Silicon Investor - Gardening and Especially Tomato Growing

[Charles M] Anyone go to the Santa Clara rare fruit growers scion exchange in Mountain View ...

Charles M — 2/16/2026 3:30:06 PM

Anyone go to the Santa Clara rare fruit growers scion exchange in Mountain View yesterday?

[Charles M] There is still a lot of interesting things going on in the gardening world. Not ...

Charles M — 11/9/2025 10:58:19 AM

There is still a lot of interesting things going on in the gardening world. Not too late to get your garlic cloves planted before the heavy rains come. Same with your onion starts. Anyone know where you can get actual Stockton Red starts? The commercial grower (Lockhart?) quit growing the seed because it went off patent and they were getting pennies for the seed. Switched to growing Red Burger which isn't as good. Seed savers had a grower who grew seed for them for a while in Oregon but no longer.
The Chysanthemum plants sales are over for the year. Most of the sales are in October. Both the Bay area Chapter and the Sacramento chapter are two good ones. The Sacramento Chapter has their flower show Nov. 15th. Great time to see heritage Mums and start your list of ones you want to get next year at the plant sales.
Lets see what else?
Only a couple months before the chapters of the Calif. rare fruit growers start having their scion exchanges. Coming back after Covid when they had to stop large group meetings. There is the Santa Clara , Golden Gate, Sacramento, and Redwood Empire Chapters, also looking for new members.
I know there are a lot more threads on Reddit, but how many can say they are both interested in gardening and investing?

[robert b furman] Hi Sun, My bad, but you are sure right about mint, and going good with summer d...

robert b furman — 7/23/2024 8:41:25 PM

Hi Sun,

My bad, but you are sure right about mint, and going good with summer drinks.

One word about mint, it is very invasive and spreads.

I'd keep it in a pot plant environment.

Good to hear from you, I know you are more than busy.

Enjoy your summer!

Bob

[Sun Tzu] BTW, I wasn't looking for ginger. As much as I'd love to, growing ginger and tur...

Sun Tzu — 7/23/2024 12:20:49 PM

BTW, I wasn't looking for ginger. As much as I'd love to, growing ginger and turmeric will be too much work here.

What I was talking about is "ginger mint". It is a type of mint. Goes very well with summer lemonade.

[Sun Tzu] Speaking of online sales, a number of gardening supplies are on sale on Amazon n...

Sun Tzu — 7/23/2024 12:15:51 PM

Speaking of online sales, a number of gardening supplies are on sale on Amazon now. I bought some fairly large containers are good discounts.

Also, many people don't realize this, but you can actually ask for discounts from Home Depot garden center. For example they had designer blackberries and hydrangeas that were priced over $40 each and I got them for $5 because they had broken branches and had not been watered for a week or so and looked abysmal. They all came to life after a week of care and are now in a great shape.

[Sun Tzu] Thank you Bob! Hope all is well with you. I've gardened for a long time, but th...

Sun Tzu — 7/23/2024 12:11:38 PM

Thank you Bob!
Hope all is well with you.

I've gardened for a long time, but this is the year that I am getting really serious about it.
For starters, I never realized until this year how expansive tomato roots really are. I don't think that I will ever grow them in pots again.

[Sun Tzu] I love shopping online. Thank you!

Sun Tzu — 7/23/2024 12:06:00 PM

[robert b furman] Hi Sun, I buy most of my seeds from Jung Seed Inc: jungseed.com Peppers from ...

robert b furman — 7/23/2024 10:57:08 AM

Hi Sun,

I buy most of my seeds from Jung Seed Inc:

jungseed.com

Peppers from Harris seed:

harrisseeds.com

Both excellent firms.

Ginger is a rizone, so you need a certain climate.

I' love to grow some Turmeric also.

Hope that helps.

