Question
I am new to SF. Migrated from midwest. I have three questions. 1. TOMATO What is best Tomato producing (most prolific)...cant remember difference between determinate and indeterminate to grow in SF...back in midwest, Celebrity tomatoes made huge amounts, but I have planted 3 so far and I am already disappointed in their growth...seems we don't get enough HOT sun here in SF to get them to grow. 2. Strawberries...there are new types here I have NEVER heard of like Seascape..again I am wanting EVERBEARING....planted Quinalt and seascape...same issue as tomatoes..growth seems slow, perhaps due to SF cloudiness? What are best producers here in SF? Also...I see wild strawberries in sand at Fort Funston...what are these? Are they edible? 3. Manure...I always mixed manure with peat and supplemented with Miracle Grow to get plants to grow..where can I buy (or collect free) manure here? Your expert advice would be most greatly appreciated.
JAM
Answer
I am sure you have heard Mark Twain's quote before, " The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco."
To be sure, this year has proven to be one of the cooler ones. A cool May followed by an even cooler June has indeed put the brakes on many vegetable gardens. I think it is early yet to throw in the towel though, we all will have late harvests in our Bay Area.
1. Indeterminate tomatoes (I) have a viney habit and continue to form flowers and fruit throughout the season. Determinate tomatoes (D) are bush type and bear one or two crops. The tomatoes that do best in San Francisco are short season (early or cool weather types) varieties with a harvest date from 50 to 75 days. These tomatoes tend to be medium sized. Cherry tomatoes are also good. There just isn't the heat to produce large, beefsteak types. Our favorites are Stupice (D), Oregon Spring (D), San Francisco Fog (D), Black Krim (I), Early Girl (I), Green Zebra (I) Sweet 100 (I), and Sungold (I) and yes, Celebrity (I). It really is the cold weather this year. If it is any consolation, I live in a warm area of Marin. My tomatoes planted in mid April are about 4' now, have had enough flowers but are just NOW beginning to set fruit. Sigh.
2. The varieties of everbearing strawberries best adapted to your climate are Quinalt, Seascape and Albion. A slow start can be blamed on the weather and regular feeding will encourage growth. The wild strawberry you see is Fragaria chiloensis a native that makes an excellent groundcover and tolerates the sandy San Francisco soil. The fruits are edible albeit seedy and bland.
3. Manure is a good thing! You can purchase chicken and steer manure from Sloat Garden Center. We have a favorite product called Loam Builder which is a combination of mushroom compost,chicken manure and other goodies such as kelp meal and earthworm castings. You may be able to obtain horse manure at the stable on Shoreline just past the Olympic Club. Vegetables and soft fruits do like regular feeding. If you like liquid fertilizers, we like Maxsea and Foxfarm Grow Big.
Jam, please do not give up. Weather is a part of farming and gardening. On the flip side, lettuces, broccoli, spinach, beets, carrots, peas and other leafy vegetables have thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
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