From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Ely Mn

I here that fabrice grew some like this this year.
Who is trying this next year?
Id like to know how you prune the plant and such .
Dan

12/14/2013 3:35:45 PM

Mnt.pleasant ,tennessee

Like as in sprawled out on the ground?

12/14/2013 4:13:32 PM

Ely Mn

Yep from what i understand.

12/14/2013 4:41:05 PM

Mnt.pleasant ,tennessee

Well i think gordan grahams plant was on ground.think was 53' if not mistaken.
Thats allot of rooting ability aslong dirt not splashing on leaves.

12/14/2013 5:03:14 PM

Ely Mn

Yea thats the biggest issue i see with growing on the ground.
As long as you prune all the leaves sitting on the ground i guess?

12/14/2013 5:19:09 PM

Mnt.pleasant ,tennessee

Yeah &have something running down side plast ,peice vinal siding ect..

12/14/2013 5:23:02 PM

Bethlehem CT

It sounds like a great idea. I think Fabrice has proven the method pretty well. His results speak for themselves.

12/14/2013 5:28:40 PM

Hamilton Nj

sounds very interesting ,id like to try it but dont have the space!! pizza

12/14/2013 7:14:16 PM

Allentown, PA

I'm contemplating attempting this with a plant from my 2013 4.46 Big Zac.

Space is indeed an issue but I have enough room to attempt this with one plant.

We shall see.

12/15/2013 7:12:04 AM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

I am uncertain as to the techniques used by Boudyo this year. I do know that he plans to grow around 40 tomato plants next year and most likely had under 20 this year. The technique of growing a tomato plant pumpkin style will not be an easy task. Pruning will be quite difficult and each plant will require a lot more space. I would like to hear from Boudyo about what he did last year and what he plans for the future. I question whether he grew his tomatoes like pumpkins. I believe he did not. But maybe he will tell us what technique he used. His primary language is not English and he has stated that his English is not as good as he would like.So, maybe his friend that lives near him will help in the communication.

12/15/2013 9:33:06 AM

Ely Mn

He did a right up in the sngpg newsletter and he stated this is how
He grew his biggest tomatoes.i would just like to learn a litte more about
It.

12/15/2013 10:00:33 AM

France

I try everything culture two stem, a stem.
I had good results with a single stem this year I did a test on 8 plants, I sleep on the floor (tissue) stem when the tomato is as big as a ball .. You can see more in the newletter of Sngpg

12/15/2013 2:31:18 PM

France

The Secret is now OUT !!!
I did sleep on a tissu too next to my tomatoes, and since that, I grew a 5.12 and 5.11lb. Thank you so much Fabrice !!!

12/15/2013 3:15:21 PM

France

lol

12/15/2013 3:16:17 PM

Ely Mn

I would love a photo of your plants mehdi or fabrice.
If you could be so kind to post a photo in your diary?
Thanks alot for the tips guys!

12/15/2013 3:39:07 PM

Ely Mn

And i assume you guys are putting a tissue under the tomato and not sleeping on the tissue....lol.that sounds alot like some of us crazy pumpkin growers sleeping with them to keep them warm!

12/15/2013 3:44:32 PM

France

LOL, Fabrice wanted to explain a particular thing. When he sets the keeper, he lays down the whole plant on the floor on a fabric.

12/15/2013 3:51:09 PM

Massachusetts

fabrice! you had to tell mehdi, now we are all in trouble, lol..........

12/15/2013 3:53:39 PM

Ely Mn

So does it root thru that fabric?or do you just bury the vine?

12/15/2013 6:10:02 PM

Corbin, KY

I guess we need to know how to get a copy of the SNGPG
news letter. What issue was it in?

12/15/2013 11:41:11 PM

France

No, Fabrice doesn't allow them to root through the fabric.
The plant is standing up before to set the fruit and then lays down on the floor.

12/16/2013 5:01:35 AM

Mnt.pleasant ,tennessee

Well most the giant maters are the 1st ones on the plant.so between there &base not much stem to root in.so if you try to root after tomato set the roots want have time to be of use.

12/16/2013 9:39:19 AM

Ireland

If my memory serves me right, I think the 7 lb plus tomato which Nick and Christy Harp grew a few years ago was from a plant which blew over in the wind and they just fed it as normal and hey presto they got a 7 lb plus tomato at the end of the season!
Well I definitely think there's nothing wrong with giving it a go!
Micheál

12/16/2013 12:14:59 PM

Mnt.pleasant ,tennessee

With it laying down does it help with flow of nutrients.cause it dont have to work as hard for respiration so root ball pulls better??

12/16/2013 2:23:16 PM

Long Island,New York

that way the squirrels, slugs and birds dont have to climb to get the fruit.....

12/16/2013 3:24:55 PM

British Columbia, Canada

Interesting idea, I think I'll give it a try next year.

12/16/2013 3:57:41 PM

Cameron

Our 7.33 was the 1st mater on the plant. The plant was well supported with stakes & covered with Remay during the cold nights of Sept. I did see a grower try growing the plant along the ground for about a foot. It sure had a big root zone. I don't think it helped him, but I'm sure it didn't hurt him either.

Jane & Phil

12/17/2013 12:55:12 PM

Joliet, IL

My 3.95 last was a new PB on a plant that started sliding down early on from not tying off to stake right. Once the tomato got heavier the plant was pulled down lower without bending or kicking the main stem. Like a slinky around the stake spiralled. Eventually to the point where the tomato rested on Styrofoam. The plant looked small and slumped over but this also kept the tomato shaded completely and cooler. Harder to prune but was happy with the accidental good results.

12/17/2013 1:07:17 PM

East Carbon, Utah

According to Page 6 of his pamphlet, "How to Grow Giant Tomatoes", Gordon Graham indicates that his 52' and 53-1/2' tall plants were of the variety Sweet 100 - a cherry tomato.

Taking his lead, in 2013 I attempted to grow all 20 plants in my giant tomato project using the repeated trenching method; that is, burying the vines, much as is done with giant pumpkins.

I used homemade staples made from stiff wire sections, 20-30" long, then folded into a U-shape. I found it critical to secure stems to the ground when they were young, as older stems tended to crack. I dug trenches bout 3-4" deep, amended along stems with mycorrhizal fungal spores etc., removed leaves as needed, applied wood chips on the surface, and secured tomato trusses on short stakes as needed.

Results? I also observed very thick stems and massive root systems. However, with a record hot summer, I was unable to get any megablooms to set fruit until it was too late in the season. My biggest mistake was to plant seedlings 3-1/2 feet apart. I would recommend at LEAST 10' between plants.

I think this has great potential and am encouraged to learn that Fabrice had so much success with it!

1/10/2014 1:52:54 PM

President - GPC

ANy pics SEAMFASTER? Interesting

1/10/2014 3:52:29 PM

valparaiso, in

Glad to see you around SEAMSFASTER. How did the plants hold up against disease being on the ground?

1/14/2014 9:36:23 PM