Blue Ridge Mountain

[Mark0820]

During the next month or so, I will be finalizing my 2011 list. I like to try new varieties and found a pink variety called Blue Ridge Mountain. It sounds good from the description (but don't they all). Has anyone tried it? How does it compare to other pink varieties or any variety? Any comments about it? I have limited growing space, so I like to get as much information about a variety before I use the space to try it.

[OneoftheEarls]

http://tatianastomatobase.com/wiki/Blue_Ridge_Mountain

[barkeater]

Sounds to me like a renamed variety from the SSE description.

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by barkeater

Sounds to me like a renamed variety from the SSE description.

SSE description:

my words at first, lg pink PL variety, well, I see that what I was going to copy Tania already has at the link given to you.

I grew it many years ago, but so help me I can't remember it at all. Sorry.

Bark, why do you suggest a renamed variety? It was first listed in the late 80's and has been listed that way as long as I know.

[barkeater]

Hi Carolyn!

From SSE:

History

• First showed up in the 1987 SSE yearbook - listed by IN DU L (Lloyd Duggins) as 90 days, medium sized vine, 2-3 inch dia pink fruit, great flavor, from a lady in South Carolina who got it from a lady in the Blue Ridge Mountain region of North Carolina.

Sorry, maybe I have gotten a little more ornery and skeptical in my old age but just because someone saved seed from a pack and kept growing it doesn't make it a new variety. A big pink tomato from the Blue Ridge Mountains? Gee,what are the chances it is German Johnson, Hillbilly, or Mortage Lifter renamed?

[OneoftheEarls]

A big pink tomato from the Blue Ridge Mountains? Gee,what are the chances it is German Johnson, Hillbilly, or Mortage Lifter renamed?

point agreed upon...

Earl

[Mark0820]

Originally Posted by barkeater

Hi Carolyn!

From SSE:

History

• First showed up in the 1987 SSE yearbook - listed by IN DU L (Lloyd Duggins) as 90 days, medium sized vine, 2-3 inch dia pink fruit, great flavor, from a lady in South Carolina who got it from a lady in the Blue Ridge Mountain region of North Carolina.

Sorry, maybe I have gotten a little more ornery and skeptical in my old age but just because someone saved seed from a pack and kept growing it doesn't make it a new variety. A big pink tomato from the Blue Ridge Mountains? Gee,what are the chances it is German Johnson, Hillbilly, or Mortage Lifter renamed?

There was something about that in Tatiana's tomatobase:

• First showed up in the 1987 SSE yearbook - listed by IN DU L (Lloyd Duggins) as 90 days, medium sized vine, 2-3 inch dia pink fruit, great flavor, from a lady in South Carolina who got it from a lady in the Blue Ridge Mountain region of North Carolina. Then, in 1989, a second person lists it as a 4 inch pink with PL foliage. So, there is variability in size, and at least one listing it as PL. By 2000, there are many listers, and pretty much everyone describes it as a 4 inch dia. pink PL variety - so perhaps Mr. Duggins was just incomplete on his listing.

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by barkeater

Hi Carolyn!

From SSE:

History

• First showed up in the 1987 SSE yearbook - listed by IN DU L (Lloyd Duggins) as 90 days, medium sized vine, 2-3 inch dia pink fruit, great flavor, from a lady in South Carolina who got it from a lady in the Blue Ridge Mountain region of North Carolina.

Sorry, maybe I have gotten a little more ornery and skeptical in my old age but just because someone saved seed from a pack and kept growing it doesn't make it a new variety. A big pink tomato from the Blue Ridge Mountains? Gee,what are the chances it is German Johnson, Hillbilly, or Mortage Lifter renamed?

Now I'm the one at sea.

Where does it say anywhere in that blurb from the Yearbook that anyone saved seeds from a PACK and kept growing it? Or that it makes it a new variety?

What am I missing?

For sure there are lots of varieties that once had a name, the name has been forgotten and then renamed. One example is a variety that was sent to me as Jean's Prize where the person who sent it to me even said it probably was a rename of a variety.

Was the variety Mikado renamed Brandywine?

http://tatianastomatobase.com/wiki/Mikado

Just some food for thought and there's lots of info about some other varieties that could have been renamed Brandywine, or Red Brandywine as well. Just for the curious amongst us you can also read Craig 's article about various Brandywines and friends at Victory Seeds as well.

http://www.victoryseeds.com/informat...randywine.html

Just think of all the varieties introduced by so many companies in the late 1800's to early 20's and there's lots of possibilities for those that were once grown and liked and seeds saved and names forgotten as time passed on.

There's more info in the Legacy Forum here about varieties that once were but no longer are.

[carolyn137]

Sorry Mark but I didn't see your above post before I started on mine and I spent time fetching links to put in mine which took more time.

[Mark0820]

Originally Posted by carolyn137

Sorry Mark but I didn't see your above post before I started on mine and I spent time fetching links to put in mine which took more time.

No problem. The information you provided is different than what I included. The more information, the better.

[TZ-OH6]

I grew it this year (seeds from a trade).

It was a 1 lb pink potatoleaf with very good flavor on the sweet side. I tried to compare it to Olena Ukranian, Julia Childs, Soldacki, and some others this year, but while BRM did very well the flavor and texture for many of the others was off, screwing up my comparisons. I would say flavor is similar to Mariannas Peace (in my garden).

It is listed at 85 DTM, but I had alot of things come in early this year thanks to a week long heatwave in July, including BRM at 65 days.

[Mark0820]

Originally Posted by TZ-OH6

I grew it this year (seeds from a trade).

It was a 1 lb pink potatoleaf with very good flavor on the sweet side. I tried to compare it to Olena Ukranian, Julia Childs, Soldacki, and some others this year, but while BRM did very well the flavor and texture for many of the others was off, screwing up my comparisons. I would say flavor is similar to Mariannas Peace (in my garden).

It is listed at 85 DTM, but I had alot of things come in early this year thanks to a week long heatwave in July, including BRM at 65 days.

It's good to know BRM grows well in Ohio. Have you grown Kosovo before? I am curious how BRM stacks up to Kosovo. I will probably plant one of these two (leaning toward BRM).

[TZ-OH6]

I can't really tell anyone not to grow Kosovo. It is very good, fairly early and productive. Its difficult to compare hearts to beefsteaks. Grow both on stakes and and prune to a single stem to save space.

[BigBrownDogHouse]

I'm growing this variety for the first time and I am really excited about it.
However, I'm a bit stumped.

My plant is huge, 8 feet at the time, which I have read on many sites the BRM has the ability to be GIGANTIC! It was planted around Memorial Day and planted very deep. It is the "Redwood" of my backyard tomato garden.

However, it doesn't have a Potato Leaf.

The leaves are big, lush-dark green(especially at the bottom of the plant) but basically, I think, look normal shaped.

I'm firing up my other computer which has the picture program and I am hoping to figure out how to download some pictures to this site. That computer takes time so bear with me and I also have to run out this morning for a while.

I read on gardenweb(which states Carolyn wrote most of the article) that Potato Leafs can vary. I hope that is the case. I'm hoping it is what you called a Roguse leaf. I'm learning.....

Carolyn, are you out there? I hope I can upload some photos. I'm excited about this plant. It's producing like crazy and looks as healthy as can be. The bottom leaves are so thick and sturdy I think I could use one for a hammock.

I just hope it's legit.

Thanks so much for any help!

[Mark0820]

I'll be interested in seeing your photos. I am growing it for the first time this year and my one plant is PL. Given that seeds for some tomato varieties aren't always the correct seed, I wouldn't necessarily assume I have the correct seed.