellent video and instructions. I like to use the red solo cups however i take a clear one of the same size and with a hot poker i put five holes around the base of the clear one. i did my transplant today into the clear ones. i put my water in the bottom of the red cup and then put the clear one inside. capillary action will have the clear cup suck up what moisture it wants, i can take the clear one out and see the progress of the root growth and bottom water as needed
Thank you. I grow around 50+ tomato plants each year. You have 3 of my favorite that I plant each year. I start mine much as you do. I am encouraged that I am doing it right. I learn something new each time I watch your videos.
I obrained many ideas from your videos - thank you! I bought those high red/white plastic cups last year and drilled holes into the base (several at once), because here in Germany those plastic cups are being taken off the market because of evironmental concerns. I love those containers and they are perfect for tomato seedlings. I grew 14 different varieties last year and they bore more fruit than ever: half in the open air (always risky in Northern Germany) and half under cover. I had so many tomatoes on all of them - until the rain hit in late June and never stopped. I threw over 100 kilos of tomatoes away because they got the blight within days and even if you try to ripen them off the vine, once the blight is in the stem . all tomatoes get it, even when you remove them from the stem immediately. Sad! I managed to keep the ones under cover going until they showed a little color and then removed them because I knew the air was so moist, they would also be hit by blight. I managed to harvest aobut 80 kilos of tomatoes and all of them ripened nicely inside under cover and lying on dry straw. Kellog's breakfast was one of the favorites - it resisted the blight second best of all the tomatioes which surprised me and I shall grow them again this year - hopefully not another rainy year. Another favorite of mine is Sun Viva, coktail, robust, yellow and really tasty an LIlac Sari (a Russian variety) that is almost purple, sort of blackish greenish with rosy areas - very tasty, very robust and prolific. Wish we had reliable sunshine like you have in California! It is a challenge but I managed to can lots of wonderful pasta sauce.
You are so helpful!! I moved to the super cold rural north zone 3 about 6 years ago and after watching your videos decided to start a container garden last year. It was a very small garden but now I have the bug and have 6 raised beds! Thanks for all the info you share with us
I am starting tomatoes today in solo cups. Thank you. Very excited. I always did tomatoes from slips, but can't find those these days, so being brave and doing seeds!!! Thank you so much!!!
I started mine in solo cups in January (17th) and I am putting them into the ground today. They look lovely! I will post a photo on the FB page. I did exactly what you said, and started in a half cup of soil starter, then filled to almost the rim of the cup when they grew tall enough. I did tease out the extras and got about 8 extra tomato plants that are also doing well. The problem is I forgot to label the extras! By the way, I am growing Kellogg Breakfast, Cherokee Purple, a red one called Delicious, Chadwick Cherries, Tricolor Cherries, one of which is a Sungold.
I live in Tennessee and I used to dig a deep hole and put my tomato plant in it. I would add dirt, leaf mulch and manure. My plants would be nearly a foot in the ground. I was just thinking about mentioning the roots that my plants has and the great tomatoes I 🍅raised. A tablespoon of Epson Saults helps to keep the disease from your plants.
One source I found recommended adding 1 teaspoon Epsom salt per litre (or quart) of water to a spray bottle and wetting the foliage every 2 weeks using a fine spray setting. It is said to be quickly absorbed by the leaves. They caution against spraying on hot, sunny days, or when rain is imminent. Another source said that some people add Epsom salts directly to the planting hole when planting tomatoes to prevent blossom end rot, but that source cautioned against doing that and said that putting the Epsom salt directly into the planting hole is more likely to contribute to blossom end rot. Blossom end rot is caused by a calcium deficiency in the soil. The magnesium in the Epsom salts will compete with calcium to be absorbed by the tomato plant. So, it sounds like spraying your tomato plants with an Epsom salt solution is the way to go. I've read elsewhere that putting a Tums tablet in the soil when you plant your tomatoes can help meet the need for calcium for your tomato plants and prevent blossom end rot. I've also read that aspirin dissolved in water and sprayed on tomato plants before the first signs of blight can help prevent it. Recommended dosage was 250 mg - 500 mg dissolved in 4.5 litres of water and sprayed on the plants 2-3 times a month, again, before there is any evidence of blight.
I've gardening for 50 years at least I'm 57 and I started with my grandfather. The way I see it you can always learn something from someone else. Sometimes you can learn good things sometimes you can learn what to avoid lol I do enjoy your videos very much!
I always say "If you could learn one thing a day, the day isn't wasted." You're right, you learn good things and bad things. Same with life experiences. Thank you for your inspirational comment! ~ Peace ~ ✌😎✌
Thank you Brian, I have watched a number of your videos today and they are very informative. I have been growing tomatoes for years but always struggled, except for 2016 where I had an excellent crop. Luck i think! Last year's crop was dismal and the plants were stunted, we had a really dry spring and I couldn't water them enough... I am in the UK, South, and am growing Oxheart, ACE 55 VF, and large cherry tomatoes this year. I'm going to make great root systems for them! The cherry ones I'm going to grow up a string.
Like you, I only want 1-2 cherry tomatoes plants, but my favorite are the WHOPPERS and Roma's! As I enjoy canning them for, they make the BEST Pasta Sauces, and Salsa's! You are so RIGHT ON regarding the roots and making sure they are deeply buried when planting them. WOW, I LOVE YOUR BACKGROUND! IS THIS YOUR HOME & PROPERTY WITH ALL THOSE LUCIOUS & BEAUTIFUL PLANTS?
My son has a bunch of red Solo cups in the garage for when he and his friends play beer pong. I can now put them to a better use...lol. Thanks for the video.
I start my tomatoes in 3" plastic pots and when the roots start coming out of the drain holes transplant them deeper into 6" plastic pots. The seedlings are grown under 3 LED shop lights running 16 hours a day on a 12" wide shelf until planting time, June 1-7 here in Illinois. I also run a fan on low which seems to strengthen the stems. At planting time the roots fill the 6" pots and produce earlier than plants purchased from a nursery which are always in too small of containers.
Thanks, Brian, for an excellent video on starting tomato seeds indoors. My favorites - Sungold, Super Sweet 100, Black Krim and Cherokee Purple. Started my Black Krim and they are about 2” tall, a great flavor tomato.
Late but now with God. My prayers are with you during your severe health challenge. For gardening, I am starting a strawberry wall, two shelves high, in 24 inch x 12 inch high planters. For seeds, I saw one guy grow them to start in plain sand! It is cheaper, and it can be reused several times. He grows them to a couple inches high and then repots them in fertilized growing media. Blessings, Russ
You really helped me a lot I have been starting my seeds inside and I knew my tamatos didn't have a good root system and now I can make it better this year thank you for sharing your video's God bless you
Will have to try Kellogg’s as last year two orange varieties joined my favorites list: orange strawberry and hillbilly. Both produced huge, delicious tomatoes and my house was BLT central all summer long.
Great idea for the solo cups. I grew the Sungolds last year, they kept producing till frost came, delicious and abundant! I also grow heirloom Matina, Cherokee Purples and Italian Heirlooms. Save your seeds everyone!! I love your videos, informative and right to the point. 💕
@@brentwiggins5254 This is what I’ve heard (just tried it, but haven’t tried germinating the seeds yet): Put the seeds in a container, add water and in a couple-three days pour off the pulpy water. Repeat adding water and pouring off until there are just plain seeds without any of the pulpy stuff attached. Leave to dry and store in an envelope in a dry place.
Zone 5 b. Starting my tomatoes indoors under light this week. Also growing sun gold and oxhearts. Trying Barrys' crazy cherries and jersey devils for something new!
