Anyone else growing Golden Cherokee and or Barlow Jap for the first time? - Page 3

b54red · July 6, 2011

I've got a couple of small greenies on the Barlow Japs that I set out in May. I hope they will live long enough for me to get a taste.

camochef · July 6, 2011

I only have 3 Barlow Japs out there this year and they are loaded with green tomatoes, some are pretty impressive in size. One plant is just beginning to get some color on a few...but Cowlick's Brandywine (R.L.) is getting some real nice pink ones.
This is the first year I'm seeing problems with Early Blight and Septoria on Barlow Jap. Seems to be effecting most varieties this year, with the exception of Tom's "Terhune", which so far is unaffected. As are all the replacements that were planted much later. (Big Cheef, Limbaugh's Legacy, Purple Dog Creek, Brandywine-Glick's, Ashleigh).
Not exactly sure what this means but they (replacements) are about 3 1/2 ft. tall now and looking so healthy. Will watch with interest. If planting somewhat later makes that much of a difference in plant health, I'll never plant early again.
Camo

kygreg · July 6, 2011

camochef - when did you plant the replacements? I planted a little later than normal and next year am thinking about not planting part of seedlings until around June 1 and see how they do to those planted earlier.

camochef · July 6, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by kygreg

camochef - when did you plant the replacements? I planted a little later than normal and next year am thinking about not planting part of seedlings until around June 1 and see how they do to those planted earlier.

Kygreg,
Replacements were transplanted out in the garden on June 2. I didn't start seed until 12 May which was the last day planting out the originals. Started planting originals on May 8, and continueed through the 12th.
All original seed (tomato) was started on March 4th.
So far, all replacements are looking very healthy, and a little more than half as tall as the originals. All have blossoms and Big Cheef and Ashleigh have small green tomatoes.
Camo

BigdaddyJ · July 7, 2011

My lone Barlow Jap plant looks like a palm tree. Only a few leaves still healthy on top. Only two small green fruit have set and I too hope to be able to sample a fruit before the plant RIP's. Right next to Barlow Jap is Terransenko6 just as healthy as can be with 25 toms on it so go figure? I tried the mychro/biotamax dips and also Actinovate/Excel this season and I have about 8 out of 28 plants racked with Septoria and EB that are fading fast.....

camochef · July 7, 2011

My 4 Tarasenko6 look just as bad as the the other originals suffering from EB and Septoria. Seems to be the worst year I recall for this problem. I would have to assume it was our crazy weather. We went back and forth from hot and humid days in the 90's to cool and somewhat wetter than normal with lows in the lower 40's.
Actually worse than 2009 when we were so much cooler and much wetter than normal. I'm also seeing record #'s of "BER" on many with Gary O'Sena and Mrs Benson having the most cases.
Terhune is the healtiest looking plant, (2), of all the originals but thus far there are: 2 Big Cheef, 3 Purple Dog Creek, 3 Ashleigh, 4 Limbaugh's Legacy, and 4 Brandywine-Glicks that were replacements that are looking great.

kath · July 7, 2011

Things are pretty much the same in my part of PA- lots of palm trees here, too. Everything got a dip in Actinovate and Tomato Thrive and has been sprayed with Actinovate/Excel. Tarasenko6 was planted on 5/21 but has no fruits set and is losing leaves quickly from Septoria. It's 5' tall and only has kept the leaves from 3' up. It's in with the hearts and plums that have been the hardest hit: Gus' Heart, Willard Wynn, Taylor, Sakharnyi Pudovichok, Prue, Yellow Cookie, Levino, Cuor di Bue, Mayo's Delight and Whitaker Oxheart are the worst of the worst and are right in the same area of the garden as Tarasenko6.

Barlow Jap and Golden Cherokee were planted on 5/13 and are taller and still have many more leaves. Barlow Jap has 11 fruits and a bit of Septoria. Golden Cherokee has 7 fruits and a bit of EB. Overall I'm also seeing a LOT of catfacing and BER.

The only pristine plants are those planted out on 5/27 and 6/13 but it's probably just a matter of time. What a difference a week makes...sniff.

BigdaddyJ · July 7, 2011

I know kath plants can turn in a heartbeat. My KBX plants were gorgeous a couple days ago just loaded with big fruit and today yellow and brown all over the one side of both plants that face away from the sun. I'll still have a fine harvest but boy THAT was fast! Also, Big Zac needed a severe haircut today and man they also succumbed almost overnight but still plenty of fruit so still OK. Intereseting that Tarrasenko6 is doing so poorly for you and great for me in Delaware despite growing in between the two disease magnets Barlow Jap and Mrs Benson.

kath · July 7, 2011

Wow, that's faster than the dreaded LB. I was thinking that location in the garden might be significant, but your Tarasenko being fine seems to show otherwise...who knows? Glad that we'll all be getting some fruit from other plants but I suppose we'll have to decide whether or not to give the others another chance. I'm leaning towards the survival of the fittest method if I can find some taste winners who survive the disease this year.

