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Post by tompepper7 on Oct 5, 2022 19:27:47 GMT -5
I got crazy when I got the Farm XL and planted San Marzano tomatoes.
Fairly quickly I was at the deep end of the pool treading water.
The plants should have had the nice hoop trellis that outdoor plants have but (with the plants already growing) I was never sure I could make the outdoor trellis work with the Aerogarden.
I probably should have been pruning these better.
Always had an issue with the leaves turning brown even after reading I should add cal/mg. That continues.
Lost more than half the tomatoes due to blossom end rot (the ends of the tomatoes turning black).
I've got 2 tomatoes turning red with about 8 more green with no black ends. (I removed well over a dozen with black ends).
At this point I have let the plant take over the Farm XL until I harvest a few tomatoes.
Any wise advice for future attempts are appreciated.
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Post by scarfguy on Oct 5, 2022 20:47:14 GMT -5
My wise advice is don't try to grow San Marzano tomatoes in an aerogarden. They are indeterminate and like to grow about 6-8 feet. I understand the desireability of growing the wonderful, flavorful, San Marzano but you would have better luck sticking with determinate varieties that have a compact growth profile.
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Post by tompepper7 on Oct 5, 2022 21:22:11 GMT -5
Tomato Garden Seeds - San Marzano (Determinate)
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Post by lynnee on Oct 5, 2022 23:04:44 GMT -5
Tomato Garden Seeds - San Marzano (Determinate)
The ad does say they are determinate! My advice for combatting blossom end rot, is to get an Aerovoir for the Farm and to keep it filled. That ensures a steady supply of water. The bowl is always filled. Then to keep the nutrients also flowing evenly, do an R&R every two weeks. Include AG nutrients in the amount recommended, 5-10 ml CalMag, and 5-10 ml Koolbloom after the fruit sets if you feel like it or if all the blossoms are dropping. Try to keep the vine to a single stem--this is what commercial growers do. Then train the Vine to go around and around inside the Farm. Coated gardeners' wire wrapped around the posts (and across the middle, attached to the outside wires) for a trellis works, but make sure it is thick and soft so that any tendrils will like it. Use tomato clips as needed to secure the vine to your improvised trellis.  |
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Post by scarfguy on Oct 6, 2022 6:17:07 GMT -5
Here's a link to a good article on SanMarzanos. They mention some varieties that are determinate and some that are more compact than others.
From the article:
"Most San Marzano tomatoes are indeterminate and will grow rather large, so typical tomato cages may be too small or not supportive enough."
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Post by tompepper7 on Oct 6, 2022 17:49:53 GMT -5
Try to keep the vine to a single stem--this is what commercial growers do. Then train the Vine to go around and around inside the Farm. Coated gardeners' wire wrapped around the posts (and across the middle, attached to the outside wires) for a trellis works, but make sure it is thick and soft so that any tendrils will like it. Use tomato clips as needed to secure the vine to your improvised trellis. Would you have a photo showing that in practice?
Thanks for the tips. That is a good start.
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Post by lynnee on Oct 7, 2022 11:35:27 GMT -5
tompepper7, I'll find a photo and post it later today. 
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Post by lynnee on Oct 7, 2022 20:40:04 GMT -5
tompepper7 , here is a photo of my indeterminate Green Zebra vine, after I pruned out a lot of non-producing branches and wound the vine around the improvised "trellis". If I'd started the process much lower down, I wouldn't have ended up with a circle of old vine on the grow deck. The plant set more tomatoes and the existing tomatoes started to ripen after I did this. The plant absolutely refused to grasp the thin wire AG trellis, and also let thin coated gardener's wire strictly alone. It liked the thick coated gardener's wire that AG sells.  Here is a photo of the procedure done properly, with a Mini Munch cucumber planted in a Bounty Elite. All branching vines were removed promptly, and the growing tip was trained to grow along the trellis with tomato clips. Eventually, after the first full trip around, the growing tip continued around and around on its own.  The growing tip is starting the second trip around. Tomato clips are holding the first trip in place. I removed the top trellis stage, and relocated the vine from the second stage to the first stage after the first photo was taken. 