I’m growing sun gold this year. I grew black cherry last year and made roasted tomato paste with basil and froze it in silicone ice cube trays, so yummy
I believe the finest sandwich and canning tomato is “ Rutgers”. It’s more orange than red but I grow for flavor and these are at the top of my list. They are indeterminate. Try them, you will be happy you did.!
I grow Campbell's 1327 which is a Rutgers variety. Very sweet. Everybody I give extra plants to say they are the best they have ever had. Campbell's probably didn't have to add much extra sugar to their soup.
Last year, I followed your method of planting my tomatoes in the Solo cups. It worked out great and I'll do that forever more!! I purchased Kellogg's Breakfast seed at your recommendation and I'm trying Amish Paste this year as well. I'm still a couple more weeks off of starting my tomatoes but this afternoon, I set up my grow light station on a brand new shelving unit so spring seems a little closer now.
You made me chuckle with your adamant demand for a minimum of 6 hours direct sunlight a day. I've been growing tomatoes since the 1950s in northwest England where we are often _very_ happy to see six hours of direct sunlight _a week_ . You - and the tomato! - can probably find a work-around, and nowadays with grow lights, soil heaters and other little luxuries, it's far easier, when conditions are unavoidably less than ideal, than it was in the past. I'll be starting a couple of dwarf and ultra-dwarf determinate varieties, a couple of patio-size bush tomatoes, a couple of trailers for hanging baskets and a couple of indeterminates, so I have all bases covered. My last frost date is the end of April, so the seeds in their packets are looking at me already, planning trouble!
Great video! I've been starting them in solo cups for years. I have a south facing window I have been putting them in so they get light all day. That is not enough. This year I bought an LED grow light. That worked great. My favorite hybrid is Parks Whopper. My favorite heirloom is Hungarian Heart. They average 1 1/2 to 2 pounds and often get over 2 pounds. I live in southern Iowa.
Note on your tomato selection - I grew the sweetheart tomatoes in zone 5 last year and they were fantastic. Crazy productive in a bad tomato year, "hold" a long time, and great flavor. I think you'll really enjoy them, even if only the novelty lol Only thing I noticed was I got 3 "rounds" of tomatoes. For the 2nd, they had a distinctly different shape and were basically a normal cherry. 3rd round was right back to the original golfball sized hearts, which was weird. Maybe heat related? Tasted fine and everything and was only an aesthetic issue but I would not have guessed they were from the same plant. Never had that happen before, so it was odd. Trying them from saved seed this year, so we'll see how that goes.
I've watched a few of your videos. I really appreciate and enjoy learning new ways to raise gardens. People better be learning with all that's going on!!!! I just subscribed. Thanks so much!!
I've always had a brown thumb. But I love tomatoes and my granddaughter, an excellent gardener has had no luck, neither has my son in law... so now I'm watching your videos and germinating seeds and repetition is power so I watch your videos repeatedly. Thank you so much. I'm about to grow some beautiful, delicious tomatoes. :)
I'm not a tomato guy but growing veggies relieves stress for me. My wife loves them especially purple cherokee. Trying out some new varieties this year. Also got some 32 sq. ft. raised beds, so those should come in handy.
Just found your channel, love it! I've learned so much in just a the half a dozen videos cant wait to see more. Eastern washington, in the ground date of may 15. Bring on the sunshine!!
@@sherihatley2219 we are in the Spokane area. Prepping soil and ready to plant. Soon as the snow is off mica peak lol. Some great information on his channel. I’ve learned so much in just a few weeks of binge watching his videos .
This video is a classic that I have watched several times. Good stuff!!! Lots of helpful information.... THANK YOU! And....so far in my gardening journey....."Pineapple" tomatoes are my favorites. 😊
This is for the first time I am going to do like what you explained, usually I bought my plants from a nursery sometime they do good and sometimes heartbreaking, but I like your way thanks for all the teaching may Lord bless you and your family
I just started some Robeson too! Did they also give you the free white tomesal seeds? I’ve started only three of those as the reviews were rather mixed on flavor.
My fave varieties for growing in planters are: > Bonne Sun Sugar (formerly Sun Gold) Yellow Cherry > Bonne Supersweet 100 Red Cherry Ive been growing both for like 8 years now. Both yeild bountifully, and are more disease resistant than other varieties ive tried. My bugbear is yellow fusillium wilt, because it easily infects above ground planters, because the soil is much warmer than in ground tomatoes. I'm looking forward to doing my own seedings for the first time ever this coming spring - not just to save money, but to hit the ground running much earlier in the season, so they can bear fruit far longer before wilt and/or cold weather claim them. My other outdoor choices are Jalapenos, Orange Snack Peppers, and Bell Peppers.
@@MarthaSanchez-sp5tk Im not sure why my post keeps disappering. I like the Lunchbox Orange Snacking Peppers from BonniePlants. I saved seeds from last year, so that I wouldnt have to wait for them to list it for sale. I have several in 5" planters that are ready to be up-potted to 5gal.
Thanks for great info and some feedback on new varieties. I'll be interested to hear and see a "review" next yar. I've had better luck using tall jumbo soda cups instead of the red ones which get brittle and fall apart. The heavy plastic tall soda cups last forever and give you even more scope for adding stimulant soil which is a great idea. If you don't want them that tall and their footprint really isn't much wider than the red cups, you could scissor-trim an inch or so off the top, but they work beautifully in the soda cups, And they get a bit of support when they get willowy. I use an ice pick to make drain holes.
About 10 years ago, my daughter gave me a packet of seeds for my birthday. They were heirloom tomatoes called Chocolate Cherry. They are my absolute favorite. I keep saving the seeds and growing them every year. I love that they are indeterminate. I grow them on a trellis, so they take up very little space in my small veggie garden. Last year, I finally invested in grow lights. They make a huge difference.
Hello NLG, Thanks for the vid. You popped up on my FB page... (I have no idea how this thing sorts out stuff I like) and I was bound to watch. Well, you axed, and I'll tell. I live in NE Alabama, which would be on the border of Zone 7/8. I have been gardening for a little better than 40 years now on the same 60x100 patch. Red clay predominant but built up over the years with a yearly infusion of chopped oak leaves/lime/13-13-13 mix. My season starts at the end of January which in in a couple of weeks. That's when I plant my tomatoes and peppers. I am an experimenter. I have tried bucket loads of different methods, seeds, you name it. Different stuff each year. And here is what I came to. Ya just can not beat Better Boys. Best mix of everything good in a tomato. Yep, some taste better... but here none grow better or are more dependable. You don't find those things in supermarkets. At the end of this month, January, (after using a buhzillion methods to see what was best) I will grab some planting tray thingies...those 6 packs like you get at the store and stuff two seeds into each. (I have forever been a miser with seeds but finally gave up. Two seeds is best.) I have found that the larger tray works best. The smaller ones...well, they just don't have the oomph you need for tomatoes and peppers. (Even as I write the wife is about to fry up a pan of okra from our freezer). I *would* use the red cups to start but I have limited space to start. (The top of the clothes dryer with morning sun. Ha!).... So, by the time the critters (Prolly only do about 12-14 this year. The wife is making me cut back.) are up really really well THEN it's time to put the best one in each cell into the red cup. I have reused mine many many moocho times. I use an ice pick to make the drain holes. And by that time it's warm enough to move the whole plant operation outside. Usually I can get the things into the ground around early to mid May. Generally early May. By this time the things have been in the red cups for 3 weeks or so and are really all azoommin. See, I can move all that stuff back inside in case of frost.. Then put them back out when it's above 50-55. When I plant I use a shovel to dig the hole...not nearly as deep as I used to and more broad. There is a reason. I aim when I can to have the top of the plant a bit above ground level. Fact.... listen... most of the best tomato roots grow near the top of the dirt in a big old round clump. You don't gain much by sticking it 12 feet deep. Trust me on this. Then...when the plant starts growing in the garden and gets up a bit I pull the rest of the dirt to it and dig out a shallow circle ring around it where I put a modest amount of Miracle Grow plant food. MG Tomato plant food when I can find it. Otherwise just plain Miracle Grow plant food. I cover this over with a little dirt so as to make sure none contact the plant. And then get this. This is THE secret it took me 35 years to figger out. Wheat straw is the most amazing devastating tomato generating substance you can use. In my case I grab out my trusty roll of craft paper....brown paper on a roll...newspapers will work just as good....and roll it down the row. I cut a hole to where I can pull the tomato top through it. THEN...POOM!!! I bury the whole thing in wheat straw...digging around to expose the tomato tops. They grow like weeds. The straw keeps the moisture in and the weeds not only down, but in most cases out. No weeds....sustained moisture. I find that my dosing of Miracle Grow lasts the whole growing season...until frost in some of the plants. I do go back around with some Epsom Salts water....and that's it. I never get any fair winners but my plants grow to 5 or 6 feet high and are insanely prolific. Each year I lay down a string.... dig the holes 4 feet apart or so and then I use landscape timbers every so often down the row. To each side I have nails driven in beginning about 2 feet high and up to the top every foot and a half to two feet. The tomatoes grown between the wires and I use old pantyhose (getting hard to find) to tie them with. All for now! Time to start gnawing that okra produce from the garden. Your fan in Alabam, Norm
Cherokee Purple are my absolute FAVORITE tomato! My grandma had tons of tomatoes, all colors and some striped ones too, but the Cherokee Purple are the most juicy and rich that I've personally tasted. I also grew a little yellow one this year called Sun Sugar that were pretty good, the sweetest tomatoes are not my favorite, but if they're yours you'd probably love Sun Sugar.
