The post-crash picture thread

[Buzzsaw]

Thank you, Mackay and extro!

The plants would be much nicer looking if they didn’t have the “chalky” look, esp the lower parts of the plants. But tomatoes typically suffer from one or more ailments, leaves develop brown and yellow spots (eventually turn completely brown and die) and once this happens they really need to be sprayed (fungicide) to slow the advance of the problem. In this picture the plants are showing symptoms of Early Blight (Alternaria solani), the most common problem for tomato growers. And as the species name of this fungus indicates it only affects members of the nightshade family Solanaceae (which also includes potatoes, eggplants, and peppers.)



I first began by putting together what I call the "Tomato Spa Resort" - which of course is my idea of a joke. But it’s also pretty much the truth!

The plants were started late winter, grown indoors under fluorescent lamps.

May 1st I put them in this cold frame/greenhouse (constructed with pvc pipe and some lumber) - equipped with a 400watt soil warming cable. The square objects at the base of each of the 15 plants are 65watt lamps - providing warmth but also light for plant growth.
The 16 black-painted 55gal drums are water filled, help keep temperatures stable.
I use a total of 3 covers at a time over the framework. The first layer is a floating row cover fabric made of spun-bonded polyester (which when used alone allows some heat buildup to vent) and immediately over that is a 4 mil layer of conventional greenhouse cover (polyethylene). Polyethylene plastic allows condensation to bead up which then drips onto plants, which can cause problems (encourage fungus diseases to start). I have discovered that by using the cloth-like polyester as an innermost cover that it wicks up the condensation allowing it to wick downward (following the curved span) making its way to the frame’s front edge. It works well keeping the condensation from dripping. What I have also discovered is that being saturated with moisture (which is every night, there is a lot of condensation buildup) adds insulative value. I also have another 4 mil polyethylene cover I pull over it most nights, since often it drops down to 15 degrees - very cold for tomatoes. Afterall, with all this work and money put into this, I am not just keeping the plants from freezing. I want them to grow.

I tend the contraption by uncovering the whole thing if the day is exceptionally warm, or use just the polyester for medium days, keeping in mind that more covers mean lower light levels (low light levels encourage elongation, i.e. spindly growth, and I want the plants to be stocky)

So it really is like a spa resort for tomatoes!

Better Boy™® hybrids in the Tomato Spa Resort - (May 7)






Now here are the same plants exactly 1 month later - (June 7)




Fresh lawn clipping piles had been placed inside the frame and I gather this as soon as possible when the lawn first needs cutting in the spring. The grass clipping piles generate significant heat, but also copious amounts of CO2 gas (this is serious; with other growth parameters met, really accelerates growth). At this stage the fence/cages are 3 feet tall and plants are outgrowing their situation in the frame so it's time to disassemble it. Plants will be on their very own and making their debut. This is not a day of celebration but one of apprehension and nail biting. No more protection from the cool nights.

Tomato pollination requires a window of opportunity of about 50 hrs and if this process is slowed (for instance, from cool temps) then those blossoms that have opened will not succeed in setting fruit, will abort and fall off. Tomatoes will not set fruit with night temps much below 55F. In my region the month of July is our warmest month and the lows average 55F. So it's tricky to grow nice tomatoes where I live!

Fortunately I get quite a few fruits on the plants during the month of May while the frame is set up. Then really the only thing I can do is hope we experience above average night temperatures. Living in the cold really bites and someday I would like to move further south.. where I can really grow some huge plants!

It takes approximately 60 days of good grow weather to get a baseball-sized slicing tomato from the flower stage, so the blossoms that set in May won't be ripe tomatoes until July.
For this reason I remove all new blossom-containing new growth after the end of July, since blossoms that might form beyond that date will not have time to ripen before the weather here turns cold in the autumn. I don't want green tomatoes, no use for them. The red ones are not only much more nutritious but tastier. This year I began picking tomatoes on July 10.

Nearing season’s end now, have harvested over 1500 tomato fruits from the 15 plants. I give many of them away but most of them I make into a puree with blender, pour into quart bags with some tomato slices included, and then into the freezer they go. My goal for the freezer is 200 qts, but am still in the process of putting them away. Some of these are on the orange side of town, but will redden in a day or so.



