Portugese Monster

Mantis · November 30, 2006

Here is the first pic of PM. It has the wispy foliage common to hearts. It has one fruit on that is slightly heart shaped but that might be pushing it.

**Patrina_Pepperina** · November 30, 2006

My plant is only about 8 inches tall but the foliage looks the same as yours Mantis.

PP

Grub · November 30, 2006

Ditto, except mine's half the size of Mantis's, ie, 12in.

Question: Do large fruits come from plants with wispy foliage? Considering my Wes, I would yes.

Tomstrees · November 30, 2006

Glad you posted this
one Mantis ... I knew it was RL
but wanted to see some grow out pics ...
It is red right ?

Looks great so far ~ please take
pics of ripe maters, and report flav ...

Waxer

**carolyn137** · November 30, 2006

Question: Do large fruits come from plants with wispy foliage? Considering my Wes, I would yes.

Grub, in my experience there seems to be a genetic association between wispy droopy leaves and heart shaped fruits, or fruits that are almost hearts, such as Matt D imperio and Prue, but the association is not air tight and I have grown heart shaped varieties that didn't have that wispy droopy foliage, but would have to try and remember what those were if asked.

Maybe better to let others chime in on RL non droopy wispy foliage than rely on my mind, said Carolyn, worrying about the glass shards that might be in the big bag of cat food when the glass I use to scoop out food broke. Frieda is now sifting thru cat food for me.

michael johnson · November 30, 2006

The original tomatoes were a sort of Bronzy red, and globe shaped slightly flattened at the bottom because of the weight of the tomato squashing itself on a flat surface, right in the center at the middle of the base was a sort of belly button hole that was quite deep.

None of the fruit appeared to be heart shaped at all -when full size.

When I say the color was a sort of Bronzy red, it was more bronzy on the top half shading to a sort of brick red for the rest of it.

I notice that you are growing several stems off it, when I get around to starting mine off in mid february- I shall only grow it single stem, well staked with a very strong stake, and probably wont see any big ones develop until about the third truss has formed and the plant gets stronger and thicker in the stem -(hopefully as thick as brush shafts )

Apparently- the portuguese growers never bothered to trim the flower trusses for maximum size, and just simply let it produce what it wanted to do.

bigcheef · November 30, 2006

Very interesting, and I can’t wait to see pics of ripe fruit!

I’m really looking forward to next season. Everyone with seeds for this variety should keep a log of their biggest fruits (sort of like the “sad sac” competition) to see how the plant responds to different climates / zones. We could post pics in a thread here for comparison.

RIK

Rena · November 30, 2006

I CAN'T WAIT!!!

Grub · November 30, 2006

I'm so excited.

I got two of them and might follow Michael's advice and prune one of them.

Then I'll inflate the tyre on the wheel barrow and buy a backbrace and a fish-eye lense to fit it in.

Mantis · December 1, 2006

I don't think it likes our hot climate as I have only one fruit set on two plants. Thats one fruit from 6 or 7 flower trusses. We have a week of cooler weather coming so I am hoping for more flowers.
Michael, I pruned most of the shoots off the one in the picture and hope I get a few more fruit.

Mantis · December 4, 2006

3 more fruit set on the plant above

Little_Rhody · December 4, 2006

I'm excited about this one too!

Gimme3 · December 4, 2006

Got Miles to Go.....speakin as a Rook,...when it comes to Hearts...but so far, i aint never seen a single Heart grow ...from a plant that wasnt Wispy (lol...i guess thats the new-ly deemed appropriate term of description) I still call em...Limp , an Always will. Its a very tender plant , when Young, an So easy....to break.

In my Book....Heart-shaped Tomatoes are the Hardest to get a good yield from, but they Also...POSSESS...the most Wonderful , Sweet, True....tastes. Thats why...its worth the Effort...to try an Grow em...))) To try...an Understand...their Unique biology...)))

Aint got a clue on a Portugese Monster, Mantis...ears are attuned...)))

Mantis · December 4, 2006

Hi Gimme. They are from seeds sent by Michael Johnson who found these tomatoes at a Portugese market. He saw one fruit being weighed in at 5.5lb. He procured a 4.5lb and a 3.5lb sample and sent seeds out to a lot of folk. Grub and I are growing them out down here but I fear mine is in a bad spot , time will tell. Grub should have better luck up in his climate.
Michael might chime in here with more info

Grub · December 13, 2006

Huge and I do mean H-U-G-E flowers opening on the first of my two Portuguese Giants. Please, Portugal baby, set fruit. Muchos besos Amiga.

November 30, 2006	#1
Mantis Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Oz Posts: 1,241	Portugese Monster Here is the first pic of PM. It has the wispy foliage common to hearts. It has one fruit on that is slightly heart shaped but that might be pushing it.