I tried Sun Sugar and Cherokee Carbon tomatoes last year. My Sun Sugar cherry tomatoes didn't do that well because I bought a plant later in the spring from a garden center, and it was the tomato equivalent of the Charlie Brown Christmas tree. 🙄 It didn't bounce back as quickly as I'd anticipated. We did get some tomatoes though, and boy, were they good! I've seen the Cherokee Purple too, and I want to try that one this spring, that and the Pink Brandywine as well.
The Cherokee Purple is by far my absolute favorite tomato. Have not had great success growing them in Florida. Going to try again this year and have some growing already.
I was going to sew my seeds indoors yesterday I’m so glad it didn’t work out because I did not know to only have to fill the cup. As always perfect timing Brian thank you.
My favorites are Brandywine Pink for taste/meat, Sun Gold for small and Tie Dye for a colorful Early Girl like mid-sized tomato. Last year followed no dig and regenerative approach not weeding with amazing results and healthy plants.
Love your vids! I'm a container gardener. This year I'm excited to try a Midnight Snack blue cherry tomato and a White Tomesol. I'll be growing them in 25 gallon tubs. I'm intrigued by those little heart shaped tomatoes! Keep us posted on them, please.
Campbell's 33 my new fav for canning tomato juice. They are super resilient as well. Almost all I grow now. Super sweet 100 and couple brandywine is the only exception.
WoW! I didn't know this .... about the roots coming out from the stems and just putting soil half way up the cup before seeding. Thanks because I'm going to plant my seeds tomorrow.
My favorite tomatoes so far are Cherokee purple and brandy wine. I’m growing 19 different varieties of heirloom, cherry and dwarf this year. I’m looking forward to the new varieties I’m growing this year.
I am trying several of the Wild Boar farms line cherry's. Barry's Crazy Cherry sounds amazing! Very interested to try it. It's a multi flora so massive harvest! Happy growing !
I bought those to grow this year too and the atomic grape ones because they look really cool and I'm trying to keep my kids interested in gardening. Anything that looks different than what they have at the grocery store seems to work:)
Sure wish I'd had your mator info back 20 years ago. I wasted lots of time trying to grow mators like my mom did with her green thumb. But it turns out best the way you advise. My difference is, I have a small Harbor Freight greenhouse. I put some plants in there, and some in an aviary wire covered pen. This year's starts really surprised me after I used the Neptune Fish & Seaweed fertilizer. They far outgrew anything I've ever had in the past, and I had to put them in the ground much earlier than ever before. But with the SoCal weather, they are all blooming already. I love the Celebrity determinate for quick and heavy results, and BetterBoy for the longer time frame. I'll start new Celebs in a couple of months to replace these when they stop producing. Those two species have the flavor I most like. Thanx again.
@@melissasullivan1658 Yes, Melissa, none have yet set a tomato, but all are blooming both inside the greenhouse and outside. I usually transplanted mators when they reached 8-10" tall, but that Neptune fertilizer shot them up to 2 feet tall in pots this time.
I bought the “Crimson” seeds at Bakers Creek. They are ‘meatier’ and a beautiful crimson color (deep reddish purplish). I’ve only tried gardening for 2-3 seasons and look forward to learning from You and the listeners here 💕
Thanks for the tips Brian. I am going to use this technique this year in seeding the tomatoes and not have to up pot the seedlings. YAY! I found clear-ish solo cups at the Dollar Tree in 12 oz. I'm excited because I should be able to see the roots developing!
Never had a Sungold, but the sweetest tomato I've ever had was a Creole tomato from around New Orleans. And they aren't just sweet, they're huge. If you're ever around that area, I recommend picking up a couple for seeds.
From three years old my Grand daughter Avah have been growing her lil plants. She’s five now and she wanted to try tomatoes this year. It’s too late in our zone , so next year I’ll be on top of it. Thank you for taking your time to explain. My grand baby thinks I’m an expert 😊
Hi Carolyn, reading your post put a sweet tear in my eye, thinking of the bonding we can grow with our grandchildren. My Aunt Mae is remembered for the simple expression: "Money can't buy that." The longer I live, the more profound that truth becomes. Time flies...opportunities with our little ones are like spring planting season. Nurtured seedlings have the best likelihood of vigor and bearing fruit. Thanks for the Lesson, again...
Try growing parsley around your tomates to be free of the horned tomato worms! It works really well, and I've been doing it for years!
I use germanium flowers and have never seen a horn worm either
@@destinycoach5 We do that too.
I plant marigolds and basil next to my tomatoes, they also keep the tomato hornworms away too.
@@suzannefrey7121 yes actually I did both those last year also. Worked very well
I have a terrible time with hornworms. I trapped a giant one last year and stuck him in the freezer. Too big to squash. I felt no guilt.
I have grown tomatoes like that for 50 years. I'm glad you are letting people know how to do it right. Happy growing.
I drill 3 holes both on the bottom of the cups and on the sides of the cups near the bottom, then I place them in a pan and fill the pan with water to a level above the side holes. It's easier for water to absorb the cup from the sides rather than the bottom and the bottom holes are better for drainage after the seedlings have sprouted. Works beautifully.
great tip. thanks
How long do I leave the cups inside the pan of water for each day?
@@andrespaz989 I leave them in the pan of water until the seeds germinate then I empty the water from the pan and water normally
@@AnthonyJarrah thank you
The gardening community is so open and friendly about their techniques, it is heartwarming. I will remember this when I am an old wise garden guru someday and I will happily pass all my knowledge to anyone willing to listen!
