Croatian Brandywine Questions

[rnewste]

Hey Structure,

Enjoying the good life there in S.L.O.?

Wow, didn't know what I (accidently) started here.

Should be fun for folks to compare their PL to RL plants, for those who have the space to grow both.

Raybo

[greyghost]

Very good information, Travis, especially since a lot of us grow a large number
of single variety plants in order to assess as many varieties as possible in one season.

I've often thought it'd be very easy to grow a patch of potato leaf pinks, for
instance, and end up with some accidental crosses and never even suspect.

Another situation is that many of us limit finding the best specimen of a variety that isn't completely stable yet by growing one plant rather than several for comparison.

Still, as much as I appreciate purity in varieties, I love to grow out crosses,
accidental or otherwise (even if I know I'm not growing sufficient individuals)!

[travis]

Originally Posted by greyghost

Still, as much as I appreciate purity in varieties, I love to grow out crosses,
accidental or otherwise (even if I know I'm not growing sufficient individuals)!

I agree with you completely. In fact, my last few years' gardens were comprised mainly of segregating crosses and trials of supposedly stable versions of previous crosses.

My somewhat off-topic commentary was more focused just on the fact (or my unproven theory) that a lot of tomato seed gets shared under the assumption that it is pure line OP varieties, yet it's really segregating germplasm from unsuspected crosses ... and doesn't get outed as such until someone plants a large block of plants from the same seed lot, or a group of people plant a significant number of seeds from the same seed lot (as in this discussion).

[Heritage]

Originally Posted by travis

I agree with you completely. In fact, my last few years' gardens were comprised mainly of segregating crosses and trials of supposedly stable versions of previous crosses.

My somewhat off-topic commentary was more focused just on the fact (or my unproven theory) that a lot of tomato seed gets shared under the assumption that it is pure line OP varieties, yet it's really segregating germplasm from unsuspected crosses ... and doesn't get outed as such until someone plants a large block of plants from the same seed lot, or a group of people plant a significant number of seeds from the same seed lot (as in this discussion).

Travis, I wonder if this also accounts for some of the reported differences in flavor (since it would also be segregating in this scenario). Are the subjective traits in tomatoes truly subjective, or are they merely segregating - the result of an unknown cross?

Steve

[travis]

Originally Posted by Heritage

Travis, I wonder if this also accounts for some of the reported differences in flavor (since it would also be segregating in this scenario). Are the subjective traits in tomatoes truly subjective, or are they merely segregating - the result of an unknown cross?

Steve

I'd think there are way too many other variables to single out segregation as the cause for flavor differences, although surely there are different flavor profiles and degrees of flavor intensity in a segregating population particularly where the parents in a cross have diverse flavor profiles and intensities.

Soil quality, characteristics, and mineral composition; rainfall; fertilizers; hours and intensities of sunshine; latitute, altitude, and cloud cover; heat degree days; and pruning regimens are a few other variables I would think play into fruit flavor regardless of germplasm stability.

Too bad most of us are unable to share and compare flavor in our ripe Croatian Brandywine tomatoes from California, Texas, Oregon, Germany, Honduras, Massachusetts, and Minnesota.

[rnewste]

I just sent a pack of BFC seeds to "Marina" in Russia yesterday, so the reporting database including packs previously sent to England, Germany, Ukraine, Slovenia, and elsewhere around the world should be pretty interesting this year.

Raybo

[MarinaRussian]

Woohoo! Thank you, Ray! Now I'm gonna take part in the international experiment. But I won't be able to plant the BFC this year, we have a fairly short growing season.

[Marko]

I started BFC on february 29, 7 seeds sprouted and all are RL.

[barefootgardener]

Here is a picture and an update on my BFC seedlings. On page one of this post I posted a picture of the seedlings. Two weeks later after transplanting, the Reg. Lf and Potato Lf are going strong. I transplanted in a lightweight medium starter soil, and they are given no feed..Very nice healthy green foliage. I will plant both of these in my GH when the time is ready.

Thanks again Raybo!

Ginny

[rnewste]

For all of you who got the "Bonus" grow-out of both the RL and PL BFC plants - - COME PAINT MY HOUSE!!

Raybo

[barefootgardener]

Originally Posted by rnewste

For all of you who got the "Bonus" grow-out of both the RL and PL BFC plants - - COME PAINT MY HOUSE!!

Raybo

Would be more than happy to come help you paint your house after we get some of our own "To do list 2012" whittled down. Lets see: 1.Cut, & Mill our own lumber for our new barn and dining room table. 2. Build foundation for our new barn. 3. Build new barn/stalls for our ever growing menagerie of farm animals. 4. Stain/paint new barn. 5. Build new fences. 5. Build/stain new larger dining table to seat our ever growing family. 6. Stain our 3 story, handbuilt/milled log home..(did all the work ourselves). 7. Remodel kitchen.. 8. Plant gardens and plant secret garden (for grandson) (should be #1) 9. Build playhouse and sandbox for grandson. 10. Help son and daughter in law remodel upstairs. 11. Help son and daughter in law build outdoor woodroom.
12. Help remodel daughter 's house..Tile floors, reside house etc..

Hmmmm... Can we schedule for the year 2014..

Ginny

[clara]

Ray, here's my report: Started 5 seeds, got 4 seedlings - 2 RL, 2 PL!

But sorry, I can't come to paint your house - have to take care of those 4 little treasures! Thanks again! clara

[Structure]

Hi Raybo and other members of the 2012 BFC growout!

Here's a picture of mine. It's on the right. The plant sharing the earthtainer is Bolseno. Should be a competitive cage. (The other earthtainer to the left partially pictured is Indian Stripe and Kosovo)



Planted out way back in late Feb. The cool nights are keeping the growth slow, but it's still coming along nicely.

[rnewste]

Structure,

Is it possible for you to put on the lid rims? They will delay cracking of the container tops from the Sun's UV rays. You will get a couple more years service life from them with the lid rims installed.

Raybo

[Structure]

hmmm, I used to mount them, but discarded them when I went to pea cages. I'll have to take a look at the fit. Your idea about delaying UV failure certainly is appealing!

They're also on a very uneven surface so that may be torquing them more than is ideal (and preventing the lids from fitting). But that too is still fixable.

thanks for the tip!