The Tomato Patch Page

This is how we grow tomatoes in Illinois. 

Plants are about 10' 8" tall and they just keep going and going.

Taste, well they are just great and more filling.

Hatcher on a 6' step ladder picking tomatoes for delivery to an Indiana establishment. 

Hatcher almost couldn't reach high enough and required a Miller break between pickings.

Hatcher jokingly said " They will call me a liar when I tell them how  high we climbed to pick these tomatoes.

After Hatcher got too tired to continue picking, I finally finished picking the rest .  Hatcher had stated that he wasn't comfortable about being this high up.

Next year I'm going for 15' tall plants,  if my "Special Watering and Feeding Process"  is still available.

I have included some growing tips in case you would like to attempt to grow your own Illinois style tomatoes.

Good Luck, Have fun and Enjoy!

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My Tomato Growing Tips

1. Start your seeds inside on February 14th shortly after 2:00 AM in the morning.
2. Seeds must be planted exactly 3.3 inches deep or they will not grow this tall.
3. A "Special Watering Process" must be used until tomatoes start to ripen.
4. Re-Cycled Miller Genuine Draft seems to work best. ( No Bud - Stunts their growth and the tomatoes will have a flat taste.)
5. When watering - the Liquid must hit the ground at an angle of 43 degrees and have a temperature range of  98.1 to 98.9 degrees for optimal growth.

Please Note: These tomatoes will go exceptionally well with "Reds Special Sauce" 

 Even Red has stated, " many people have said that it just melts in their mouth"