High Yield Tomato Plants: 50-80 lbs per Plant

[jboze3]

Do you prune your tomato plants? I've read that they should be pruned into one main stem until it gets closer to the top.

[LDSPrepper]

@jboze3 For our determinate plants we only remove the suckers. For the non-determinates we prune for one main stem. The more pruning you do the less fruit you will get.

[bryncomeaux]

my wife keeps eating all my tomatoes before i can get to them . do you have some sort of organic solution to keep wives away from tomatoes . I hears a quick slurry of poverty and alcohol usually does the trick but im not sure if its organic.

[LDSPrepper]

@bryncomeaux LOL. Have you tried giving her chocolates instead? :)

[alan30189]

I heard another tip recently to keep birds from eating your tomatoes. Birds are after the moisture in the tomato. They don't really like to eat them. They said to keep a bird bath near your garden for the birds and that would solve the problem. I plan to try this this year.

[LDSPrepper]

@alan30189 Sounds great. We tried that last year to no avail. Please let us know how that goes.

[alan30189]

Your dog pissed on your planter at 9:30! A little extra nitrogen for that plant. :-)

[alan30189]

Those cages make it difficult and time consuming to pick the tomatoes. The larger tomatoes will not fit through the 2"x4' spaces.

[lillypondlane33]

try organic heirloom tomatoes.... the taste of them will have you hooked~

[LDSPrepper]

@lillypondlane33 I have heard that from others. I'll definitely have to do that. Thanks

[jjoohhnnnnyybb]

I got a question for you. how in the hayl do you get your tomatoes out of those little holes when you wanna harvest them? Also, its a shame you have to pick your tomatoes so early. nothing better than a vine ripened tomato warmed by the sun. I'd do bird netting before I surrendered to a counter full of green tomatoes. or 30% or whatever.

[LDSPrepper]

@jjoohhnnnnyybb We cut the wire to make the hole larger.

[fockya]

Good idea to get some kind of pole and zip tie the wire to them for more support. Good video, I can't wait to start growing again this season.

[ConcernedMushroom]

great video...might i suggest mulching? you will save water, eliminate topsoil errosion and will not need nearly as much fertilizer...cute dog btw :)

[LDSPrepper]

@ConcernedMushroom My wife started mulching this year. What a difference!

[TheSammymann]

at 9:32 your dog applied some miracle grow to your tomatoes

[qin02]

@TheSammymann shh thats the secret to sucess.

[thepraticalgardener]

For all off you who want to get an earlier start on your garden, try EZ-walls Plant Protectors. They set up in a fraction of the time of similar wall of water type products with their single fill tube and have a drawstring that closes the tender transplants off when the temps dip below freezing. They are also extreamly wind resistant! The closed tube fill point keeps the water from evaporating and keeps the beneficial bugs from drowning too! Check out the video for EZ-walls Plant Protectors!

[ainemacdermot]

You can use a similar set-up to run a sustainable organic system using compost/manure dressing in conjunction with compost/seaweed tea 1/week (instead of crystallized plant food). Mulch to conserve moisture in dry climates.

[wildflowerr1]

what is the stick that is bent over the bed that can be covered.

where can you get that.

[LDSPrepper]

@wildflowerr1 CPVC pipe. We cover it with plastic during the winter to create a row cover to keep the plants warm.

[denversees4me]

BRILLIANT - contacting my master gardeners tomorrow !

[pderugin]

My whole backyard is clay soil. I am planning on building some raised beds. How tall should I make them? Nice vids by the way, they are very helpful!

[LDSPrepper]

@pderugin At least 8" tall. You can make them taller if it makes it easier to work in so you don't have to bend over so much. I have a video on building them. Search in my channel for "raised garden beds".