BigdaddyJ · July 8, 2011

Kath, there is sometimes no ryhme or reason why some varieties escape and others don't. I question EVERYTHING....location, water pooling, water not retaining, wind restriction, etc. but sometimes there isn't an explanation. So like you, it's about survival of the fittest. If the same variety fails two straight years or 2 out of 3 even when planted in different spots it's outta here!

SmartAlex · July 12, 2011

I've got minor amounts of Septorial Spec and Bacterial Spot scattered throughout but mostly in one area where I have bare soil because the nasturtium failed. So far, it has been spreading very slowly, although it got an earlier start than I expected.

But overall, my tomatoes are sluggish. The Barlow Jap has a few tomatoes set, only one good sized, and has finally started a second and third round of blossoms. I didn't snap off any suckers this year like I usually do so I am really suprised at how tame everyone is. I peaked in on my mother's garden today to see if she had any Japs set, and again, very sluggish.

The one stand out plant this year is my Black Krim which is setting out to break all records in both growth and numbers of fruit.

sprtsguy76 · August 23, 2011

Well I have finally tasted both Barlow Jap and Golden Cherokee and all I can say is they are both real winners!

Damon

b54red · August 23, 2011

Ami, I finally got to pick a couple of Barlow Japs and Tarasenko 6; but the only tasting I will get is after I save the seeds because I may not get any more and I will need some seed for next year.

Pyrrho · August 23, 2011

I'd have to say that Golden Cherokee has been a bust this year. For positives, the plant is fairly healthy, showing decent resistance to fungal disease. While not super-productive, it's quite steady -- there is still a good number of green fruits emerging as some of my other varieties have either shut down for the year or took a long hiatus after the hottest part of the summer.

The down side is that it's been quite bland in flavor. Most fruits are dry with hollow seed cavities -- which I am guessing might be due to weather and/or my watering pattern. My soil is heavy with clay, so I don't need to water much at all, and many other varieties are prone to splitting after even modest rains/waterings.

Also, GC seems to attract stink bugs more than any of the 15 varieties I grew this year -- though the critters have diversified their preferences as the season has progressed.

Maybe in another year I might get better flavor, but for now I'll look elsewhere for something to fill the yellow/orange/bi-color spots on my annual roster.

b54red · August 24, 2011

I try to stagger my plantings because of the unpredictable weather that we have every few years. Generally the first planting is the best but every couple of years a later planting will be more successful.

The strangest year ever was when all but a couple of my 50 seedlings set out in March , the 40 in April, and the 35 in May died before reaching the mature fruit stage. I planted about 25 plants on June 15 and all but a couple produced like champs til they froze in early January. That was the oddest year ever for setting out plants. I was about the only person around this area that had any tomatoes that season. This year was like most years so far in that the plants set out in March were the best performers but the ones set out on June 5 look like they will do better than the ones set out in April and May. I'm not a very good gambler and if I put all my eggs in one basket odds are the basket will get destroyed.

July 7, 2011	#35
BigdaddyJ Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Zone7 Delaware Posts: 399	My lone Barlow Jap plant looks like a palm tree. Only a few leaves still healthy on top. Only two small green fruit have set and I too hope to be able to sample a fruit before the plant RIP's. Right next to Barlow Jap is Terransenko6 just as healthy as can be with 25 toms on it so go figure? I tried the mychro/biotamax dips and also Actinovate/Excel this season and I have about 8 out of 28 plants racked with Septoria and EB that are fading fast..... __________________ Farmer at Heart

July 7, 2011	#38
BigdaddyJ Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Zone7 Delaware Posts: 399	I know kath plants can turn in a heartbeat. My KBX plants were gorgeous a couple days ago just loaded with big fruit and today yellow and brown all over the one side of both plants that face away from the sun. I'll still have a fine harvest but boy THAT was fast! Also, Big Zac needed a severe haircut today and man they also succumbed almost overnight but still plenty of fruit so still OK. Intereseting that Tarrasenko6 is doing so poorly for you and great for me in Delaware despite growing in between the two disease magnets Barlow Jap and Mrs Benson. __________________ Farmer at Heart

July 8, 2011	#40
BigdaddyJ Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Zone7 Delaware Posts: 399	Kath, there is sometimes no ryhme or reason why some varieties escape and others don't. I question EVERYTHING....location, water pooling, water not retaining, wind restriction, etc. but sometimes there isn't an explanation. So like you, it's about survival of the fittest. If the same variety fails two straight years or 2 out of 3 even when planted in different spots it's outta here! __________________ Farmer at Heart

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July 6, 2011	#31
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	I've got a couple of small greenies on the Barlow Japs that I set out in May. I hope they will live long enough for me to get a taste.

