Malachite Box - anyone grow this without BER?

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PlainJane
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Malachite Box - anyone grow this without BER?

#1

Post: # 69279Unread post PlainJane
Sun May 08, 2022 12:29 pm

This is the 3rd season in a row I’ve tried Malachite Box and what a tease.
It starts out growing well and setting tons of fruit, then once May rolls around and there’s the least little bit of warmer temps or humidity …
I must have pulled off 10 medium sized tomatoes yesterday from 2 plants. Can anyone grow this successfully?

Last year and year before same thing. I got maybe 6 edible tomatoes which tasted great but holy moly.
Being careful with watering and I feed Texas Tomato Food liquid once a week.

No BER on anything else.
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eyegrotom
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Re: Malachite Box - anyone grow this without BER?

#2

Post: # 69282Unread post eyegrotom
Sun May 08, 2022 1:09 pm

I grew it 2 years ago and with no BER. Got around 20 good tomatoes from 1 plant.

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Cole_Robbie
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Re: Malachite Box - anyone grow this without BER?

#3

Post: # 69283Unread post Cole_Robbie
Sun May 08, 2022 1:53 pm

There is no shortage of other gwr varieties to try. From what I remember, malachite box was similar to Cherokee green in flavor, a little more tart than super sweet.

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PlainJane
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Re: Malachite Box - anyone grow this without BER?

#4

Post: # 69285Unread post PlainJane
Sun May 08, 2022 2:40 pm

Cole_Robbie wrote: Sun May 08, 2022 1:53 pm There is no shortage of other gwr varieties to try. From what I remember, malachite box was similar to Cherokee green in flavor, a little more tart than super sweet.
For whatever reason Cherokee Green doesn’t do well for me. I guess it’s back to Green Giant and Emerald Evergreen.
“Never try to outstubborn a cat.”
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PlainJane
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Re: Malachite Box - anyone grow this without BER?

#5

Post: # 69286Unread post PlainJane
Sun May 08, 2022 2:41 pm

eyegrotom wrote: Sun May 08, 2022 1:09 pm I grew it 2 years ago and with no BER. Got around 20 good tomatoes from 1 plant.
Very envious!
“Never try to outstubborn a cat.”
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jmsieglaff
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Re: Malachite Box - anyone grow this without BER?

#6

Post: # 69290Unread post jmsieglaff
Sun May 08, 2022 2:57 pm

I've grown it successfully with no BER issues. Very nice tomato.

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bower
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Re: Malachite Box - anyone grow this without BER?

#7

Post: # 69296Unread post bower
Sun May 08, 2022 4:26 pm

I've grown it once, and had no BER.
Maybe try a different seed source?
AgCan Zone 5a/USDA zone 4
temperate marine climate
yearly precip 61 inches/1550 mm

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Whwoz
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Re: Malachite Box - anyone grow this without BER?

#8

Post: # 69299Unread post Whwoz
Sun May 08, 2022 4:58 pm

Likewise I grow it without BER here down under even in some very hot years. You may actually be under watering it by "being careful with the water". A few years ago when the fires were rampaging down our easy coast and temperature pushing 100 F regularly water was being pumped into the garden every evening with each row getting 3/4 hr via soaker hose, found was kept full, plants were big , strong and healthy and MS/MB produced 40 plus big fruits upto 1lb with no BER. You may want to apply extra calcium to the soil pre planting and via foliage feeding

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Tormato
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Re: Malachite Box - anyone grow this without BER?

#9

Post: # 69304Unread post Tormato
Sun May 08, 2022 6:09 pm

I haven't looked into BER for several years. The last I heard was that it was believed to be due to not enough calcium uptake, usually caused by uneven watering. 2+ inches of mulch helps in keeping moisture in the soil.

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Re: Malachite Box - anyone grow this without BER?

#10

Post: # 69313Unread post Dee
Sun May 08, 2022 7:58 pm

I grew it a few years ago and it knocked my socks off. Very productive and tasty, beautiful and no BER. I'm in zone 3 - maybe it likes this climate? They were planted in-ground and mulched with several inches of grass and leaf clippings.


