Thread: Growing Tomatoes in Thailand

Update ,now have first fruit ,on first truss ,so fruit small so far .Plants still healthy although one did die of a wilting disease .Same with two of the Peppers .Peppers and Cucumber also bearing first fruits .

well done Anto looking good ,, suprised me how long in that heat to fruit though

They certainly look like healthy plants and fruit.
Well done.

Originally Posted by who

Originally Posted by grasshopper

There may be an opening for a smart young lad from Oz here. We grow tomatoes in climes where the temperatures rise well above 30 degrees. Gross Lisse springs to mind, not to mention Black Russians. Question is, are you permitted to bring packets of seeds into LOS? Or do they come in secreted about the body?

I seems that Thai airport customs went out of business some years back. The only hint of them is a gaggle of high rank officials standing around smiling in their smart gold bedecked white uniforms.
.

I just brought them with me from Brisbane. Same ones you mentioned.

Some say that its too hot for Toms on Samui, but that cannot be right as the climate is about the same here as the Bowen area of Queensland where they grow thousands of tons each year ! I think it is about starting in the coolest months.

Anto ! i am jealous. I have also brought with my Grosse Lisse and Black Russian seeds a fertilizer to be used when the first truss forms. It is phosphorus based, which is what Toms need.

Not sure where you could find any but my mother always told me the key is phosphate, it causes the flowering plants to flower and the fruit producing plants to produce more fruit....might help. I've tried to find phosphate over here but no luck so far.

Originally Posted by taffyapple

hey anto they look good any chance you send a jiffy bag full down to isaan i got the cheese.

Why not try a local farmer were he keeps his cows or Buffalo's compounded up at night ,I dug some out and mixed it with old rice husks ,we got great results ,shade is important with young seedlings , I used the cheap black plastic close knit netting ,you could also use the green crystals you dilute with water , its very much like growmore in the UK but at a quarter of the price

I have successfully grown some Portuguese varieties I brought in by seed

you have to protect them from all sorts of bugs and rats though

but they thrived and were delicious, as was the Basil and Parsley grown with them

Looks. Good. I've just started. Have a couple plants. Doing ok. Under eaves so should do fine.

I've had no problem bringing seeds into Thailand. I was advised to take the seeds in carry-on, not checked luggage, because the x-ray system is different and can sterilize the seeds in a checked bag...no idea if that's true!

Here are a few pics of the seed packages for the tomatoes plus some peppers I'm hoping will flourish:

Like many others I have tried many varieties from the Uk. only had success one year but the crop was small. Given up.

The variety you allegedly want are called tropic ( see description below). Has anyone tried these before i import those along with some moneymaker and black Russian. i will also try some seeds from local toms

"This variety developed by the Univ. of Florida is almost certain to grow in almost any climate. Very disease resistant, 9 oz. red fruit (with some green shoulders) is thick-walled and is excellent choice for garden or greenhouse production. Highly recommended for those areas that are hot and humid and prone to disease."

Originally Posted by JBaker

I'd sterilize the potting soil by heating it over a BBQ or fire

Easier to just give it a few blasts in the 'Chernobyl' a.k.a the microwave...

Originally Posted by Gipsy

Originally Posted by JBaker

I'd sterilize the potting soil by heating it over a BBQ or fire

Easier to just give it a few blasts in the 'Chernobyl' a.k.a the microwave...

Lordy, I tried it inside just once. The stuff stunk so bad after heating - never again.

Maybe you have a different type of soil. Every soil I've tried that had a lot of organic matter in it stunk badly when heated. Everyone that I know does it outside and usually on the BBQ.

Originally Posted by Bingo Enthusiast

The variety you allegedly want are called tropic ( see description below). Has anyone tried these before i import those along with some moneymaker and black Russian. i will also try some seeds from local toms

"This variety developed by the Univ. of Florida is almost certain to grow in almost any climate. Very disease resistant, 9 oz. red fruit (with some green shoulders) is thick-walled and is excellent choice for garden or greenhouse production. Highly recommended for those areas that are hot and humid and prone to disease."

