Mrs. Benson - Page 3

Timbotide · February 5, 2011

Bill, How big did the fruit get on your Bill's Berkley Pink
Plants last year?

b54red · February 5, 2011

Tim they ranged from around 2 oz to 8 oz. The remarkable thing was how productive it was even during the couple of weeks that daytime temps were 100 or more and night times rarely got below 90 with humidity hovering around 100%. No other tomato fared very well during that period and that is why I am so hoping this thing will grow true again.

Timbotide · February 5, 2011

Bill, I'm going to plant a few of the BBP and see how they do. My Mom is gonna let me have some space on her property to plant some Tomatoes and melons so I will have extra room to grow more plants this year.
Those Gregori's Altai you gave me are the most vigorous growing seedlings I have ever seen and the others are doing good as well.

husker nana · May 4, 2011

I watered my plants tonight and noticed that one of my Mrs. Benson tomato plants has a set of buds ready to flower. I planted seed on March 6th. This is my first time growing this one (thanks Kath) and I still have at least a couple of weeks before I can plant out.

Since no others are budding and no chance of crossing then would this be a good one to mark and save for seeds if it does set tomato? Is the first tomato not a good choice?

kath · May 4, 2011

Mrs. Benson was the first to give me a ripe tomato last year along with Sungold.

Never having saved seeds before last year, I bagged blossoms, but don't know of any reason why the first tomato wouldn't be a good choice, especially since you know there's no chance it could have been cross pollinated.

husker nana · May 4, 2011

Kath, good to know that Mrs Benson was early for you too. Fingers crossed that this set will flower and set so I can mark and save seed and not worry about them being crossed. All new to me. I have time to read and study up on saving seed. Do you bleach yours or just dry and store?

kath · May 4, 2011

Wishing you luck with the pollination-remember to jiggle the flowers every day.

I decided to use the Oxi-Clean method that I read about here at Tomatoville...it was quick and easy.

Then I left the seeds on paper plates in a dry environment for a week or so to dry.

husker nana · May 4, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by kath

Wishing you luck with the pollination-remember to jiggle the flowers every day.

I decided to use the Oxi-Clean method that I read about here at Tomatoville...it was quick and easy.

Then I left the seeds on paper plates in a dry environment for a week or so to dry.

Will do search on Oxi Clean Method..
I did go to a seminar on seed saving for tomato's in Decorah Iowa but they didn't talk about anything beyond collecting and drying seeds. They were open for questions but didn't know what questions to ask. That's what is nice about this forum. The answers are a question away or you can search for answers as they are stored somewhere on this forum. Thanks for your help.

P.S. I planted the rest of the Woodle Orange and one came up (it is tiny but) I will get to try that one this season too! Plus I hope to save seeds from that one too.

b54red · May 5, 2011

My Mrs Bensons is already showing the first signs of fusarium. Last year I tried 4 or 5 plants and they all died of fusarium before I ever got a tomato. This year it looks like I will get at least one fruit. I have a greenie on the plant that is the size of a flattened tennis ball already. The pity is the plant is loaded with blossoms. It was one of my best looking plants up til a day ago and I had high hopes of massive production from it this year. So far the only Mrs. Benson's I have grown successfully has been one in a container. The tomatoes were good enough to keep trying it in different spots. The next Mrs Benson's to go into the garden will go into a bleached spot to see if it helps.

As to saving seed I have never tried anything other than the fermenting system and it is fairly easy and reliable. My seed germination rate from all of my saved seed has been over 90%.

February 5, 2011	#31
Timbotide Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Northport Alabama Posts: 304	Bill, How big did the fruit get on your Bill's Berkley Pink Plants last year?

February 5, 2011	#32
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	Tim they ranged from around 2 oz to 8 oz. The remarkable thing was how productive it was even during the couple of weeks that daytime temps were 100 or more and night times rarely got below 90 with humidity hovering around 100%. No other tomato fared very well during that period and that is why I am so hoping this thing will grow true again.

May 4, 2011	#34
husker nana Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Wisc. 5A Posts: 197	I watered my plants tonight and noticed that one of my Mrs. Benson tomato plants has a set of buds ready to flower. I planted seed on March 6th. This is my first time growing this one (thanks Kath) and I still have at least a couple of weeks before I can plant out. Since no others are budding and no chance of crossing then would this be a good one to mark and save for seeds if it does set tomato? Is the first tomato not a good choice?

May 4, 2011	#35
kath Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: zone 6b, PA Posts: 5,664	Mrs. Benson was the first to give me a ripe tomato last year along with Sungold. Never having saved seeds before last year, I bagged blossoms, but don't know of any reason why the first tomato wouldn't be a good choice, especially since you know there's no chance it could have been cross pollinated.

May 5, 2011	#39
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	My Mrs Bensons is already showing the first signs of fusarium. Last year I tried 4 or 5 plants and they all died of fusarium before I ever got a tomato. This year it looks like I will get at least one fruit. I have a greenie on the plant that is the size of a flattened tennis ball already. The pity is the plant is loaded with blossoms. It was one of my best looking plants up til a day ago and I had high hopes of massive production from it this year. So far the only Mrs. Benson's I have grown successfully has been one in a container. The tomatoes were good enough to keep trying it in different spots. The next Mrs Benson's to go into the garden will go into a bleached spot to see if it helps. As to saving seed I have never tried anything other than the fermenting system and it is fairly easy and reliable. My seed germination rate from all of my saved seed has been over 90%.