Bolseno

J Peazy · April 7, 2012

Did Johnny's discontinue Bolseno? I'm growing it for the first time this year. I got a pack for a buck and now I don't see it on their website.

I read good things about Bolseno online. If it is discontinued, it seems like a shame. Especially when you can go today and buy a flat of some inferior variety at a big home improvement chain store.

travis · April 7, 2012

Yes, it appears Johnny's discontinued Bolseno. It looked last year as if they would, so I bought 100 seeds to put into storage.

gssgarden · April 7, 2012

Bolseno made the cut this year again! Not the biggest fruit but man, ALOT of 'em!
Got it for disease resistance and it did the job. Not much wrong with her at all during the growing season!

Greg

mrdoitall · April 9, 2012

I'm growing this year for the first time. I always grow a few hybrids and lots of OP and heirlooms.

jennifer28 · April 9, 2012

They are listed on ebay for 2.50 for a pack of 25. Ebay can be a gamble, but if you wanted to get a stash you could try this link:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BOLSENO-F1-T...item2c589ee205

I think someone was also offering these for free in the "Seeds for Trade" forum. Maybe look up that post and contact the original poster, but those are probably gone by now.

huntoften · April 9, 2012

They had them on clearance earlier this year. I bought several packages.

gourmetgardener · April 10, 2012

DeRuiter seeds produced it for Johnny's. Paramount seeds sold it also. Geronimo is a good replacement, in my mind slightly superior - also produced by DeRuiter.

http://www.paramountseeds.com/seed-v...mo-tomato.aspx

gssgarden · April 10, 2012

This is a thread from a couple years back about Bolseno.

I have a few seeds left for next year.

http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=11876

gssgarden · July 8, 2012

Just an update on her.

These are the first 4 to be picked with plenty to go! 7 oz, 5.5 oz, 6.5 oz, and 7 oz. All toms on the plant seem to be of that size. Very uniform all though out the plant.

Fruit are nice and firm. Plant looks great. Taste test later!!

Just a solid plant all around. No disease problems, lots of fruit, really pretty tomatoes too, blemish free!

Plant pic doesnt show how many are on because they are a little crowded! lol
The one spot you see on the tom is caused by hail !!

Greg

J Peazy · July 8, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by gssgarden

Just an update on her.

These are the first 4 to be picked with plenty to go! 7 oz, 5.5 oz, 6.5 oz, and 7 oz. All toms on the plant seem to be of that size. Very uniform all though out the plant.

Fruit are nice and firm. Plant looks great. Taste test later!!

Just a solid plant all around. No disease problems, lots of fruit, really pretty tomatoes too, blemish free!

Plant pic doesnt show how many are on because they are a little crowded! lol
The one spot you see on the tom is caused by hail !!

Greg

I have been super-impressed with mine. We have had a two-week stretch of record breaking heat. Though it wasn't marketed as a heat set tomato it has performed well. It has dropped no blossoms that I can see (I only planted 1). The fruit size has gotten smaller though.

The only thing I didn't like about it was huge locules and tons of seeds. Tasted good anyway.

It crosses easily too - even for amatures like me. I did reciprocal crosses with a commercially available heat set hybrid. The other plant didn't take pollen nearly as well and dropped quite a few crossed blossoms, though it may be a pollen viability issue with the heat.

Can't wait for the F1 results!

Structure · July 10, 2012

I have two this year. One growing in an Earthtainer is producing. The other three plants grown in the same location are all down with TSWV. The Bolseno isn't doing great, but at least it's producing and surviving. Fruit is tart and skins thick, but still a nice tomato.

The other plant is in the community garden and started much later. No ripe fruit yet. It appears to be in much better shape. Perhaps the TSWV "tolerance" difference?

I stocked up on several seed packets so hopefully I'll have it for a few years. Having a decent TSWV tolerant plant is a nice back up!

July 12, 2012

I believe I bought a couple hundred seed last year when I thought it would be discontinued. I grew two plants this year with very good results. I am not planning on growing them next year, but will some time in the future. My intent for the excess seed was to possibly trade for some varieties I may want and to give most away to folks who want it but have nothing to trade. Unfortunately it is a hybrid so when this seed is gone, it is possible no more will be available. I will post in the seed trade forum later this year.

Ted

gssgarden · August 10, 2014

Just a note. She's the best producer this year......again! It was one of the first to give me a ripe one, and still giving me a few every few days!

