Tomato Growing Thread 2023

"Trichoderma spp. significantly suppress the growth of plant pathogenic microorganisms and regulate the rate of plant growth. Recent works have shown that common plant disease such as root rot disease, damping off, wilt, fruit rot and other plant diseases can be controlled by Trichoderma spp" It's quite popular in Europe. I might introduce it in my greenhouse this year as nonchemical booster.

 

So far I see it being sold by dragonfli.co.uk here in UK. Will get closer to spring.

 

In some ways it sounds like totally the opposite to the microhizza fungi.

I doubt that the two would work together.

John, is your soil ph higher than 8.

 

Had a quick look and found the following trichoderma species form a "mutualistic endophytic (live within the plant for part of there life) relationship" with plants, so not dissimilar to some mycorrhizal fungi.
I'll stick with the mycorrihiza at the moment as I plant the tomatoes into clean compost and fresh soil.

 

Always lurking on here, but never posting.

For sauces I am definitely going with:

Opalka
Jersey Devil
Amish Paste

And for new ones possibly Orange Banana (as they are supposedly high yielding) and Moskvich (as they are early-ish, I think)

Any other sauce recommendations would be appreciated - esp early ones.

Also going to with

Sungold
Purple Ukraine
And maybe Steak Sandwich

(Will probably do far more than this though!)

 

Geriatric seed going into the airing cupboard. I only got one plant from the 2007 batch last year so I've chucked in plenty this time.

 

@eatenbyweasels I hope you get some that will germinate at least!

 

There's me hoping to go ahead this year with mycchoriza and now someone put in, "make sure you get the right one for tomatoes"!!! I was just going to add some to ALL my seed sowing and potting composts???
The trichoderma fungi also sounds interesting. Various spots in the garden are proving unproductive even AFTER I've removed soil. Must be said that where to put this soil has proved problematical. To begin with I simply practised 'species control' and planted elsewhere but the greenhouse soil took lots of wheelbarrow-fulls!! Thought I'd cracked it but that was when theWhitefly found me and they were far worse than any root fungi!!! So for some years I've only grown in fresh-bought compost in pots or pots in the soil outdoors. BUT suddenly its the soil next to trellis where I've grown runner beans!! pH controlled and soil changed (grew some stonking Kelsae onions there last year, though they wouldn't climb!) Grew the runners in a big pot but, guess what, the bloody whitefly got them!!! Even the 'special' spray didn't control them! Yes I'm aware of the biological control which I've used with some success 'til we had a cold spring and that got my little wasps!!!
Back to the soil fungi! How susceptible are they to pH? This can be controlled in small areas but perhaps not whole plots??? What do you think??

 

I won't bother with any Mycchorizal this season.

 

Does the packet give a use by date or any indication of shelf life? I believe its a live culture, like yeast and may not survive once opened.