ok Gunny, here's where we are at

   you said BS when i said we'd get 200-
600lbs of fruit out of our patches.  26
plants total, 24 beefsteak and 2 sweet
100s.

  we are at 103 qts of canned tomatoes
or canned tomato juice so far.

  at 7qts per bucket and each bucket
coming in around 22lbs of fruit that
total is about 15 buckets or 330lbs of
fruit.

  this does not count what we have
eaten or given away.  add about another
100-150lbs for those.

  and we are still seeing plenty of
fruit on the vines and the weather looks
to be cooperating.  another four to five
days and we'll have about 4 more buckets.
after that it will be hit or miss as the
weather cools and sun fades even more.
i'm probably not even going to bother
with the green ones that will be left.
they make good worm food for the next
year and whatever we'll put in those
patches.

  peace,


  songbird

 
Outstanding Birds!

Mine are not coming in as fast as the weather was very cool and wet
this year,  still have some flowers on the Stripies and purples.  Day
& night weather tomato good for the next 10 days though. Should be for
the next 30 as well.    Cherries have been going like gang busters esp
the Orange.  Made a great little roasted vine cluster Caprisan salad
with the Red Cherries and my globe Basil on a toasted Tuscan bread a
bit of garlic and EVOO.  Almost orgasmic!  In retrospect should have
stayed with day long lighting though. Too cool to school I guess.  I
was hoping you organo farmers actually had an edge  but no such luck
in the PNW.  Light and temps are still the key up here.

Bit unusual to have pulled in 10 # per  #5 pro container of Anchos
though in such a short season  up here.  Ancho/Pasilla is my fav.  We
will see what my winter crop of fresh tomatoes is, along with the
fresh mesclun,  Rains move back in around duck season.  Should harvest
the salad stuff  every 30-35 days . not much light need there.  You
really should consider extending your season on some of your crops.
Granted canned is good for sauces but fresh is oh so good.   But hey
if your on the homestead cycle good for you.  Hopefully your next
years crop is as good!

best to you and the other bird.

 

Oh yea,   a little addendum just for giggles and grins:

http://ag.arizona.edu/pubs/garden/mg/vegetable/tomatoes.html

Approximate yields: 15 to 45 pounds per 10-foot row.

http://www.ehow.com/facts_7242813_many-tomatoes-can-one-plant_.html

Average Yield
The average tomato plant produces just five pounds of tomatoes,
according to the University of Missouri Extension. However, you may
attain yields as high as 20 pounds per plant if you provide proper
care for your plants.
so:

low end :  5 x 26 = 130
high end:  20 x 26 =520

You are saying you got 500+ #s, from 26 plants  w/ more to come  and
no waste!  Wow! But still Bird , the Missouri thing comes out and ya
cannot show me that your not being a bit too enthusiastic with your
numbers.  It is human nature after all especially when called out on a
public forum.  So don't take it too  personal,  but seriously  folks
tend to inflate for ego.... just look at billy.... so a grain of salt
and such.

Still good on ya. Lets see what the next few months bring ya. I'll
still be growing.

Canned toms are a buck ten  for a 28 oz these days up here.  Hot house
vines are 2.29-2.99 a #  and they are from the PNW, not CA., Fla. AZ,
nor  Mexico.

BTW do you ever read market reports?  may not mean anything to you but
it is a good gauge for your efforts:
http://produceone.com/markets/

Prices represent open (spot) market sales by first handlers on product
of generally good quality and condition unless otherwise stated and
may include promotional allowances or other incentives. No
consideration is given to after-sale adjustments unless otherwise
stated. Brokerage fees paid by the shipper are included in the price
reported.

CENTRAL DISTRICT CALIFORNIA : TOMATOES  Demand: GOOD.  Market:
STEADY.   Basis of Sale: Sales F.O.B. Shipping Point and/or Delivered
Sales, Shipping Point Basis   Comment: Extra services included.
CENTRAL DISTRICT CALIFORNIA : TOMATOES   Package: 25 lb cartons
loose   Variety: MATURE GREENS
Reporting City: PHOENIX, AZ
Date    Low-High Price    Mostly Low-High Price    Season    Item Size    Environment
Color    Unit of Sale    Quality    Condition    Storage    Appearance    Import/Export
Comment
09/02/2011    9.95 - 9.95     -     2011     xlge                                                      few
11.95
09/02/2011    9.95 - 9.95     -     2011     lge                                                      few
11.95
09/02/2011    8.95 - 9.95     -     2011     med                                                      few
10.95

EASTERN SHORE VIRGINIA : TOMATOES Basis of Sale: Sales F.O.B. Shipping
Point and Delivered Sales Shipping Point BasisComments: SUPPLIES
INSUFFICIENT TO ESTABLISH MARKET.

