Sungold source

Tomatovator · February 17, 2009

Is there any place other than Burpee to buy sungold F1 seeds? I checked TT and TGS Sungold is not listed this year.

Tomatovator · February 17, 2009

Ingore this post I was spelling "Sun Gold" as "Sungold". I got the name right and then I found them.

kygreg · February 17, 2009

I think there is an OP version of Sun Gold available, but maybe not commerically yet.

feldon30 · February 17, 2009

Sungold has been dehybridized by various people, but these OP variants like Sungold Select II, etc. are not interchangeable with Sungold. Sungold is one of the most difficult tomatoes to convert to an open pollinated variety.

stormymater · February 17, 2009

What makes a tomato difficult to convert to OP? I can think of needing the space to grow out a large number of plants to select from as an issue for folks who are field-openic, but what else comes into play?

johnsonjrbm · February 17, 2009

Value Seeds, Thompson & Morgan's outlet store, has Sungold...

kevokie · February 17, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by stormymater

What makes a tomato difficult to convert to OP? I can think of needing the space to grow out a large number of plants to select from as an issue for folks who are field-openic, but what else comes into play?

In addition to the space issue, it would be very difficult to get the OP version to taste just like the hybrid version. Of course, you could dehybridize it to your specific liking.

feldon30 · February 17, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by stormymater

What makes a tomato difficult to convert to OP? I can think of needing the space to grow out a large number of plants to select from as an issue for folks who are field-openic, but what else comes into play?

Sungold has some very different parents. We haven't been able to figure out exactly what, since this information is a trade secret, but it appears to have a currant type tomato in its parentage.

People who have dehybridized Sungold have gotten large and small fruit in red, gold, and other colors. None have gotten the exact flavor and fruit size.

stormymater · February 17, 2009

thanks for explanation feldon30 - learning all the time!

**nctomatoman** · February 18, 2009

I find the best thing is to buy in bulk from JSS or TGSC. I think I have 3000 seeds..so if the hybrid ever goes away, I will be all set! (actually it is a very popular variety for seedlings, so I need at least 300 seeds per year)

travis · February 21, 2009

Over the past few years, I've found that Sun Gold seed from Thompson & Morgan give me the best results for that variety.

The worst examples I got of Sun Gold were from Burpee. Some of the plants actually yielded tart red cherries.

And I notice in the 2009 Johnny's Selected Seeds print catalog that they offer 100 Sun Gold seeds at a very reasonable price (6.95). I've always gotten great results from other JSS seeds in the past.

dew · March 16, 2009

My Sun Gold and Super Marmande seeds just came today from Value Seeds. They came in postage stamp size foil packs with the name and lot only on them, but I already downloaded the planting information so it doesn't matter to me.

February 17, 2009	#1
Tomatovator Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Zone 6 Posts: 461	Sungold source Is there any place other than Burpee to buy sungold F1 seeds? I checked TT and TGS Sungold is not listed this year.

February 17, 2009	#4
feldon30 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 5,346	Sungold has been dehybridized by various people, but these OP variants like Sungold Select II, etc. are not interchangeable with Sungold. Sungold is one of the most difficult tomatoes to convert to an open pollinated variety. __________________ [SIZE="3"]I've relaunched my gardening website -- [B]TheUnconventionalTomato.com[/B][/SIZE] * [I][SIZE="1"]*I'm not allowed to post weblinks so you'll have to copy-paste it manually.[/SIZE][/I]

February 18, 2009	#10
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	I find the best thing is to buy in bulk from JSS or TGSC. I think I have 3000 seeds..so if the hybrid ever goes away, I will be all set! (actually it is a very popular variety for seedlings, so I need at least 300 seeds per year) __________________ Craig

February 17, 2009	#3
kygreg Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: kentucky Posts: 1,019	I think there is an OP version of Sun Gold available, but maybe not commerically yet.

February 17, 2009	#5
stormymater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pleasure Island, NC 8a Posts: 1,162	What makes a tomato difficult to convert to OP? I can think of needing the space to grow out a large number of plants to select from as an issue for folks who are field-openic, but what else comes into play?

February 17, 2009	#6
johnsonjrbm Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Olympia, WA Posts: 48	Value Seeds, Thompson & Morgan's outlet store, has Sungold...

February 21, 2009	#11
travis Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 2,984	Over the past few years, I've found that Sun Gold seed from Thompson & Morgan give me the best results for that variety. The worst examples I got of Sun Gold were from Burpee. Some of the plants actually yielded tart red cherries. And I notice in the 2009 Johnny's Selected Seeds print catalog that they offer 100 Sun Gold seeds at a very reasonable price (6.95). I've always gotten great results from other JSS seeds in the past.

March 16, 2009	#12
dew Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 27	My Sun Gold and Super Marmande seeds just came today from Value Seeds. They came in postage stamp size foil packs with the name and lot only on them, but I already downloaded the planting information so it doesn't matter to me.