Goose Creek is Definitely Pink (pics)

[rnewste]

Some history. My Goose Creek seeds came from a plant someone here on Tomatoville sent me, who purchased it at Laurel's in S. California 2 years ago, so I know its lineage is the "real deal". I've run 3 EarthTainer trials this season with 2 Goose Creek each per 'Tainer. One 'Tainer with "Old" Tomato-tone, one with the "New" formulation, and one with Tomaten Dunger that Ami had sent me.

Here is a cluster just picked from one of the Tomaten Dunger plants:



The largest one is approximately 4 inches in diameter. Goose Creek on the "Old" Tomato-tone plants are producing tomatoes about 3 inches in diameter as the largest one, which was "normal" for the past 2 Seasons. Tomato on the right:



I don't know how well the digital camera and lighting are, but I would characterize the skin color as a "Hot Pink" shade. First taste starts off a bit "sweet" like a Momotaro, then wham! it finishes with all of the "bite" of a Brandywine Sudduth...

Still my #1 favorite tomato!

Raybo

[dustdevil]

Raybo, very attractive fruit and the slices look juicy...did you slober down your chin eating them? ;-)

[rnewste]

dust,

Funny - - looks can sometimes be deceiving. Actually, when doing a back and forth taste test of the Tomaten Dunger and "Old" Tomato-tone samples, I (slightly) preferred the taste of the one grown in "Old" Tomato-tone. It had a bit more "earthy" flavor to it in its aftertaste. Again, both were grown in identical conditions of Potting Mix, water availability, Sun exposure, etc. but I marginally preferred one over the other.

To be sure, the Tomaten Dunger one is larger and juicer - but not quite the "pop" of the Tomato-tone one. I'd be happy with either one however, if stranded on a Desert Island.

Raybo

[Suze]

Ray, I grew Goose Creek last year and it was a pink. You were my seed source.

One thing I have noticed about Goose Creek photos I've seen in general is that depending upon the lighting and who took the picture, it can be rather hard to tell whether it is pink or red. It *is* on the dark side for a pink, especially when dead ripe. Maybe that is why some people think it is a red??

I also recall that when I attended the '07 Tomatopalooza event, they had the Goose Creek plate in the pinks section, and it seemed to be a pink to me when I looked at and tasted it.

Anyway, what I grew last year had a clear epidermis (so pink), because I peeled off a piece of skin and scraped it down to confirm because I wasn't 100% sure.

[carolyn137]

Ray, I posted about the fruit color at GW where you also posted this picture.

I can't find it now but there's a long thread here about the color of Goose Creek which came up b'c of seeds sent to Adam Gleckler.

A lot of histroy was discussed from the time that Jimmy Williams first talked about it, where he was selling fruits, which was way beofre Laurel got seeds from him to sell plants, as well as his rejected patent application, as well as someone here who also got a plant directly from Laurel.

All to say that if one looks around that there's seeds out there for Goose Creek and some give pink fruits and some give red fruits.

I think what's most important other than color, is what folks think of the variety.

[rnewste]

Carolyn,

I just replied over there, so won't repost again. Was just trying to clear up any confusion. Stay cool over there. Highs here will be 77 all week.

Ray

[sprtsguy76]

Ray didn't we have a conversation last time I was over at your place about your seed source for GC? I could have swore you said your got your CG plants from Cynthia at Love Apple Farm. I must be losing my memory at the ripe age of 34 . Well where ever you got your seeds/plants from, GC is a fabulous variety. Its in been my favorite this year.

Damon

[rnewste]

Originally Posted by sprtsguy76

Ray didn't we have a conversation last time I was over at your place about your seed source for GC? I could have swore you said your got your CG plants from Cynthia at Love Apple Farm.

Nope! My Goose Creek plant source from Laurels was actually Vince, who sent it to me a couple of years ago. Cynthia doesn't grow Goose Creek commercially due to lack of seed availability.

Raybo

[matertoo]

Fantistic looking maters Ray. Keep up the good work.

Happy Matering,

Paul

[feldon30]

I always expect Goose Creek to be pink.

And the flavor profile of what I tasted at Tomatopalooza V was most certainly a pink. I don't know of any red tomatoes that taste like my favorite pink tomatoes (Earl's Faux, Brandywine). But I've only tasted about 150 varieties so far.

[TZ-OH6]

My Goose Creek flavor profile has been quite variable due to ripeness and sun exposure. I have two plants going in different areas and for one I actually spit out bites from a couple of fruits they were so bad, and then I went back a while later to see if it was the plant, and the flavor was outstanding again.


Its easy to see how pink GC could have gotten crossed with a red and passed on.

Of everything I'm growing this year, the flavor of Goose Creek was most similar to a very ripe Prue (red), but I agree that the sweetness is more like alot of pinks.

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by TZ-OH6

My Goose Creek flavor profile has been quite variable due to ripeness and sun exposure. I have two plants going in different areas and for one I actually spit out bites from a couple of fruits they were so bad, and then I went back a while later to see if it was the plant, and the flavor was outstanding again.


Its easy to see how pink GC could have gotten crossed with a red and passed on.

Of everything I'm growing this year, the flavor of Goose Creek was most similar to a very ripe Prue (red), but I agree that the sweetness is more like alot of pinks.

Jimmy Williams was selling the original large pink at Farmer's Markets as I recall, so there are plenty of folks who bought those fruits and saved the seeds.

When Laurel got seeds from Jimmy to offer her exclusive plants there were some who got plants from her initially and the fruits were pink. But eventually she offered red fruited GC plants.

If interested see also the patent application that Williams' submitted and was rejected. I think I linked to it in an above post.

[Ruth_10]

I'm growing Goose Creek for the first time this year (seeds courtesy of Recruiterg).

The Goose Creek I'm growing is a pink, but a fairly "intense" pink, so I can see how there might be some confusion (aside from there being more than one GC out there).

I agree with TZ-OH6, the flavor most resembles that of Prue. I find it a bit more intense than Prue, and much to my liking.

I'm not sure we have the right words to describe that distinctive flavor people have mentioned for Prue and Goose Creek. Ray calls it "earthy." I'd call it almost savory. The Japanese term "umame" has come to mind, too.

Besides Earl's Faux and Brandywine Sudduth, Prue has been another of my "every year" varieties. Added this year are Cowlick's (which I can't really distinguish in any respect from Earl's Faux) and Goose Creek.

Goose Creek is an excellent tomato.

[dokutaaguriin]

I can only wish that the real Goose Creek would show up in my garden. Two straight years of failed germination
and now this:


RED, RED, and RED
They tasted pretty good in my opinion but I want the real deal.
Jeff

[rnewste]

Jeff,

Mine were more of a Cranberry tinge, compared to the ones in your photo.

I've linked up with someone who claims to buy Goose Creek plants directly from Jimmy Williams in the LA area. This "bypasses" Laurel, who seems to have shipped to more than one person, something that was not actually the Goose Creek plants ordered. I am trying to justify a 900 mile round-trip to LA sometime in the Spring to pick up a dozen of the real Goose Creek plants. Dear Wife thinks I am NUTS!

Raybo