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Vegetables
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Lycopersicon esculentum
GROWING TOMATOES FROM SEED Tomatoes are a warm season, frost tender annual. Seeds require a warm soil of between 18 - 28°C to germinate . Sowing at too low a temperature will cause delayed or failed germination. In temperate areas: sow in early spring - either inside with extra bottom heat by using a bottom heat propagator, behind a sunny window or on top of a hot water system; if sowing outside wait until all frost danger has passed and the soil is warm. Generally if starting tomato seeds inside then begin 6 to 8 weeks before the last expected frost date in your area. By sowing early there will be time for a good crop to be produced before the first frost in winter. In subtropical areas: sow March - October in frost -free areas In tropical areas: sow late April - July In the hot, humid areas larger tomatoes such as Beefsteak, Oxheart and Grosse Lisse are unlikely to do well. On extremely hot days tomatoes can literally 'cook' on the vine and turn to mush. Tomatoes also can suffer sunburn; a white shadecloth cover can help reduce heat stress on the plants. The hardiest tomatoes for hot and humid conditions are cherry and roma types. For a round tomato Tropic is a good choice as it is disease resistant. Seed Sowing Sow 6 mm deep into seed raising mix in seedling pots or trays. Germination takes 7 - 14 days. Liquid feed the seedlings once germinated. Seedlings are ready to transplant when the 2nd set of 'true' leaves appear. During seedling development make sure the seedlings are not crowded and receive strong light. Seedlings become leggy (etiolated) with weak stems if the light is insufficient or if they are too crowded. The best seedlings have strong, stout stems. Seedlings should be planted out in a full sun position after all frost danger has passed. Plant in rows 90 cm apart with 45 - 60 cm between plants. Transplant by planting seedlings deeper, up to the first set of 'true' leaves, first carefully removing the seed leaves. This speeds up fruit production and increases root depth. Grow in a fertile, well-drained garden bed with a soil pH 5.8 - 7. Prepare the soil by adding compost. If stakes are required then put them at the same time as transplanting takes place to avoid later root disturbance. Providing support to keep fruit clear of the ground helps keep fruit clean and prevents slug and snail damage. Mulch the plants well. Keep well fertilised and evenly watered. Protect fruit from fruit fly with PestGuard Bags. Avoid planting in garden beds that have grown tomatoes, potatoes, capsicums or eggplants recently. Recent research indicates pruning reduces yields but it can be useful in making plants much easier to stake.
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Not to TAS A Russian heirloom variety with large, 350g, beefsteak- type dark red to maroon fruit with a rich, full flavour. Shoulders have a dark green blush, flesh is dark red. Prone to cracking in wet weather but a very heavy producer. An indeterminate type so requires staking. Not suitable for hotter, wetter subtropical and tropical climates. Days to harvest: 80 - 90ST162 80 seeds $3.50
ST163 10g $25.00
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Not to TAS Cherry Red Pear is an heirloom variety with a rich flavour, it produces prolifically on sprawling bushes. Indeterminate type so requires staking. Days to harvest: 70 H ST111 80 seeds $3.50
ST112 10g $25.00
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Tomato ‘Cherry Yellow Pear ’
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Tomatoes contain a nutrient called lycopene that has been shown in studies to help protect against breast, pancreatic, prostate, and intestinal cancers, and may help to reduce the risk of heart attacks. They are also a source of Vitamins C, A and E, potassium, and fibre. Organic tomatoes provide an even greater health benefit. Research at the Agricultural Research Service in Albany, California, USA, has found that the organic ketchup contains up to three times as much lycopene as ketchup made from conventionally grown tomatoes. 13 brands were tested, including three organic brands, with the organic brands recording 183 micrograms of lycopene compared to averages of 60-100 micrograms for different conventional brands. BFA The Organic Advantage Ed. 50 |
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TOMATO HEIGHTS Many factors can affect the height of tomato plants including soil type, time of year, watering etc. The main factor however, is whether the tomato is Determinate or Indeterminate. Determinate tomatoes are also commonly described as ‘Bush’ types and usually grow between 90 and 120 cm. There are also new compact hybrids developed to be ‘space saving’. Indeterminate tomatoes are also commonly described as ‘Climbing’ types and usually grow between 1.8 and 2.4m. They generally need staking. Most open-pollinated tomatoes are indeterminate. Height can be reduced by tying the tomato bush to a stake 1.5m high and then allowing additional growth to just flop over.
