Recommended Tomato Short-List

Tomato Recommendations by Color I've created a short-list of indeterminate tomato cultivars that are good bets for growing on Pohnpei. With the exception of the last four, all of the varieties on this list are disease-resistant. I also selected types that tend to be small to medium, as larger tomatoes take longer to develop and are thus more prone to problems. RED Clermon (F1) Round medium-sized red tomato with resistance to Tobacco Mosaic Virus,...

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Salad-Slicer Cucumbers

MY STATUS: Unsuccessful    What I Did DAY 1 - SOWING I sowed Burpee Salad-Slicer Cucumber seeds in a wide but fairly shallow pot with gravel on the bottom and regular potting soil. The soil was gathered into two large mounds and a few pairs of seeds were pushed into the soil of each mound at a depth of about 1 inch. Seeds were purchased at Pohnpei Ace Hardware a few days before planting and kept refridgerated. From the package it...

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Powdery Mildew-Resistant Tomato Cultivars

The following tomato varieties have been bred to be resistant to powdery mildew, a fungal disease that affects tomatoes and many other plants. The primary symptom is powdery white spots on the leaves that get progressively bigger. The disease usually begins on the lower branches and moves up. The fungus likes cool, humid conditions and is more likely to become a problem during cloudy weather. The best way to prevent the occurrence of this disease...

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Leaf Mold-Resistant Tomato Cultivars

The following tomato varieties have been bred to be resistant to Leaf Mold, a common tomato plant disease. Agatha Apero F1 Bigdena Favorita F1 First Blish Geronimo F1 Golden Sweet F1 Growdena Massada F1 Olivade F1 Panzer Rapsodie Sapho F1 Sweet Hearts Toronjina F1 Trust...

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Verticillium-Resistant Tomato Cultivars

Though not entirely immune, the following tomato varieties have been bred to be resistant to the verticillium fungus. Pictured: Big Beef F1. Abe Lincoln Abuelo Ace 55 Agatha Agriset 8279 F1 Amelia VR F1 Andino NUN3149 Angelina F1 Applause Applegate F1 Arbason Ariset 334 Atomic Bambino F1 Basket Vee Beaufort F1 Beefmaster Better Boy F1 Better Bush BHN-1021 F1 BHN-189 BHN-268 BHN-410 BHN-444 BHN-543 BHN-585 BHN-586 BHN-589 BHN-602 BHN-640 BHN-762 BHN-768 BHN-783 BHN-826...

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Verticillium Wilt

An Intro to Verticillium Wilt Verticillium Wilt is a fungal disease affecting the vascular system of host plants. It is caused by three species of the Verticillium genus. Tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants, and peppers are most vulnerable. The disease obstructs the flow of nutrients through the xylem, resulting in wilting of the leaves and stem and eventually the death of the plant. Symptoms look very similar to Fusarium Wilt, but verticillium can kill...

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Aphids

Aphids are a common garden pest on Pohnpei related to whiteflies. They prey on cucumbers, squash, and other vegetable crops. Though they are said to like tomatoes, too, I have never had aphids on my tomato plants even when there were other heavily-infested plants nearby. The tiny creatures are larger than whiteflies and have a greenish, brownish coloration. Unlike whiteflies, they have no wings. They congregate in huge numbers all over a plant,...

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Fusarium-Resistant Tomato Cultivars

Though not immune, the following tomato varieties have been bred to be resistant to the Fusarium fungus, giving them an edge in Pohnpei's hot, ultra-humid climate. Pictured: Golden Rave F1 Abe Lincoln Ace 55 Agatha Apero F1 Arbason F1 Bambino F1 Basket Vee Beefmaster Better Bush Big Girl Bush Goliath Caruso Celebrity Champion Conestoga F1 Cupid F1 Dafel Emperador F1 Fantastic F1 Geronimo F1 Giant Valentine Golden Milano Cherry Golden Rave...

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Fusarium Wilt

An Intro to Fusarium Wilt Fusarium Wilt is a fungal disease affecting the vascular system of host plants. It is caused by the Fusarium oxysporum fungus. Tomatoes, beans, sweet potatoes and bananas are particularly susceptible. The disease causes wilting and eventually death of the plants leaves, starting near the bottom and moving up. The plant becomes stunted, the leaves yellow and fall off, and eventually the entire plant may die. CONDITIONS Fusarium...

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Florence Fennel

An Intro to Fennel MY STATUS: Grown Successfully to Harvest    Fennel is a perennial umbelliferous herb that can grow quite tall and has fine feathery leaves and a strong smell. The pale bulb-like stem is often eaten as a vegetable, the leaves are used in salads, and the licorice-flavored seeds are eaten particularly in Middle Eastern and South Asian cultures. SOIL REQUIREMENTS Fennel likes loose well-drained soil. SUN Fennel is...

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Garlic Chives

An Intro to Garlic Chives MY STATUS: Grown Successfully to Harvest    Garlic chives (Allium Tuberosum), also known as Asian garlic or Chinese leeks, are related to onions but have different shaped leaves and grow taller. The plant grows in perennial clumps that slowly spread, producing grassy leaves up to 15 inches tall. Leaves and stalks are used in cooking, particularly in East Asian cuisine. SUN CITY Garlic chives like full sun...

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Bush Beans

MY STATUS: Unsuccessful  What I Did  DAY 1 - SOWING I purchased Ferry-Morse Tendergreen Improved Bush Bean seeds at Home Depot in California and kept them in the fridge for about five months, while I focused on other things. Today, I put a thin layer of gravel on the bottom of a wide but shallow pot (I'll be attempting to grow 5-6 plants in one container) and filled the rest with a standard mix of potting soil. Seeds were pressed into...

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