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Toomanymatoes
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Re: Malachite Box - anyone grow this without BER?

#11

Post: # 69314Unread post Toomanymatoes
Sun May 08, 2022 9:04 pm

You might want to try growing it in the ground instead? So far, I have only ever seen BER on my tomatoes when grown in containers. Might just be coincidence, but it fits with inconsistent watering. I always struggle with watering my container plants. Alternatively, maybe having an irrigation system will help?

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Shule
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Re: Malachite Box - anyone grow this without BER?

#12

Post: # 69352Unread post Shule
Mon May 09, 2022 5:02 pm

I know someone in northern California who has had great success with it. She never mentioned BER.
Location: SW Idaho, USA
Climate: BSk
USDA hardiness zone: 6
Elevation: 2,260 feet

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PlainJane
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Re: Malachite Box - anyone grow this without BER?

#13

Post: # 69356Unread post PlainJane
Mon May 09, 2022 5:27 pm

I’m going to try a new seed source and give it one more chance next season.
Thanks everyone!
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Shule
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Re: Malachite Box - anyone grow this without BER?

#14

Post: # 69364Unread post Shule
Mon May 09, 2022 7:43 pm

@PlainJane

It's possible that it needs a larger container. If it does, then it could suffer more when not watered precisely when it wants it, and also (if the container is too small) it could be using more fertilizer than expected.
Location: SW Idaho, USA
Climate: BSk
USDA hardiness zone: 6
Elevation: 2,260 feet

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PlainJane
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Re: Malachite Box - anyone grow this without BER?

#15

Post: # 69383Unread post PlainJane
Tue May 10, 2022 6:44 am

Shule wrote: Mon May 09, 2022 7:43 pm @PlainJane

It's possible that it needs a larger container. If it does, then it could suffer more when not watered precisely when it wants it, and also (if the container is too small) it could be using more fertilizer than expected.
There are 2 plants in a 30 gallon grow bag, same as most of my other tomatoes.
The mix is homemade 5-1-1 consisting of pine bark fines, large perlite and coco chips and fiber instead of peat.
I mix it in a wheelbarrow with TomatoTone, alfalfa meal and a little azomite.

Liquid feed starts once plants are blooming heavily - Texas Tomato Food about once a week or so.

I usually give the exuberant cherries a 20 gallon bag to themselves but I can reserve one of the 20s for MB next year and see if it makes a difference.
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Re: Malachite Box - anyone grow this without BER?

#16

Post: # 69385Unread post Whwoz
Tue May 10, 2022 7:13 am

@PlainJane I would describe the plant as more vigorous than your typical OP indeterminate. I normally use stakes that are 5 feet tall above ground and MS is often the first to the top with more stems than most as well. I do not prune leaders or leaves routinely, so it makes for big heavy and hungry plants. I wonder if a bit of shell grit added to the mix would act as a slow release calcium source?

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Re: Malachite Box - anyone grow this without BER?

#17

Post: # 69496Unread post swordy
Thu May 12, 2022 1:32 am

2 years that I grew this variety no BER and it was really tasty!
On the other hand, last year in a new yard we grew plants both heirloom and hybrids from local plant nursery and they all had BER. So, definitely it was due to environmental reasons and soil conditions no because of specific varieties..

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Re: Malachite Box - anyone grow this without BER?

#18

Post: # 69500Unread post mama_lor
Thu May 12, 2022 2:41 am

The 5-1-1 is a recipe for BER enhancement. The fact that you only have ber with this one means you are doing great. Do you have automated irrigation?

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PlainJane
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Re: Malachite Box - anyone grow this without BER?

#19

Post: # 69553Unread post PlainJane
Thu May 12, 2022 7:29 pm

@mama_lor, no - I water manually. I’ve been growing all my veggies in bags for 10+ years as Florida soil is so nematode infested. I’ve been using my homemade 5-1-1 for 5 years now and overall am pretty happy with it.
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