Tomato Information sheet?

[cdntomato]

I would appreciate comments on the following document compiled and distributed as part of a SODC tomato project.

http://www.seeds.ca/proj/tomato/Desc_Tomato_EN.pdf


Thanks,
Jennifer, who is reserving her comments at present :wink:

[carolyn137]

Jennifer, there are a lots of observational data asked for that I don't like and some that isn't asked.

Do you really want me to go thru all of this here?

Tomato color ( peel) is a good example.

The color of a tomato is a composite of skin ( epidermis color) plus interior flesh color.

So what is peel? If it's what they show as a window with a flap hanging off them that looks like epidermis to me, and thus the colors offered are way off base.

And what is the purpose of this questionnaire?

How do they expect casual backyard gardeners to make disease diagnoses?

Well here I go on and on and I'd better stop and not comment about fruit shape, DTM as compared with the "tomatoes you normally grow" which means ??? and so much more that doesn't make sense to me.

[cdntomato]

Carolyn, thanks for replying. I feel that I am much too critical of SODC initiatives to fairly review this document solo.

This is the information sheet to be used by SODC members when they are characterizing a particular variety for a PGRC grow-out and return deposit. It's a PRGC-SODC cooperative driven primary by SODC. The primary project right now is Canadian tomatoes.

I am in a position to provide feedback to PGRC on it and thought that the best way to do so would be to solicit comments from others to flesh out, complement and perhaps balance mine.

Thanks for any further thoughts.

Jennifer, who uses a simplied version of the latest USDA form

[Tomstrees]

Jennifer ,

Pretty funny because I have one for my family / friends thats kind of similar -
but this is just for the "back-yard" gardener ~

Tomato Grow Out : Spring - Summer 2006



Participants Name:
_____________________________________



Participants Variety ____________________________________





What Zone are you in? __________________________


Plant Location:


Pot:__________________________

Ground: ______________________



Plant Out Date: ____________________________________



Are you staking or caging your variety: _______________________________


Hours of sun-light plant receives: ________________________________________


Watering Regiment: Daily:________________________________

Weekly_______________________________

Are you pruning your variety?

Yes_______________________

No _______________________







Are you using any kind of fertilizer?
Yes_______________________
_____________________
No _______________________

(if Yes what are you using?

____________________

______________________

______________________

Are you using any kind of mulch to retain water?

Yes_______________________
No _______________________
(if Yes what are you using?
_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________


What date did your tomato plant first show signs of flowers?

Date______________________________


Did you know that by "flicking blossoms" you can polinate your tomatoes faster?

Yes _____________ No ________________

Did you flick your blossoms?
Yes _____________ No _______________

What date did you pick your first ripe or almost ripe tomato?

Date_______________________________

What color / shape is your ripe tomato variety when picked?


__________________________________________________ _____________________________


__________________________________________________ _____________________________



Is your plant? Large __________
Medium ___________ Small ____________




Did the tomato grow "true to type"? ( leaf type, size, color etc.?)


__________________________________________________ ______________________________

__________________________________________________ _____________________________

__________________________________________________ ______________________________



How would you describe the Yield of this variety:


Low _____________
Medium ____________________
High ______________________________



How many tomatoes did you harvest from late Spring to Fall?

__________________________________________________ _____________________________

__________________________________________________ _____________________________



What was the last date you harvested a fruit from your variety?


__________________________________________________ ______________________________



What did you like / dislike about this variety? (Taste, aroma, texture, seeds, color, etc.)



__________________________________________________ _____________________________


Would you Grow this Variety again?

Yes_______________________

No _______________________


If no please explain why:

__________________________________________________ _____________________________

__________________________________________________ _____________________________

__________________________________________________ ______________________________

__________________________________________________ _____________________________

__________________________________________________ _____________________________





How did you primarily use this variety of tomato?
( Check as many as applicable )

Slices for sandwiches ___________________________

Mostly for Salads / Salsa _________________________________________

For a Hearty Marinara __________________________________

As an ingredient in a dish ________________________________________

Other (Please Describe)

__________________________________________________ ___________________________



JUST SOMETHING FUN YOU KNOW ?
THIS WAY I CAN GROW OUT TWICE AS MANY
VARIETIES - AND SEE WHATS WHAT !
~ TOM

[travis]

"Tomato color ( peel) is a good example. The color of a tomato is a composite of skin ( epidermis color) plus interior flesh color. So what is peel? If it's what they show as a window with a flap hanging off them that looks like epidermis to me, and thus the colors offered are way off base." [Carolyn]

Carolyn,

That was my first impression, too. You know, clear or yellow skin.

But after lookin' at the questionaire again, I realized it was more an illustrator's misrepresentation or misunderstanding. (Either way, it falls back on the editor.) I'm sure what they mean to ask is "what color does the exterior of the fruit appear to be?" With the multiple choice answers being: red, yellow, pink, green, etc.?

PV

[cdntomato]

Tom, that's impressive! Thanks for sharing; it's always helpful to learn what info is deemed important to record.

Papa Vic, that might have been a plausible premise if, prior to this document's publication, I hadn't:

a) encouraged the persons involved to actually read their copies of Carolyn's book to confirm and fully describe skin colouration, etc.--my word being insufficient, which is fair enough.

b) forwarded a copy of USDA's revised form for characterization (now implemented); pointed out options available from other major institutes so as not to reinvent the wheel.

I have also discussed, ad nauseum, the need for rugosa foliage to be clearly identified. Many genebanks have lumped this into the potato leaf group--very frustrating for us dwarf-lovers.

Another concern: New Big Dwarf and other tree-types do not qualify as a dwarfs/dwarves under this SODC scheme.

Jennifer

[clay199]

J,
If one looks at some of the descriptions in the PGRC site, especially older entries one notices that there is a lot of the same information as in the SODC/PGRC information sheet.

I suspect that someone just copied off an old form, likely set up by some silly grad student long ago and used that instead of using simple, easy relevant information.

Encourage Dallas to use easier forms.

How come you didn't ask me? lol

[cdntomato]

How come you didn't ask me?

Two papers and an exam, is why. How'd they go?

Thanks for the PGRC insight. I'll check it out.
You see why I need to ask others for input?

Jennifer, who warns Clay that the 'silly grad student' comment may come back to haunt him... :wink:

[Emaewest]

Jennifer: this is O/T, but, I'm curious: what are you studying? I'm sure you've mentioned it before, but I missed it.

[clay199]

J,
That was two exams and a oral presentation.

89's.

and another test this week, and another one next week, and two major papers due 2 weeks and three weeks hence.
Life will resume in 39 days.

[cdntomato]

Rhonda, as you can see, Clay is the brainiac in school. Psych major. I'm his fave case study.

Trying to out-INTP an INTP, Clay? Well done!

Jennifer, on extended sabbatical from uni due to poverty