Bob

[luvdividends] If you're willing to buy online, I can recommend several websites that I buy fro...

luvdividends — 7/23/2024 9:39:22 AM

If you're willing to buy online, I can recommend several websites that I buy from. Migardener.com is having a great sale on seeds right now, and has a great varieties. I love shopping at Tomatogrowers.com. Incredible selection of seeds there. Hoss Tools has really good seed, as does Baker Creek.

[robert b furman] i'D SAY HE WAS A LITTLE LATE! LOL Bob

robert b furman — 7/18/2024 6:04:43 PM

[Ron] Opening day of Zucchini season... [graphic]

Ron — 7/18/2024 11:48:32 AM

Opening day of Zucchini season...

[Sun Tzu] Anyone here knows where I can get some tomato seeds in the GTA area? Specificall...

Sun Tzu — 7/17/2024 9:54:43 PM

Anyone here knows where I can get some tomato seeds in the GTA area? Specifically I am looking for:

Striped German,
Cherokee,
Sun Gold,
Sweet 1 million,
and Brandywine.

I'd also love to get my hands on some Ginger Mint and Orange Mint.

[Sun Tzu] Gardening knots [X] Some knots that come in handy in gardening and that you ma...

Sun Tzu — 5/13/2024 8:30:52 PM

Gardening knots

[X]

Some knots that come in handy in gardening and that you may not know.pic.twitter.com/jVwlL4380A
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) May 13, 2024

[/X]

[Cogito Ergo Sum] [graphic]

Cogito Ergo Sum — 5/13/2023 9:30:22 AM

[Cogito Ergo Sum] [graphic]

Cogito Ergo Sum — 5/11/2023 8:20:58 AM

[Sun Tzu] Grow food in food ;) [X] Super inventive plant growing techniques. 🪴 via 5-mi...

Sun Tzu — 9/23/2022 4:57:27 PM

Grow food in food ;)

[X]

Super inventive plant growing techniques. 🪴
via 5-minutes crafts pic.twitter.com/caO6IUvaZx
— Tansu YEĞEN (@TansuYegen) September 23, 2022

[/X]

[Sun Tzu] Gardening!! [X] I love this story because it reminds me that one person can ma...

Sun Tzu — 8/16/2022 4:32:03 PM

Gardening!!

[X]

I love this story because it reminds me that one person can make a difference.

In 1979, Jadav Payeng began planting a tree every day for 37 years — results are stunning pic.twitter.com/C6QOcbCCYy
— Vala Afshar (@ValaAfshar) August 16, 2022

[/X]

[Cogito Ergo Sum] in my raised beds I have removed thistles with 3 foot roots LOL

Cogito Ergo Sum — 8/12/2022 10:17:04 AM

[Cogito Ergo Sum] BTW that small area where I removed the goutweed worked out .. but property is f...

Cogito Ergo Sum — 8/12/2022 10:15:50 AM

BTW that small area where I removed the goutweed worked out .. but property is far too extensive for same .. so my front garden

took out all plants I wish to keep
plants to keep were stringently checked and weeded then potted up (I have some VERY LARGE POTS LOL)
old garden was weeded
old garden was Rounded UP
black plastic covers it now. 3 weeks in ..
September plastic comes off.. kill survivors
triple landscape cloth
ad 18 in topsoil
more landscape cloth and then plant..
Then heavy mulch

will report success or fail.. I expect some to make it and need be dispatched

[Sun Tzu] Practical farming/gardening hacks [X] Practical farming tips...pic.twitter.com...

Sun Tzu — 8/12/2022 10:10:56 AM

Practical farming/gardening hacks

[X]

Practical farming tips...pic.twitter.com/AcJsk75tzC
— Figen (@TheFigen) August 12, 2022

[/X]

[robert b furman] Hi Bernie, Nothing finer than a well supported , firm melon. LOL Lucky fence e...

robert b furman — 8/11/2022 9:41:27 PM

Hi Bernie,

Nothing finer than a well supported , firm melon. LOL

Lucky fence eh?

