Your comments and tips

15 Apr 12, Rene (Australia - tropical climate)

Have just plante patio romas in pots on advice from a sales assistant. I am wondering if I have in fact planted too early ? Due to our climate i was assured they would be ok. As a novice some good advice would be truly appreciated.

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05 Apr 12, Ellie (Australia - temperate climate)

slather vaseline around the garden stakes. Ditto trunks where critters climb up. replenish after each rain or 3or 4 waterings. E.

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03 Apr 12, konsta (USA - Zone 10a climate)

hi i have a tomatto that stem is spliting and leaves have burn spots any advise?

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11 Mar 12, Trudy (Australia - temperate climate)

I am growing tomatoes for the first time in a couple of years and thought I would mulch with old hay to help control weeds and conserve moisture (a jinx). I was short a couple of stakes so let some Roma grow on the mulch but as they were ripening I noticed slaters chewing the bottom side. Went to pick Grosse Lisse yesterday (staked) and a slater pocked his head out of a hole about a foot off the ground. Tommy Toes are fine. Are the slaters the problem or just taking advantage? I only use dipel but none this season. Trudy

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30 Jan 12, stella (Australia - temperate climate)

i amm growing gross lisse variety of tomatoes they are pretty huge on the vines but none of them are ripening as of yet ..what should i do theplants are a fairly average size with los of leaves and flowers and unripe fruits..

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30 Jan 12, Reg Parker (Australia - temperate climate)

Hi Stella, Your fruit will ripen, however I strongly suggest that you rid your plants of ALL LEAVES except the for the top (3), you will notice that you have a flowering stem, then a leaf stem then a flowering, get rid of all non flowering stems, you will do yourself and your vines a great favour....leaves only pull the nutrients away from the fruit, block sunlight & air circulation , create disease and attract pests. Also use a liquid fertilizer 2-3 times a week, you will have sweeter, juicier fruit and more than you can possibly even give away. DON'T BE AFRAID TO STRIP THOSE LEAVES> Reg

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13 Feb 12, (Australia - temperate climate)

Thanks very much for your advice I have been harvesting juicy red tomatoes now!!!

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16 Jan 12, Irene (Australia - temperate climate)

Planted Apollo Tomatoes Improved: They were fruiting beautifully until today I saw what looks like teeny blemishes, tiny dints like pin pricks coming on them...they are still unripe and more are coming what can I do to save the crop or is this a normal part of the process. By the way we have had a lot of rain but the drainage is fine. Thank you

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15 Sep 13, Jessica Vivien (Australia - temperate climate)

Hi Irene, I'm in Perth, I had this problem a couple of years ago, and the culprits were green shield bugs. I could not find a suitable treatment apart from picking these off by hand. They wrecked most of my tomatoes except the cherries and a Roma. Part of the problem was that I was growing them in a spot well sheltered from wind, and too close together I think, which provided perfect conditions for the beetles. I have now build an enclosed vegetable garden covered with quarter inch netting, which keeps out the adult beetles so they cannot lay eggs around this area, and the babies would have to walk a very long way to get in. My enclosed garden also keeps out cabbage butterfly, parrots, possums, rats, bandicoots, large snails. I still have to contend with slugs and slaters though.

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21 Jan 12, Bec (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Sounds like fruit fly. Try hanging some fruit fly traps around and yellow sticky traps. Had this problem last year but since hanging up a eco-lure no problems this season.

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