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Re: Dot's on transplanting tomatoes

In a message dated 97-02-21 17:41:15 EST, jeweller@CYBERSTORE.CA (Dot Geib)
writes:

<< I plan
 to keep some roma tomato plants in pots on the patio, does anyone know if
 there is any problems with doing this?  Dot
  >>
Hi, Dot:
Share a few thoughts with you, but please be aware I am not one of the more
experienced members of the group and other advice you get may better suit
your situation.  Romas are Indeterminate tomatoes-they have shorter vines
that stop growing when they set fruit- and are better choices for container
growing than Indeterminate Tomatoes that keep growing and growing and keep
setting fruit until frost or ?  because the size of the determinate plant is
easier to control.  With good soil and water and sun and plenty of room for
the roots, roma can still get big enough to need staked.   IMHO, roma is a
good paste tomatoe but its slicing flavor comes up very short-its still much
better than cardboard store tomatoes but theres lots of other options that
taste loads better.  If I was planning to do what you are , I would probably
use Taxi (territorial sells the seed) The vines are pretty small, 2-3 feet
and the flavor is fantastic (its fruit is yellow but if you close you eyes
you cant tell-  its very good!)  In a half barrell or similar planter you
could put the 'mater plant in and surround it with dwarf marigold, a couple
or 3 leaf lettuce plants and some radishes or "planet" type carrots, and
maybe a small herb and have a salad mix right at you fingers.  Another bushel
basket might hold a dwarf cucumber and you would have your kitchengarden
right at your fingers,  adding succesive plants of lettuce etc as you need.
 It isnt really complicated, watering it correctly (ie, frequently but not
drowning it)  is the most ticklish part. In dry heat and wind it will need
daily drinks, most likely.  I assume that the area this will be in will get
at least 6 hrs of sun?  That is important, tomatoes dont do too well if it
gets much less than that.
For many of us, experimentation is a big part of the fun of gardening.  The
plants have never read the descriptions in the catalogs and the rules in all
the gardening books, and can often be coaxed and cajoled into doing things a
little differently than the advice you will read or be told.  IMHO the best
habit you could get as a beginner gardener is to get a little notebook and
keep notes on the varieties you use, planting time and info, ideas, problems
,successes etc -it doesnt take much time and will save you a lot of
aggrevation, and grief and expense in the years to come!  Have fun, thats
more important than anything else....if your survival doesn't depend on the
results you can play and experiment to your hearts content, and even if you
plan to supply you or your families needs from your garden you can still have
a small area thats yours to try out new ideas and varieties. (like blue
potatoes, red corn, purple peppers and white cukes and....... : )
Happy Gardening
LauraA
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