Hey are you calling me old? 🤣🤣
@@NextLevelGardening not intentionally! 🤣🤣🤣
If we're still alive by then
@@Popwarner-x1w
😮😢😢😮😢😢😅😢😮😅😅😅😢😢😅😢😅😢😅😢😢😢😅😅😅😅😅😮😅😢😮😢😮😅😢😮😅😢😮😅😢😮😅😢😮😅😢😮😮😢😮😅😢😮😅😢😮😢😮😅😢😮😅😢😅😢😢😢😢😮😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😢😢😮😢😢😢😮😮😢😮😅😢😮😢😮😅😢😅😢😮😢😮😢😮😢😮😢😮😢😮😢😮😢😮😢😮😢😅😅😅😅😅😅😢😅😮😢😢😢😅😮😅😮😅😢😮😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢⏰🗡️🛰️5
I can't tell you how many times I've watched this video. I watch it at the beginning of each warm season. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
You are so welcome!
I know this video is a year old, but I wanted to say that this is the very best information for growing tomatoes that I’ve ever seen. Thank you so much for the detailed information.
Yes it is I sent the link to my brother in law who is going to start this year
I rewatched this video from last year!! Took me a bit to find it but I remembered it had so much education in it and didn't want to miss a step when tomatoes seedlings reached higher than top of cup! Thanks for all you share!!
I am in zone 6b and start my tomato seeds in March under grow lights and a heat mat (made from looping incandescent rope light zip-tied to metal shelving!). My germination rate is always TOO good! ha This is a great idea because I have always started the seeds in smaller trays and had to keep transplanting the little plants!! Thank you for teaching this older 60-year-old lady some new tricks! I want to watch your other videos, too!
I started mine in the small decomposable pots. I am going to switch to solo cups this year, I think, it make perfect sense about getting the stems to grow the roots, and I am betting my survival rate for tomatoes will be much higher this year.
also, if, when the plants are outdoors, prune the offshoot vines and stick them in a jar, or half gallon milk jug, full of water for a few days to let them grow roots and then put them in the ground. its a great way to get a couple of plants to make a dozen plants.
I germinate my seeds in a glass of water, then use tweezers to pick up the ones that sprouted and put them in solo cups. Germination rate is great this way, plus you avoid wasting space if a seed doesn't germinate. Just make sure to check them every day.
Watched a video where a guy cut up aloe Vera plant added water and blended it well, then strained it, poured it in container over paper towels, and put seeds on top. He said it's got great nutrients and vitamins, all you need to germinate them for planting. I'm going to try it.
@@sharonbice7490 Did the aloe vera prep still clean yellow latex off of aloe leaf or did they just cut the aloe leaf up green and gel together?
@@debodeeful They just cut it up , and put in blender, the whole stem.
We live in Michigan and my grandfather built a small greenhouse off a south-facing basement window. He would plant flats of tomato seeds in March. The sun during the day kept the greenhouse warm and a light bulb at night kept it from freezing in the night. By Memorial Day weekend, when we planted our annual vegetable garden, we had tomato plants to transplant. He had a composter in the back of the yard to provide soil for the flats.
Love Michigan growing tips! I'm a few miles from the Mackinaw bridge 🌉
So important to get the plants to root as deeply as possible! When you have the seedlings buried along the stem like this, then further bury them in the garden, they are FAR more resilient against drought, wind/storms, and they can mine for more nutrients. What a great video for tomato gardeners! 🍅
I like German Queen and Cherokee purple.
I'm assuming it won't hurt to start my seeds early?
A)]]
I am assuming most growers are not relying solely on rain to water their crop.
@@rdred8693 if they can get adequate light, I dont see why not.
After years and years of growing tomatoes, I came across a gardener online who explained "HILLING" tomatoes. I only grew a plum tomato last year and hilled them (same principle as yours) and they were GORGEOUS tomatoes, which I was proud to give some to a neighbor. However in years past growing different varieties, I had so many I could CAN for the first time in my life. I still have jars in my cupboard.
❤
The cup idea, along with cutting the lower leaves and filling the cup, is one of the best ideas I've heard on growing tomatoes. I've started and replanted and replanted literally hundreds, probably thousands, of tomatoes but this process eliminates all of that. Brilliant. And edit to add: I love (want) the Atari shirt!
Solo Cups: I used an ice pick heated on a burner on the stove. When it gets hot you can do 5 or 6 cups at a time. Goes through like butter
Cu
@rlee6503 Thank you SO MUCH! Great tip since I don't have any fancy tools. Wonder if a sharp slim letter opener would do?
I like transparent cups so I can see the rooting system
Gardening is a magical process every spring a new start 🎉🎉🎉🎉😊
You were so much happier and smiled so much more in these older videos. I hope you can find that again.
I start low in the Solo cups as well. Then I move them up to 32 oz. plastic fast food cups. They fit perfectly into the bottom! Once those are full, I trim another 18" up from there, and they get planted sideways. I start my cuttings around Halloween and seeds at Christmas, so I have plenty of time to do this. If they get a bit big, I'll just cut back to a sucker to keep them in check. I only grow indies, so this works great for me.
I save my cottage cheese and yogurt containers to start seeds just because I have a lot of them. They are 24ounce containers. Great idea to only fill them half full in the beginning. Great video.
This video and your tomato trellis helped me out beyond measure last year. It was my first year gardening and while I had plenty of failures with other plants, my tomato and pepper plants did amazing thanks to your advice. My tomato trees grew to about 10' tall even with me spacing them too close together and being out of town for the end of the season. You are awesome and I am so thankful for your priceless advice and expertise. May God bless you to the fullest!
I'm in zone 5, this is a genus hack. I can't believe in all the years I've garden I've never thought of it. Thank you so much! This is how I will start my tomatoes from now on. I start months before my last frost date or I wont get anything, before my next on set of cold sets in. I long grow season for us is 4.5 months.
Super genius !
Hi, I'm Patricia from Mississippi. I started watching your videos today. Love how your videos are a family affair ❤️ Happy growing, and God bless you and your family.
I started all of my tomatoes (12 varieties!) from seed last year with great success and was able to share extra plants with others. Some of my faves are Sungold, Chef's Choice Orange, Persimmon, Virginia Sweets, and Indigo Rose, all of which I'm starting again from seeds. Thank you for your videos, I've learned a ton!!!!
I’ve used your technique ever since the original tomato video. It works! I’m growing Sungold, Mexico, Carbon, Paul Robeson, Margarita and San Mariano. Good luck to all tomato growers!
Great Bob. Thanks as always!
Reply call
Reply
Paul Robeson, and Mr. Stripey, are my favorites
And Kellogg Breakfast.
I like to
use a clear plastic cup with holes inside the red opaque cup and throw in a stone between them if necessary to keep them apart. That way they have the drainage but can sit on the windowsill without making a mess.
Surprising, my favorite tomato is Kellogg's Breakfast, which I've planted for many years. Beautiful, huge, juicy and sweet. Just love it
A new second choice is Copia, a stunning striped yellow, flavorful and very productive. The tomato I'm looking forward to planting is Omar's Lebanese, a large sweet pink, with superb flavor. Truthfully, I love all the tomatoes I plant because each variety has its own appeal.
I love the names and how enthusiastic you all are so this year I am persuaded to plant Kelloggs, Cherokee. 1 plant I did last year called Japanese Black Trifele and another French one, a Lebanese, German, Bulgarian and a Russian variety. I am in London so I cant get some new varieties due to costs but they will be here next year.
Thank you for showing me what I have been doing wrong for many years. I am hoping with this new found knowledge to bring in a bumper crop of tomatos this year.
This was so helpful!! I’ve been excited to start a garden but become overwhelmed with information. This was very digestible. Thank you!
This will be my first time growing San Marzano tomatoes, I live in a apartment so once they are ready I will put them in my fire escape, but im gonna plant on Sunday the seeds. wish me luck.
best wishes for many tomatoes
..you're going to block the fire escape?????