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Kevin at Crow's Nest
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Tomato
‘Cherry Camp Joy’
Syn. Chadwick Cherry; an heirloom with fruit a little larger, 3.5 cm, than other cherry types, carried in clusters of 6. It has a delicious, sweet flavour and is very productive and disease resistant. Camp Joy is an indeterminate type so requires staking. Days to harvest: 80 ST144 80 seeds $3.50
ST145 10g $25.00
Tomato
‘Cherry Rainbow’
Not to TAS A delightful and unique mix of 7 cherry tomatoes including Cherry Fox, Camp Joy, Red Pear, Yellow Pear, Yellow Currant, White Cherry and Green Grape. ST155 80 seeds $3.50
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Tomato
Cherry
‘Green Grape’
Not to TAS Green Grape is a bush type so does not require staking. The unique, grape-shaped, cherry tomatoes have a rich, sweet flavour, a chartreuse-yellow skin, and are lime green on the inside. Days to harvest: 75 H ST153 80 seeds $3.50
Not to TAS Red Debarao is a heavy-bearing, plum tomato that produces deep red, rich-flavoured, smooth, firm fruit weighing 85 - 110g. It is crack resistant. Fruit are good in salads, sauces or for bottling. It is an indeterminate type so requires staking. Days to harvest: 72 ST148 80 seeds $3.50
ST149 10g $25.00
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Not to TAS San Marzano is a vigorous, reliable variety with clusters of deep red, pear-shaped fruit. It is very tasty eaten fresh and ideal for bottling, cooking, pastes and drying, as it has few seeds. It is a bushy type but may benefit from staking. Days to harvest: 60 - 80 ST119 80 seeds $3.50
ST127 25g $35.00
Tomato
'Rouge de Marmande’
A French heirloom that produces clusters of 170g deep red, slightly flattened, ribbed fruits that are up to 9 cm across. The fruit has an outstanding flavour and very few seeds. It will set fruit well in cooler conditions than other varieties. Good disease and pest resistance. Days to harvest: 65 - 75 ST151 80 seeds $3.50
ST152 10g $25.00 |
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Not to TAS St Pierre is a traditional French variety that produces medium-sized, 7.5 cm wide, red, round fruit with soft, thick, meaty flesh and a superb flavour. Produces well in cooler growing regions. Days to harvest: 80 ST146 80 seeds $3.50
ST147 10g $25.00
Not to TAS
Thai Pink Egg is a bush type
so does not require staking.
Delicious, sweet, pink,
grape-shaped, 40 mm long
fruit are sold in Thai
markets. A very heavy
cropper, it is resistant to
cracking even in heavy rain.
Days to harvest: 55 - 75
H ST142 80 seeds $3.50
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Not to TAS Tropic is an indeterminate type so requires staking. Firm, round, red fruit with slightly green shoulders have a sweet flavour, weigh approx. 250g. It is the best variety for hot, humid areas; disease resistant. Days to harvest: 80 H
ST140 80 seeds $3.50
ST164 10g $25.00 Temporarily unavailable Untreated
Not to TAS Yellow Perfection is a British heirloom, small, slicing tomato. The fruit are perfectly round, thin-skinned, golden, sweet, low-acid, weigh 85 - 140g. It is an indeterminate type so requires staking. Days to harvest: 75 ST156 80 seeds $3.50
ST157 10g $25.00
Seeds suitable for subtropical and tropical conditions are marked H for hot and humid! More info.....
"Our area seems to be infested with fruit flies from late September and up to last year it had been impossible to grow unaffected large-fruiting tomatoes, even when I sowed them in July! We put the Fruit Fly Exclusion Bags over every raceme of fruit, tying them off with the covered wires around the stem. Being enclosed like that also seemed to cause them to ripen more quickly. How pleased we were to eat unmarred Peach, Pineapple, Red Colossus and Pink Queen tomatoes for the first time from our own bushes. The bags proved waterproof and reusable several times over." Jude Fanton, Director, The Seed Savers' Foundation
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DISCLAIMER: We guarantee our seeds to the value of the purchase price. We are happy to replace the seeds, give you a credit or refund, whichever you prefer. Other than our guarantee to the extent of the purchase price Green Harvest gives no other warranty expressed or implied. No liability will be accepted by Green Harvest, its owners or employees as to the accuracy of any information. No responsibility will be taken for damage to property or persons due to information given about a product or technique. No responsibility will be taken for the loss of a crop or income due to information given about a product or technique.
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