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market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] Staking tomatoes

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  • From: Allan Balliett <igg AT igg.com>
  • To: Market Farming <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Staking tomatoes
  • Date: Sun, 8 Feb 2004 15:00:54 -0500

Jerry- If I were in your shoes, as I'm going to do in my own shoes, but in Montana this seems especially worthwhile, I'd look into a high tunnel made from hardware store items. I think they are now calling these 'field covers.' You can build one very reasonably and it will give you much better temp control than row cover will AND you will have the space to stake you tomatoes, as Chile Man suggested, when they are young and not once they are loaded with tomatoes. As you have noticed, it's just too late then - - the stems are 'set in their ways' at that point and don't take well to lifting and tying. You can make a tunnel that moves (ala Coleman) you can grow in the tunnel all season (bye-bye 120 day growing season!) or you can take the tunnel down and let the tomatoes stand out in the sunshine, so that picking is easier.

Does this sound fair?

-Allan Balliett

I was wondering if anyone could help with some advice. We are market gardeners in Billings, Montana with a growing season of 120 days. We grow mostly determinate tomatoes concentrating on Northern Exposure and Early Goliath. We set transplants out under row cover which is removed in about 5 weeks as blossoms begin to set. At this time we have very vigorous plants that set heavy fruit. Our problem with staking is that the fruit is so heavy that the main stems break off as the fruit grow while we are trying to get the plants to stand up. What usually happens is that the plants grow along the ground and are hard to pick and do not ripen very evenly. I believe we need to stake earlier with a better structure than just a short bean poll. Any suggestions.
Thanks
Melon Patch Kids

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