Looking for info on "Rose"

[seeker]

This spring, I bought a plant that was supposed to be a local (well, New Holland, PA) heirloom. It has grown into a huge, incredibly healthy, potato-leaf plant producing large, delicious fruit. I'd really like to grow this again next year, but have been unsuccessful at getting any of my bagged blossoms to become a fruit (and don't want to keep wasting them). Does anyone know of a source for seed? I've found a couple of places that sell seed for a variety that sounds like what I have, but none of the descriptions mention "potato leaf". Also, I checked Craig's website for his list of all known potato-leaf varieties, and didn't see any called just "Rose." Can someone help me out? Do I have a partial/incorrect name perhaps? I'd really appreciate any information you can give me.

Paula

[korney19]

I think the correct Rose may be RL... I think Johnny's carries it.

If you think yours is different, and you want to grow it again, leave a cluster unbagged and grow it next year before offering seeds to anybody to be sure it's what you want first.

[Fert1]

I've grown Rose a number of times. It's one of my personal favorites, but... it is NOT a potato leaf variety. So what you have is not the official version. If it's good though, I say save some seeds. Most likely they will grow true. While an unbagged blossom can result in a cross, it's not all that likely (20% chance if I remember correctly). Earl has his Faux Brandywine that people love. Maybe you have Faux Rose.

[VGary]

Paula, This is the description from Sandhill Preservation Center. I ordered seed from them last fall for Thieneman's Nursery and germinated them for public sale. I believe we had 99% germination on them. You always get more than a few seed from these folks and the price is great!
Gary

Rose: 74 days. Indeterminate plants producing 1 pound, slightly flattened globe, pink skinned fruits with intense, deep pink flesh. OG
http://www.sandhillpreservation.com/catalog/tomato.html

Seeds were originally from Dr. Grace Kaiser, who was a physician to the Amish in New Holland, Pennsylvania. She was given the original seeds in 1960 by Hannah Lapp, one of her Amish patients. Read more about Dr. Kaiser in hers memoir of her years as a doctor to the Amish community in the book: Dr Frau.

[elkwc36]

There has been a thread on Rose on a couple of other forums I check in at. Basically Baker Creek has a Rose listed that is PL. I won't go into the details of the story. If you desire them go to IDig and do a search for Rose. You will find it. And it seems many got their seeds from them including several vendors of plants. So very possible where your plant came from. Jay

[carolyn137]

Un fortunately it seems as though quite a few wrong varieties have come from Baker Creek this year and I'm told that a thread was started there by I guess Jere asking folks to report back.

But as for the real Rose, it was first offered by Johnny's Selected Seeds, is RL ,and the whole history of it as they received it in 1991 is given at Johnny's last I knew.

[seeker]

Thank you all very much for all of the information. That explains a lot, LOL. The real Rose sounds like a great tomato also; I'm putting that one on my to-grow list.

So far this year, I have small, round, red "Cherokee Purples"; medium-sized bright yellow, round "Anna Russians", round red "Azoychkas", and a potato-leaf "Rose". Sheesh. Anyway, thanks again for clearing this up for me.

Paula

[elkwc36]

Paula,
Where did your Cherokee Purple seeds come from? The same problem has been reported with Baker Creek seeds. Hopefully you get some good tomatoes to eat. Jay

[Douglas14]

I'm growing the PL Rose, from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. I ate one yesterday, and it was very good tasting IMO.

[tomatoguy]

I grew Rose for several years and was always well pleased. If I recall correctly, my seeds came from TGS. It could have been Johnny's, though, since I have ordered from them, too. The plants were humongous and so were the tomatoes. They were well over a pound on average with several over two pounds. When I was using a trellis system it always astounded me to have to reach way up to pick this size tomato. They were, however, as stated before, RL. There are several other varieties with "Rose" in the name such as Rose De Berne and Russian Rose. I don't know anything about the others but perhaps one of them is the PL that you have. Seems like there is a lot of confusion about tomato varieties, especially when the seed vendors can't even get it right. If you don't believe me, do a search for Cuostralee and then one for "Coustralee". Heck, I have even seen folks spell tomato as "tomatoe", a la Dan Quayle and his "potatoe" gaff. Kinda like the old schoolroom game of gossip I suppose.

mater (which is a valid nickname in the southern US but not in Germany, cause I ain't yo mama)

[Puregoodtomatoes]

This year is the first year I planted Rose, from I think Sandhill. I like it alot. It has huge tomatoes and pretty tasty. The plants are huge and mine unfortantly fell but I will leave it a lone because I like the fruits. The production on this is good as well.

[seeker]

Jay,

I actually bought plants this year. I got several plants from a local high school whose Ag Dept raises and sells heirloom tomatoes as a class project. They got their seeds from Baker Creek. I don't think I got a single plant from them that is what it claims to be. However, the faux Rose is really nice, and very healthly though it's surrounded by plants with Early Blight. The tomatoes taste very good, also, and are huge. That one, at least, is not a disappointment.

I forgot to mention in my list of wrong varieties that I also have a regular-leaf "Pink Brandywine", but that one is entirely my fault. For some reason, the leaf type just didn't register with me when I saw it at a local fruit stand. It's producing lots of good fruit, though, so I don't much mind.

Fortunately, I also have some plants from Daryl at selectedplants.com. They all appear to be true-to-type, so
I'll still have plenty of great tomatoes that I can identify, LOL.

Thanks to everyone for the great input!

Paula