Direct Seeded Tomato Project

[Joseph Lofthouse]

The direct seeded tomatoes did really well. The rows also produced a crop of radish seeds, and turnips for the table. The radishes and turnips protected from frost, and distracted the flea beetles that voraciously eat tomato seedlings.

As an unexpected benefit, the radish and turnip leaves shaded the soil, and reduced weeds.

A perennial grass overwhelmed one section of the rows. Not much productivity from the grassy area.

Close-up. I selected mostly for orange colored fruits.


Overview showing size distribution.


I sent this seed to Experimental Farm Network, and to the Salt Lake City Seed Library.

A few days ago, I replanted—including seeds (I hope) from larger sized fruits.

Then, wondering if the same multi-species planting strategy would work with other tomato species, I direct seeded solanum habrochaites, peruvianum, galapagense, and cheesmanii. I also direct seeded an obligate out-crossing population from the Profoundly Promiscuous and Totally Tasty Tomatoes project.

This year, I planted May 19th, a few days before our actual last frost. Due to the dry spring, I waited until irrigation water became available.

I transplanted 6 week old plants of all these populations into the field a few days after direct seeding.

[William Schlegel]

Due to well issues I can't irrigate right now. Culvert flooded again and burnt out the well controller.

So the SI promiscuous tomatoes I direct seeded 20 days before average last frost are up. Some have true leaves. Some were thinned by the last few frosts. Joseph sent me some fresh seed so it is the seed I didn't send into the Going to Seed seed share plus the new SI seed- which sounds tastier as mine were mostly red cherries last year.

The tomatoes (heavy on 339) I direct seeded about two weeks later or about two weeks ago I saw only one germinant so far- though that was in a special cow pot experiment. It turns out the friendly neighbor dogs who gaurd my crops do find cow pots interesting. I would think they have access to more interesting manures but many were disturbed. However this week is supposed to bring a multi day rain event which should get the stalled seeds germinating. Eventually we will get the well working as well.