Need more seed for next year!

Greg

greyghost · August 10, 2014

Greg, Johnny's did bring back Bolseno F1 seeds this last year. (Think I remember reading in their catalog that this was due to customer requests).
Only 15 seeds in the packet, though.

Sun City Linda · August 10, 2014

Yes indeed, Johnnys did bring it back. My experience with Bolseno is it is very heat tolerant it has never stopped setting although it did slow down. My plant is from Summer of 2013, it overwintered under cover of my patio and took off again this Spring. Very productive, nice tart taste in a smallish red tomato. It seems to survive everything - I think it may be indestructible!

April 7, 2012	#1
J Peazy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2011 Location: Tennessee Posts: 85	Bolseno Did Johnny's discontinue Bolseno? I'm growing it for the first time this year. I got a pack for a buck and now I don't see it on their website. I read good things about Bolseno online. If it is discontinued, it seems like a shame. Especially when you can go today and buy a flat of some inferior variety at a big home improvement chain store.

April 9, 2012	#6
huntoften Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Kansas CIty Posts: 560	They had them on clearance earlier this year. I bought several packages. __________________ Kansas City, Missouri Zone 5b/6a

April 7, 2012	#2
travis Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 2,984	Yes, it appears Johnny's discontinued Bolseno. It looked last year as if they would, so I bought 100 seeds to put into storage.

April 7, 2012	#3
gssgarden Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: N.C. Posts: 1,827	Bolseno made the cut this year again! Not the biggest fruit but man, ALOT of 'em! Got it for disease resistance and it did the job. Not much wrong with her at all during the growing season! Greg

April 9, 2012	#4
mrdoitall Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Alabama Posts: 185	I'm growing this year for the first time. I always grow a few hybrids and lots of OP and heirlooms.

April 9, 2012	#5
jennifer28 Two-faced Drama Queen Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Bellevue Psychiatric Hospital Posts: 955	They are listed on ebay for 2.50 for a pack of 25. Ebay can be a gamble, but if you wanted to get a stash you could try this link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/BOLSENO-F1-T...item2c589ee205 I think someone was also offering these for free in the "Seeds for Trade" forum. Maybe look up that post and contact the original poster, but those are probably gone by now.

April 10, 2012	#7
gourmetgardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Canada (Zone 6b) Posts: 119	DeRuiter seeds produced it for Johnny's. Paramount seeds sold it also. Geronimo is a good replacement, in my mind slightly superior - also produced by DeRuiter. http://www.paramountseeds.com/seed-v...mo-tomato.aspx

July 10, 2012	#11
Structure Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: SLO, CA Posts: 99	I have two this year. One growing in an Earthtainer is producing. The other three plants grown in the same location are all down with TSWV. The Bolseno isn't doing great, but at least it's producing and surviving. Fruit is tart and skins thick, but still a nice tomato. The other plant is in the community garden and started much later. No ripe fruit yet. It appears to be in much better shape. Perhaps the TSWV "tolerance" difference? I stocked up on several seed packets so hopefully I'll have it for a few years. Having a decent TSWV tolerant plant is a nice back up!

July 12, 2012	#12
tedln Guest Posts: n/a	I believe I bought a couple hundred seed last year when I thought it would be discontinued. I grew two plants this year with very good results. I am not planning on growing them next year, but will some time in the future. My intent for the excess seed was to possibly trade for some varieties I may want and to give most away to folks who want it but have nothing to trade. Unfortunately it is a hybrid so when this seed is gone, it is possible no more will be available. I will post in the seed trade forum later this year. Ted

August 10, 2014	#13
gssgarden Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: N.C. Posts: 1,827	Just a note. She's the best producer this year......again! It was one of the first to give me a ripe one, and still giving me a few every few days! Need more seed for next year! Greg

August 10, 2014	#14
greyghost Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: southeastern PA Posts: 760	Greg, Johnny's did bring back Bolseno F1 seeds this last year. (Think I remember reading in their catalog that this was due to customer requests). Only 15 seeds in the packet, though.

August 10, 2014	#15
Sun City Linda Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: SoCal Inland Posts: 2,705	Yes indeed, Johnnys did bring it back. My experience with Bolseno is it is very heat tolerant it has never stopped setting although it did slow down. My plant is from Summer of 2013, it overwintered under cover of my patio and took off again this Spring. Very productive, nice tart taste in a smallish red tomato. It seems to survive everything - I think it may be indestructible!