I picked this yesterday

[vagardener434]

This came out of my greenhouse yesterday. 1lb 7 oz. I don't really know the variety. What the seed pack showed was Marglobe, but none of the 14 plants from that pack looked anything like a Marglobe. I had the same problem with those seeds from another pack in my garden last year. I ended up throwing 3 packs of seed away cuz I didn't like the growth pattern, and the overall production.

This looks like a Brandywine to me, kind of a cross between a pink and red. I posted the link to the videos of my greenhouse in the Undercover Gardening section, figuring a GH was under cover. I followed the growth of these maters in the videos from about mid Dec. Maybe somebody more knowledgeable than me can watch the videos and figure out what it is? Large ribbed, PL.....but not all the vines from that pack were ribbed. Some were very smooth, and pink. Skin was very thin, it sliced well and made some great mater sandwiches.

[kath]

It's really pretty...and big for a greenhouse tomato in Feb.! Sorry, I can't help with ID, but I was wondering if you saved some seeds from this fruit or if the growth pattern and production were so poor that it you wouldn't grow it again anyway?

[vagardener434]

I did save some seeds Kath. I have them in a small glass dish on top of the fridge. I'm doing the 3 day ferment deal.

I planted this particular seed, from other packs, in the gardens last year. I started so many, that I had hundreds of plants to give away. I didn't here anything good about them. The one old guy up the road a little told me I had given him Beefsteaks. I said "No way"..cuz I had only started a few beefsteaks, and they were kept separate. I did a ton of "Marglobes" because of their clean shape and good canning. Later in the season, he said he was having trouble setting fruit. Only had a few at the bottom, then a ton of blossoms, but no fruit. Mine in the garden did the same. I thought it was the soil, cuz the Rutgers in the other garden were doing great.

Well, when I started plants for the GH, I opened another pack of "Marglobe" and some more Rutgers. This was late Sept/early Oct...I don't remember exactly. At that time, I still had not put 2 and 2 together. I was just beginning to learn more about ind & det, and the various varieties.

As the GH progressed, I was learning more and more, reading and watching videos all the time. I realized I was in trouble cuz they were both ind's and I hadn't factored in the increasing height of the plants. In the garden, they just bushed out, got a foot or so above the cages and fell back.The max height on the first row is about 8 feet, and the inside row about 8 1/2. I learned about pruning and stringing, and have them running up pretty good now. I also have enough string to where I can drop them down the commercial way if needed. I dont know how the cages will affect that, but if its a problem, it'll definitely be operator error and I'll know better next time.

The "Marglobe" in the GH did the same as the ones in the gardens. It was a totally mislabeled batch of seed. They set fruit at the bottom, and then did nothing, just bushing out with lots of skinny stemmed suckers. I did have an issue with blossom drop on both varieties early on, but the Rutgers picked right back up, and the "Marglobe" didn't. I finally put 2 and 2 together, understood what had happened, and felt pretty darn stupid. Kinda like that saying, " doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.." I had probably used 4 different packs of that "Marglobe" seeds from Southern States. I was NOT going to get anything different than what I had seen earlier in the year.

I decided to cut my losses and top all of these plants. My thought was to let them finish the lower fruit and then I'd get rid of them. A few of the "Marglobe" made really nice maters, as noted by the one above. About half were that ribbed look, with some really ugly shapes, and half were fairly smooth. They all have had a great taste, not too acidic, kinda sweet, thin skinned, with a little cracking if they got over ripe. I will get this seed dried and replanted as soon as possible, and will also take seeds from one of the smooth ones, and do the same. I don't know that its worth the effort, but I'd like to see how the fruit turns out in relation to the parents. It makes no sense to me how any type of tomato would produce a first cluster, then go pretty much sterile, but thats what they did. I have a couple of plants that have decided to make some nice blossom clusters after topping, so I'll see what happens with them before I pull them up.

In the meantime, I'm just gonna call this a Brandywine, cuz that's what it favors most, at least from what little bit I know.

Bobby

[erlyberd]

Just do us all a favor and note to yourself that it is (not true) BW or something to that affect so you don't trade it with someone etc. The African Violet Society of America has the same problem with so many varieties. Once the name is lost, or your uncertain what it is there is no telling. It then becomes a no-name (or noid) as in a no-name grocery store african violet. That said, My club would look at a picture in a book and compare a no-name plant to the pic to get an id and then name it accordingly. I'm no longer a member, needless to say. We owe it to ourselves to keep the stock pure for future generations.

[vagardener434]

Dear Mrs. Earlybird, thank you for your reply. Also, being that I'm new here and we haven't been introduced, thanks for the warm welcome. This is a very informative site and I have much to learn.

