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Colorado

I'm going to attempt to grow a big tomato this coming year. I don't have room to do a pumpkin, plus I have been growing regular tomatoes for years. So I figured this is the place for me. My main question: how important are the genetics from one seed to another and how much is luck on getting a mega bloom. Obviously plants that have better megabloom genetics give it a better chance to get a big tomato. But how much is luck?

12/20/2021 2:13:14 PM

Centennial Colorado

Since you live in Colorado I can help you. I grow in pots and have found big zac and Delicious grow the best in Colorado. Domingos don't grow very well because of how dry it is. I have grown the crosses with Domingo tomatoes and had some success. Make sure to stagger plant! Colorado weather has a lot to do with success. I had all my mega blooms die because of 3 days. Big zac seems to be the most heat tolerant.

12/20/2021 3:13:25 PM

Walla Walla Wa.

If it was luck nobody would be a consistent grower,so scratch luck off the list. Genetics do play a very important part in growing a giant, but certainly not the only factor,and don't expect to grow a WR in a pot,it needs more room and more biology than what a pot can provide.

12/20/2021 4:47:51 PM

Bloomington, IN USA

I second what Dan said.
I would also recommend that you find a mentor with similar climactic conditions, it will vastly decrease the learning curve for you.
And I can think of nobody better for that than 97pounder, with the exception of the growing in pots thing.
On the other hand, in a tough environment, I can see the advantages of a pot in order to move the plant into better growing conditions.

12/20/2021 8:41:30 PM

Grittyville, WA

Well if Jack LaRue puts in 30 plants and they won't ALL produce 9.44 lb tomatoes... so in that sense it's partly luck?

Not every plant will produce as well as the one next to it. If Jack's average tomato is 6 lbs... but his best is 9 lbs... then luck is about 33% of the equation.

Sorry Dan for being contrarian. Heat/drought stress is a big enemy of megablooms. So keep them watered, and in fertile soil, and consider keeping them out of the most intense sun. I think what we've seen is the big issue with tomatoes in pots is the limited root system cannot keep up with demands of full summer sunshine on a full size plant? If you miss one day of watering you're done for...?

12/20/2021 9:18:11 PM

Colorado

Thanks for all the replies. Interesting reading. I will gladly take any help/advice offered. My mail is "The_scott_luers (at) yahoo com" (add @and. where is belongs). I'm a bit of a research nut so I've been doing a lot of reading to get my feet under me. I've done a lot of experimenting with tomatos. I had one plant that I kept alive for over 5 years in Wyoming puting it out every spring and bringing it in each fall. It was always nice enough to produce tomatos during Christmas so the plant looked festive. I took bunches of cuttings from it and gave them to friends and family and used them in my garden. It even survived the move to Colorado and lived here for a year until my wife was trimming it back and cut the main stem on accident. :(

Thanks again for the replies. 97 pounder, Dan, Materdoc, and Gritty

It should be a fun learning experience this year.
Be warned I will be back on here with more questions. 😁

Have a great day.
Scott

12/21/2021 2:48:37 PM

Thomas wv

If I was you join tomato team competition in spring very fun I’ve done it for 3 years now learn a lot I will say 5 and 6 pounder can be grown in pots but very difficult my teammate from last year grows in pots I don’t I I like the fact of a big root area I learned alot I broke state record twice my second year and broke it twice again this year it alot of fun if ever want to chat reach out I will help as much as I can

12/21/2021 8:46:39 PM

Thomas wv

Sorry I don’t like the fact of a compacted root area I like more room and teammate from this year grew in pots as well and far as cool climate I grow in cooler climate buy a 10 x 10 small hoop hoes for 150 bucks and cooler climate I found you get a longer growth out of them

12/21/2021 8:52:05 PM