Could This Be Sun Gold OP

[gorbelly]

Originally Posted by carolyn137

Seed production for it was done by one of their seed producers and it was found out ASAP that what they were selling was a mixup and not correct.

I thought they stopped listing . Are they still listing it or perhaps someone else did new seed production.

Carolyn, who answered her own question when she read that you bought the seeds this year. That's really bad, bad, since it was reported back to them about the problem. But then I've read a few reports of folks getting wrong seed from Baker Creek of late, and not just tomatoes.

The website does state that it's not completely stabilized, so they're still selling it but being honest about its instability. I was not surprised or disappointed by the off-type plant I got. And I actually liked it better than the on-type tomatoes, especially earlier in the season.

My only "disappointment" was that the sungolds I've had from hybrid plants taste much better. But I put it in quotes because the tomatoes I got later on in the season were still perfectly fine tasting and way better than anything I could buy in a supermarket.

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by gorbelly

The website does state that it's not completely stabilized, so they're still selling it but being honest about its instability. I was not surprised or disappointed by the off-type plant I got. And I actually liked it better than the on-type tomatoes, especially earlier in the season.

My only "disappointment" was that the sungolds I've had from hybrid plants taste much better. But I put it in quotes because the tomatoes I got later on in the season were still perfectly fine tasting and way better than anything I could buy in a supermarket.

I know Reinhard Kraft very well amd have for over 20 years or so. He never releases anything that is not genetically stable.

So the first three on my list were released by him and he has no control over what happens to them when they leave his hands.

He has never claimed that any of those three taste like Sungold F1. I think most who have tried the first three think that Sungold II comes the closest.

He has many breeding projects as you can see from the link below and is also continuing to work with Sungold. I think it was just two years ago he asked me if I could get some F1 seeds for him b'c in Europe they are VERY expensive. I got several packs from Pinetree seeds at a fraction of what a pack would cost over there.

Big Sungold Select was NOT good, that was found by Manfred Hahm, who is a friend of Reinhard and actually sells seeds off of Reinhard;s website and that's the one with all of the problems.

IMO it was very wrong for Baker Creek to say what you bought was NOT stable, for it was one of their own seed producers, none of them professional based on the ones I know, who messed it up.

I thought you might be interested in looking at Reinhard's website and if you look at his growouts for each year you'll see several names of folks that you should recognize.

I've traded seeds with him for many years and some of those will appear in my next two seed offers here at Tville.

http://www.reinhard-kraft.de/

His English is superb whereas I can usually plod along in German not as easily.

Carolyn

[gorbelly]

Sounds like their biggest mistake was the effect on Reinhard's reputation among people who don't know him.

Thanks for clarifying seed distribution ethics, Carolyn. While I wasn't personally upset, I can see why this is a no-no on the ethical level.

[Zenbaas]

Well this is all quite exciting. Have never grown sungold F1 as I don't think it is even available locally. Will have to scrounge around and see.

[ContainerTed]

The bad news is that the frost we just had killed the plants I was trying to get in before the season was gone. We'll have to wait until next season to see if the great taste and color and aroma will repeat yet again.

Sorry, folks.

[ContainerTed]

Reviving this thread to update for the 2016 season.
__________________________________________________ ___________

This season, I'm growing 5 Sungold F1 plants that I've started from seeds (from Totally Tomatoes). I've also started 5 of my "OP" plants. Last year, the taste, the aroma, and the production were the same, The main difference was that the size of the fruit with my "OP" was larger (see pictures in this thread). So, here's where we are today.

1. The aroma is there, but not as prominent as the F1's. The F1's really reek the aroma, but my "OP's" are a bit more subtle.

2. The foliage is similar enough that I can't tell one from the other without my plant tags. For a lot of reasons, my season is getting off to a slow start with lots of plants still waiting to get into the main garden. But, I have a couple of each already planted out. I've also sent one of each over to my brother's garden.

3. Both the F1's and my "OP's" are vigorous and healthy.

And, so the season goes on. I'll get some 2016 pictures when the rain stops today and add them into the thread. I've been so busy with followup appointments and frost and excess rain and other folks needing my time and my energy quick to run out, that I'm behind the curve on my garden. This year will be a "slow but sure" episode of doing as much as I can and making sure that it's done right the first time. So, slow but sure.

[Fred Hempel]

The search for the unicorn continues!

[Rajun Gardener]

Good Luck Ted, I hope it works out and I'll be waiting for the results.

[ContainerTed]

Here's some pictures taken today. I wish I could post the aroma for everyone. Anyhow, here's the foliage from the F1 and the OP.

The first two pictures are of the F1. The first of these two is awaiting planting. the second has been in the garden for three days.

The second two pictures are of the "OP". Both are in the main garden and have been there for about a week. 2505

Thoughts???

Comments???

[joseph]

That one OP plant sure has the S. habrochaites look about it.

Solanum habrochaites

[ContainerTed]

Joseph, how is the taste of the one you're working with??? The taste of the one I'm working with is identical to the Sungold F1 (at least it was last year. Last year, the only difference for me was the larger size of the fruit I was getting.

[Bipetual]

I've got my fingers crossed, Ted! The Holy Grail of OP tomatoes.

[ContainerTed]

Thanks, Tam. Right now, the only difference I can see is that the "OP" one I'm working on is not quite as fragrant as the F1's I'm growing. But the scent is still the same. It's brings to mind something "citrus-like" - maybe the peelings of a lemon or lime or ???. I've got some tiny flower buds forming on both, so the bloom comparison can be done. this should also give us a chance to compare the fruit truss thing as well.

Like Fred Hempel said above. The hunt for the elusive unicorn continues.

[joseph]

Originally Posted by ContainerTed

Joseph, how is the taste of the one you're working with???

Just the normal bleck taste of tomatoes... Definitely not up to the taste standard set by Sungold F1.

This summer I'm intending to plant about 72 Sungold F2 plants... I'm primarily looking for self-incompatibility and/or exerted stigmas. Four plants are flowering already. Two of them have exerted stigmas.

[Cole_Robbie]

This summer I'm intending to plant about 72 Sungold F2 plants

I really like that idea. Good luck, my friend!