Bob

[Cogito Ergo Sum] OK.. I'm gonna stop before going too far LOL

Cogito Ergo Sum — 8/11/2022 12:14:11 PM

[Sun Tzu] You could say that she has nice melons

Sun Tzu — 8/11/2022 12:11:24 PM

[Cogito Ergo Sum] Yes makes one wonder about the owner LOL

Cogito Ergo Sum — 8/11/2022 12:01:58 PM

[Sun Tzu] She definitely has a pair of nice ones ;)

Sun Tzu — 8/10/2022 3:12:19 PM

[Cogito Ergo Sum] Another hack ? [graphic]

Cogito Ergo Sum — 8/10/2022 2:43:26 PM

Another hack ?

[Sun Tzu] Gardening hacks [X] Try these garden hacks and be surprised by the results… pi...

Sun Tzu — 7/19/2022 8:35:55 AM

Gardening hacks

[X]

Try these garden hacks and be surprised by the results… pic.twitter.com/PdRX3UgwIj
— Tansu YEĞEN (@TansuYegen) July 19, 2022

[/X]

[Cogito Ergo Sum] Last few years I have localized spring fert to each plant as I go.. (Ckn manure)...

Cogito Ergo Sum — 6/19/2022 9:45:49 AM

Last few years I have localized spring fert to each plant as I go.. (Ckn manure) I plant fast from a few years in the trade so the extra time using chicken manure is minuscule .. .. When I till in fall I add the regular cow manure then..

Added a second 16x10 raised bed this spring .. but these beds are temp.. I have a lot of reorganization to do.. the most primo sun wise part of my .27 acre semi city lot is covered in some Romanesque vision of the prior owners by a Roman lounge area LOL I have a lot of plants to give away and a lot of pavers to remove :( Next spring I rent a small skid steer.. Maybe I can borrow yours LOL

Bernie Bob :)

[Julius Wong] :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)

Julius Wong — 4/9/2022 8:52:26 PM

[robert b furman] Hi Julius, That's a lot of salads! Bob

robert b furman — 4/9/2022 8:43:32 PM

[Julius Wong] He grew 1,269 tomatoes on a single stem and broke his own world record Douglas...

Julius Wong — 4/9/2022 10:45:58 AM

He grew 1,269 tomatoes on a single stem and broke his own world record

Douglas Smith, a British gardener, with his record-breaking cherry tomato stem. (Courtesy of Douglas Smith)

Douglas Smith is a competitive guy. So when he turned his attention to the vegetable garden behind his home, he committed to it. So much, in fact, that his hobby grew to epic proportions.

Smith tended to his plants and produce until they became colossally outsize, landing him in what he calls “the competitive vegetable scene.”

The British gardener has harvested a nearly 7-pound tomato, a 624-pound pumpkin and a 20-foot-tall sunflower. Recently, though, he has shifted his focus from size to sum. It’s been a grand success.

Twice in a row, Smith broke the Guinness World Record for the most tomatoes grown on a single stem. Originally, he shattered the previous record of 488 tomatoes — which had been in place for more than 10 years — after he grew 839 cherry tomatoes on one stem in September.

Then, on March 18, Guinness World Records declared that Smith had actually beaten his own world record, growing 1,269 tomatoes on a separate, single stem.

He was in it to win it: “It was a very deliberate attempt to go for a Guinness World Record,” said Smith, who works full time as a product manager and lives north of London in Hertfordshire, England.

Smith has long had a green thumb, and at one point, he supplied fresh vegetables from his garden to local pubs and eateries.

“I’ve always been a gardener,” he said.

In 2014, he decided to take his hobby to a new level. He was particularly interested in ginormous produce, and pumpkins became his starting point.

Growing huge vegetables presented an enticing opportunity to “push your horticultural knowledge to do something a little bit different,” Smith said. “I like growing vegetables for the house, but if you’re trying to grow for a competition, you learn an awful lot more about how to grow them successfully through an exercise like this.”