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Post by tompepper7 on Oct 8, 2022 11:13:14 GMT -5
Okay, the pruning and training is making sense.
I watched some YouTube videos about how to prune for single stem but they were all being trained on one long string going up.
Training them to go around makes sense for the Aerogarden.
Currently I have two tomatoes that are getting a good red color and a third just starting to turn red (96 days). The tomato looks like it is starting to rust when it first starts turning red.
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Post by lynnee on Oct 8, 2022 22:32:01 GMT -5
That's great, that the tomatoes are starting to ripen! |
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Post by tompepper7 on Oct 9, 2022 13:42:39 GMT -5
I picked the two red tomatoes today, Since I had just roasted some peppers I decided to do the same with one of the San Marzanos.
Removed the skin and a cord (twine?) sized hard center.
Nice deep rich tomato flavor with low bitterness.
Makes me excited to try the trained single vine next.
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Post by tompepper7 on Oct 26, 2022 22:46:00 GMT -5
I'll be shutting down the San Marzanos this weekend. Not sure if I will replant this weekend or next.
I'm thinking tomatoes. One side 2 San Marzano and the other side 2 Zebra tomatoes with the trained single vine lynnee suggested.
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Post by tompepper7 on Oct 30, 2022 17:54:33 GMT -5
I got the San Marzano tomatoes cleaned out today (even thought there were more than a half dozen green tomatoes on the vine).
I wanted to start fresh properly with the trained single vine. I was tempted to rush to get them going today but decided to take a bit more time to get everything cleaned up.
I have some 4' bamboo stakes that I'll duct tape to the Aerogarden farm to tie the garden twine on. (Maybe also zip tie to hold firm).
I'm thinking two plants on each side of the Farm XL.
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Post by scarfguy on Oct 30, 2022 19:41:45 GMT -5
I made a sauce last week with a can of san marzanos and a dozen of my aerogarden yellow taxi tomatoes. It came out really good. This thread has gotten me interested in san marzanos and roma tomatoes.
I've been looking at a san marzano "nano" variety which is suppose to be almost a dwarf variety. Also there is a roma called "window box roma" that looks like it would grow well in a bounty or a farm. Also there is a "golden san marzano" which is a yellow tomato that is suppose to only grow to 3-4 feet. I can't find it in stock anywhere though.
I think I'm going to try the "window box roma" tomato next. Anybody had experience with this variety?
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Shawn
Administrator
Posts: 16,219 
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Post by Shawn on Oct 31, 2022 4:47:10 GMT -5
I am interested in those dwarf tomatoes,
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Post by scarfguy on Oct 31, 2022 8:12:30 GMT -5
I am interested in those dwarf tomatoes,
Got em here:
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Post by trapper87 on Jul 17, 2023 14:06:38 GMT -5
I know this is old but I signed up just to say that this threads got me interested in trying to grow my scatalone tomatoes again.
Never had much luck. They turn yellow and die from the bottom up. The ph also drops for some reason and no matter what I do the ph drops even after fixing it with ph up.
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Shawn
Administrator
Posts: 16,219
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Post by Shawn on Jul 18, 2023 5:11:58 GMT -5
I know this is old but I signed up just to say that this threads got me interested in trying to grow my scatalone tomatoes again. Never had much luck. They turn yellow and die from the bottom up. The ph also drops for some reason and no matter what I do the ph drops even after fixing it with ph up.
Welcome! I am not a tomato grower so I will not be of much help however I am sure someone will be of some assistance to you.
Again Welcome to AGA! We look forward to seeing more of you here |
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Post by lynnee on Jul 21, 2023 13:25:15 GMT -5
trapper87, do post photos of your scatalone tomatoes if you can. I grow tomatoes all the time, because my husband loves them. The first thing to check is whether your water is okay. Some people have to use reverse osmosis water in their AGs; my water comes out of the tap very pure, with a neutral pH, so everything does well in my AGs. You can use distilled water in your AG, too. Are scatalones determinate or indeterminate? For indeterminates you really need a tall Farm, and even then they are hard to grow. Determinates do okay in a Farm or Bounty.
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