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To: AFB-XYZ

Heh, maybe sometimes I try varieties based partially on the name?

I’m in Zone 7a, and have never had good luck with Early Girls* (and **) past mid July. They seem to be a one crop and done tomato. Even to get that, I usually have to have them going inside pretty well (usually ~15” tall) in my “pots” made from 2L soda bottles (use bottom 2/3, add holes to bottom) and transplant as early as I dare. Last year I had to cover them from frost 3 times, IIRC. This year I tried “Early Treat” and “Independence Day” tomatoes instead, to try to get an early crop, and then the super soggy Spring conditions just wrecked them. I have a couple of both hanging on - don’t know if they’ll produce anything or not.

*That sort of makes sense, as they are an early season tomato, so, I’d think, not bred at all to take warm temperatures.

**I once dated an Early Girl and she... Oh, wait. Wrong thread. (Just kidding!)

The tomato plant that is most freaking me out is the “unknown” volunteer that sprang up in our chicken manure pile. “All nitrogen”, Diana would say, but this thing has grown very well (not skinny / spindly), flowered well, and fruited well. All the fruits are still green, so I don’t know if they’ll get bigger than the 3” or so of the largest fruits. But, if these taste good, I’m definitely saving some seeds.

Anyway, your Early Girls are flowering in Sept., something mine never did, as mine were usually long dead by then. So, maybe hand pollinating will work! Good luck!


376 posted on 09/13/2025 5:14:31 PM PDT by Paul R. (Old Viking saying: "Never be more than 3 steps away from your weapon ... or a Uriah Heep song!" ;-))
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To: Paul R.; Diana in Wisconsin

An update. My Early Girl plant is PRODUCING! Guess I should rename it “Better Late Than Never”. 😀 🍅. I haven’t looked inch-by-inch, but I know there are at least 3 coming to fruit. And I figure that where there are 3, there are likely more.


458 posted on 09/17/2025 2:44:26 PM PDT by AFB-XYZ (( We have two options: 1. Stand up, or 2. Bend over))
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