November 30, 2006	#2
Patrina_Pepperina Cross Hemisphere Dwarf Project™ Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New South Wales, Australia Posts: 3,094	My plant is only about 8 inches tall but the foliage looks the same as yours Mantis. PP __________________ Truth is colourful, not just black and white. PP: 2005

November 30, 2006	#4
Tomstrees Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NJ Bayshore Posts: 3,848	Glad you posted this one Mantis ... I knew it was RL but wanted to see some grow out pics ... It is red right ? Looks great so far ~ please take pics of ripe maters, and report flav ... Waxer __________________ My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view. ~ H. Fred Ale

November 30, 2006	#5
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	Question: Do large fruits come from plants with wispy foliage? Considering my Wes, I would yes. Grub, in my experience there seems to be a genetic association between wispy droopy leaves and heart shaped fruits, or fruits that are almost hearts, such as Matt D imperio and Prue, but the association is not air tight and I have grown heart shaped varieties that didn't have that wispy droopy foliage, but would have to try and remember what those were if asked. Maybe better to let others chime in on RL non droopy wispy foliage than rely on my mind, said Carolyn, worrying about the glass shards that might be in the big bag of cat food when the glass I use to scoop out food broke. Frieda is now sifting thru cat food for me. __________________ Carolyn

November 30, 2006	#7
bigcheef Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: TN Posts: 316	Very interesting, and I can’t wait to see pics of ripe fruit! I’m really looking forward to next season. Everyone with seeds for this variety should keep a log of their biggest fruits (sort of like the “sad sac” competition) to see how the plant responds to different climates / zones. We could post pics in a thread here for comparison. RIK __________________ When I die don't bury me In a box in a cold dark cemetery Out in the garden would be much better Cause I could be pushin up a home grown tomater Lyrics by Guy Clark

November 30, 2006	#3
Grub Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 2,722	Ditto, except mine's half the size of Mantis's, ie, 12in. Question: Do large fruits come from plants with wispy foliage? Considering my Wes, I would yes.

November 30, 2006	#6
michael johnson Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: UK. Posts: 960	The original tomatoes were a sort of Bronzy red, and globe shaped slightly flattened at the bottom because of the weight of the tomato squashing itself on a flat surface, right in the center at the middle of the base was a sort of belly button hole that was quite deep. None of the fruit appeared to be heart shaped at all -when full size. When I say the color was a sort of Bronzy red, it was more bronzy on the top half shading to a sort of brick red for the rest of it. I notice that you are growing several stems off it, when I get around to starting mine off in mid february- I shall only grow it single stem, well staked with a very strong stake, and probably wont see any big ones develop until about the third truss has formed and the plant gets stronger and thicker in the stem -(hopefully as thick as brush shafts ) Apparently- the portuguese growers never bothered to trim the flower trusses for maximum size, and just simply let it produce what it wanted to do.

November 30, 2006	#8
Rena Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Warm Springs, GA Posts: 1,421	I CAN'T WAIT!!!

November 30, 2006	#9
Grub Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 2,722	I'm so excited. I got two of them and might follow Michael's advice and prune one of them. Then I'll inflate the tyre on the wheel barrow and buy a backbrace and a fish-eye lense to fit it in.

December 1, 2006	#10
Mantis Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Oz Posts: 1,241	I don't think it likes our hot climate as I have only one fruit set on two plants. Thats one fruit from 6 or 7 flower trusses. We have a week of cooler weather coming so I am hoping for more flowers. Michael, I pruned most of the shoots off the one in the picture and hope I get a few more fruit.

December 4, 2006	#11
Mantis Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Oz Posts: 1,241	3 more fruit set on the plant above

December 4, 2006	#12
Little_Rhody Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: RI Posts: 106	I'm excited about this one too! __________________ carolyn

December 4, 2006	#13
Gimme3 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Northeast Georgia, USA Posts: 348	Got Miles to Go.....speakin as a Rook,...when it comes to Hearts...but so far, i aint never seen a single Heart grow ...from a plant that wasnt Wispy (lol...i guess thats the new-ly deemed appropriate term of description) I still call em...Limp , an Always will. Its a very tender plant , when Young, an So easy....to break. In my Book....Heart-shaped Tomatoes are the Hardest to get a good yield from, but they Also...POSSESS...the most Wonderful , Sweet, True....tastes. Thats why...its worth the Effort...to try an Grow em...))) To try...an Understand...their Unique biology...))) Aint got a clue on a Portugese Monster, Mantis...ears are attuned...))) __________________ ....Can you tell a green Field.....from a cold steel rail ? Roger Waters, David Gilmour

December 13, 2006	#15
Grub Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 2,722	Huge and I do mean H-U-G-E flowers opening on the first of my two Portuguese Giants. Please, Portugal baby, set fruit. Muchos besos Amiga.