Anyone familiar with Scarab variety?

Cecilia_MD7a · February 16, 2009

A poster on the MAGTAG forum mentioned Scarab as a local Mid-Atlantic variety, along with Greater Baltimore, Djena Lee's Golden Girl, Del Mar, and Chesapeake. I'm assuming it's an older roadside stand variety like the others. But I've never heard of Scarab or seen a listing for it in a seed catalog. Have any of you grown Scarab or do you even have a description of it?

montanamato · February 16, 2009

I have seen a picture in a seed catalog this spring, as I remember reading it...I looked in the catalog I thought it was in, but couldn't find it....So I think it is being offered this year...I will search some more catalogs later and find out who is offering it...

Jeanne

**carolyn137** · February 16, 2009

I don't believe it. What don't I believe? Well, I looked in the 2009 SSE YEarbook and found it listed.

One person from TN, actually Marinne Jones of mariseeds, says 70 days, indet, RL, pink globes, 4 oz with wonderful flavor.

The other person from ME says 75 days, my favorite purple by far, pretty and tasty, from NY MA C 94 and that's ME and I never grew Scarab.

So I looked further and found that it was first listed in the SSE 1996 Yearbook by Chuck Wyatt who said:

70 days, indet, RL, great set of small/med perfect globes ( it's in the pink section of the YEarbook), no cracking or blemishes, outstanding sweet flavor, bears until frost, found in a manure pile at a race track 5 years ago.

So there's a nice origin for you.I didn't find a source for this variety by Googling but I sure know where scarab beetles can hang out.

stormymater · February 16, 2009

I believe Chuck Wyatt's old site actually specifies the Timonium Racetrack (a near & dear place to me from my teenage years) - Timonium, MD.

Cecilia_MD7a · February 16, 2009

I knew I could count on Carolyn to come up with something!

Stormy, I checked Chuck's website to see if Donna has it available, but it wasn't there. Mariseeds doesn't carry it, either. Guess SSE is the only place to find it.

Wonder why it was called Scarab, and what the Timonium Racetrack connection is - I go past the Timonium Fairgrounds on me light rail ride to work all the time. Was it grown or sold there? Makes me miss Chuck all the more. He could have told us.

stormymater · February 16, 2009

hmmm - hang on (pulling up new tab) -
go here - it is one this page -
http://www.heirloomtomatoes.net/Varieties.htm
I almost ordered some this spring for purely nostalgic reasons - may have to go ahead & do it already!

**carolyn137** · February 16, 2009

I go past the Timonium Fairgrounds on me light rail ride to work all the time. Was it grown or sold there? Makes me miss Chuck all the more. He could have told us.

****

Cecilia, he tell us not only with his initial description in the SSE 1996 Yearbook but also at his former website now run by Donna, who used to pack seed for him. That link from stormy/

Answer? Manure pile volunteer at that race track found in 1992, yup, manure pile.

One assumes horse manure pile.

Cecilia_MD7a · February 17, 2009

What? Not tortoise manure, Carolyn?

Cecilia_MD7a · February 17, 2009

Now how did I miss Scarab on Chuck's website when I visited it earlier? Am I already getting "chemo brain" after just one session?

P.S. I'm slated to get my hair buzz-cut this weekend before my hair falls out. If it's not too hot this August, expect to see me in a tomato-red wig at MAGTAG 2009.

newatthiskat · February 18, 2009

Good luck Cecilia. Hopefully you are holding up so far?? I bet tomato red will be your color!!

Kat

February 16, 2009	#1
Cecilia_MD7a MAGTAG™ Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 400	Anyone familiar with Scarab variety? A poster on the MAGTAG forum mentioned Scarab as a local Mid-Atlantic variety, along with Greater Baltimore, Djena Lee's Golden Girl, Del Mar, and Chesapeake. I'm assuming it's an older roadside stand variety like the others. But I've never heard of Scarab or seen a listing for it in a seed catalog. Have any of you grown Scarab or do you even have a description of it?

February 16, 2009	#3
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	I don't believe it. What don't I believe? Well, I looked in the 2009 SSE YEarbook and found it listed. One person from TN, actually Marinne Jones of mariseeds, says 70 days, indet, RL, pink globes, 4 oz with wonderful flavor. The other person from ME says 75 days, my favorite purple by far, pretty and tasty, from NY MA C 94 and that's ME and I never grew Scarab. So I looked further and found that it was first listed in the SSE 1996 Yearbook by Chuck Wyatt who said: 70 days, indet, RL, great set of small/med perfect globes ( it's in the pink section of the YEarbook), no cracking or blemishes, outstanding sweet flavor, bears until frost, found in a manure pile at a race track 5 years ago. So there's a nice origin for you.I didn't find a source for this variety by Googling but I sure know where scarab beetles can hang out. __________________ Carolyn

February 16, 2009	#7
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	I go past the Timonium Fairgrounds on me light rail ride to work all the time. Was it grown or sold there? Makes me miss Chuck all the more. He could have told us. **** Cecilia, he tell us not only with his initial description in the SSE 1996 Yearbook but also at his former website now run by Donna, who used to pack seed for him. That link from stormy/ Answer? Manure pile volunteer at that race track found in 1992, yup, manure pile. One assumes horse manure pile. __________________ Carolyn

February 18, 2009	#10
newatthiskat Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: texas Posts: 1,451	reply Good luck Cecilia. Hopefully you are holding up so far?? I bet tomato red will be your color!! Kat

February 16, 2009	#2
montanamato Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Montana Posts: 1,038	I have seen a picture in a seed catalog this spring, as I remember reading it...I looked in the catalog I thought it was in, but couldn't find it....So I think it is being offered this year...I will search some more catalogs later and find out who is offering it... Jeanne

February 16, 2009	#4
stormymater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pleasure Island, NC 8a Posts: 1,162	I believe Chuck Wyatt's old site actually specifies the Timonium Racetrack (a near & dear place to me from my teenage years) - Timonium, MD.

February 17, 2009	#8
Cecilia_MD7a MAGTAG™ Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 400	What? Not tortoise manure, Carolyn?