Dr. Lyle

[Tania]

... is said to have pale ivory blossoms...

Do you know which seed vendor has a correct Dr. Lyle with these unique blossoms? TGS has it, but no mention of the blossom color... same at Sandhill...

I remember my Dr. Lyle plants had gray-green foliage, which was different from other varieties, but I don't remember blossoms being pale... I think... It was an absolutely delicious tomato though, that I remember very well!

I am looking for the real deal with correct blossoms... please help!

[gflynn]

I asked Dr. Carolyn this question once and my impression from her response was that blossum color was highly variable. In otherwords, athough she had them on her plants that are mentioned in 100 Tomatoes for the American Garden, that doesn't mean that you will see white blossums on your plants.

I am growing them again this year next to Earl's Faux. I am hoping to find a winner in the contest between them. Earl's Faux is stiff competition.

Greg

[carolyn137]

Correct Greg in that blossom color may be variable, but they are never white white, rather, from pale ivory, which is what I always got, to a slightly deeper color.

And yes, there have been several threads about this, both here and at GW.

Tania, if you've got the gray/green foliage and large lucious pink beefsteaks, then you have the variety Dr. Lyle.

Others such as TGS, for instance, may not see blossom color as something that needs to be mentioned, but I did so in my book b'c it's not usual to see such light colored blossoms. And there are a few others that do have such light colored blossoms: White Flowered Marge and
Lutescent are two that come to mind.

[Tomstrees]

Greg -

I'd like to stay in touch as I'm growing out Dr. Lyle as well - I would "like" to try and find those blossoms if we "can" ~ you know ?
If you can, PM me your seed source ~

Tom

[carolyn137]

Hey guys, I did offer Dr. Lyle seeds in my seed offer here, and the Dr. Lyle at Sandhill is also from me.

I know nada about Dr Lyle seeds from other sources, meaning, I can't remember if I sent them to Linda at TGS, or not.

But as I said above, blossom color does not authenticate, nor does it refute the valitidy of the variety, in my opinion. I reported in my book what I had gotten with this variety under my conditions in my tomato patch having grown it several times.

[Tomstrees]

Thanks Carolyn ~

My seed source is from the original poster "tjg911".
I'm def. growiing it out in 2007 - I'll take some pics, and see whats what !

Tom

[jenn_sc]

Tania and Tom,

I will be growing out Dr. Lyle this year too! Which means we can all compare notes. I am really excited about trying this variety and of course I plan to save seed.

Thanks to Carolyn, my seed source

I can't wait to see those unique blossoms and foliage! And I can't wait to taste the fruits

Jennifer

[Tomstrees]

lets not have our hopes up "too-high" for those blossoms - but any "off coloring" of those flowers should be documented !

~ Tom

[gflynn]

Tom,

I hate to say it but I have never seen the Ivory Blossoms but since I am ordering some other stuff from Sandhill I think I will get some of those as well. If you want some of the seeds I could mail them to you after I get them.

Greg

[Tomstrees]

Greg -

That sounds really cool , thanks !
I'll grow both seed sources ~ nexy to eachother !
I've really been wanting to grow this one out for a while now -

PM me when you get a chance !

Tom

[carolyn137]

Folks, light colored blossoms are not unique to Dr. Lyle as I've grown that variety and observed the blossom color.

Grow Lutescent and you'll see the same.

Grow White Flowered Marge and you'll see the same.

However, I think I'm one of the few with seeds for the latter one, from the USDA, maybe Craig might have it as well, and they're very old seeds and who knows where they are right now.

[Tomstrees]

Now we're talking Carolyn !
Thanks !

~ Tom

[tjg911]

Originally Posted by Tomstrees

Thanks Carolyn ~

My seed source is from the original poster "tjg911".
I'm def. growiing it out in 2007 - I'll take some pics, and see whats what !

Tom

Tom,

I just sent you a reply to your email and then I saw the answer in this thread! I haven't been to Tville for several days.

My DL seed source was gflynn from Gaithersburg, MD. I was correct, his name is greg and he's from MD! There's hope for my brain!

I like DL so much that I had to make a really tough decision this summer. I had room for either Dr. Lyle or Earl's Faux... talk about Sophie's choice!!!! Both are excellent and both are top rated in taste but I chose DL over EF for this summer. EF produced a low amount of tomatoes last summer from the same seeds as the prior summer but last summer was horrid. DL produced a good 10 days earlier than EF, much more tomatoes and I thought it was better tasting than EF in 2006 but that is the 1st year I grew DL. Both are excellent so don't think I am saying EF is inferior because it is not. Based upon those 3 things I picked DL over EF.

I HAD to cut back to JUST 6 tomato plants this summer, a VERY VERY tough choice in what to grow especially as I am trying two new varieties leaving room for just 4 old favs.

Tom

[gflynn]

Tom,

I am glad you like DL. I tried Earl's Faux last year and it was an equal to DL. I will grow both this year.

Greg

[Tomstrees]

I can confirm that my Dr. Lyle plant has the gray/green foliage that everyone talks about - but I can't tell as of yet what color the blossoms are ... Its turned into a very large plant but was the slowest of the bunch to "catch up" ... Plenty of buds ready to break - will post pics.

Hows everyone else doing in regards to their Dr. Lyle plants?

~ Tom