@@drinksnapple8997 😂😂😂
@@drinksnapple8997 NYC fire escapes are huge 😂
Location makes a huge difference when it comes to tomatoes.
Here in Oregon, Amish paste has a tendency to succumb to blight. For me, San Marzono’s grow AMAZINGLY! By the time we neared the end of the “grow season” I had to top off the plants as they were about 8’ tall and I wanted them to focus on ripening the tomatoes still on the vine. We also took a lot of the green ones and made a mock salsa verde. That turned out soooo good!
Interesting. Yes I think that's true for alot of varieties. Well maybe since I have a dry climate Amish will perform well
@@NextLevelGardening yes I feel your area of CA is a growing zone all its own lol
I'm glad I read all the way through these comments. I'm also in Oregon and had good luck with Roma's and San Marzanos last year (although they were a bit late coming on, and had lots of fruit still on them at frost time) , but was tempted to try the Amish paste based on Brian's comments. I think I'll stick with what worked for me. Although....I'm in Southern Oregon, and it is dang hot and dry here in the summer. Are you further north Liberty Micro Farm?
@@pamthompsonarbogast3687 I am about an hour south-ish of Salem. We don’t usually get as hot in the valley. Except for about a week or two around July or August.
I had the healthiest plants that I grew from seed under a grow light. They transplanted very well and all of them succeeded. I’m asking for another grow light bc it’s very uplifting to start growing indoors while it’s so bitter outside. It’s hope through the winter of promises for spring
How do you get the seeds? Do you order them, or do you get the seeds from the actual plant's?
@@vickicase7987 You can do it either way. Baker Creek seed company has some great heirloom varieties though.
Yes! I had a fun spring 2022 because I was growing my starts indoors. This fall & winter I’ve been growing Thai basil indoors for our dinners!
Hey I don't know what state you are in but my $5 below has small ones that are very bright.
Cherokee tomatoes are my absolute favorite! Can’t wait to get these babies started!
Also, I just want to state the obvious, you have received so many views because you have a great speaking voice and you have a likeable sense about you, and the most important for me, is you aren't all over the place. Very informative I will tell everyone I can, keep up the good work! You are awesome!!
Love your idea for using solo cups. We use them all the time for picking raspberries. We just pull a plastic bag over the cup & dump. Less damage before freezing. Love multi use items.
You are a He only one that suggested starting with the soil at lower than full! Wonderful tip!
One year after this video and it's seed planting time again! I've got black cherry and a Roma variety appropriate to my colder climate that I planted last year and will plant again this year. I also am trying the San marzanos out this year, and a Chocolate tomato. Now I'm tempted to see if I can get some sungolds and Burpee beefsteak after watching this.
I planted Pink Girl and Cherokee Carbon tomatoes last summer, and they both had outstanding flavor. Both were on the meatier side. The Pink Girls were all nicely shaped (round) and about the size of a baseball. The Cherokee Carbons I grew were mixed sizes, and weren't uniformly round like the Pink Girls. They had a bit of a squashed shape with more creases. The flavor of both at peak ripeness was outstanding though. Cherokee Carbon tomatoes were dark fleshed.
Its the middle of feb 2023 and im about to take full advantage of this wisdom and knowledge on growing my stupice, pineapple, principe borghese, black krim, green zebra, yellow brandywine, Chadwick cherry, roma and pink brandywine tomatoes! Im so excited because these are my first ever seeds to grow and their non gmo heirloom organic seeds so i couldn't be happier doing this, thank you for these extremely helpful important tips on growing! 🌱 🍅 👍
My grandfather grew Ace tomatoes when I was growing up. I still use the Ace VF55 in my garden. They were the first advertised as a coreless tomato. They are medium to large with good flavor
Solo cup about that size compared to my head = point at which I clicked the LIKE button. Thanks again for great info, Brian.
Your videos are easy to understand and very informative. I really enjoy them and like watching them rather than T.V. shows. Keep up the great work.
Thanks Brian, Open Arms Farm here from Northern Michigan. We are also growing sungolds this year. We will not be planting them for a couple weeks yet as we are in zone 4B. Then we will be moving them into hoop houses.
We appreciate your tips and tricks, and we apply them to a larger scale. Last year we were blessed to be able to donate over 4,000 pounds of fesh organic produce to the underserved in our community.
We appreciate you sharing your learnings from your Garden, andwe find that many of them are scalable to larger operation such as ours.
Keep doing the good stuff!
Wish I had the room to do the same thing! Bless you all for your work and contributions to your community ✨💫✨👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻❤️❤️
Great work!
Keep it on.
There is nothing that will give you the same wonderful feeling other than giving to the really needy.
I think it's great you share your crops. I do want to tell you that you should also be putting some things up for your selves, for your pantry, if you aren't. We've got some rough times coming up and freeze drying, canning or drying them out and setting yourselves up for the upcoming turmoil that is surely to come. Maybe keep half of what you were giving away and still have the othet half to share. Save some for you. It's not selfish and your still giving. Peace and blessed days vicki
I have never started growing tomatoes from seeds. Your method makes sense & seems so easy. So here goes nothing. Lol anyway you came right to the point & thanks for all the info. Great job! 17:04
Kellogg's Breakfast is the BEST. I took your word for it last year and couldn't be happier. It makes a GREAT slicer - but it also made the best tomato sauce I've ever had in my life. Thank you again! Edit to add: I'm glad I'd not ordered cherry toms yet. Now I've got some Sweetheart cherry coming!
Hey excellent video and instructions. I like to use the red solo cups however i take a clear one of the same size and with a hot poker i put five holes around the base of the clear one. i did my transplant today into the clear ones. i put my water in the bottom of the red cup and then put the clear one inside. capillary action will have the clear cup suck up what moisture it wants, i can take the clear one out and see the progress of the root growth and bottom water as needed
I love that! I may have to do that next year! I'll give you credit.👍😊
Great idea!
Thank you. I grow around 50+ tomato plants each year. You have 3 of my favorite that I plant each year. I start mine much as you do. I am encouraged that I am doing it right. I learn something new each time I watch your videos.
Thats a lot of toms. My daughter is allergic, she is on her own as far as I am concerned.
I obrained many ideas from your videos - thank you! I bought those high red/white plastic cups last year and drilled holes into the base (several at once), because here in Germany those plastic cups are being taken off the market because of evironmental concerns. I love those containers and they are perfect for tomato seedlings. I grew 14 different varieties last year and they bore more fruit than ever: half in the open air (always risky in Northern Germany) and half under cover. I had so many tomatoes on all of them - until the rain hit in late June and never stopped. I threw over 100 kilos of tomatoes away because they got the blight within days and even if you try to ripen them off the vine, once the blight is in the stem . all tomatoes get it, even when you remove them from the stem immediately. Sad! I managed to keep the ones under cover going until they showed a little color and then removed them because I knew the air was so moist, they would also be hit by blight. I managed to harvest aobut 80 kilos of tomatoes and all of them ripened nicely inside under cover and lying on dry straw. Kellog's breakfast was one of the favorites - it resisted the blight second best of all the tomatioes which surprised me and I shall grow them again this year - hopefully not another rainy year. Another favorite of mine is Sun Viva, coktail, robust, yellow and really tasty an LIlac Sari (a Russian variety) that is almost purple, sort of blackish greenish with rosy areas - very tasty, very robust and prolific.
Wish we had reliable sunshine like you have in California! It is a challenge but I managed to can lots of wonderful pasta sauce.