MICHIGAN : TOMATOES  Demand: GOOD.  Market: STEADY.   Basis of Sale:
Sales F.O.B. Shipping Point and/or Delivered Sales, Shipping Point
Basis
MICHIGAN : TOMATOES   Package: 25 lb cartons loose   Variety: VINE
RIPES
Reporting City: BENTON HARBOR, MI
Date    Low-High Price    Mostly Low-High Price    Season    Item Size    Environment
Color    Unit of Sale    Quality    Condition    Storage    Appearance    Import/Export
Comment
09/02/2011    13.95 - 15.35    13.95 - 14.35     2011     5x5 sz
                  occas higher
09/02/2011    12.00 - 14.35    12.00 - 13.95     2011     5x6 sz
                  occas higher
09/02/2011    12.00 - 14.35    12.00 - 13.95     2011     6x6 sz
                  occas higher

MICHIGAN : TOMATOES   Package: cartons 2 layer   Variety: VINE
RIPES
Reporting City: BENTON HARBOR, MI
Date    Low-High Price    Mostly Low-High Price    Season    Item Size    Environment
Color    Unit of Sale    Quality    Condition    Storage    Appearance    Import/Export
Comment
09/02/2011    12.00 - 15.95    12.85 - 14.35     2011     4x5s
            occas higher
09/02/2011    12.00 - 15.95    12.85 - 14.35     2011     5x5s
            occas higher

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COAST AND MEXICO CROSSINGS THROUGH OTAY MESA :
TOMATOES  Demand: GOOD.  Market: 4X4-4X5S HIGHER, OTHERS ABOUT
STEADY.   Basis of Sale: Sales F.O.B. Shipping Point and/or Delivered
Sales, Shipping Point Basis  Supply: VERY LIGHT.  Comment: Extra
services included.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COAST AND MEXICO CROSSINGS THROUGH OTAY MESA :
TOMATOES   Package: cartons/flats 2 layer   Variety: VINE RIPES
Reporting City: PHOENIX, AZ
Date    Low-High Price    Mostly Low-High Price    Season    Item Size    Environment
Color    Unit of Sale    Quality    Condition    Storage    Appearance    Import/Export
Comment
09/02/2011    10.95 - 12.95     -     2011     4x4s     Greenhouse
09/02/2011    10.95 - 12.95     -     2011     4x5s     Greenhouse
09/02/2011    10.95 - 10.95     -     2011     5x5s     Greenhouse
09/02/2011    10.95 - 10.95     -     2011     5x6s     Greenhouse

WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA : TOMATOES  Demand: FAIRLY GOOD.  Market: ABOUT
STEADY.   Basis of Sale: Sales F.O.B. Shipping Point and/or Delivered
Sales, Shipping Point Basis
WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA : TOMATOES   Package: 25 lb cartons loose
Variety: VINE RIPES     Grade: U.S. Comb or Better
Reporting City: ASHEVILLE, NC
Date    Low-High Price    Mostly Low-High Price    Season    Item Size    Environment
Color    Unit of Sale    Quality    Condition    Storage    Appearance    Import/Export
Comment
09/02/2011    12.00 - 13.95    13.95 - 13.95     2011     jbo
09/02/2011    12.00 - 13.95    13.95 - 13.95     2011     xlge


 so ~180- 200$ to 300$ wholesale for your efforts is a more realistic
figure. Nice little backyard project.


Do check these out, bit old but they are a pretty good standard that
can be verified, not that I do not trust your figures but i do not
think you truly understand the macro view in your zeal to have folks
buy into the organo billy world.  Know there are pros and cons to
all,  just don't try to  tell me you have a one size fits all like
billy pretends.  OK? That is really stupid thinking.

http://www.uky.edu/Ag/HLA/anderson/gh_tom.htm

http://midwestpermaculture.com/self-study-more/permaculture-greenhouse/gree=
nhouse-profit-potential/

BTW Its still Gunner unless you want me to keep flipping you guys the
bird?  Your call.

 Gunner wrote:
...

  no, there has been some loss here or there.
not too much yet.  if a tomato has a bit of
rot on it or the end was too ripe then we'd
cut that off and use the rest.  i think we've
thrown about ten tomatoes away right from the
vine (complete loss of that fruit).

  for the four buckets we did yesterday there
was of course all the air spaces in between
the tomatoes, but in the end we had one full
bucket of cores and peels/seeds/ends/bits
after processing.

  a bucket weighs around 22-24lbs depending
upon the size and how high we stack them.

  roughly 60lbs went in the 28qts and 28lbs
will go back to the ground.

  the math i presented in my original post
was working backwards from 103qts total so
far produced.  we've been getting about 7qts
per bucket so doing the math of 22lbs/bucket
and ending up with about 15 buckets of fruit
so far (i.e. 330lbs) just to put up the 103qts.

  that does not include what we have eaten or
given away.  i know we've given away over 80lbs
as i've carried much of it.  as for eating,
we've eaten one to two tomatoes a day since
they've come in and handfuls of cherry tomatoes.  
for two people that's about another 80lbs.

