Member discussion regarding the methods, varieties and merits of growing tomatoes.
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June 3, 2006 | #1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 99
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OP or hybrids?
I grabbed some commercial seed this year thinking I was buying OP's, now I'm not so sure. Aside from my heirlooms, I've got San Marzano, Beefsteak, Delicious, Sugarlump, Super Marmande, and Rutgers. Are any of these open-pollinated? Anyone care to rate them? I get the impression that Rutgers is good tasting but nothing outstanding. I was pretty fond of some Beefsteaks I bought as plants last year. I haven't tried any of the others.
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Dave |
June 3, 2006 | #2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: zone 7b/8a SE VA
Posts: 268
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Beefsteak, Sugar Lump (aka Gardener's Delight) and Super Marmande are OP as well. Of course the seed companies don't want you to know that.
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-Martha SE VA |
June 3, 2006 | #3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 99
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That was what I first thought, partly because they've all been around awhile, and partly because none said "hybrid" or F1. I gather those criteria don't always add up, though.
It'll be interesting to see how any of these stack up to the other heirlooms this year! (assuming I get any fruit with this hot weather!)
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Dave |
June 3, 2006 | #4 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Rock Hill, SC
Posts: 5,346
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I know there are both hybrid AND op versions of San Marzano and Rutgers.
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June 3, 2006 | #5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: NE Kingdom, VT - Zone 3b
Posts: 1,439
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There is NO hybrid Rutgers varieties. That is fact.
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June 3, 2006 | #6 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: NE Kingdom, VT - Zone 3b
Posts: 1,439
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Sorry, I meant to say "variety" as there is only one variety of Rutgers, with numerous "selections".
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June 3, 2006 | #7 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Texas
Posts: 3,027
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Quote:
Agreed on the San Marzano. |
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June 3, 2006 | #8 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Texas
Posts: 3,027
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Peppereater, care to list seed your seed sources for each one? That might help us to narrow it down.
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June 3, 2006 | #9 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 99
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Suze...some were Burpee, a name I thought I could trust, as they've been around for some time. Others were cheap, off-the-rack stuff. Until I started reading on this forum, I thought that the big issue was germination rates of seed, not whether seed was reliable as true to it's namesake.
I've had good luck with cheap seed for tomatoes and other crops germinating in years past, and I had 100 percent germination with most of my tomatoes year after year, whether ordered or purchased at Wally World, Lowe's or wherever...I decided not to order seed this year, as I was getting some from growers, and purchasing Burpee's Heirloom and others locally, as well as some I thought were heirlooms like those listed above. I guess there's no point saving seed from a lot of the tom's I'm growing this year! My first year I'm going to try saving seed, so I'll concentrate on "known" varieties. What about the Bonnie's Brand Arkansas Traveler I purchased as a plant? It was labeled as heirloom, but are their plants reliably what they're labeled? I'd hate to do any seed swapping and send off disreputable seed.
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Dave |
June 3, 2006 | #10 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Rock Hill, SC
Posts: 5,346
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Guess I was mistaken then!
You so rarely see OP varieties mention disease resistance. |
June 3, 2006 | #11 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Middle Georgia
Posts: 241
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Pepper Eater,
My website www.tomatoindex.com lists data on these tomatoes, and when you taste one you can be the first to rate it for me. Thanks, Tim
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Visit my site: tomatoindex.com a database of over 2700 varieties. Vote for your favorite. |
June 3, 2006 | #12 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 99
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Quote:
Boy, I could ask lots of questions, but I'll keep exploring the site before I do. Thanks for everyone's input so far, these discussions are great!
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Dave |
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June 3, 2006 | #13 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Texas
Posts: 3,027
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Quote:
Children play with labels, folks pop them out to look at the rootball of the plant, etc. In general, I think it's a good idea for folks to have an idea beforehand of what to expect from varieties they are growing as to leaf type, fruit color/size/shape, etc. PlantFiles is a resource I use occasionally. And of course, there are the seed websites. For example, Arkansas Traveler-- http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/568/index.html (I think you can do ten searches per day as a non-subscriber.) |
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June 3, 2006 | #14 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Texas
Posts: 3,027
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Quote:
Mortgage Lifter VFN is another example of an OP variety with certified tolerances. There are a handful of others, but I don't recall what they are off of the top of my head. |
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June 4, 2006 | #15 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Oz
Posts: 1,241
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Where are you getting all the info for your website Tim. You sure are getting a lot of varieties in there.
I look forward to adding my comments in about 6 months |
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