Do we have a Thai source for these Florida varieties? Or do we order them by mail.

I've been trying to to grow Aussie Apollo & Grosse Lisse (in pots with potting mix) but after 4 goes 100% failure!

Sometimes they get the stem chopped when they about 5 or 6 cm. The last lot got leaf wilt.

Would sun drying the potting mix be as good as putting them in the oven?

Like everyone I have always had trouble growing tomatoes for the last 8 years, however that is now behind me. I have vastly improved my soil and this year have had tomato plants over 6 foot high, for anyone who wants a laugh I can post a photo. What I done was use plenty of gypsum, you cannot over do it, My plot, 15 foot wide and 30 foot long has had about ten 50 kilo bags scattered into it and then rotavated over. This is the first year I have succeeded with tomatoes. I also had local onions 3 foot high, which had all the Thais gaping in amazement

Originally Posted by nigelandjan

well done Anto looking good ,, suprised me how long in that heat to fruit though

Like everyone I have always had trouble growing tomatoes for the last 8 years, however that is now behind me. I have vastly improved my soil and this year have had tomato plants over 6 foot high, for anyone who wants a laugh I can post a photo. What I done was use plenty of gypsum, you cannot over do it, My plot, 15 foot wide and 30 foot long has had about ten 50 kilo bags scattered into it and then rotavated over. This is the first year I have succeeded with tomatoes. I also had local onions 3 foot high, which had all the Thais gaping in amazement

I still have one tomato plant so if you want a photo showing the hieght just say

Originally Posted by skyywalker

I've had no problem bringing seeds into Thailand. I was advised to take the seeds in carry-on, not checked luggage, because the x-ray system is different and can sterilize the seeds in a checked bag...no idea if that's true!

Here are a few pics of the seed packages for the tomatoes plus some peppers I'm hoping will flourish:

I get all the seeds I want from the UK, My sister sends them by post, Had one or two packets opened by customs but no problem, Been doing so for the last 8 years. The only time had a problem was when my mate tried sending goosberry cuttings, they were held, he has now saved the seeds and they have come, will be plaanting them next week

Originally Posted by grasshopper

There may be an opening for a smart young lad from Oz here. We grow tomatoes in climes where the temperatures rise well above 30 degrees. Gross Lisse springs to mind, not to mention Black Russians. Question is, are you permitted to bring packets of seeds into LOS? Or do they come in secreted about the body?

Yes, i used to grow Grosse Lisse in SE Queensland. Brought some seeds back last time, no worries, just put them in my bag and said nothing. They do grow well here as i gave some seeds to a neighbour. The secret is planting the correct time, which on Samui i think is around oct/nov.

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

^^^^I'm going to try again, and will cow shit the hell out of it. I swear, you could stick a pool cue in the ground here, and it would sprout. But the tomatoes just don't cooperate. ^^^Hydroponics is quite nifty, and I may try this as well, but it seems quite complicated.

Two plant nutrients "must" be present in the soil or potting mix if tomatoes are to produce flowers. These are Phosphorus and Potassium. The phosphorus is essential for the flower initiation and potassium ensures good fruit. These are naturally found in a soil pH as close to 6.8 as possible. It is a good idea to apply some Dolomite about 6 weeks before planting. Use fertilizer 5-10-10 or 10-10-10

Originally Posted by grasshopper

There may be an opening for a smart young lad from Oz here. We grow tomatoes in climes where the temperatures rise well above 30 degrees. Gross Lisse springs to mind, not to mention Black Russians. Question is, are you permitted to bring packets of seeds into LOS? Or do they come in secreted about the body?

I brought Grosse Lisse seeds back from Qld and gave my neighbour some seeds which she planted about oct/nov on Samui. They were doing well standing about 4 ft high with plenty of nice green toms. I went away for a month and when i got back she had
pulled them all out, telling me "Green no good cannot eat" WTF.