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Veranda Red Tomatoes Produced through Hard-Water Stress

Grow log by Sher · Original thread

8 visual updates10 photos24 replies
View recap
CropTomato
VarietyVeranda Red
MethodAeroGarden hydroponics
EquipmentAeroGarden Harvest, AeroGarden Bounty
Plants2
AudienceAdvanced

What you can learnA useful hard-water case study with transplanting, hidden fruit, early picking, staggered ripening, yield appraisal, and preserved flavour.

Actions:3 Harvest1 Transplant
Useful practices
  • moving established tomatoes from a Harvest to a Bounty
  • picking at the breaking-orange stage
  • staggering harvest by ripening fruit off the plant
  • accepting cosmetic plant stress when flavour remains good
Problems encountered
  • hard-water adaptation
  • scraggly plant growth
  • uneven fruit size
  • dense foliage hiding tomatoes

*The days were calculated automatically and approximately.

Day 65
UPDATE#8
Grower update

Update #8

Actions taken

HarvestReported having eaten a fair quantity as production declined.

S By Sher

The Veranda Reds have struggled their entire lives. They are the only plants that I was not able to overcome my hard water difficulties with. I have not posted photos because the plants always looked scraggly. Also, the tomatoes are uneven sizes -- not the uniform large jewels previous Verandas have produced. However they have that delicious taste that I expected. Production is winding down now, but I have eaten a fair amount of them already. The peppers are from the Gypsy that I grew under a Harvest light. It's sibling is producing lots of HUGE peppers. I have eaten some of them, but am waiting for the rest to turn red. (The red pepper on the side is a store bought jalapeno.)
Conversation
L
lynnee

All those Veranda Reds really have me drooling, Sher! Beautiful photo!

S
Sher

Thank you!

S
Shawn

You have so many. They all look good.

Day 53
UPDATE#7
Grower update

Update #7

Actions taken

HarvestCollected several tomatoes at the breaking-orange stage and additional hidden fruit.

S By Sher

I am finally getting ready to eat tomatoes. The ones in the bowl were picked at the breaking orange stage. The three in front hid in the foliage until I discovered them today. I love the way picking them before they are ripe spaces out the harvest. I used to get so many at a time that I would have to add them to everything whether I really wanted to or not.
Conversation
A
areyoukittenme

They look beautiful!

S
Shawn

Ah Tomatoes!

Day 48
UPDATE#6
Grower update

Update #6

Actions taken

HarvestHarvested the first tomato as it began turning orange.

S By Sher

I picked my first "breaking orange" tomato today. (Thanks, airscapes.) These plants have struggled a bit as I adapt to my new water. But all is forgiven when they start giving me tomatoes!
Conversation
A
airscapes

Good luck! Hope they taste good. I may try the Veranda Red next winter.. I was not happy with the flavor of what I grew this year under artificial light they were not sweet or acidy but sourer . I have several other Micro Dwarfs outside this year to see which one tastes best grown in the sun, I will try inside this winter just for fun. The Veranda Red seems to be a favorite here, so I should probably try that as well under artificial light.

S
Sher

You would probably like it, airscapes. It is the best tasting tomato that I have grown in an Aerogarden.

S
Shawn

Breaking Orange LOL... Nice tomato

A
areyoukittenme

That's a pretty tomato and I'm glad it tastes great!

L
lynnee

Absolutely the best!

Day 33
UPDATE#5
Grower update

Update #5

S By Sher

I counted 12 tomatoes on both plants today.
Conversation
L
lynnee

The Veranda Reds are such wonderful tomatoes!

Day 29
UPDATE#4
Grower update

Update #4

S By Sher

So far the smaller plant on the right has two tomatoes that I can see. There is so much foliage, it's hard to find them.
Day 14
UPDATE#3
Grower update

Update #3

S By Sher

Flowers are starting on the plant on the left!
Conversation
L
lynnee

The tomatoes will taste so good! Your plants are looking wonderful.

Day 9
UPDATE#2
Grower update

Update #2

S By Sher

They are really growing!
Conversation
A
airscapes

Looking great!!

S
Sher

Thank you, airscapes!

S
Shawn

Healthy looking

Day 1
UPDATE#1
Grower update

Update #1

Actions taken

TransplantTransferred the tomatoes from a Harvest into a Bounty one day earlier.

S By Sher

The Veranda Reds moved from a Harvest to a Bounty yesterday.
Conversation
S
Shawn

Looking good!

L
lynnee

Those are going to be great, Sher!

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