Cougar Red

moulman · May 9, 2007

OK, so I'm at my favorite local nursery, and I find these healthy, stout, little tomato seedlings. They were developed at Washington State University in Pullman (very local), especially for our local growing conditions and weather (Inland NW/ Western slope of Rockies Z 5-6 ).

They are supposed to be semi-determinate, medium sized red ( 6-8 oz) very early and cool night tolerant- and will set fruit in cooler nights ( typical local conditions in summer).

They are called Cougar Red (a tribute to WSU mascot, of course) - anyone ever hear of them? I have lived in this area for a long time, and this is the first I have seen of them. The nurseryman said they are somewhat recent - released locally 4-5 yrs ago.
A call to the WSU Extension Office only confirmed the above, with little additional info.

I have one plant, and have unsuccessfully searched locally for more. The original nursery has no more currently.

Just curious if anyone has grown these, or even heard of them - would be interested in experiences/results.

Matt

sirtanon · May 9, 2007

I found just a smattering of info on it.

Have a look here.. http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/31226/index.html

moulman · May 10, 2007

Thanks. I guess it's not too popular. I'll grow some and see what happens.

Thanks

dice · May 11, 2007

I have a few of these started. The seeds seemed
a little out-of-date (not as quick to sprout as most
of the other cultivars that I started), but the seedlings
seem healthy enough. Not particular vigorous in
the first few weeks, but they seem to be catching
up fast as the weather warms.

I don't know if it is the cultivar or the seed vendor
that is "not too popular" (kind of under a cloud
at Garden Watchdog).

If I start any next year from this same seed packet,
I may have to resort to the HC method of starting
old seeds (described on GW a few months ago in
a thread about recreating a discontinued hybrid,
Mozark Pink or something like that; do a search for
"Glamour", one of the parent strains, and you'll
probably find it).

Edit: the GW discussion mentioned above
was about recreating Avalanche (F1 hybrid),
and HC had started some quite old Mozark
seeds (one of the parent lines of Avalanche;
Glamour was another parent of Avalanche).

I pasted his description of what worked into
a post on the end of Lakshmi's thread in the
seed starting forum at Tomatoville on
"weak tea water":

http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=4785

JRRogers · May 2, 2013

In Washington and Idaho we are finding Cougar Red Tomato's. In CDA, ID I got 3 Quart size really nice plats at Albertsons of all places... at 3 for $10.00 They were well branched and 2 feet high... To the hothouse they go till we have 50 degrees or above at night.

dice · May 5, 2013

They are Stupice-sized, and fairly sweet. Kind of one dimensional
flavor, like a sweet hybrid cherry, but good enough if you like
sweet tomatoes.

Worth1 · May 5, 2013

Sounds like the name of an exotic dancer.

Worth

dice · May 7, 2013

They have an unusual texture, meaty like a Roma but not dry
like most pastes.,

May 9, 2007	#1
moulman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Idaho Posts: 68	Cougar Red OK, so I'm at my favorite local nursery, and I find these healthy, stout, little tomato seedlings. They were developed at Washington State University in Pullman (very local), especially for our local growing conditions and weather (Inland NW/ Western slope of Rockies Z 5-6 ). They are supposed to be semi-determinate, medium sized red ( 6-8 oz) very early and cool night tolerant- and will set fruit in cooler nights ( typical local conditions in summer). They are called Cougar Red (a tribute to WSU mascot, of course) - anyone ever hear of them? I have lived in this area for a long time, and this is the first I have seen of them. The nurseryman said they are somewhat recent - released locally 4-5 yrs ago. A call to the WSU Extension Office only confirmed the above, with little additional info. I have one plant, and have unsuccessfully searched locally for more. The original nursery has no more currently. Just curious if anyone has grown these, or even heard of them - would be interested in experiences/results. Matt __________________ No one ever learned a thing while they were talking.

May 9, 2007	#2
sirtanon Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ (zone 9b) Posts: 796	I found just a smattering of info on it. Have a look here.. http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/31226/index.html __________________ I could sail by on the winds of silence, and maybe they won't notice... but this time I think it would be better if I swim..

May 10, 2007	#3
moulman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Idaho Posts: 68	Thanks. I guess it's not too popular. I'll grow some and see what happens. Thanks __________________ No one ever learned a thing while they were talking.

May 11, 2007	#4
dice Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: PNW Posts: 4,743	I have a few of these started. The seeds seemed a little out-of-date (not as quick to sprout as most of the other cultivars that I started), but the seedlings seem healthy enough. Not particular vigorous in the first few weeks, but they seem to be catching up fast as the weather warms. I don't know if it is the cultivar or the seed vendor that is "not too popular" (kind of under a cloud at Garden Watchdog). If I start any next year from this same seed packet, I may have to resort to the HC method of starting old seeds (described on GW a few months ago in a thread about recreating a discontinued hybrid, Mozark Pink or something like that; do a search for "Glamour", one of the parent strains, and you'll probably find it). Edit: the GW discussion mentioned above was about recreating Avalanche (F1 hybrid), and HC had started some quite old Mozark seeds (one of the parent lines of Avalanche; Glamour was another parent of Avalanche). I pasted his description of what worked into a post on the end of Lakshmi's thread in the seed starting forum at Tomatoville on "weak tea water": http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=4785 __________________ -- alias Last edited by dice; May 12, 2007 at 02:34 AM. Reason: Clarification, add URL

May 5, 2013	#6
dice Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: PNW Posts: 4,743	They are Stupice-sized, and fairly sweet. Kind of one dimensional flavor, like a sweet hybrid cherry, but good enough if you like sweet tomatoes. __________________ -- alias

May 2, 2013	#5
JRRogers Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Latah WA Posts: 2	In Washington and Idaho we are finding Cougar Red Tomato's. In CDA, ID I got 3 Quart size really nice plats at Albertsons of all places... at 3 for $10.00 They were well branched and 2 feet high... To the hothouse they go till we have 50 degrees or above at night.

May 5, 2013	#7
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Sounds like the name of an exotic dancer. Worth

May 7, 2013	#8
dice Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: PNW Posts: 4,743	They have an unusual texture, meaty like a Roma but not dry like most pastes., __________________ -- alias