Another Tomato Thread

[Buckaroo Banzai]

Finding good, big tomatoes in Thailand is next to impossible. The climate is too wet, and there is no market for them , but to a good Greek American Boy , nice beefcake tomatoes is a summer rite of almost religious significance. Some try to get classer to God trough communion, I do it with a nice Tomato and Cucumber salad with chunks of Feta cheese and an Olive oil, vinegar and oregano dressing.
So I have joined the ranks of those who have indevoured to bring civilization to the wilds of Thailand and cultivate the wily and elusive beefsteak tomato. I extensively researched the issue by watching a video on YouTube (well not all of it it was 5 min long) . I Made a raised bed out of precast building columns.

Filed it with dirt, and paint it dark brown to match the house, 'cause a well decorated vegetable bed is the most important part of growing tomatoes IMO.

I have been told that September is the best time in Thailand to start your tomato seeds, and I just started the seeds another member of this forum was kind to mail to me, and I will be planting them as soon as they sprout, but in the mean time a friend of my wife gave her a bunch of small tomato plants that I planted a couple of weeks ago along with peppers, eggplants, some other leafy plants my wife uses when cooking (dont know the names) dill from seed and basil that is sprouting nicely. Oh!! and a bunch of those long string beans up against the fence .
The tomato plant I was given are doing good so far , more than half of them have grown to over 24" and a couple of them are flowering (keeping my fingers crossed).

Any advice I can ignore would be appreciated

[HuangLao]

For the tomatoes, you might want to consider enriching the soil with a calcium supplement - certainly now when they're still young.

[hallelujah]

Finding good, big tomatoes in Thailand is next to impossible. The climate is too wet, and there is no market for them , but to a good Greek American Boy , nice beefcake tomatoes is a summer rite of almost religious significance. Some try to get classer to God trough communion, I do it with a nice Tomato and Cucumber salad with chunks of Feta cheese and an Olive oil, vinegar and oregano dressing.

One of the greatest memories I have of holidays in Greece as a kid was taking the bus to a little village we'd pointed out on a map in the hills of Kefalonia. We knew nothing about it, but just knew we'd get a taste of real Greek life. When we got there, there was nothing but a view of the Mediterranean and a few bakeries and small supermarkets. It was enough though.

Sat with my auntie and uncle overlooking the turquoise waters of the Ionian while eating the juiciest tomatoes and feta cheese drizzled in olive oil and oregano. Of course, both of these were served with great hunks of freshly baked bread and, while it might not quite have been heaven, you could certainly see it from there.

[nidhogg]

I cannot remember all the details off hand, but there is something in the soil, a blight or rust, that is widespread over thailand. Only the local variety is resistant, and maybe some specific resistent imports.

You might get a season or two, but in the end it will get you. Think the only other way with import varieties is 100% hydrooponic.

[Buckaroo Banzai]

I read some place that burring cooked fish is a good idea , and I did burry a couple of them near each tomato. I left a couple of them without fish just to see if it made any difference .
Without fish:


With Fish:

Not sure if it was the fish or if it was simply that it was stronger plants.
Do you think the fish would be adequate or so you think I should add additional calcium supplements? and would too much hurt? In the US we used to through crashed eggshells in the garden. but I think they might take a long time to dissolve. How would you add additional calcium?

[aging one]

I have grown tomatoes here several times using seeds I brought from the states. One time cherry tomatoes one time beefsteak. Both started out great, looked just like yours. Put out beautiful flowers and then the flowers fell off and the plants withered. Not once did I get an edible tomato. Very rare to find a nice one here in my opinion.

[Buckaroo Banzai]

One of the greatest memories I have of holidays in Greece as a kid was taking the bus to a little village we'd pointed out on a map in the hills of Kefalonia. We knew nothing about it, but just knew we'd get a taste of real Greek life. When we got there, there was nothing but a view of the Mediterranean and a few bakeries and small supermarkets. It was enough though.

Sat with my auntie and uncle overlooking the turquoise waters of the Ionian while eating the juiciest tomatoes and feta cheese drizzled in olive oil and oregano. Of course, both of these were served with great hunks of freshly baked bread and, while it might not quite have been heaven, you could certainly see it from there.

