(CNN) US tomato prices could jump as soon as Monday

[EnchantedMuggle]

Only one poster claimed it is SO easy. I certainly have not.

Okay. So life can be expected to get harder for the majority of Americans if they want to be able to afford to eat decent foods, and this is America being great again?

Hmm.

 

[Along Came Jones]

Okay yeah...we are still talking about feeding oneself or one's entire family on one growing season per year for most locales.

The answer: a trellis

You've only skimmed the thread, haven't you? Once again, what you're mistakenly talking about isn't what I've claimed or posted.

 

[Taylor]

There's no real tariffs, though. They're mostly TACO'd.

As the OP article points out, this will be somewhat unique as the tariffs will hit a single specific item tonight with no TACO'ing, and we should see whatever results may occur soon after.

But it's also the middle of summer, and tomato imports from Mexico are probably at their lowest - so I would expect any effect to be pretty small.

 

[Chomsky]

For which you might add to your list of expenses. I make salsa with the jalapenos and tomatoes. For that you need at minimum a big pot for the bath, mason jars, tongues, ladles and canning salt -- a canning kit.

I will say this: Nothing is easier to grow than hot peppers!

I love salsa. That's it. I'm going to grow some tomatoes & hot peppers, next year. And some Basil. Not only do I love Basil, but it reminds me of my Mom. Her Basil bush back in the old neighborhood was her prized possession. She loved that thing!

 

[RF667799]

It ain't. It is more expensive for small households, time consuming and frequently unpredictable. But for all that, if the harvest is good the satisfaction is worth it. The taste is definitely better than store bought. Not to mention that your popularity with the neighbors goes up a notch or two when you share your produce.

A new engine in the tiller this year to prepare the ground for 4 tomato plants, 4 cucumber plants, and 4 zucchini plants.

It's something like cutting wood for a fireplace. There's chainsaws, fuel and oil, a pickup truck, a chiropractor to try to fix your back...

 

[EnchantedMuggle]

You've only skimmed the thread, haven't you? Once again, what you're mistakenly talking about isn't what I've claimed or posted.

In this thread, it is being asserted that if we can't pay high vegetable prices we should grow them.

That's the whole point.

If you're just giving tips for the hobbyist, you might just be the wrong thread.

 

[Along Came Jones]

I will say this: Nothing is easier to grow than hot peppers!

I love salsa. That's it. I'm going to grow some tomatoes & hot peppers, next year. And some Basil. Not only do I love Basil, but it reminds me of my Mom. He Basil bush back in the old neighborhood was her prized possession. She loved that thing!

And basil is super easy to grow! On a window sill, on your patio, in the ground.

 

[dmpi]

Amazing! 50 lbs yield per plant?

Alright, pls link or tell me the plant you're using - if you don't mind? I know nothing about cherry tomato's, but I may consider trying this.

And 3 month harvesting season? Seriously?

BTW, are you alluding to your plants being perennials?

And finally, can you share a little of your climate specifics?

Thanks.

I'm in Seattle WA. We plant in big giant pots which take the whole bag of potting soil. The big bag that cost $20. My plants are along a brick wall with southern exposure so the plants heat up by the bricks so they're a 5-6 degrees above ambivalent temperature. Our favorite plant is 'sweet 100s', not be be confused with super sweet 100s which is no-good. Tomatoes are actually vines so as long as physical good support they will just grow bigger and bigger (or longer and longer depending on how you want to look at it). The extra large tomato cage isn't enough, along with that we have a PCV frame and sticks tied together to prop it up. As I mentioned before we have a gravity-fed water system with 2 five gallon buckets because we feel lukewarm water is better than cold tap water. Every day each plant take 2.5 gallons of water a day and we might hand water an extra 1/2 gallon if needed. We only fertilize once a week. We add powder to the water and hand water. We never had a problem with insects. Once in a while we had birds that would peck the tomatos. We once had a rat that we had to poison.

 

[Along Came Jones]

In this thread, it is being asserted that if we can't pay high vegetable prices we should grow them.

That's the whole point.

If you're just giving tips for the hobbyist, you might just be the wrong thread.

I'll take your suggestion under advisement. Thank you.

 

[Hamish Howl]

But it's also the middle of summer, and tomato imports from Mexico are probably at their lowest - so I would expect any effect to be pretty small.

Yeah, the peak growing cycle for tomatoes in Mexico is from November to May.

 

[Chomsky]

In this thread, it is being asserted that if we can't pay high vegetable prices we should grow them.

That's the whole point.

If you're just giving tips for the hobbyist, you might just be the wrong thread.

There were some claims like that early-on in the thread, primarily from one poster.

Most of the gardening banter since then has been mutual support and exchanging ideas and information. Actually, it's been pretty informative.

We can't be beating on each other everyday, all day. I'd like to think this thread has turned to show that.

 

[Chomsky]

I'm in Seattle WA. We plant in big giant pots which take the whole bag of potting soil. The big bag that cost $20. My plants are along a brick wall with southern exposure so the plants heat up by the bricks so they're a 5-6 degrees above ambivalent temperature. Our favorite plant is 'sweet 100s', not be be confused with super sweet 100s which is no-good. Tomatoes are actually vines so as long as physical good support they will just grow bigger and bigger (or longer and longer depending on how you want to look at it). The extra large tomato cage isn't enough, along with that we have a PCV frame and sticks tied together to prop it up. As I mentioned before we have a gravity-fed water system with 2 five gallon buckets because we feel lukewarm water is better than cold tap water. Every day each plant take 2.5 gallons of water a day and we might hand water an extra 1/2 gallon if needed. We only fertilize once a week. We add powder to the water and hand water. We never had a problem with insects. Once in a while we had birds that would peck the tomatos. We once had a rat that we had to poison.