You are so helpful!! I moved to the super cold rural north zone 3 about 6 years ago and after watching your videos decided to start a container garden last year. It was a very small garden but now I have the bug and have 6 raised beds! Thanks for all the info you share with us
I am starting tomatoes today in solo cups. Thank you. Very excited. I always did tomatoes from slips, but can't find those these days, so being brave and doing seeds!!! Thank you so much!!!
I started mine in solo cups in January (17th) and I am putting them into the ground today. They look lovely! I will post a photo on the FB page. I did exactly what you said, and started in a half cup of soil starter, then filled to almost the rim of the cup when they grew tall enough. I did tease out the extras and got about 8 extra tomato plants that are also doing well. The problem is I forgot to label the extras! By the way, I am growing Kellogg Breakfast, Cherokee Purple, a red one called Delicious, Chadwick Cherries, Tricolor Cherries, one of which is a Sungold.
Perfect! Your ahead of the game
I live in Tennessee and I used to dig a deep hole and put my tomato plant in it. I would add dirt, leaf mulch and manure. My plants would be nearly a foot in the ground.
I was just thinking about mentioning the roots that my plants has and the great tomatoes I 🍅raised.
A tablespoon of Epson Saults helps to keep the disease from your plants.
May I ask how you add the Epsom salts please?
One source I found recommended adding 1 teaspoon Epsom salt per litre (or quart) of water to a spray bottle and wetting the foliage every 2 weeks using a fine spray setting. It is said to be quickly absorbed by the leaves. They caution against spraying on hot, sunny days, or when rain is imminent.
Another source said that some people add Epsom salts directly to the planting hole when planting tomatoes to prevent blossom end rot, but that source cautioned against doing that and said that putting the Epsom salt directly into the planting hole is more likely to contribute to blossom end rot. Blossom end rot is caused by a calcium deficiency in the soil. The magnesium in the Epsom salts will compete with calcium to be absorbed by the tomato plant. So, it sounds like spraying your tomato plants with an Epsom salt solution is the way to go.
I've read elsewhere that putting a Tums tablet in the soil when you plant your tomatoes can help meet the need for calcium for your tomato plants and prevent blossom end rot. I've also read that aspirin dissolved in water and sprayed on tomato plants before the first signs of blight can help prevent it. Recommended dosage was 250 mg - 500 mg dissolved in 4.5 litres of water and sprayed on the plants 2-3 times a month, again, before there is any evidence of blight.
@@charmc4152 thank you for your time in replying. Much appreciated 🙏🏼☺️
I've gardening for 50 years at least I'm 57 and I started with my grandfather. The way I see it you can always learn something from someone else. Sometimes you can learn good things sometimes you can learn what to avoid lol I do enjoy your videos very much!
Thank you. I feel the same way. I've learned so much from my viewers
I always say "If you could learn one thing a day, the day isn't wasted." You're right, you learn good things and bad things. Same with life experiences. Thank you for your inspirational comment! ~ Peace ~ ✌😎✌
99⁹⁹
Thank you Brian, I have watched a number of your videos today and they are very informative. I have been growing tomatoes for years but always struggled, except for 2016 where I had an excellent crop. Luck i think! Last year's crop was dismal and the plants were stunted, we had a really dry spring and I couldn't water them enough... I am in the UK, South, and am growing Oxheart, ACE 55 VF, and large cherry tomatoes this year. I'm going to make great root systems for them! The cherry ones I'm going to grow up a string.
Like you, I only want 1-2 cherry tomatoes plants, but my favorite are the WHOPPERS and Roma's! As I enjoy canning them for, they make the BEST Pasta Sauces, and Salsa's!
You are so RIGHT ON regarding the roots and making sure they are deeply buried when planting them.
WOW, I LOVE YOUR BACKGROUND! IS THIS YOUR HOME & PROPERTY WITH ALL THOSE LUCIOUS & BEAUTIFUL PLANTS?
My son has a bunch of red Solo cups in the garage for when he and his friends play beer pong. I can now put them to a better use...lol. Thanks for the video.
Lol. You're welcome
😂
A new twist on recycling 🤔
2
better the drinking bier?
I start my tomatoes in 3" plastic pots and when the roots start coming out of the drain holes transplant them deeper into 6" plastic pots. The seedlings are grown under 3 LED shop lights running 16 hours a day on a 12" wide shelf until planting time, June 1-7 here in Illinois. I also run a fan on low which seems to strengthen the stems. At planting time the roots fill the 6" pots and produce earlier than plants purchased from a nursery which are always in too small of containers.
Thanks, Brian, for an excellent video on starting tomato seeds indoors. My favorites - Sungold, Super Sweet 100, Black Krim and Cherokee Purple. Started my Black Krim and they are about 2” tall, a great flavor tomato.
I love Black Krim as well!
Late but now with God. My prayers are with you during your severe health challenge. For gardening, I am starting a strawberry wall, two shelves high, in 24 inch x 12 inch high planters. For seeds, I saw one guy grow them to start in plain sand! It is cheaper, and it can be reused several times. He grows them to a couple inches high and then repots them in fertilized growing media. Blessings, Russ
You really helped me a lot I have been starting my seeds inside and I knew my tamatos didn't have a good root system and now I can make it better this year thank you for sharing your video's God bless you
Will have to try Kellogg’s as last year two orange varieties joined my favorites list: orange strawberry and hillbilly. Both produced huge, delicious tomatoes and my house was BLT central all summer long.
Great idea for the solo cups. I grew the Sungolds last year, they kept producing till frost came, delicious and abundant! I also grow heirloom Matina, Cherokee Purples and Italian Heirlooms. Save your seeds everyone!! I love your videos, informative and right to the point. 💕
what is the best way to save seeds?
@@brentwiggins5254 This is what I’ve heard (just tried it, but haven’t tried germinating the seeds yet):
Put the seeds in a container, add water and in a couple-three days pour off the pulpy water. Repeat adding water and pouring off until there are just plain seeds without any of the pulpy stuff attached. Leave to dry and store in an envelope in a dry place.
Zone 5 b. Starting my tomatoes indoors under light this week. Also growing sun gold and oxhearts. Trying Barrys'
crazy cherries and jersey devils for something new!
I have always given a thumbs up! No return! No comment! No answer!
I’m growing sun gold this year. I grew black cherry last year and made roasted tomato paste with basil and froze it in silicone ice cube trays, so yummy
I believe the finest sandwich and canning tomato is “ Rutgers”. It’s more orange than red but I grow for flavor and these are at the top of my list. They are indeterminate. Try them, you will be happy you did.!
Great to hear I just ordered some with my heirloom packs from Amazon
Clyde Russell and Cade Harvey are a TROLL TEAM. IGNORE THEM.
REPORT AND BLOCK THEM.
I grow Campbell's 1327 which is a Rutgers variety. Very sweet. Everybody I give extra plants to say they are the best they have ever had. Campbell's probably didn't have to add much extra sugar to their soup.
Love this!!! The only way I do my tomatoes and I get the BEST root base, and have had the best harvest from my plants since! ❤
Last year, I followed your method of planting my tomatoes in the Solo cups. It worked out great and I'll do that forever more!! I purchased Kellogg's Breakfast seed at your recommendation and I'm trying Amish Paste this year as well. I'm still a couple more weeks off of starting my tomatoes but this afternoon, I set up my grow light station on a brand new shelving unit so spring seems a little closer now.
You made me chuckle with your adamant demand for a minimum of 6 hours direct sunlight a day.
I've been growing tomatoes since the 1950s in northwest England where we are often _very_ happy to see six hours of direct sunlight _a week_ .
You - and the tomato! - can probably find a work-around, and nowadays with grow lights, soil heaters and other little luxuries, it's far easier, when conditions are unavoidably less than ideal, than it was in the past.