  330+160I0lbs with more to come.



  you may take it however you'd like.  i know i'm not
inflating numbers because i'm using the low end to
begin with (instead of 24+lbs per bucket i'm using 22lbs)
and i'm weighing the buckets before processing and we
are writing down the number of quarts produced.  there
is no enthusiasm in the number of quarts as that is
solid fact.  you're welcome to visit and count the jars.
inspect the number of plants.  talk to people we've
given fruit to.  etc.



  the final tally will be in a bit yet, and that
will depend upon if i feel ambitious enough to
harvest the greens and put any of those up or
to let the worms have them.  one last celebratory
fried green tomato usually marks the end of the
season.



  i can't stand the taste of canned tomatoes or
juice (watered down, metallic and salty).

  get the price of organic, glass jar, 100% tomato
juice or chunks, no water, sugar or salt added and
then you'd be comparable.  though certainly i could
not compete with the purchasing power of a major
producer for the price of jars or lids, but my
overhead is peanuts compared to them too.  and i
have no distribution or advertising costs.

  next time we visit the farm stand down the road
that sells canning tomatoes i'll check his prices
(i think they were about $10/half bushel, but i
will check).  we buy the sweet corn and melons
from him.  i think he grows organic.



  no, as i'm not selling these tomatoes or
the quarts that have been put up.  organic
prices would be more comparable.


...

  trimmed down to these local prices (as i'm in MI).



  organic?



  the ultimate judge will be the quality
of the land/air/water in a hundred years.
will our children be able to have
children and will they be able to live
healthy lives?

  i'm hoping to keep these few acres
going for as long as i can.  i'm not sure
what the future holds, but i do know i'm
liking the results so far from my shift
away from using various sprays and
encouraging helpful critters.



http://midwestpermaculture.com/self-study-more/permaculture-greenhouse/greenhouse-profit-potential/

  ok, Gunner.  [whatever you do with your fingers
is your business :) ]

  now i gotta get a move on and get some peaches
picked and start putting them up.


  songbird

 
Bird,  You guys should be darn proud, 20 #s a plant is exceptional in
any climate.  Just know that would not happen here without some help.
Hell,  a lot of help, hence the BS hothouse vines sure taste better
than the Fl field pinks shipped up here.  So  I tweak under lights.

I also agree w/ ya, you can't place a price on a quality product.  So
I don't understand "whats the price" thing was?  You would not be
pulling 20 # here and you admit you can't compete with the commercial
growers on price point.  Kinda sounded like you were tag teaming with
billy, one of those organo vs. the world folks when we started this
little posturing game.

 My garden is a cook's garden. I do really good with it because of a
lot of good teachers around the world.  My rosemarys are not the
Mediterranean quality I have known but I can tweak em in a green house
better to taste  than I can in the cool wet short growing season we
have here. That is priceless to have that.  Sure nice in the winter to
have some rosemary garlic trashcan   potatoes from your own garden.
Same for the many varieties of peppers, epozote, basils, marjoram/
oregano,Bay Laurel .... you get the picture I'm sure.  So growing my
own is much better than not.  The 20-30 bucks a month is acceptable to
me , again especially in the winter when I'm in my greenhouse. I still
have time to review the seed catalogs in front of the winter fire with
the dog at my feet as you do

As for your sermon of "go forth and cause no harm".  Your preaching to
the choir, maybe not yours perhaps and certainly  not the billy bad
goat  Doom and Gloom Fringe Band.  I do not see it as  an "either/
or".  You've even stated you use  billy's evil OP.  But billy has
never been anywhere nor seen anything except what he reads on the
Internet to really compare.  I have been around the world a time or
two to appreciate the little things that American billys seems to
think is exclusive to the Organos.  He has no bona fides except from
his Amazon Organo book of the month club .  Your 20# @ give  you
some.   My Inlaws in Detroit didn't have such luck.

Just know I'm using less 'cides than most in my IPM schedules and
certainly less water than dirt scratchers except mine is about equal
in the hottest part of the summer when our soil drains too well.
Luckily we have Hydropower  here so my energy/water is cheap.  Old Sol
is not always here for ya in the PNW.   You results may vary in the
Great Lakes.

Regardless,  The best to you birds.  I also  hope you keep your land
for many years to come. Also know my grandkids will be helping yours.

BTW,  Miracle-Gro is still OK to use ;)