As he started exploring the world of massive vegetables and fruits, Smith soon saw his interest was not as unusual as he thought. In the United States, of course, showstopping displays and competitions for extra-large produce have been commonplace at state fairs for decades. In other places around the globe, he learned, people proudly grow colossal crops, gathering accolades for their enormous pumpkins, potatoes and tomatoes.

Recently, a New Zealand couple stole the spotlight for growing what they believed was the world’s largest potato, only to be told by Guinness World Records that their mammoth mass was not actually a potato at all.

Far beyond the prospect of earning prizes and praise, what intrigued Smith most, he said, was the intense learning process and the strong sense of camaraderie among fellow giant-vegetable growers. Although it’s competitive in nature, the community collaborates.

“Competitive vegetable growing is an active community in terms of knowledge sharing,” Smith said.

When he pivoted from pumpkins to tomatoes in 2017, he reached out to Peter Glazebrook — a veteran vegetable farmer who was then the U.K. record holder for the country’s largest tomato — and Glazebrook kindly sent Smith some seeds.

In 2020, after growing a nearly seven-pound tomato, “I went on to beat Peter’s record, and then I sent him the seeds of my U.K. record,” Smith said.

Around the same time, his 6-year-old son, Stellan, told his dad he wanted him to grow a giant sunflower, which became a pandemic project for the family.

“Small kids want stuff that grows fast or things that grow big,” said Smith, who gave some of his giant tomato seeds to an American giant sunflower grower named John Butler, who sent him some sunflower seeds. “He had declared that he had an interest in growing a sunflower as big as the house.”

Following the success of the sky-high sunflower, “I was looking around for other horticultural challenges,” Smith said. “I decided to have a go at the most tomatoes on a truss.”

In the world of gardening, a truss is simply a stem that holds tomatoes. Typically, Smith said, a stem carries anywhere between 12 and 30 cherry tomatoes, and, in very strong growing seasons, perhaps 50. He was determined to multiply that number at least 10-fold.

For Smith, the process of growing supersize produce is scientific. To prepare for his tomato-growing operation, he spent countless hours reading research papers, sending soil samples to be tested in laboratories, trying out various seed varieties and investigating the many tomato types.

The work of extreme gardening, he said, is “both nature and nurture. There are no easy manuals.”

“It all starts with the variety selection,” Smith explained, adding that choosing the right type of tomato is the “nature” portion of the process. “The second step is the environment. You can manipulate the temperature of things like the air and the soil. You’re using all these little bits of knowledge just to kind of make them grow bigger, better and more of them.”

Smith’s extensive research and analytical approach paid off last fall, when he discovered a truss in his greenhouse with 839 perfectly plump cherry tomatoes dangling from it. A few weeks later, he found one that had 1,269 — allowing him to beat the world record, twice.

Not only did Smith surpass his initial record by 430 pieces of fruit, but his unprecedented tomato count was 10 times higher than the original record of 121, which was set in 1997.

Though Smith is tickled by the title, he already has his sights set on a new mission. He hopes to win the record for “most tomatoes on a single plant.” He also intends to take a shot at growing the world’s heaviest potato and eggplant.

“We’ll be having another crack at a couple of records later this year. Fingers crossed,” he said.

While he likes to compete and win, he tries to keep perspective about the fantastic food he grows.

“It’s just a bit of fun,” he said.

See missing graphics at
washingtonpost.com

[robert b furman] Yup, Had them around my pool in my previous home. Cut them at winter time and...

robert b furman — 4/8/2022 9:12:43 PM

Yup,

Had them around my pool in my previous home.

Cut them at winter time and they telescoped up.

Really sweet smell during bloom. I liked them but wifey, not so much. sigh

I planted 15 Bald Cypress along the lake, they're no 20 feet tall and greening up now - beautiful.

Bob

[Cogito Ergo Sum] You ever try banana ? hardy varieties like Musa basjoo

Cogito Ergo Sum — 4/8/2022 1:51:14 PM

[Cogito Ergo Sum] Interesting about the rain ... in my new digs I am planning to apply what I lea...