Here they are on July 10.
The 3ft tall cages have been stacked with 4ft cages to create the final height (since 7ft cages would be too tall to fit inside the Spa Resort.)



August 22

[Jedo the Jedi]

That is some intense tomato growing! Are you a botanist or just an enthusiast?
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Paragon Tally: 19 mafia, 3 SKs (1 twice), 1 cultist, numerous chat scum...and counting.

[The Ragin' South Asian]

Your dog is Hannah, right? Cute!

[Mackay]

That is so cool. Make a gardening thread! I will read the hell out of it, even though we lack the garden to follow suit. I tried to grow tomatoes in pots last year and failed dismally, though that might be because we had two hailstorms within a week after I planted them (I wish I had thought to bring them indoors - an idea which is only occurring to me now ).

I should be able to try again now, though, it's just starting to warm up. Any advice on things which are good/easy to grow for beginners (and probably in pots? We are looking at moving, but the place we currently have our eye on is an apartment too)? I feel a little inadequate asking about growing little tomatoes in pots after looking at your beauties! What you are doing (growing enough to freeze and store a great supply) is what I dream of being able to do someday.

Your dog is beautiful, too

[MNOWAX]

If you start the gardening thread,. I will show you the exploits of our gardening this year. trust me, it's funny!
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The Man The Myth The Legend
MNOWAX

[Buzzsaw]

As you can see for yourself Jedo and extro, my tomatoes are pretty much a waste of time hobby. It will be fun though to show everyone all the time I have wasted some of the waste of time projects overstatement to call them "projects" in the past in some kind of numb-nut chronicle garden thread.
Would be glad to see your garden, MNOWAX. I don't know who might want to laugh at any garden-efforts-gone-bad but you will hear no laughter from me. For me it's akin to a little old lady slipping on some ice and falling down in a parking lot, some things are just not funny.(jk) "Fiasco" has always been one of my favorite words to live life by and especially in the garden (note the night of "heavy frost" we had summer 2003 on Aug 25).


Will definitely try to help you out, Mackay and if you have a sunny window should be able to have some success at it. "tomatillo talk" thread soon to come.

Great memory, RSA. The dog in the pic is Esther, still have Hanna though and she is doing well.

Here she looks forward sheepishly while Esther scampers (Feb 2012). Didn't someone start a pet pic thread? I need to go find it.

[itisally]

I have been wanting to share this one fo a while!
Ohcapt13, Life in Mom Land, Sentran, Itisally, Durryn, Rea, Captin Aniima and others at The Pirates movie.



Well, our names show up on the photobucket virsion.
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I could agree with you, but then we would both be wrong.

[Buzzsaw]

Are you going to tell us which one is you? (don't say "I'm the one dressed as a service wench" )

[itisally*]

From Left to Right

Standing:
OhCapt13, Life in Mom Land, Sentran, Durryn, Captain Aniima, Rearia's Husband

Kneeling:

Maria (not on GL), Jenna (not in GL), LIML & Sentran's son, Itisally, Rearia, April (not on GL), James (not on GL)

Kids sitting:

Durryn & Itisally's oldest son, LIML & Sentran's youngest daughter

[itisally]

This one isn't as good, but it is more current.


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I could agree with you, but then we would both be wrong.

[Buzzsaw]

Alright! Looks like everyone is having a good time, pleased to meet you, itisally. Don't recognize the other names, maybe those people are participants in some of the mafia games you're involved in? ~doesn't play mafia games~

[Zag]

Yes, the Mafia regulars know all those. Thanks for posting them, itisally! It's great to have faces to put to names.

[3iff]

Thanks for sharing that. It IS nice to see what some of the fellow players look like.

[itisally]

Sentran started on the puzzles and got the rest of us hooked on Mafia. I like the puzzles too, but most are way beyond me.

Someday I might get a picture of us not in some kind of costume. But hey, we like to dress up.
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I could agree with you, but then we would both be wrong.

[Sniklac16]

The very first image of my first son...only 8 more weeks


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What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.