[pderugin]

@LDSPrepper Thanks. In that vid about the raised beds you guys used treated lumber. Any thoughts on using redwood instead of the treated lumber? (it would cost me the same) Also, on the site where I plan on installing the beds there is oxalis, which I've heard can even grow through 8 inches of dirt. If you happen to know anything about this nasty weed, let me know what you think I should do (I don't have much other choice in terms of location for the beds)! Thanks again

[Lehibob]

@pderugin We found that vinyl fencing "6" inch upright pieces cut to the length you want and then stacked 2 high gave us an 11" bed that works great on our clay soil here in Utah. We just put black weed stopper plastic down on our lawn under where we placed our raised bed and then filled the bed with "Mel's Mix" soil and it worked great! If you like, feel free to contact me and I can give you more detail on the size and how to make the bed frame

[Dorisequador]

Tomato's in Jail

WHat did they do wrong  :OLOL

[snaps81625]

Thats it, I am moving to Texas.. its April and you have tomatoes.. in April I am still dreaming about planting them.. I know a lady who prunes her tomatoes and she gets the most beautiful tomatoes,, she says it helps the plant to put more energy into the tomatoes? Great video brother! God bless!

[chichibang5]

how often do we fertilize the tomato plant?

[LDSPrepper]

@chichibang5 Monthly with MicroLife fertilizer and spray with Epson Salts every two weeks.

[tanoo101]

My tomatos just grew taller and taller, but no fruit....any clues?

[LDSPrepper]

@tanoo101 Typically when you get green growth and no or little fruit it means you have too much nitrogen. This could be from your fertilizer.

[Dorisequador]

@tanoo101 You need 10 52 10 for tomatoes growing a huge plant is actually great but if you want tomato's you need flower thats the 52.

[PreacherPrepper]

Great video Sir!

[Jimigunneful]

I am in S.Texas. Am putting in several 4x8 ft. raised beds. The soil on property may not be too bad, its a blackish loam---but I want to optimize the soil in a couple of the beds for tomatoes. I checked the Ph myself of the soil as it is here, and its 6.5 so that's not a problem. What soil or soil blend are you using in your beds? Recommendations?

[LDSPrepper]

@Jimigunneful Since you already have soil I would recommend just adding compost, no more soil. You might add worms if you haven't already. They do a great job and will lay eggs and expand to other garden beds, lawn, etc and go a great job.

[SpartanMonkee]

At 9:35, I see how you're adding the "water-soluable" fertilizer to the leaves. That little doggy is earning his keep ;)

[LDSPrepper]

@SpartanMonkee You discovered my secret to high yields! :)

[HotBombs99]

Thanks for the tip to lay plant on its side. Have u tried worm castings ( worm poop), it way better than any man made fertilizer.

[LDSPrepper]

@HotBombs99 My wife "planted" worms a couple of years ago. They are doing a great job in irrigation and fertilization. 

[MyFreedomChannel]

I know this is a little late in season to ask this question, but I'm going to do it anyway (want to start gardening next year). How long should the trench be when digging it for the tomato root system?

[LDSPrepper]

@MyFreedomChannel It is never to late to plan for next year. Great question. Make the trench as long as you want. You can bury the plants up to their lowest leaves. The more you bury the more roots and stronger the plant will be.

[MyFreedomChannel]

@LDSPrepper Thanks for the info! Hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas this year. :)

[BackyardDiscoveryCo]

Great Video! Thanks for sharing.

[marcy77802]

If you grow from seed, when do you plant them indoors? I'm in central Texas (about 50 miles west from you) and it seems like we're always getting started too late, but I planted some over month ago and it's WAY too early. Just wondering...thanks for your answer AND for all your informative videos.

[LDSPrepper]

@marcy77802 Ask the master gardeners or the nurseries in your area. I'm sure they would be glad to help.

[bilaczenko]

Repectfully LDSPrepper,You're allegedly 50 to 80 lbs of tomatoes,I will believe when you actually show that claimed high yield, I get it planting the stem sideways to have a larger root system, but tomatoe seedlings from outset should be planted much deeper in the ground, say up to the first few leaves.

[LDSPrepper]

@bilaczenko You can do that too. Great suggestion.

[Teddybearcop48]

Thanks for sharing..

[JagdtygerII]

Great Video, but I have a question. I have become a huge fan of the flavor of the Black Krim Heirloom Tomato, to such an extent that I am actively trying to breed a red variant that has the same musky/salty flavor. The question that I have concerns how to keep the very young starts from wilting and dying. I started over 100 in paper egg carton cups and the seeds that I saved had a 90%+ germination rate. But about 6 weeks later nearly all of them died. What did I do wrong???? PM me if you like

[LDSPrepper]

@JagdtygerII Great question. I have no idea. I would recommend contacting your local Master gardener association. They offer free help and advice.

