2013 Bwaynef Grow List

[bwaynef]

This year I'm trying something new. Basically, I'm crowd-sourcing the renewal of my seeds since a lot of what I have are older or in pretty limited supply.

First, what I'm growing in my yard:

Olena Ukrainian
Black Krim
Neves Azorean Red
KBX
Pink Berkeley Tie-Dye
Porter 'Charles Herring'
Pervaya Lyubov**
Big Beef F1
Cherokee Purple***
Arkansas Traveler
Jaune Flamme
**Still waiting on this one to arrive
***Consider replacing this. (Marianna's Peace or Belmonte)

It wasn't hard to find local friends willing to be given free heirloom tomato plants. The catch was that they give me a tomato or 2 from what grows throughout the year ...and I'll save the seeds from them. Here's the list I've come up with based on their input:
#1
Jaune Flamme
Casino Chips
Marglobe Supreme
Stump of the World
Beauty King
#2
Black from Tula
Japanese Trifele Black
Garden Peach
Kellogg's Breakfast
#3
Lyuda's Mom's Lg. Red Ukrainian
Aunt Ruby's German Green
Green Zebra
White Wonder
Brandywine OTV
Brandywine Red 'Landis'
#4
Gary O'Sena
Big Beef OP
Homestead
Prudens Purple
#5
Weisnicht's Ukr.
German Johnson
Hillbilly
Razzleberry OP
Austin's Black Cherry
Virginia Sweets
Tiny Tim
Uncle Charlie's Sweet 100s
#6
Big Beef F1
Moneymaker
Beefsteak
Mortgage Lifter 'Estler'
Rutgers
#7
Opalka
San Marzano
Marglobe Supreme
Yellow Wonder
Costoluto Genovese
#8
Green Giant
Yellow Pear Cherry **Double-check this**
Red Cherry Tomato
#9
Sekai Ichi
Marianna's Peace
Black from Tula


I tried to limit overlapping varieties between people (and myself) to maximize the help I was able to crowd source. My favorite folks were the ones that said, "Surprise me".

I'm a little late getting everything started, but plan to plant tonight. (I've been waiting on my peppers to come up and trying to get feedback from my participants.)

[kath]

Very creative way to overcome lack of space issues and reduce your work load at the same time. Just hope they have enough skill to allow the plants to survive long enough for you to get your seeds. Best of luck!

kath

[bwaynef]

I got them all planted this afternoon. Couldn't find 1 variety that I thought I had, but after searching through my records turns out I never received it. I'm still waiting on Carolyn's offer to arrive and will get them started as soon as they're here.

I figure, at 100% germination, I'll have 180 plants. I planted 3 of each variety so I (or they) will have a backup. Some of the older ones I planted 6, and one that was particularly old got 9. They're sitting on a heat mat waiting to do their thing.

[GnomeGrown]

Nice lists, bwaynef.

[Mlm1]

bwaynef, that is a very clever way to get information on multiple varieties. I also give away all my extras (usually about 5 to 600 plants) to friends, colleagues, etc and many of them are very good about reporting back on their opinion of a variety and often they bring me tomatoes from their garden. The only problem I have with not growing them myself is that when they are not grown under the same conditions I believe the flavor can vary. I think there are many factors (mostly unknown) that contribute to flavor. I believe there are many tomato varieties that have the potential to be very tasty and there are some that have the potential to be outstanding. As an example, in 2010 and 2111 Mullen's mortgage lifter was absolutely delicious. Even with 80 to 90 other varieties to pick from I always chose Mullen's for my meal. Last year it was good but not great. I will continue to grow Mullen's because I know it has the potential to be great. I would not have been able to discern that from the feedback I get from others.
Marla