Thank you for this, especially for your varietal name.

It sounds like you've refined your system pretty well.

I prefer staking to caging, but I don't have the apparent prolific growth you get.

May I ask how tall your plants reach?

And yeah, after being inspired by a post by Along Came Jones, I think I'm going to do Cherry Tomatoes & Hot Peppers next year, for Salsa! That's if my climate will support Cherry Tomatoes?

 

[dmpi]

Thank you for this, especially for your varietal name.

It sounds like you've refined your system pretty well.

I prefer staking to caging, but I don't have the apparent prolific growth you get.

May I ask how tall your plants reach?

And yeah, after being inspired by a post by Along Came Jones, I think I'm going to do Cherry Tomatoes & Hot Peppers next year, for Salsa! That's if my climate will support Cherry Tomatoes?

Our plants will grow 7+ ft tall but we like to cut them down to about maybe 6 ft so we can reach it. Don't feel bad about pruning your plant. Because any part you cut off will send that energy to other parts of the plant.

 

[Chomsky]

@dmpi

Alright, these Sweet 100's do indeed seem more "viney" than the Beefsteaks I'm familiar with.

Beefsteaks tend to have a more defined trunk, it seems. Thicker "branches", too.

Beefsteaks in top image, Sweet 100 in bottom image:

*images courtesy hicks nursery and mossgreenhouses.com

 

[RF667799]

Thank you for this, especially for your varietal name.

It sounds like you've refined your system pretty well.

I prefer staking to caging, but I don't have the apparent prolific growth you get.

May I ask how tall your plants reach?

And yeah, after being inspired by a post by Along Came Jones, I think I'm going to do Cherry Tomatoes & Hot Peppers next year, for Salsa! That's if my climate will support Cherry Tomatoes?

We had cherry tomatoes last year, and did better with them than regular varieties. I'm in central-west Illinois. I don't know if that's far enough to make a difference, but you could always give them a head start in the house.

 

[Chomsky]

We had cherry tomatoes last year, and did better with them than regular varieties. I'm in central-west Illinois. I don't know if that's far enough to make a difference, but you could always give them a head start in the house.

Thanks.

The women that shares my house & my name got us using cherry tomatoes recently, and I've seen the light. They seem to last longer after ripening, than Beefsteaks.

So I'm definitely doing cherry's this year, and some hot peppers. Endless salsa!

 

[Lees]

You're not the only when that grows tomatoes, Lees.

But as you know for most of us it's a single season crop, not really cost effective unless growing a larger quantity.

You get none all year, until AUG, when you get more than you'll ever use. This then involves making tons of Marinara & Tomato Based Meat Sauces, and then canning the rest.

Of course a sauce or a canned tomato, is not a sliced tomato. So, what do we do for the other 10-1/2 months outside of harvest season? Also, where do we find the time - if not retired or on the dole?

And perhaps most obvious to anyone that's actually done this, you're going to plant in Mid July? Really?

Your post is pretty much a joke.

It doesn't take hardly any time. A little water and leave it alone.

Lees

 

[Lees]

You pay for it then.

Why? How about you paying for it and doing your own work. What a novel idea that is.

Lees

 

[Lees]

I was thinking of using the same phrase, actually.

I actually had a BLT today, and need to use up the opened bacon.

Will my seed come-up ripe tomatoes for tomorrow's lunch? Do ya' think?

Aw...poor you. You don't get your blt tomorrow. How the libs are suffering.

Lees

 

[SNOWFLAKE]

It doesn't take much to grow a damn tomatoe.

Doesn't take much to spell the damn word, either.

Get a pot, throw some dirt and tomatoe seeds in

 

[Allan]

How are they going to get from Mexico to Canada?

The same way they get here now, along with other Mexican produce in our stores.

 

[ncguy]

Bullshit. You got a window, you get sunlight. It's not that complicated.

Liberals are so incapcitated. Government must do every thing for them., Must they wipe your ass also?

Growing tomatoes is not hard.

Lees

I think it's amusing that you think the solution to high food prices for most people is growing their own tomatoes. Sure just go out. Spend money on a pot. Some dirt put some seeds. Hope they germinate wait 3 months for them to mature if nothing goes wrong. Meanwhile, of course you're spending money on tomatoes and then start the process again. It's amazing how absurd the thinking of right-wingers like you can be that somehow the solution to high food price is for most people is growing their own food. Update your calendar. It's not the 1930s anymore

 

[ncguy]

Bullshit. You got a window, you get sunlight. It's not that complicated.

Liberals are so incapcitated. Government must do every thing for them., Must they wipe your ass also?

Growing tomatoes is not hard.

Lees

That is such a stupid post. This is nothing about the government doing stuff for you. It's about specialization and the fact that growing food is not something that the typical person does to feed themselves anymore. Growing your own food is not something that is a solution for most people anymore. It's not about the government you really ought to Stop obsessing about liberals and the government and learn to think before you post stupidity

 

[L88]

so a 1.70 beefsteak tomato may.....may go to 2.34.

 

[L88]

I think it's amusing that you think the solution to high food prices for most people is growing their own tomatoes. Sure just go out. Spend money on a pot. Some dirt put some seeds. Hope they germinate wait 3 months for them to mature if nothing goes wrong. Meanwhile, of course you're spending money on tomatoes and then start the process again. It's amazing how absurd the thinking of right-wingers like you can be that somehow the solution to high food price is for most people is growing their own food. Update your calendar. It's not the 1930s anymore

We do. My family has done so for generations. Americans have become so dependent on the Government for every need and protection.