Thread: Tomatoes

When i lived in Ireland i grew tomatoes each year .Both under glass and outdoors .Now living in Pattaya /Jomtien i have sown some tomato seed ,but they only produce the seed leaves and then become stunted and later die .
Last time i used seed from ripe tomatoes produced by D.A.T.T.( Dutch Co ,with hydroponic farms in Northern Thailand ).
I am guessing its the constant high temperature that the tomato seedlings dont like ? or else its the PH of the soil .Have not got a PH meter though .Soil was bought in the usual bags at a local garden center .

Shouldn't be the heat as tomatoes like it hot as long as you keep them well watered.

^ Not correct like almost every thing else tomatoes have their ideal temperature range.
but I'm no Gardener( Propagators the man) but any attempts at growing tomatoes at above day time temperature of 25 C have failed.
In the winter here in the NE not too much of a problem but during the rest of the year when its above 25 Deb , poor or no fruit set.

Here in Pak Chong they grow like weeds all year round.

^^ I stand corrected after further research I found that 32C is the ceiling for bearing fruit.

not had much luck here in Minburi

We grow tomatoes here in the winter.

Another TD member gave me some giant italian tomatoe seeds to try.
They didn't grow big at all so I would stick to the local variety

My tomatoes grew great. From seeds, and good yield. The missus got fed up harvesting and rooted them out.

First of all, one doesn't sow tomato seeds. Best to start them in mini-green houses. Check out the Catalogs online from Burpee seeds USA
1. First 2-3 weeks grow the starts in mini-greenhouses in sterile peat moss.
2. when they produce two or three leaves, transfer them to bigger pots.
(Cherry tomatoes can be grown in pots.)
3. Do not overly fertilize tomatoes 10 N 20K 20P until they get going.
Tomatoes like lots of water and full sun. Tomatoes will not set fruit in calcium poor soil (clay) and are acid loving plants. Every week put your coffe grounds on one plant with crushed egg shells (a couple)
I've been successfully growing 3 to 5 different varies here in Nor Cal for over 30 years. Hope this helps.

some of that might help, but you have to remember that this is not NorCal, I can't
get anything to grow here and in Yreka I had gardens with more tomatoes than the neighborhood could use, in fact all kinds of vegs and a ton of strawberries,

Originally Posted by blackgang

some of that might help, but you have to remember that this is not NorCal, I can't
get anything to grow here and in Yreka I had gardens with more tomatoes than the neighborhood could use, in fact all kinds of vegs and a ton of strawberries,

Correct .In Ireland its never been a problem growing tomatoes from seed in a greenhouse or outdoors .Just sow the seed in a heated seed tray and plant out after mid April when the frosts have finished .Your growing season then lasts till the end of October .

In the greenhouse in Ireland the temp could reach 30c inside on a sunny day ,but nights would revert back to 18c or less .

I am thinking northern Thailand would be far more suitable than Pattaya as they have a genuine cool season to sow the seed .

I do not have any experience of growing tomatos in Thailand, but would think that during the colder months it should be more than possible. However depending on the variety, differant methods may have to be used. With the larger tomatos, make sure all the side shoots are nipped out and after 5 trusses have formed then nip out the top, and stake them. Too many people just put them in the ground and then hope they will bear fruit but they still need a certain amount of care. If you have a lack of bees around then you might have to inter pollinate them, use a childs paint brush.

Originally Posted by mtone9317

3. Do not overly fertilize tomatoes 10 N 20K 20P until they get going.

Tomatos should not be fertilised until the first set of fruit forms

Hey, Props, I have tried to grow tomatoes here from Burpee Big Boy seed sent me from a friend in Washington state, and have also tried to grow Jalapenio peppers and never got a damn thing except some nice green plants but never any fruit, and even my MiL took some sets and they never did shit either.

Originally Posted by anto2

In the greenhouse in Ireland

Why the ref to Ireland,,is there some micks here wanting to raise tomatoes?, mostly they hang out in Pattaya and just raise Hell.

OH YEA, I forgot all about the OP, sorry

>>Why the ref to Ireland,,is there some micks here wanting to raise tomatoes?,

My names not Mick .You should only post when sober !

Originally Posted by anto2

My names not Mick .You should only post when sober

I only post when sober as I have not had a drink in 29 years, and I also am not one of the politically correct gang.

Originally Posted by blackgang

and have also tried to grow Jalapenio peppers and never got a damn thing except some nice green plants but never any fruit, and even my MiL took some sets and they never did shit either.

Hi BG, as I said have no experience myself of growing tomatos in Thailand. Did see some real nice plants out the Chiang Mai area at one of them projects places. Seem to feel that it must be something to do with polination if the plants are growing well but no fruit.

Where I live in CM years ago, there was a few tomato Fields between my Moo Ban [San SA] and town, and they would go thru every so often and pick all tomatoes, mostly green ones, but small and small plants, now the fields are being put under more new houses, and any plants I have tried have only lived long enough to have a few small tomatoes and they started from local tomatoes that were threw out on the ground and volunteered. and peppers never even made it to bloom.

Tomatoes will adapt themselves to different climates. In Florida, they plant in September and harvest in April. In Alaska they grow tomtoes in the very short season there. It takes the right soil, the right variety (200 different kinds now), the right amout of sun, and usually plenty of water. Water at the base of the plant, never the top. I had trouble with the vines setting fruits and I discovered that my soil was too alkaline and lacked calcium. Once I got that straigtened out I grew 200 pounds or so a summer and canned 30 qts of spaget sauce.

Re growing your own, when the cooler months arrive I can and do buy 10 kg bags of great looking tomatoes which I juice or just cook and freeze.
A 10 kg bag usually costs about 40 bt. They are so bloody cheap its just not worth growing your own.

Hey peterpan, where can you buy tomatoes for that price?

At a wet market in Udon,,

IN CM they were 25 baht a 10 Kg bag at talat Mueang Mai last season.
I eat at least a tomato a day if not a couple. with a 10 Kg bag I eat alot mroe than that never was one for caning or freezing them though

I see only two types of tomato here down south.
A medium sized tomato that actually looks like a tomato, but, is totally tasteless.
The other is the cherry tomatoes that taste good.

I'm forced to use canned tomatoes for cooking spag & curries as cherry tomatoes are too expensive for the quantity needed.

Are there any local, biggish tomatoes that have a strong taste?

We have quite good tasting variety here, but I assume you know that Tomatoes loose all flavour if kept in the fridge for any length of time.
If I freeze Tomatoes I also add some vine as thats where the taste is, take it out before consuming.

Originally Posted by peterpan

but I assume you know that Tomatoes loose all flavour if kept in the fridge for any length of time.

Not necessarily true PP. The main reason for the lack of taste in tomatos is that they are picked green and not allowed to ripen on the vine. Also that they have too many chemicals sprayed on them.

They are fairly cheap in the UK but in most cases tasteless. The supermarkets have found that out and have offered vine ripened tomatos which are double the price of others.

Whilst I agree that sometimes it is a waste of time and effort to grow you own, the differance in taste is like that between chalk and cheese