You are killing me!!
With all the covid travel restrictions it has been over two years since my last visit. When they were talking of opening up Thailand without quarantine to vaccinated people by October 1st . we were planning to go to Greece right about now, spend a couple of months there (we have family and friends there so it is easy for us) , and by that time Thailand would have been open and we could come back
..We started preparing to go when everything went to shit with covid. and Thailand was placed in the red zone, so to go to Europe from Thailand now you have to quarantine, in addition the October opening for Thailand is uncertain at best. So perhaps next spring we will go for Easter and stay for the Summer.
..That crusty bread dipped in the salad dressing is heaven. Bread is another disappointment of mine in Thailand. I occasionally bake my own French baguettes and freeze them then I throw a piece in the airfryier for a few minutes and it comes out as if freshly baked.

[Buckaroo Banzai]

I cannot remember all the details off hand, but there is something in the soil, a blight or rust, that is widespread over thailand. Only the local variety is resistant, and maybe some specific resistent imports.

You might get a season or two, but in the end it will get you. Think the only other way with import varieties is 100% hydrooponic.

I was thinking of hydroponics. I have a small koi pond, I was thinking of diverting the waters with all the nutrients from the pond into a half barrel with pea gravel or some other medium and give that a try.
Perhaps a project for next year.

[Buckaroo Banzai]

I have grown tomatoes here several times using seeds I brought from the states. One time cherry tomatoes one time beefsteak. Both started out great, looked just like yours. Put out beautiful flowers and then the flowers fell off and the plants withered. Not once did I get an edible tomato. Very rare to find a nice one here in my opinion.

Did you paint your garden bed with a nice gloss brown?

[aging one]

Nah, the garden was over the back fence and led down to the now disappeared klong..

[panama hat]

We also tried growing tomatoes in Chathaburi, both at home and in the factory . . . a dismal failure.

[bsnub]

It is too hot in LOS to grow tomatoes. I grow them every year here in the Summer. When the temps get over 90f/32c the plants tend to drop their blossoms. Maybe if you tried to shade them with netting, they would do better?

Good luck!

[hallelujah]

You are killing me!!
With all the covid travel restrictions it has been over two years since my last visit. When they were talking of opening up Thailand without quarantine to vaccinated people by October 1st . we were planning to go to Greece right about now, spend a couple of months there (we have family and friends there so it is easy for us) , and by that time Thailand would have been open and we could come back
..We started preparing to go when everything went to shit with covid. and Thailand was placed in the red zone, so to go to Europe from Thailand now you have to quarantine, in addition the October opening for Thailand is uncertain at best. So perhaps next spring we will go for Easter and stay for the Summer.
..That crusty bread dipped in the salad dressing is heaven. Bread is another disappointment of mine in Thailand. I occasionally bake my own French baguettes and freeze them then I throw a piece in the airfryier for a few minutes and it comes out as if freshly baked.

I was there just over a year ago on holiday. I will see what photos I can find to tantalise your taste buds.

[Buckaroo Banzai]

It is too hot in LOS to grow tomatoes. I grow them every year here in the Summer. When the temps get over 90f/32c the plants tend to drop their blossoms. Maybe if you tried to shade them with netting, they would do better?

Good luck!

I have planted them on the back , west facing wall that gets sun only on the afternoon. When it does not rain, I water them only in the morning . From what I have read from others, I am not very confident also but it beats doing real work LOL.

[bsnub]

When it does not rain, I water them only in the morning .

If it was me, in that heat, I would give them a good soaking at dusk.

[Buckaroo Banzai]

If it was me, in that heat, I would give them a good soaking at dusk.

I have been told, that the best time to water tomatoes is early in the morning, giving them time to soak up water in the leaves before it gets hot, and dry. I don't know this independently, I am a novice at best , but I have been told that one of the maladies of tomato plants is blight that is caused by a fungus and that watering at night keeps the plants and or ground wet for a long time because the water does not evaporate, and propagates funguses .
It sounds right but as I said I don't know.

[Buckaroo Banzai]

We also tried growing tomatoes in Chathaburi, both at home and in the factory . . . a dismal failure.

