I'm growing Sgt. Pepper's for the third year in a row and therefore thought, I could do an experiment: I did NOT remove any leaves and the lower tomatoes were fully shaded, but developed much antho though. The antho is only in the tomatoes, neither in the stem nor the leaves. There is much more antho than in Spartanburg's pics, I'd say 1/3 to even 1/2 of the fruits.

Later on, I removed some leaves for the next tomatoes - no difference as to the antho.

Next year, I'll place one plant in a spot where it does not get much sun and see what will happen.

Very interesting Clara! I will look forward to hearing the results of your experiment with growing Sgt. Pepper's in the shade :)

Linda

That will be interesting to see Clara.
I still say the variety is clearly unstable, at least some of the Sgt. Peppers seed in circulation. This is not a bad thing necessarily, just a truth and as I said way back not surprising in a tomato that was released at F5. No OP tomato is stable at F5 imo.
I have grown other antho varieties and while there can be variation in the depth of colour on a. plant depending on growing conditions there is always antho present and the size of the fruits are consistent and the growth habit of the plants of any stable variety is similar in general. Just in this thread I have seen more variation than should be explained by just growing and light conditions.
If they taste good, I may grow seed out again from this plant. if not, then I would try again from different seed because mine is not what should be expected from this variety. Again, not a bad thing, just the way this one is.
KarenO

Karen, I was/am waiting for you to tell us how it tastes. :)
I know we all have different tastes and all, but I'm really interested in antho varieties.

Late for me at about 85 days but it's a beauty. Flavour is pretty good, not fabulous but certainly good. Unfortunate green core in this one, remains to be seen if they are all like that. I think this one could have been a little under-ripe.
It is a beauty though. Black as pitch.
I will save seeds.
KarenO

A beauty, indeed!

Wo0w Now that's one I got to have!

Karen, did you show that to your naysayer community garden folks? That really does look like a true Sgt. Peppers, with environment being the difference in the antho amount. IMHO

Wow! That is gorgeous! Definitely trading in my non-antho variety {LOL}

Linda

Now that is black! Karen, could you please satisfy my curiosity by doing an epi scrape check on that really blackest area? I'm assuming skin will be clear since it's supposed to be a pink, but how cool would it be if it broke all the rules and came up neither clear or yellow!

I would like to see a photo of another sgt peppers with this much antho, if someone has grown one this black, (with all the fruits this dark) please post a picture. Size is smallish, the one pictured is the largest on the plant, most are about 3-4 oz.

I will check Dee but pretty sure it will be clear

KarenO

KarenO- you may want to hop over to Xanadu and show these pictures to Jason Haynes (Seasideseeds), who developed this cross. He may have some interest in this high antho example. Italigarden also had some pretty dark ones in the Sgt. Pepper's thread there.

[QUOTE=KarenO;661418]I would like to see a photo of another sgt peppers with this much antho, if someone has grown one this black, (with all the fruits this dark) please post a picture. Size is smallish, the one pictured is the largest on the plant, most are about 3-4 oz.

I will check Dee but pretty sure it will be clear

KarenO[/QUOTE]

Karen, this isn't Sgt. Peppers. It's the one I've been PMing you about. This picture is of the first stage way before ripeness.

Very beautiful Robert!
KarenO

[QUOTE=ddsack;661414]Now that is black! Karen, could you please satisfy my curiosity by doing an epi scrape check on that really blackest area? I'm assuming skin will be clear since it's supposed to be a pink, but how cool would it be if it broke all the rules and came up neither clear or yellow![/QUOTE]

The epi is clear.
KarenO