Gleckler's Angora Orange

[ContainerTed]

Here's a picture that should explain how the name was chosen. What a totally different looking plant. This one is about 18" tall now. The other three plants are Grumpy F5, Iditarod Red F5, and Yukon Quest F5.

I got three plants from starting 4 seeds. The other two plants do not show the remarkable "angora sweater" look to the foliage as much as this one. Perhaps there is still a bit of instability. But this thing generates a lot of attention when family and friends come around.

Ted

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by ContainerTed

Here's a picture that should explain how the name was chosen. What a totally different looking plant. This one is about 18" tall now. The other three plants are Grumpy F5, Iditarod Red F5, and Yukon Quest F5.

I got three plants from starting 4 seeds. The other two plants do not show the remarkable "angora sweater" look to the foliage as much as this one. Perhaps there is still a bit of instability. But this thing generates a lot of attention when family and friends come around.

Ted

No, it's not instability Ted, rather, I forget the exact number but there's lethality associated with the angora gene so not all plants will show the angora foliage. Actually the angora gene can't exist in an homozygous state so there will be reversions to regular leaf.

And for others who are new here perhaps I'll explain a bit more about this variety and Glecklers.

Two years ago some of us found out that Adam Gleckler, grandson of the man who started Glecklersseedmen back in the 40's had restarted the business. His father had taken over and ran the business I think until maybe 1994, Adam will correct me if he posts here.

Quite a few of us knew Glecklers very well as one of the best places to get OP tomatoes and other veggies/fruits at a time when there were none of the seed companies that most of you know today had even started.

So I started a thread in the varieties wanted Forum and asked folks to contribute tomato varieties, emphasizing the hard to find, rare, and some staples as well, and there was a wonderful response from Tville folks. Adam grew them out and added almost all of them to his website.

As thanks for donating seeds he sent seeds for Angora Orange to all who sent him seeds. Angora Orange appeared in his growouts as a mutation from the variety Angora, which has long been known and has red fruits.

I'll link to Adam's webpage here so you can some of the wonderful tomato varieties he now lists, and of course Angora Orange is also pictured:

http://www.glecklerseedmen.com/Cherr...page80686.aspx

Craig ( nctomatoman in Raleigh) raised all my plants for me this year and I got 26 of them this past Wednesday but I don't think my Angora Orange was there, at least I don't remember seeing one with angora foliage, but there are still 10 to come and I don't know if Craig is using my seeds or his seeds, b'c he also donated many varieties to Adam and so got Angora Orange as well, so time will tell.

One of the most beautiful angora foliaged varieties I've ever grown was Velvet Red. The leaves were highly dissected and when the sun was out the whole plant sparkled especially if there was a mild wind. The fruits were small round reds and not all that bad as to taste.

So right now Angora Orange is one of a kind and I think many of us who donated seeds and were sent this variety might be growing it this summer.

[DanishGardener]

That is one cool looking plant!
I wasn't actually planning on growing it this year (I got it as a free gift when I ordered from Glecker's). But after seeing that picture I just might sow some
I wonder how they taste?

[ContainerTed]

Thanks, Carolyn, for clarifying. This plant also sparkles in even a light wind and is absolutely dazling in the morning light with a bit of dew on everything. It has generated its first bloom truss and I can see some shaking in the future (as if there weren't enough wind here on this hilltop).

If it tastes even half as good as it looks, it will be a definite hit.

I'll get a better closeup of the "angora" tomorrow and post it.

Ted

[ContainerTed]

Okay, here's the fruit from this beautiful variety. The taste hits at least an 8 and has a touch of that old fashioned zing in it. It makes a nice color difference in the salads and was very good on a BLT this morning.

Ted

[kygreg]

My Angora must be hot natured; it didn't have a sweater.

[tjg911]

my AO was planted out memorial day weekend, was grown under lights and was very stout and bushy. today it is only about 30-36" tall and doesn't have as much foliage as many others i'm growing. it has a lot of fruits but none have any color yet. i appreciate the seeds from gleckler's but i don't expect much as i prefer red, pink and black tomatoes. most orange and yellow tomatoes i have grown have mild flavor and that don't cut it with me. i hope it's great but we'll see in another week or so. it sure is one fuzzy plant!

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by tjg911

my AO was planted out memorial day weekend, was grown under lights and was very stout and bushy. today it is only about 30-36" tall and doesn't have as much foliage as many others i'm growing. it has a lot of fruits but none have any color yet. i appreciate the seeds from gleckler's but i don't expect much as i prefer red, pink and black tomatoes. most orange and yellow tomatoes i have grown have mild flavor and that don't cut it with me. i hope it's great but we'll see in another week or so. it sure is one fuzzy plant!

Tom, if orange and yellow ( translate gold at maturity for almost all of them) don't cut it with you would you please try:

Aunt Gertie's Gold
Orange Minsk
Earl of Edgecombe
Jaune Flamme

......they are not wimpy when it comes to taste and I find them to be better tasting than many of the pinks and reds and blacks that I've grown.

Thanks in advance for agreeing to grow ALL of the above during some summers in the future.

[tjg911]

aunt gertie's gold is one of my top favorites in fact you sent me seeds a few years back when my seeds were producing very few tomatoes and small fruits unlike what agg was producing initially.

i like azoychaka as it is super early every year i grow it, typically dtm is an unbelievable 42 to 44 days! it's not a top favorite but is good tasting for a yellow and especially as it is the 1st tomatoes i eat regardless of what else have.

sun gold is another top favorite.

lillian's yellow heirloom is pretty good too tho not a top favorite.

i was very disappointed by kellog's breakfast. bright green foliage and bright orange huge fruits (so beautiful!) but the taste is too mild.

i tried lemon boy one year but it was a long time ago yet i don't recall thinking oh i need to remember this one!

pineapple and galina's yellow were not very good.

tom's' yellow wonder was ok.

forget yellow pear.

i picked my 1st AO yesterday afternoon and in the sun it looked pretty yellow but i just looked at it and it is orange. sitting next to some sun golds it looks to be the same color. it has a bit of green on the side so i'll give it another day or 2 to ripen.

i'll make a note of those other 3 you mentioned. thanks for the info.

tom who is usually not very fond of yellow and orange tomatoes

[b54red]

tjg911 the only yellows,golds or oranges that I have found to be in that great tasting tomato category so far are KBX and Sungold.

[tjg911]

i ate my 1st AO yesterday. all i can say is i hope i did not wait long enough for it to ripen!

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by tjg911

i ate my 1st AO yesterday. all i can say is i hope i did not wait long enough for it to ripen!

Tom, Angora Orange was an interesting mutation from the original Angora which is red fruited.

Angora is grow mainly for the novelty of the angora foliage, not the taste of the fruits, and I would suspect that that obtains for Angroa Orange as well. Mine haven't even set fruits yet, but I have grown the original Angora before so know what to expect, at least I tihink I do, but time will tell.