Cogito Ergo Sum — 4/8/2022 10:14:05 AM

Interesting about the rain ...

in my new digs I am planning to apply what I learned about rainwater capture in my big garden plots in Toronto over the years.. letting all that free water run into the storm system is such a waste :) and being near the river .. really really really near LOL I have vested interest in not overloading it :)

[robert b furman] Hi Bernie, Yup. I have no rain gutters, and mulch beds around the house. I use...

robert b furman — 4/8/2022 10:00:45 AM

Hi Bernie,

Yup. I have no rain gutters, and mulch beds around the house.

I used 4 inch chopped stone where the mulch beds are level and 8 inch where the ground slopes and I make the mulch deeper on the outside of the mulch beds.

I have the stones on a base of crushed granite. I've found they last longer if I mix in a small amount of mortar in the crushed granite.

Houston has such heavy rains plus hurricanes, so I'm learning how to make the landscaping more durable.

With time and reworks, I'm adding more and more of the 8 inchers.

The stone is called Cherokee. My back and front porches are covered with Cherokee and hickory field stone 1" thick.

It gets mildew and blacken every year. Used to power wash it every year, but found wet and forget which works great here in Houston. I put it on the brick, stone and roof (which is metal with teal colored stone on it).

We've lived here 27 years and really are proud of the landscaping and house in general.

Bob

[Cogito Ergo Sum] So you have chopped stone walls for Houston flower beds ? fancy :0)

Cogito Ergo Sum — 4/8/2022 6:59:48 AM

[robert b furman] Reworking our flower gardens in Houston. Annual mulching and chopped stone work...

robert b furman — 4/2/2022 5:10:03 PM

Reworking our flower gardens in Houston.

Annual mulching and chopped stone work.

We lost a lot of plants last year with URI cold storm

All of our citrus perished.

We had just gotten used to lemons and grapefruit every year All 10 gone.

I'll replant Rio Red grapefruit and Meyer Improved lemons.

Most likely plant butterfly plants in the other beds. We have Monarchs constantly in our back yard. They lat eggs and the caterpillars morph into chrysalis and then butterflies.

flickr.com

Neat to watch and we have them n our backyard always.

Bob

[Cogito Ergo Sum] I am going mostly seedlings this year... I always cruise the nurseries though ...

Cogito Ergo Sum — 4/2/2022 2:02:32 PM

I am going mostly seedlings this year...

I always cruise the nurseries though in late spring on the lookout for the weird and wonderful :) so always have some starts also...

Sun is shining... sky is blue and temp 4C...

gonna try for one more ski day :)

[robert b furman] Good Move! Now are you planting seeds or buying starts. We transplant seedljng...

robert b furman — 4/2/2022 10:01:18 AM

Good Move!

Now are you planting seeds or buying starts.

We transplant seedljngs in the third or fourth week of May in Wisconsin.

This year, were not transplanting the seedlings.

The 1200 mile drive beats them up and it takes a lot of space in my truck.

I'll start them once I arrive up thereand transplant them in late may and early June.

Once my peppers get used to Texas 80 degree days and I transplant them in Wisconsin's 50 degree nights, they go dormant for 30 days.

Bob

[Cogito Ergo Sum] OH well ... I got my Tomato Maker !! :)

Cogito Ergo Sum — 4/2/2022 7:43:59 AM

[robert b furman] Hi Bernie, Nothing shows! Bob

robert b furman — 4/1/2022 7:07:43 PM

[Cogito Ergo Sum] Got this today from Amazon :) [graphic]

Cogito Ergo Sum — 4/1/2022 11:43:35 AM

Got this today from Amazon :)

[robert b furman] Hi Jerry, You bet - good growing to you! Bob

robert b furman — 3/30/2022 11:53:24 AM

[Jerry Held] Thanks for the tips, Bob. The cow manure/compost I was referring to is Home Depo...