[KingRyltar]

bro I did not hear you mention anything about pruning your plants. ie, pinch off the suckers. The suckers will actually become new plants, if you plant them. Go all organic, stay away from store fertilizer. High 5 ..

cages, go 6 feet or more....thing big.!

[ScottsMiracleGro]

Your plants look great! Thanks for mentoning Miracle Gro! 

[CHEVYCAMARO4GEN]

9:31 is That Organic Fertilizer? lol

[arecill]

whats the spring tomatoe sale seed? the one that is growing densely? just plain yellow tomatoes any which kind?

[arecill]

@arecill also where can i find good information on growing at home in a small outside area? where/how did you learn? thank you! i like your raised garden beds!

[LDSPrepper]

@arecill Contact your local university agriculture extension.

[alexander76rw]

LOL@931 You wont get 50-80 pounds if you let that happen....LOL...too funny...mulching will help as well. Keeps the weeds out and moisture in....

[haypockets]

I love your garden beds and your plants look spectacular! I also square foot garden here in Texas (DFW). I have never tried any of the varieties you have planted, but I am so ready to try them next spring! Thanks for sharing! Check out my garden videos too! Tomatoes are my favorite to plant, but I also have great success with sweet potatoes, watermelon, broccoli and okra.

[Antonio001z]

Those raised garden beds . . did you build them or buy them? also if i upload a vid of my garden can you give me a few tips? thanks

[LDSPrepper]

@Antonio001z My wife built them. We would be glad to help.

[didgodsaythat]

Great Video

[anenna0618]

Thx for sharing this video. Pls keep updating abt tomatoes

[LDSPrepper]

@anenna0618 Thanks for viewing. I hope you have a great garden too.

[SteveHarpster]

cool video thanks for sharing. I have a cool garden hear in las vegas. I had over 600 tomatoes this year and other veggies

[LDSPrepper]

@SteveHarpster Steve you have a wonderful garden and great yields. What tomato varieties have produced well for you? Are you a chemical or organic gardener?

[SteveHarpster]

@LDSPrepper Thanks, The fourth of july tomato plants are great and tasty. I got from burpee. I use both chemical or organic. crazy but works well. I use seaweed extract and fish emulsion also. compost and energy buttons. I foiler spay the most. be cool. I am also uploading a new video today.

[keystoneprepper]

Great information and Video

[marcjtdc]

You put a bird bath near your plants. The birds will not bother with your tomatoes if they have water!

[LDSPrepper]

@marcjtdc I hadn't ever thought of that. What a simple solution. Have you done this? Did it work? Thanks for your comment.

[marcjtdc]

@LDSPrepper I have a birdbath, and not one tomato got stabbed from 19 plants. I saw that on a video on here. Also supposedly the blue jays will help with the invasive bugs. Nice plants. I'm in NH, ours grow a lot more spindly up here. Where you at?

[ILuvCaroline]

@marcjtdc So birds eat tomatoes for the water?

[ILuvCaroline]

I heard that trimming out alot of the leaves will help to reduce disease and increase yields because the plant isn't putting all its energy into growing leaves, but fruit instead.

[hoz49]

tomatoes will ripen faster in the kitchen if you place them in a paper bag. The tomatoes emit a gas (ethelene??) that causes them to ripen. By containing it inside a paper bag you quicken the process.

[LDSPrepper]

@hoz49 Great suggestion. Thanks.

[ZaphedBeebleBrox]

i do not see 100-160 tomatoes on your plants. The most I got from big boys was 4 rows of 4 tomatoes each and I am in minnesota. I ma happy to get 6-8 pounds per plant/. I believe commercial tomato farms get 7.5 pounds on average per tomato, 37,500 pounds per 5000 plants.

[LDSPrepper]

@ZaphedBeebleBrox We didn't have 100-160 tomatoes. I'm not sure where you got that number. We had a great harvest and our plants are still producing. We expect a second burst of tomatoes when the weather cools. We have gotten a lot of tomatoes this year. I think it is because of the type we planted and the bees pollinating them.