I'll be starting a couple of dwarf and ultra-dwarf determinate varieties, a couple of patio-size bush tomatoes, a couple of trailers for hanging baskets and a couple of indeterminates, so I have all bases covered. My last frost date is the end of April, so the seeds in their packets are looking at me already, planning trouble!
Thanks for all the ideas, this will be the first year for me to start my plants individually in cups. Always befour in A plant-bed. thanks again.
Brian is always my go-to garden expert. Thanks again for a very informative and educational video Brian. You’ve taught me so much about gardening.
Thanks Connie!
Great video! I've been starting them in solo cups for years. I have a south facing window I have been putting them in so they get light all day. That is not enough. This year I bought an LED grow light. That worked great. My favorite hybrid is Parks Whopper. My favorite heirloom is Hungarian Heart. They average 1 1/2 to 2 pounds and often get over 2 pounds. I live in southern Iowa.
Note on your tomato selection - I grew the sweetheart tomatoes in zone 5 last year and they were fantastic. Crazy productive in a bad tomato year, "hold" a long time, and great flavor. I think you'll really enjoy them, even if only the novelty lol
Only thing I noticed was I got 3 "rounds" of tomatoes. For the 2nd, they had a distinctly different shape and were basically a normal cherry. 3rd round was right back to the original golfball sized hearts, which was weird. Maybe heat related? Tasted fine and everything and was only an aesthetic issue but I would not have guessed they were from the same plant. Never had that happen before, so it was odd. Trying them from saved seed this year, so we'll see how that goes.
I've watched a few of your videos. I really appreciate and enjoy learning new ways to raise gardens. People better be learning with all that's going on!!!! I just subscribed. Thanks so much!!
I've always had a brown thumb. But I love tomatoes and my granddaughter, an excellent gardener has had no luck, neither has my son in law... so now I'm watching your videos and germinating seeds and repetition is power so I watch your videos repeatedly. Thank you so much. I'm about to grow some beautiful, delicious tomatoes. :)
I'm not a tomato guy but growing veggies relieves stress for me. My wife loves them especially purple cherokee. Trying out some new varieties this year. Also got some 32 sq. ft. raised beds, so those should come in handy.
Ever look at Square Foot Gardening. It produces astonishing yields.
Great video! How often do you water the seedling while germinating and then once it started to grow?
Just found your channel, love it! I've learned so much in just a the half a dozen videos cant wait to see more. Eastern washington, in the ground date of may 15. Bring on the sunshine!!
Eastern Washington here too. I love that I get advice for all locations. We are about 40 miles south of Spokane. Where are you?
@@sherihatley2219 we are in the Spokane area. Prepping soil and ready to plant. Soon as the snow is off mica peak lol. Some great information on his channel. I’ve learned so much in just a few weeks of binge watching his videos .
This video is a classic that I have watched several times. Good stuff!!! Lots of helpful information.... THANK YOU! And....so far in my gardening journey....."Pineapple" tomatoes are my favorites. 😊
This is for the first time I am going to do like what you explained, usually I bought my plants from a nursery sometime they do good and sometimes heartbreaking, but I like your way thanks for all the teaching may Lord bless you and your family
Sungolds are my favorite! This year I'm also trying Sunrise Bumblebee, and have started Paul Robeson (both from Baker Creek) indoors.
I just started some Robeson too! Did they also give you the free white tomesal seeds? I’ve started only three of those as the reviews were rather mixed on flavor.
@@melissasullivan1658 I did just get a packet of the Tomesals too. I’m running out of starting space, so will prob only do a couple of those.
My fave varieties for growing in planters are:
> Bonne Sun Sugar (formerly Sun Gold) Yellow Cherry
> Bonne Supersweet 100 Red Cherry
Ive been growing both for like 8 years now. Both yeild bountifully, and are more disease resistant than other varieties ive tried. My bugbear is yellow fusillium wilt, because it easily infects above ground planters, because the soil is much warmer than in ground tomatoes.
I'm looking forward to doing my own seedings for the first time ever this coming spring - not just to save money, but to hit the ground running much earlier in the season, so they can bear fruit far longer before wilt and/or cold weather claim them.
My other outdoor choices are Jalapenos, Orange Snack Peppers, and Bell Peppers.
Where do you find orange snacking pepper seeds? I grew them 2 yrs ago and they were wonderful. Now I can't find the seeds.
@@MarthaSanchez-sp5tk Im not sure why my post keeps disappering. I like the Lunchbox Orange Snacking Peppers from BonniePlants. I saved seeds from last year, so that I wouldnt have to wait for them to list it for sale. I have several in 5" planters that are ready to be up-potted to 5gal.
I just looked, and I dont see them listed yet, but its still early in the season for 2023 yet.
We grew snacking peppers from a package of snacking peppers from Aldi's. I've grown lots of things from grocery store produce.
Thanks for great info and some feedback on new varieties. I'll be interested to hear and see a "review" next yar. I've had better luck using tall jumbo soda cups instead of the red ones which get brittle and fall apart. The heavy plastic tall soda cups last forever and give you even more scope for adding stimulant soil which is a great idea. If you don't want them that tall and their footprint really isn't much wider than the red cups, you could scissor-trim an inch or so off the top, but they work beautifully in the soda cups, And they get a bit of support when they get willowy. I use an ice pick to make drain holes.
About 10 years ago, my daughter gave me a packet of seeds for my birthday. They were heirloom tomatoes called Chocolate Cherry. They are my absolute favorite. I keep saving the seeds and growing them every year. I love that they are indeterminate. I grow them on a trellis, so they take up very little space in my small veggie garden. Last year, I finally invested in grow lights. They make a huge difference.
Hello NLG,
Thanks for the vid. You popped up on my FB page... (I have no idea how this thing sorts out stuff I like) and I was bound to watch. Well, you axed, and I'll tell. I live in NE Alabama, which would be on the border of Zone 7/8. I have been gardening for a little better than 40 years now on the same 60x100 patch. Red clay predominant but built up over the years with a yearly infusion of chopped oak leaves/lime/13-13-13 mix. My season starts at the end of January which in in a couple of weeks. That's when I plant my tomatoes and peppers.
I am an experimenter. I have tried bucket loads of different methods, seeds, you name it. Different stuff each year. And here is what I came to. Ya just can not beat Better Boys. Best mix of everything good in a tomato. Yep, some taste better... but here none grow better or are more dependable. You don't find those things in supermarkets.
At the end of this month, January, (after using a buhzillion methods to see what was best) I will grab some planting tray thingies...those 6 packs like you get at the store and stuff two seeds into each. (I have forever been a miser with seeds but finally gave up. Two seeds is best.) I have found that the larger tray works best. The smaller ones...well, they just don't have the oomph you need for tomatoes and peppers. (Even as I write the wife is about to fry up a pan of okra from our freezer).
I *would* use the red cups to start but I have limited space to start. (The top of the clothes dryer with morning sun. Ha!).... So, by the time the critters (Prolly only do about 12-14 this year. The wife is making me cut back.) are up really really well THEN it's time to put the best one in each cell into the red cup. I have reused mine many many moocho times. I use an ice pick to make the drain holes. And by that time it's warm enough to move the whole plant operation outside. Usually I can get the things into the ground around early to mid May. Generally early May. By this time the things have been in the red cups for 3 weeks or so and are really all azoommin. See, I can move all that stuff back inside in case of frost.. Then put them back out when it's above 50-55.
When I plant I use a shovel to dig the hole...not nearly as deep as I used to and more broad. There is a reason. I aim when I can to have the top of the plant a bit above ground level. Fact.... listen... most of the best tomato roots grow near the top of the dirt in a big old round clump. You don't gain much by sticking it 12 feet deep. Trust me on this.