July 6, 2011	#32
camochef Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania Posts: 707	I only have 3 Barlow Japs out there this year and they are loaded with green tomatoes, some are pretty impressive in size. One plant is just beginning to get some color on a few...but Cowlick's Brandywine (R.L.) is getting some real nice pink ones. This is the first year I'm seeing problems with Early Blight and Septoria on Barlow Jap. Seems to be effecting most varieties this year, with the exception of Tom's "Terhune", which so far is unaffected. As are all the replacements that were planted much later. (Big Cheef, Limbaugh's Legacy, Purple Dog Creek, Brandywine-Glick's, Ashleigh). Not exactly sure what this means but they (replacements) are about 3 1/2 ft. tall now and looking so healthy. Will watch with interest. If planting somewhat later makes that much of a difference in plant health, I'll never plant early again. Camo

July 6, 2011	#33
kygreg Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: kentucky Posts: 1,019	camochef - when did you plant the replacements? I planted a little later than normal and next year am thinking about not planting part of seedlings until around June 1 and see how they do to those planted earlier.

July 7, 2011	#37
kath Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: zone 6b, PA Posts: 5,664	Things are pretty much the same in my part of PA- lots of palm trees here, too. Everything got a dip in Actinovate and Tomato Thrive and has been sprayed with Actinovate/Excel. Tarasenko6 was planted on 5/21 but has no fruits set and is losing leaves quickly from Septoria. It's 5' tall and only has kept the leaves from 3' up. It's in with the hearts and plums that have been the hardest hit: Gus' Heart, Willard Wynn, Taylor, Sakharnyi Pudovichok, Prue, Yellow Cookie, Levino, Cuor di Bue, Mayo's Delight and Whitaker Oxheart are the worst of the worst and are right in the same area of the garden as Tarasenko6. Barlow Jap and Golden Cherokee were planted on 5/13 and are taller and still have many more leaves. Barlow Jap has 11 fruits and a bit of Septoria. Golden Cherokee has 7 fruits and a bit of EB. Overall I'm also seeing a LOT of catfacing and BER. The only pristine plants are those planted out on 5/27 and 6/13 but it's probably just a matter of time. What a difference a week makes...sniff.

July 12, 2011	#41
SmartAlex Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Western NY Posts: 38	I've got minor amounts of Septorial Spec and Bacterial Spot scattered throughout but mostly in one area where I have bare soil because the nasturtium failed. So far, it has been spreading very slowly, although it got an earlier start than I expected. But overall, my tomatoes are sluggish. The Barlow Jap has a few tomatoes set, only one good sized, and has finally started a second and third round of blossoms. I didn't snap off any suckers this year like I usually do so I am really suprised at how tame everyone is. I peaked in on my mother's garden today to see if she had any Japs set, and again, very sluggish. The one stand out plant this year is my Black Krim which is setting out to break all records in both growth and numbers of fruit.

August 23, 2011	#42
sprtsguy76 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2007 Location: Santa Clara CA Posts: 1,125	Well I have finally tasted both Barlow Jap and Golden Cherokee and all I can say is they are both real winners! Damon

August 23, 2011	#44
Pyrrho Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 75	I'd have to say that Golden Cherokee has been a bust this year. For positives, the plant is fairly healthy, showing decent resistance to fungal disease. While not super-productive, it's quite steady -- there is still a good number of green fruits emerging as some of my other varieties have either shut down for the year or took a long hiatus after the hottest part of the summer. The down side is that it's been quite bland in flavor. Most fruits are dry with hollow seed cavities -- which I am guessing might be due to weather and/or my watering pattern. My soil is heavy with clay, so I don't need to water much at all, and many other varieties are prone to splitting after even modest rains/waterings. Also, GC seems to attract stink bugs more than any of the 15 varieties I grew this year -- though the critters have diversified their preferences as the season has progressed. Maybe in another year I might get better flavor, but for now I'll look elsewhere for something to fill the yellow/orange/bi-color spots on my annual roster.

August 24, 2011	#45
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	I try to stagger my plantings because of the unpredictable weather that we have every few years. Generally the first planting is the best but every couple of years a later planting will be more successful. The strangest year ever was when all but a couple of my 50 seedlings set out in March , the 40 in April, and the 35 in May died before reaching the mature fruit stage. I planted about 25 plants on June 15 and all but a couple produced like champs til they froze in early January. That was the oddest year ever for setting out plants. I was about the only person around this area that had any tomatoes that season. This year was like most years so far in that the plants set out in March were the best performers but the ones set out on June 5 look like they will do better than the ones set out in April and May. I'm not a very good gambler and if I put all my eggs in one basket odds are the basket will get destroyed.