After reading your reply several times, trying to understand your intentions, let me attempt to ease your concerns. First off, I'm flattered that you feel like someone may be interested in actually trading mater seeds with me. It was a beautiful specimen, and if I personally had an opportunity to obtain seeds from a large vegetable such as this, I'd probably jump at it.

When I made the statement "call this a BW", that was for my own purposes. It sounds better than "non-Marglobe".

True story...when I was in school, we had to do an insect collection. Being from the country, I had an advantage over those city kids. I turned in the finest bug collection the teacher had ever seen. But, there was one problem. I had found a very large beetle-type bug that I could find no definitive name for. It had characteristics of several others pictures, but was also different. Rather than name this bug something that I knew it wasn't, I just labeled it "BUG". I received a 99 for that project. The teacher deducted 1 point for having an unidentified bug. I would have gotten a 100 had I chosen to remove the "BUG". But given the fact that it was so different, I wanted to share it with the class. Much like that larger red tomato pictured above. You see, even back then, I refused to officially give something a name that I knew it wasn't.

Also, regarding your current health. And yes, I do read the other threads, that's why I'm here, to learn. True story...My daughter began having seizures at a very early age. We think as a result of a vaccine. World reknowned pediactric neurologists at Duke University said for us to enjoy her, give her everything we could, cuz she wasn't likely to make it past the age of 10. None of the other children that fit her case profile had made it that far. Well, many years later, our "little girl" still has seizures daily and functions on a child level. However, she will be 21 years old this June. Doctors and medicine do NOT determine whether someone lives or dies. Only God and the indivdual make that decision. Good luck with your recovery, I will have you in my prayers.

Bobby

PS...If someone does decide that they would like a few seeds to try to duplicate that big 'ol mater, I will be absolutely sure to make them aware of the fact that I can not say for certain what variety it is.

[JLJ_]

Originally Posted by vagardener434

A few of the "Marglobe" made really nice maters, as noted by the one above. About half were that ribbed look, with some really ugly shapes, and half were fairly smooth. They all have had a great taste, not too acidic, kinda sweet, thin skinned, with a little cracking if they got over ripe. I will get this seed dried and replanted as soon as possible, and will also take seeds from one of the smooth ones, and do the same.

Just wondered whether you did grow out your Apparently-Not-Marglobes and if so, what kind of results you got. That is, whether the seeds produced Marglobes, suggesting that the odd fruit may have been something environmental, or if the seeds produced more odd fruit.

I have had some odd looking Marglobes at times -- but not *all* the produce of a plant was odd, and the first fruits were most likely to be, er, innovative.

Also wondered -- did you tell your seed source about your odd results to see whether they were aware of any problem with that batch of seed?

[vagardener434]

Yes, I planted those saved seeds. They produced identical to the original plants. If was a potato leaf variety, with large red fruit... my guess is Brandywine. The plants themselves weren't overly productive, so I didn't grow them this year.

I did speak with the fella at the feed store about the mix ups. He was not surprised. Seems they get a lot of that. I'm guessing it happens more than is reported because a lot of people have no idea what they are buying in the first place. Unless its a hybrid, I save my own seeds now so that I know for sure what I'm planting.

[erlyberd]

Vagardener, awesome story. Reminds me of a botany course I once had, with the upper hand and all being a true lover of plants and nature in general. The professor was keeping my locally collected samples for his private collection! He came in from out of state just to teach the class. I assume the Mrs. part comes from being involved with african violets or something? LOL...In the early days av clubs were pretty much exclusive to women from my understanding. We'll let it slide for now but it is Mr. Erlyberd after all. No offense taken. Mighty thick skin with head of concrete!I think the concrete part is starting to harden from the added moisture from my tear ducts after your last paragraph. I'm sure she is special and I'd name that noid of yours after yourself...One in a Million!

[vagardener434]

Thanks Mr. erlybrd, my apologies on the gender mistake. Thick skin is a necessity these days. It's difficult to see thru the black and white print and discern the thought process behind a specific quote.

As for my daughter, her name is Melissa. She is truly an angel from heaven. I accepted her condition long, long ago. Why she is the way she is I have no idea. But, it is not for me to understand. I am comfortable with the fact that everything has a purpose, and there's a purpose for everything. If the faith is strong, you will always find the good in a given situation. One hug from that little girl and you'd know what I mean.

Those uh...noids...are some darn good tasting maters. I've got seeds saving now, so I will definitely try again. And as for a name, I think Melissa sounds just fine

[erlyberd]

Now why is it my paragraphs fail to post as spaced?