Then...when the plant starts growing in the garden and gets up a bit I pull the rest of the dirt to it and dig out a shallow circle ring around it where I put a modest amount of Miracle Grow plant food. MG Tomato plant food when I can find it. Otherwise just plain Miracle Grow plant food. I cover this over with a little dirt so as to make sure none contact the plant.
And then get this. This is THE secret it took me 35 years to figger out. Wheat straw is the most amazing devastating tomato generating substance you can use. In my case I grab out my trusty roll of craft paper....brown paper on a roll...newspapers will work just as good....and roll it down the row. I cut a hole to where I can pull the tomato top through it. THEN...POOM!!! I bury the whole thing in wheat straw...digging around to expose the tomato tops. They grow like weeds. The straw keeps the moisture in and the weeds not only down, but in most cases out. No weeds....sustained moisture.
I find that my dosing of Miracle Grow lasts the whole growing season...until frost in some of the plants. I do go back around with some Epsom Salts water....and that's it. I never get any fair winners but my plants grow to 5 or 6 feet high and are insanely prolific.
Each year I lay down a string.... dig the holes 4 feet apart or so and then I use landscape timbers every so often down the row. To each side I have nails driven in beginning about 2 feet high and up to the top every foot and a half to two feet. The tomatoes grown between the wires and I use old pantyhose (getting hard to find) to tie them with.
All for now! Time to start gnawing that okra produce from the garden.
Your fan in Alabam,
Norm
Cherokee Purple are my absolute FAVORITE tomato! My grandma had tons of tomatoes, all colors and some striped ones too, but the Cherokee Purple are the most juicy and rich that I've personally tasted. I also grew a little yellow one this year called Sun Sugar that were pretty good, the sweetest tomatoes are not my favorite, but if they're yours you'd probably love Sun Sugar.
I tried Sun Sugar and Cherokee Carbon tomatoes last year. My Sun Sugar cherry tomatoes didn't do that well because I bought a plant later in the spring from a garden center, and it was the tomato equivalent of the Charlie Brown Christmas tree. 🙄 It didn't bounce back as quickly as I'd anticipated. We did get some tomatoes though, and boy, were they good! I've seen the Cherokee Purple too, and I want to try that one this spring, that and the Pink Brandywine as well.
The Cherokee Purple is by far my absolute favorite tomato. Have not had great success growing them in Florida. Going to try again this year and have some growing already.
@@VanessaWaugh I hope you have an abundant harvest this year! 🙂
I was going to sew my seeds indoors yesterday I’m so glad it didn’t work out because I did not know to only have to fill the cup. As always perfect timing Brian thank you.
Probably should sow them instead. Sticking needles into them is not recommended.
I love Cherokee purple and my wife loves Pual Roberson.
Oh yeah. Had my first batch last year.
Brian I really find your videos very informative. You are one of few that I watch on you tube. I wish you would consider also using rumble.
My favorites are Brandywine Pink for taste/meat, Sun Gold for small and Tie Dye for a colorful Early Girl like mid-sized tomato. Last year followed no dig and regenerative approach not weeding with amazing results and healthy plants.
Love your vids! I'm a container gardener. This year I'm excited to try a Midnight Snack blue cherry tomato and a White Tomesol. I'll be growing them in 25 gallon tubs. I'm intrigued by those little heart shaped tomatoes! Keep us posted on them, please.
I will
This was awesome. I learned so much and although I started my seeds already, I'm going to try this process. Thank you
Trying Mortgage Lifter and Celebrity for the first time this year. Also doing my old standbys Better Boy and SuperSweet 100.
That mortgage lifter will keep you in tomatoes all by itself!
Celebritys have always done great for me. I'm trying Mortgage Lifter this year myself.
I grow morgage lifters every year! Didnt like celebrity last year. Growing San Marino this year. Loved Sugar Bush cherry.
Campbell's 33 my new fav for canning tomato juice. They are super resilient as well. Almost all I grow now. Super sweet 100 and couple brandywine is the only exception.
WoW! I didn't know this .... about the roots coming out from the stems and just putting soil half way up the cup before seeding. Thanks because I'm going to plant my seeds tomorrow.
My favorite tomatoes so far are Cherokee purple and brandy wine. I’m growing 19 different varieties of heirloom, cherry and dwarf this year. I’m looking forward to the new varieties I’m growing this year.
Always fun to try new ones
Wow! That’s going to be some garden! Please share pictures on Brian’s Next level Gardening Facebook page when they produce!!
@@MichaelRei99 I hope so! 😊
Cherokee purple is my favorite too!
I am trying several of the Wild Boar farms line cherry's. Barry's Crazy Cherry sounds amazing! Very interested to try it. It's a multi flora so massive harvest! Happy growing !
They are so good,thin skin !!
I'm growing Blue Berry Cherries this year too. I'm looking forward to this variety the most. 🍅
I bought those to grow this year too and the atomic grape ones because they look really cool and I'm trying to keep my kids interested in gardening. Anything that looks different than what they have at the grocery store seems to work:)
Sure wish I'd had your mator info back 20 years ago. I wasted lots of time trying to grow mators like my mom did with her green thumb. But it turns out best the way you advise. My difference is, I have a small Harbor Freight greenhouse. I put some plants in there, and some in an aviary wire covered pen. This year's starts really surprised me after I used the Neptune Fish & Seaweed fertilizer. They far outgrew anything I've ever had in the past, and I had to put them in the ground much earlier than ever before. But with the SoCal weather, they are all blooming already. I love the Celebrity determinate for quick and heavy results, and BetterBoy for the longer time frame. I'll start new Celebs in a couple of months to replace these when they stop producing. Those two species have the flavor I most like. Thanx again.
They’re blooming in March??? 😳
@@melissasullivan1658 Yes, Melissa, none have yet set a tomato, but all are blooming both inside the greenhouse and outside. I usually transplanted mators when they reached 8-10" tall, but that Neptune fertilizer shot them up to 2 feet tall in pots this time.
Amish Paste tomatoes are EXCELLENT! I grew them for the first time last year and produced very well and excellent for paste and sauces!
Hello. I am using your technique and my tomato plants are growing very nicely! I’m new to gardening, so this video was very helpful.
I bought the “Crimson” seeds at Bakers Creek. They are ‘meatier’ and a beautiful crimson color (deep reddish purplish). I’ve only tried gardening for 2-3 seasons and look forward to learning from You and the listeners here 💕
Thanks for the tips Brian. I am going to use this technique this year in seeding the tomatoes and not have to up pot the seedlings. YAY! I found clear-ish solo cups at the Dollar Tree in 12 oz. I'm excited because I should be able to see the roots developing!
I am using clear cups, too, so the grandkids can see the roots!
Never had a Sungold, but the sweetest tomato I've ever had was a Creole tomato from around New Orleans. And they aren't just sweet, they're huge. If you're ever around that area, I recommend picking up a couple for seeds.
You can buy the seeds at tomatofest
we are planting our fall crops seeds here in Arizona! we are including this trick when growing our tomato seedlings. thank you!
From three years old my Grand daughter Avah have been growing her lil plants. She’s five now and she wanted to try tomatoes this year. It’s too late in our zone , so next year I’ll be on top of it. Thank you for taking your time to explain. My grand baby thinks I’m an expert 😊
Hi Carolyn, reading your post put a sweet tear in my eye, thinking of the bonding we can grow with our grandchildren. My Aunt Mae is remembered for the simple expression: "Money can't buy that."
The longer I live, the more profound that truth becomes. Time flies...opportunities with our little ones are like spring planting season. Nurtured seedlings have the best likelihood of vigor and bearing fruit.
Thanks for the Lesson, again...