John Baer/Bonny Best

cecilsgarden1958 · January 29, 2010

I have seen these two varieties on more then one occasion being described as being the same tomato. I grew Bonny Best on more than one occasion (TGS) and it was an indeterminate, where John Baer is a deteminate. I was wondering why the comparision?
I googled them just now and found these blubs.

John Baer:
70 days. Lycopersicon esculentum. Plant produces high yields of 5 oz bright red tomatoes. It is very meaty and flavorful. Excellent fresh or canned. Plant produces continuously all year until first frost. Suitable for home gardens and market growers. A heirloom variety. Determinate. pk/10 from..... http://www.reimerseeds.com/john-baer-tomato.aspx

Bonny Best:
72 days. Lycopersicon esculentum. Plant produces heavy yields of 10 oz red tomatoes. Tomatoes solid and turn bright red when mature. Suitable for Northern regions. Indeterminate. pk/20
from......
http://www.reimerseeds.com/bonny-best-tomato.aspx

CECIL

travis · January 29, 2010

There is a series of tomato varieties where one is a selection from a previously named variety. I think it goes something like this - Chalk's Early Jewel (1899) > Bonny Best (1908) > John Baer.

I think all three are indeterminate. If you want to grow John Baer, you might check out Seed Savers Exchange catalog where the package will have 25 seeds compared to Reimer's 10.
http://www.seedsavers.org/Details.aspx?itemNo=1435(OG)

eyolf · January 29, 2010

I've got all 3; including one of the determinate so-called Bonnie Bests. IMO, the determinate is NOT correct.

A determinate J.B. would be similarly incorrect; crossed or mislabelled. I also have seen a single specimen in a row of BB that exhibited the clear-skinned "pink" fruit type. Cross, mutant, or errant stray seed? Interesting thing was plant habit was the same.

FWIW, a Canadian selection from this series, "Pollock" is a superior variety. No larger, but 2 or 3 days earlier and extremely uniform. Fruit doesn't size down late nearly as bad either.

Farmette · January 29, 2010

I purchased seeds last year from Jung Seed (they give Seed Savers credit for resurrecting it) at a price of 30 seeds for $2.10. I grew it and it was indeterminate and a good producer of tasty red tomatoes.

January 29, 2010	#1
cecilsgarden1958 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: swPA Posts: 629	John Baer/Bonny Best I have seen these two varieties on more then one occasion being described as being the same tomato. I grew Bonny Best on more than one occasion (TGS) and it was an indeterminate, where John Baer is a deteminate. I was wondering why the comparision? I googled them just now and found these blubs. John Baer: 70 days. Lycopersicon esculentum. Plant produces high yields of 5 oz bright red tomatoes. It is very meaty and flavorful. Excellent fresh or canned. Plant produces continuously all year until first frost. Suitable for home gardens and market growers. A heirloom variety. Determinate. pk/10 from..... http://www.reimerseeds.com/john-baer-tomato.aspx Bonny Best: 72 days. Lycopersicon esculentum. Plant produces heavy yields of 10 oz red tomatoes. Tomatoes solid and turn bright red when mature. Suitable for Northern regions. Indeterminate. pk/20 from...... http://www.reimerseeds.com/bonny-best-tomato.aspx CECIL __________________ Hybrids Rule, Heirlooms Drool!

January 29, 2010	#3
eyolf Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Central MN, USDA Zone 3 Posts: 303	I've got all 3; including one of the determinate so-called Bonnie Bests. IMO, the determinate is NOT correct. A determinate J.B. would be similarly incorrect; crossed or mislabelled. I also have seen a single specimen in a row of BB that exhibited the clear-skinned "pink" fruit type. Cross, mutant, or errant stray seed? Interesting thing was plant habit was the same. FWIW, a Canadian selection from this series, "Pollock" is a superior variety. No larger, but 2 or 3 days earlier and extremely uniform. Fruit doesn't size down late nearly as bad either. __________________ a day without fresh homegrown tomatoes is like... ...sigh

January 29, 2010	#2
travis Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 2,984	There is a series of tomato varieties where one is a selection from a previously named variety. I think it goes something like this - Chalk's Early Jewel (1899) > Bonny Best (1908) > John Baer. I think all three are indeterminate. If you want to grow John Baer, you might check out Seed Savers Exchange catalog where the package will have 25 seeds compared to Reimer's 10. http://www.seedsavers.org/Details.aspx?itemNo=1435(OG)

January 29, 2010	#4
Farmette Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2009 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 985	I purchased seeds last year from Jung Seed (they give Seed Savers credit for resurrecting it) at a price of 30 seeds for $2.10. I grew it and it was indeterminate and a good producer of tasty red tomatoes.