Tomato named "Blueberry"

[zeroma]

Who has grown blueberry? I just bought 1 plant today because it sounded interesting. Plus my attempt to grow the 2 unstable blue varieties failed to germinate, I wanted at least 1 blue in our Patriotic tomato patch!

What was it like tastewise for you?

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by zeroma

Who has grown blueberry? I just bought 1 plant today because it sounded interesting. Plus my attempt to grow the 2 unstable blue varieties failed to germinate, I wanted at least 1 blue in our Patriotic tomato patch!

What was it like tastewise for you?

I think there's been some misunderstanding about what's been called Blueberry.

So called blue fruited ones have been bred initially here in the USA at OSU by Dr. Myer's as well as by breeders in Italy and possibly in Turkey as well.

What's known as Blueberry was bred in England and was called blueberry b;c someone thought it was a GMO where a blueberry gene had been inserted.

It is a GMO but it's a snapdragon gene that was inserted.

And it was never clear to me that the so called bluberry one was ever released to the public, yet I see Blueberry listed on several growout lists,

I don't know if it ever was given its own name, but that's how it got called Bluberry, from someone somewhere saying it was a blueberry gene rather than a snapdragon gene.

How about Snapberry?

Sorry, I have no idea how it tastes which is OK with me b;c I don't even know what Blueberry is and whether it was ever released by the folks in England who bred it, whateveritmight be called.

I have tasted OSU P20 and don't like the taste at all, so have had no interest in growing Indigo Rose, which Dr. Myers released and I've seen widely ranging comments about that one as well.

Taste is in the mouth of the beholder so I'm still waiting to see if some of my good tomato friends actually think the taste of a blue something really tastes good and so far that hasn't happened.

Carolyn

Carolyn

[sprtsguy76]

So does every so called 'blue tomato' have the snapdragon gene in it???

Damon

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[Darren Abbey]

The 'blue' tomatoes that are available only produce anthocyanins in the surface layers when exposed to sunlight. This gene was introgressed into domesticated tomatoes from wild species by the researchers at OSU.

The snapdragon-derived gene produces in tomatoes a trait where the entire fruit, through and through, produces a high level of the 'blue' anthocyanins. One of these fruit cut in half would be dark purple to the core.

The name "Blueberry" is so generic, that it would have been very easy for someone working with the OSU-blue gene lines to have come up with the name independently of the snapdragon-blue gene.

I've heard no evidence suggesting that the snapdragon-blue tomato has been released, either officially or otherwise.

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by sprtsguy76

So does every so called 'blue tomato' have the snapdragon gene in it???

Damon

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No. The original OSU one from Dr.Myers lab as grown and worked with by many to develop many varieties was bred conventially and is not a GMO.

Carolyn

[Tormato]

I received seeds several years ago, where the pack said "OSU Blue/P20/Blueberry". Back then, whatever came out of Oregon State didn't have a clear name, among traders.

Gary

[Mischka]

My experience growing several "blue" varieties is that while the color is striking, the flavor is utterly lacking. I consider them nothing more than a novelty, much like the thorned solanum sisymbriifolium aka Litchi tomato.

Hopefully this will change after this growing season, as I'm trialing some new "improved" anthocyanin-gene hybrids.

[Darren Abbey]

I found I really enjoyed the flavor of "Indigo Rose", though it was distinctly non-standard for tomatoes. A gal friend tasted one and exclaimed, "Now I've got a favorite tomato!"

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by Mischka

My experience growing several "blue" varieties is that while the color is striking, the flavor is utterly lacking. I consider them nothing more than a novelty, much like the thorned solanum sisymbriifolium aka Litchi tomato.

Hopefully this will change after this growing season, as I'm trialing some new "improved" anthocyanin-gene hybrids.

You know that I know that you know I know(have to love the Lion in Winter) which crosses you're growing out, the same two I offered in my recent seed offer.

There were very few who requested those crosses so hopefully something at least good tasting will come out of them as grown by just two or three of you.

Litchi tomato a novelty? I think I'd go beyond that and suggest that Solanum uparo, the cannibal tomato, is definitely more novel.

I agree on the lack of taste from what I've read. I do think that those working with the blue ones must find it hard to step back and assess traits fairly b/c there's always that temptation to treat them as your kids and be biased. I know I ran into that mind set early on in assessing the worthiness of many new varieties that I introduced, but I overcame that mind set.

Carolyn

[sprtsguy76]

I've heard the same about blue tomatoes lacking in the flavor department. That is why I've never bothered with them until this year. Why this year you ask? Just like most others curiosity. Novelty as put by most. But I hear the one I'm growing is one of the better tasting ones. So who knows I'm not getting my hopes up if ya know what I mean.

Damon

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[Boutique Tomatoes]

In this year's blue tomato taste test plan I think I've got 55 lines. I think there are at least a few of them that have potential for good taste...

Now if it would just warm up so I can plant them.

[Darren Abbey]

Originally Posted by Mischka

...much like the thorned solanum sisymbriifolium aka Litchi tomato.

I think you've just added another Solanum to my future grow list.

[zeroma]

Well, maybe if I need to get rid of one, it will be the Blueberry. I just wanted a blue for the 'red, white, and blue' idea for the Patriotic Theme. I'm not sure what actural space I will have since we shaved off 6 feet to plant 2 rows of asparagus at the end of the tomato beds.

Thanks everyone.

[linzelu100]

It is possible to breed a good tasting blue tomato, right? In Carolyn's book it talks about crossing tomatoes to get the traits you want. This can be done with blues right? They wouldn't be any different. I have never done this, but certainly someone probably is with a blue tomato, right? Are they just so new that there hasn't been enough time to do so?

Lindsey

[Mischka]

Originally Posted by linzelu100

It is possible to breed a good tasting blue tomato, right? In Carolyn's book it talks about crossing tomatoes to get the traits you want. This can be done with blues right? They wouldn't be any different. I have never done this, but certainly someone probably is with a blue tomato, right? Are they just so new that there hasn't been enough time to do so?

Lindsey

1. Yes.
2. Yes.
3. Yes.
4. Yes.

I have no doubt that there will be a good tasting, anthocyanin pigmented tomato bred very soon. It's likely that 2013 growing season may produce one, based on the myriad of different hybrid crosses that have recently been made.



The seven generation rule takes effect here for an open-pollinated version, but "blue" hybrids can be made a reality in a much shorter time span.


I'm happy to wait, rather than ingest snapdragon genes.