[referee]

So, are you going for first of 2013?
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Jan 21st, 2008: The pillaging continues.
Mar 4th, 2008: Rest in Peace, Gary Gygax. May your dice always roll a natural 20 wherever you are.

Be the Ultimate Ninja! Play Billy Vs. SNAKEMAN today!

[Sniklac16]

That's what I'm hoping haha
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What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.

[Dragon Phoenix]

[Sniklac16]

Oh aren't you just hilarious? haha...and no his name is going to be Colton Alexander.
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What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.

[Pablo]

I posted this in a different thread, but I suppose it is more appropriate here....

Hi Zag,
I'm retired, so I don't have as much time to spend in the GL. We got into CrossFit and are becoming fanatics. We're doing things I didn't think could be done at my age (almost 67)
Here's an example:


This exercise is repeated jumps on and off the box with both feet moving together. The picture shows a 20" jump, but I'm now doing 24". The workouts are intense and use weights, medicine balls, kettlebells, and also include running and rowing. Everything is timed and recorded and you never know what the workout will be until you go. There's also a diet associated with it....the Paleo diet.

I don't know if that answers your question, but we live in Washington State, just across the river from Portland in a town called Washougal. We look at Mt Hood from our deck and from our bedroom window. Still playing scrabble every night and enjoying our kids and grandkids, most of whom live in the Portland area.

How have you been?
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All religions are the same - Guilt....just with different holidays.

[Zag]

Hmmm. I would have thought that retiring would give you more free time, not less. The whole cross-fit thing sounds dangerous, though. You're likely to be way too healthy! (Seriously, you're looking good. I hope I look as good when I reach 137 years old like you.)

In order to fit in this thread, here's a pic of Mrs. Zag and myself, at our Christmas gathering this year.

[Pablo]

That's a great picture of you. It would be a great one to use for inviting captions.

You and Mrs Z have a wonderful and healthy New Year!

And no, retirement is a full time job. Any time you waste is your own time rather than your boss's time, so you tend to fill it with things you enjoy. I drifted away from the GL in favor of facebook, but am finding myself less and less occupied there as well, especially now that the election is over. As you can imagine, it didn't go my way and I've just decided to accept things and enjoy the little slice of heaven that we've carved out for ourselves and not stress over stuff that I have no control over. I was pretty active in many debates before the election as it seemed that many of my friends were pro Obama. In any case, much of my GL time was while I was at work, as I suspect is the case with a few others.
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All religions are the same - Guilt....just with different holidays.

[Pablo]

Here's another.....I'm rather proud of what I can do at this point in my life:


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All religions are the same - Guilt....just with different holidays.

[Pablo]

A recent picture of Spencer:

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All religions are the same - Guilt....just with different holidays.

[extro...*]

I took a little detour on way to office today to go see this. Anyone recognize it?

[Quailman]

Your first attempt at building a log cabin, when you lost the plans?

[Zag]

Well, the whole thing is set up to rotate on two axes, so it can point in any direction, so I assume it is intended to be able to track things in space. I can't think of any reason they'd make a big contraption like that to hold a satellite dish, so I'm going to guess a telescope of some kind.

[extro...*]

It's the Horn Antenna in Holmdel NJ, with which the cosmic microwave background radiation was first detected (as I understand it, the light that was present everywhere at an early stage of the universe, still present everywhere but now red-shifted to the extreme by the expansion of the universe). It was an accidental find - they at one point thought it was noise caused by pigeon droppings, for which they killed many pigeons.

[Sniklac16]

Here's a picture of my son, he is 6 weeks old already



And here he is again asleep on my chest while I'm watching tv


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What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.

[itisally*]

So wonderful! Cherish each moment.

[Sniklac16]

I've been gone a while just thought I'd show everyone a few updated pics:

Here's me and my son on Easter pic:



This is my fiance , son, and myself:



My son:



This one is my son (left) my oldest nephew (center) and my newest nephew (right)



Finally the most recent photo of my son sitting up on my fiances farm (5 months old)


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What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.

[Pablo]

Wife and I doing Valentine's Day CrossFit workout:




Kettle Bell swings (that's not my wife in this pic)

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All religions are the same - Guilt....just with different holidays.