Jerry Held — 3/30/2022 9:04:13 AM

Thanks for the tips, Bob. The cow manure/compost I was referring to is Home Depot's Black Cow. I like that stuff and use it in flower beds too. I do rotate my tomatoes as they are serious nutrient depleters.

I used miracle Grow once and I got very lush, tall tomato plants that didn't set much fruit. Maybe I'll try it again this year.

Thanks again!

[robert b furman] Looing good, uh, I mean steamy. I wonder how they score on the pepper hot scale...

robert b furman — 3/30/2022 12:32:53 AM

Looing good, uh, I mean steamy.

I wonder how they score on the pepper hot scale?

Might make your seedlings make Chernobyl look cool! LOL

Great looking green house!

Bob

Now work on some tomatoes!

[E_K_S] This is my 'Kit' Greenhouse built over 20 years ago. As I am away at another pr...

E_K_S — 3/29/2022 9:13:09 PM

This is my 'Kit' Greenhouse built over 20 years ago. As I am away at another property in the Spring/Summer, I no longer really use the greenhouse other than to start seeds for friends. I built the benches, a French drain below the pavers and have (1) mist system, (2) exhaust Fan (powered by solar) and (3) plumbed for water including bench & drip emitters. One vent operates by Temp, the other can be opened by hand.

The greenhouse is 12' long, 8' wide and 6' tall; Came in a kit from Israel. mounted on 4x4 red wood frame at ground level. I built a deck around the greenhouse

Have fun w/ your Spring/Summer gardens! I am here in N. CA so always nice weather and sometimes too hot in the greenhouse

[E_K_S] Getting the Vietnamese Hot Pepper seeds going in the greenhouse. Over 90% germi...

E_K_S — 3/29/2022 8:57:52 PM

Getting the Vietnamese Hot Pepper seeds going in the greenhouse. Over 90% germination. Seeds from a friend who gave me a few of his very hot peppers. I think 4 of the small peppers generated almost 300 seeds. 100 seeds in this planting

[robert b furman] I always add some Black Cow ( from Home Depot) and a bale of Sphagnum peat moss....

robert b furman — 3/29/2022 9:55:59 AM

I always add some Black Cow ( from Home Depot) and a bale of Sphagnum peat moss. I have 6 8x16 raised garden beds and local soil has too much clay. All three have boosted my annual production every year for three years.

Be sure to not replant tomatoes in the same place, rotate locations.

Each year I process 1220 to 1500 tomatoes on 70 to 75 plants. one half early girls, the other half a mix of San Martino, marzano , amish paste and/or polish linguisi. The last two are huge tomatoes.

I will in mid year add miracle grow liquid fertilizer once of twice.

My tomato plants consistently get to be 5-6 feet tall.

Once they bloom and begin to have fruit, you must spray the plants every 7 to 10 days with a fungicide. Don't wait to see the leafs spotting and curling spray every 7010 days after they show smll tomaotoes.
I have lost a crop by NOT doing that. When every one has a poor crop, I've got tomatoes. Took me several years to learn that one. We have a heavy dew since we are close to Lake Michigan

Hope that helps!

Bob

[Jerry Held] I had the worst crop of tomatoes that I ever had last year but others in the are...

Jerry Held — 3/29/2022 8:18:53 AM

I had the worst crop of tomatoes that I ever had last year but others in the area said the same thing so it wasn't just me. Anything I can do to increase yield is OK with me. I tilled horse manure and a cow manure/compost combo into the soil last fall along with some leaves so with your recommendation, I should be good to go!

Jerry

[robert b furman] Hi Jerry, Just follow the instructions on bag. I do at least the first two time...

robert b furman — 3/29/2022 1:29:42 AM

Hi Jerry,

Just follow the instructions on bag. I do at least the first two times. Try to do a thrd after a big rain.

You won't regret the expense. The yiels is boosted.