[rainylluvia]

How much water do you give them. Its been hot here in souther texas around dallas area and some of the plants look dried, but i've been watering. Am I over watering? how do you know the difference?? Thanks

[LDSPrepper]

@rainylluvia We have the same problem here too. I use my bare hand and dig down with my fingers an inch or two. If the soil is damp, not wet, then there is enough water. If it is wet, the dirt sticks together, kind of muddy, too much water.

[ilsdmspjs]

great video and your raised beds look very nice. I will use that tip of letting the tomato plant fall over and planting more of it to increase the root system. That's a much better way to do it than some ideas I've heard. I'll add a tip: when I transplanted my tomatoes into the garden, I put powdered egg shells into the whole before I put the plants in. My tomatoes are doing GREAT. Don't forget that you loose a lot of nutrition by not letting the fruit ripen on the vine

[LDSPrepper]

@ilsdmspjs Excellent recommendation. Thank you.

[RobertKlayton]

WARNING!!! Don't believe this guy... it's all hype. None of this is true. The camera doesn't lie, and the TRUTH is exposed on his very video. Look at time marker 9:30 !!!

He recommends Rapid Grow or Miracle-Gro then we see it.

He has those poor little dogs peeing on every plant he has. You can tell by looking at the little dog at 9:30 he is in a rush. Looks like a real sweatshop and he probably has about a dozen of these little organic dogs running around peeing on his plants 24/7.

[LDSPrepper]

@RobertKlayton Busted! You caught me. You are right. We feed our dog sea weed fertilizer and have him go around and pee on the raised beds. This has proven to be a very effective fertilizer distribution system. Not to mention a great time saver for us too. ;)

[e026026]

I use the smaller wire also to build my cages. In order to get those big tomatos out of the cages I cut a couple of the vertical wires out about half way down. That way you do not have to try to work them to the top of the cages.Hope this helps.

[LDSPrepper]

@e026026 Awesome. Thanks.

[stymye]

I have a question about the amonium sulfate (high nitrogen) .. why would you hammer the plant with nitrogen as it starts producing when it needs higher levels of phosphorous and potassium during fruiting?it seems like nitrogen is the last thing you would want to boost at that time

[skateboy159]

@stymye plants dont use much nitrogen when they done growing it will use more p-k for the fruiting so if u add n-p-k it dont matter

[stymye]

some of those plants need severe pruning ,, for ventilation and light. that will be hard to do with those cages, couple years ago, I grew a celebrity that produced hundreds of tomatoes,, and that was from a rooted sucker....lol subscribed to watch the progress

[UnearthedCitizen]

This was a very informative video. I will try these methods in my outside garden. Thank you for making it and showing us your techniques.

[ceadeses]

What the hell was that critter that took a piss on your plants? I have never heard of birds eating tomatoes. Have you seen them in the act?

[minbound]

Great videos, thanks for all the help, peace, Min!

[Itaintnutn]

Im not worthy...man what a nice garden. I looks like crap

[LDSPrepper]

@Itaintnutn I'm with you on that. The reason I do the fruit trees and my wife does the garden is because she is much better then I am. I figured I would do less damage if I just stuck to fruit trees. However, I killed 1/2 of them the first year. But I am learning. The new trees are looking great!

[1kings1918]

Excellent video. I'm looking at my tomato plants in a whole new light.

[jwlrymkr]

Nice vids! Subbed

[LDSPrepper]

@jwlrymkr Thanks for subscribing. I'll more videos up soon on things that I do and learn.

[bluebirds24]

Thanks forf the tomatoes 101 class! Very helpful!

[LDSPrepper]

@bluebirds24 I am glad it was helpful. I love youtube because of all the great videos I have seen that have really helped me. I am just trying to give back.

[see3ga]

nice idea about planting them sideways!!! thanks can your hand fit through the wire to get the tomatoes?

[LDSPrepper]

@see3ga The recommended wire has 4"x4" squares so it is easy to reach in. Ours has 2"x4" openings. So we just cut the wire where ever we want to reach in to get tomatoes so the opening is 4"x4".

[usfreedom22]

Thanks, great info. I have the same ringer on my iphone, LOL Garden looks great