You guys are not doing very much to bolster my confidence in this indevoured. LOL

[bsnub]

I am a novice at best , but I have been told that one of the maladies of tomato plants is blight that is caused by a fungus and that watering at night keeps the plants and or ground wet for a long time because the water does not evaporate, and propagates funguses .

I have heard that myself, but I think it is a load of bull. Thing is in LOS it gets so hot early that the water can evaporate before the plants have a chance to soak it up. I have been watering my tomatoes at dusk for years and never had any problems, and have grown some real humdingers over the years.

[Troy]

I cannot remember all the details off hand, but there is something in the soil, a blight or rust, that is widespread over thailand. Only the local variety is resistant, and maybe some specific resistent imports.

You might get a season or two, but in the end it will get you. Think the only other way with import varieties is 100% hydrooponic.

This....

Athelia rolfsii - Wikipedia

...as well as possibly other problems that caused our plants to die from the bottom up just as the first fruit were looking good. That's when we used seed from Europe to grow beef tomatoes.

Since then we grow from local seed and get good tomatoes from the fields that are grown in the area. There are companies that distribute seed to farmers to grow in their rice fields after the main crop (start November/December). They supply everything required and then collect the ripe tomatoes for the seeds to distribute to Europe if I recall correctly. There are plenty of good tomatoes available during this period of the year and we either get them free or at a very low price and I cook & freeze for a ready supply for sauces etc.

DK grew tomatoes in Philipines for at least one season, the thread might be worth a visit.

[Buckaroo Banzai]

I have heard that myself, but I think it is a load of bull. Thing is in LOS it gets so hot early that the water can evaporate before the plants have a chance to soak it up. I have been watering my tomatoes at dusk for years and never had any problems, and have grown some real humdingers over the years.

Those are some nice looking tomatoes. Were those gown here in Thailand? If so I am greatly encouraged.

[bsnub]

Were those gown here in Thailand?

Sorry. Nope here in the PNW. Seattle.

[Buckaroo Banzai]

This....

Athelia rolfsii - Wikipedia

...as well as possibly other problems that caused our plants to die from the bottom up just as the first fruit were looking good. That's when we used seed from Europe to grow beef tomatoes.

Since then we grow from local seed and get good tomatoes from the fields that are grown in the area. There are companies that distribute seed to farmers to grow in their rice fields after the main crop (start November/December). They supply everything required and then collect the ripe tomatoes for the seeds to distribute to Europe if I recall correctly. There are plenty of good tomatoes available during this period of the year and we either get them free or at a very low price and I cook & freeze for a ready supply for sauces etc.

DK grew tomatoes in Philipines for at least one season, the thread might be worth a visit.

Thank you for that reply , very informative.
Where in Thailand are you located? We are in Khon Kaen.
I also thought about getting seeds from locally grown tomatoes. Khon Kaen University has a very large agricultural program. I was thinking of asking there, but I dont know where to start. Wife is no help. Where do you think I could get locally grown tomato seeds?

[Troy]

^ We are in Sakon Nakhon province about half way between Udon and Sakon.

Khon Kaen University has carried out quite a bit of research into crop farming, including tomatoes, and it should be easier to source good seeds there than where we are. Various extended family relatives have grown different crops after the rice season to make some extra money. That's how we found out about growing tomato, cucumber, chilli and mushrooms.

[Buckaroo Banzai]

^ We are in Sakon Nakhon province about half way between Udon and Sakon.

Khon Kaen University has carried out quite a bit of research into crop farming, including tomatoes, and it should be easier to source good seeds there than where we are. Various extended family relatives have grown different crops after the rice season to make some extra money. That's how we found out about growing tomato, cucumber, chilli and mushrooms.

You are not so far from us, so the climate cant be much different. That's encouraging. I will call the University Monday.

[Buckaroo Banzai]

Sorry. Nope here in the PNW. Seattle.

I am jealous. When we had our New York Property among other things we used to grow some killer tomatoes. Come August/September, everyone had so many, we could not give them away.
Nice meaty ones that were full of sugar and delicious to eat of the vine with just a bit of salt. I would make tomato sauce, can them, and have them all year long.