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Oak Grove, Mn

I have been doing some thinking about what changes to make for next years competition. Right now, the biggest change I am contemplating is dividing the competition into two sections...Open and Limited. Open would be anything allowed to make the tomato bigger. Limited would be 300 watts or less of lighting per plant. I am averaging 300 watts per plant right now..but next year, I may kick a few plants up to 1200-1500 watts per plant. I waiting for email confirmation but I think Dan S was growing under a 600 watt metal halide/hps combination. There could be further qualifications for limited class..such as no CO2 boosting etc. I think there is a place for the growers that want to push every boundary but also those growers just starting in indoor grow and want to do it at a more relaxed level should be able to compete equally. What do you think.

2/21/2018 5:37:44 PM

Buffalo, MN (Billsbigpumpkins@hotmail.com)

Not a fan of putting any limits on it. Growing there in the house over winter is still in its infancy stage. We need growers to be experimenting until we see that we maxed out.

2/21/2018 5:54:56 PM

Wixom MI.

I wouldn't worry about it bob, its just for fun anyways. I don't think that anyone is doing it for prizes but just having something to do in the winter and maybe learn something that they may use in the summer !!!

2/21/2018 7:23:03 PM

Eastern Shore of VA

I don’t think I’m going to set a single fruit indoors this year.
What I have done is practiced pruning techniques.
My wife laughs and calls me Mr Miyagi and my bonsai trees.
I’ve pruned pretty heavy and have had no leaf curl.

2/21/2018 7:28:13 PM

Newcastle, CA

lets see who can grow one using only candle light.

2/21/2018 7:39:35 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

Let me tell you ESheel about fertilization...if you are not curling your lower leaves up you are not feeding the plant enough. Go too much..and you curl the top. Curling is less of pruning and more of what you are feeding the roots. From what I can tell..the biggest come from plants that don't look completely healthy. It is a fine line between just enough and kill the plant. I could be really wrong though..this is just my opinion. Wixom..I know this contest is for fun. But by next year..I will have many thousands of dollars invested in my indoor grow environment. I don't think it is fair for someone with a few hundred investment to compete against my setup. That is why I am suggesting two classes. Some of us...will push the extreme...I think I know of at least one new grower this year that I expect to go crazy and push the limits. Dividing it..I think the open class will start to push 4...5...and maybe more indoor tomato weights.

2/21/2018 7:39:45 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

Someone that is just starting out with a 300 watt LED light in a small soil pot..might get to 2 to 3 pounds. I feel bad...competing with my multi-thousand setup vs where i was 2 years ago.

2/21/2018 7:41:23 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

hey Austin...name your contest...I will give my best shot. Wonder if I could get a tomato to weigh..using only one 24 watt t5 bulb. I actually have about 12 of these to add to my grow environment if i wish. I could pick a closet..and see if I can get a set on 24 watts.

2/21/2018 7:44:57 PM

Eastern Shore of VA

I ve trimmed most of the lower leaves off Bob.
I thought I would try something different as far as pruning goes.
Once the plant made the second truss,I removed everything below it.
Same with the third.
I’ve topped them a couple of times,let new growth fill in.
The Big Zac has produced another truss in between the third and second from a sucker I let grow off of the second truss.
The MegaDom does not seem to grow as wildly.

2/21/2018 8:37:20 PM

Zimmerman, Minnesota

I grow because I love it....my electric bill is through the roof....great info Bob, my tops are curling and leaves on lower half look fine...I have to adjust my nutrient input....I’ve had 12 tomato’s set and all got BER...I’ve turned 1 in and I have 2 small ones left....if I figure this BER out I will be able to push toward 3, 4 or even 5 pounds....I grew my 11.18oz under 300 watt halide and in hydroponic.

2/21/2018 9:36:00 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

I received a reply from Dan S. He is not adverse to classes to allow for more winners but is wondering if wattage would be the best way to separate. The first year when he grew the indoor record of 3.69 pounds he was growing under a 600 watt metal halide.This year with his 3.06 pound he was under 250 watt. He was thinking that maybe divide by previous PB with 2 and 3 pounds as the dividing line. We don't talk about electric bills...at least I am not paying anything for heat (natural gas) this winter.

2/22/2018 4:48:27 AM

Zimmerman, Minnesota

Just thinking out loud what is you divide classes by lighting....led, halide, t5, t8, and candle:) the largest tomato grown under t5 or led or candle light.

2/22/2018 4:14:34 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

there are some other types of grow lighting out there that I have not tried...plasma is one that comes to mind. I don't think that type of grow light is that much of a difference as compared to intensity to work with.I may just forget the idea of classes and stick with the way it has been. As long as no one complains about my indoor grow area being way over the norm. I really do think that I will add about 600-1200 watts of LED side lighting to a few plants. How else to compete with sunlight power? And I have a CO2 tank and controller that I have been meaning to connect for two years..next winter it will be put into use. My goal is to get my indoor PB better than my outdoor PB.

2/22/2018 5:02:02 PM

Wixom MI.

I figure at 1200-1500 watts you will probably see them go up like a puff of smoke in front of your eyes !!! Lol... :-)

2/22/2018 7:51:31 PM

Bloomington, IN USA

I think we will just place you in the Zeus class.
The rest of us mere mortals will simply cower at your megalumen/megawatt magnificence!
Just kidding, I think most people are rather jealous.

2/23/2018 12:51:35 AM