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Madisonville, TN

I have searched but cant find any good info on what Big Zacs should be gaining per day or week. My daughter and I have several on that measure 20 to 22 inches in circumference. How much should they be gaining on the tape per day or week?

I will try to post some pics when I can but we have been very busy this summer with 4 giant pumpkins, 9 giant melons, 20 giant tomatoes, a patch of giant corn, long gourds, giant cucumbers, and 100 market tomatoes. I will never plant so much again with just the two of us working it.

7/21/2014 9:56:02 AM

Allentown, PA

It is really dependent on how large your mega bloom was that the tomato came from.

A tomato from a double fused bloom will grow more slowly as a rule than a tomato from a six fused bloom will.

There are always exceptions but this is pretty much accepted fact.

At the height of my largest tomatoes growth which is growing from a six fused bloom, growth this season was a bit over an inch a day for the first two weeks. It then slowed to approx. 1/2 inch a day. Now at day 32 after fruit set I'm seeing approx. 4/8 inch per day for the last two days.

On some of my tomatoes from double fused blooms I have I'm experiencing less aggressive growth at the onset and tends to follow the same pattern of growth size increase as their larger counterparts.

One tomato as an exception to this appears to be the one I've named Gidrah. Gidrah is from a triple fused bloom and is currently gaining an inch a day at approx day 20 after fruit set.

To summarize; Normal growth for giant tomatoes ranges from over an inch a day at their highest growth stage then slows down to approx 1/4 inch per day prior to color flash.

7/21/2014 11:07:24 AM

Allentown, PA

I need to make a correction; The tomato I've named Gidrah is growing at a rate of an half inch per day not an inch.

That would be phenomenal growth at that rate. LOL!!

7/21/2014 4:52:34 PM

Muddy Waters

Isnt 4/8s a 1/2 inch?

7/21/2014 6:43:12 PM

Allentown, PA

Yep! :O)

7/21/2014 6:47:22 PM

Allentown, PA

I meant 2/8th's of an inch. I have a disease that is affecting me today so I really should have not typed anything until tomorrow. LOL!!!

I don't know if anyone else has severe Meniere's Disease but if they do they'll understand.

Sorry. :O)

7/21/2014 6:49:49 PM

Hamilton Nj

i got 2 going on my 5.58 timms small but comeing to get u guys,lol pizza

7/21/2014 7:58:30 PM

Muddy Waters

No biggie,I make more typos then anybody on here.lol

7/21/2014 10:01:25 PM

East Carbon, Utah

Daily measurements of circumference along just one axis allows you to calculate growth rate in two dimensions, that is, a geometrically thin, roughly disk shape on the plane that bisects the tomato.

Tomato weight, of course, depends upon all three dimensions. What we perceive as a slowing down during those last few days before blush is really not much of a slow down. Here's a hypothetical illustration, based upon a typical tomato shape and density. Assume a 1-day growth of 1 inch in circumference (CC)

CC Growth Weight Gain
10 in. to 11 in. 0.10 lb.
15 in. to 16 in. 0.22 lb.
20 in. to 21 in. 0.38 lb.
25 in. to 26 in. 0.60 lb.
30 in. to 31 in. 0.85 lb.

Considered from another perspective, given a starting weight (SW), in order to gain 0.5 lbs., here's how much growth in CC is needed:

Weight Gain CC Growth
1.0 to 1.5 lb. 2.15 in.
2.0 to 2.5 lb. 1.45 in.
3.0 to 3.5 lb. 1.13 in.
4.0 to 4.5 lb. 0.94 in.
5.0 to 5.5 lb. 0.82 in.
6.0 to 6.5 lb. 0.73 in.
7.0 to 7.5 lb. 0.66 in.
8.0 to 8.5 lb. 0.61 in.
9.0 to 9.5 lb. 0.56 in.

So if a fast growing tomato weighs 1.25 lb. on day 15, then a 1 inch CC growth would increase the weight by 0.25 lb. To get this same 0.25 lb. weight gain on let's say day 40 when the tomato is 27 inch circumference would require a CC growth of only 0.37 in.

To put it briefly, a very large tomato packs on a lot of weight with only a 3/8 inch growth in circumference.

So in my opinion, if you're only getting 1/4 inch per day after day 30, your tomato is still growing at a very good pace!

7/29/2014 9:47:37 PM