Just picked my first big slicer!

[KathyDC]

This is SUPPOSED to be a Pink Berkeley Tie Dye, but it sure doesn't look like it from these.

However, it's still pretty and I'm going to eat the heck out of it for lunch! Weighed at 14oz.

Kathy

[kath]

Well, it's not PBTD but I hope you enjoy your lunch.

kath

[Fred Hempel]

I bet the seed did not come from Brad Gates, who developed the variety and has a website where it can be purchased.

I think there are some very compelling arguments for buying seed, as opposed to trading, particularly when you really want to try a specific variety:

1. Seed companies (good ones) continually re-select. If you buy from Brad Gates, you will likely be getting seed from the best plants in a whole row of PBTD he grew. In other words, you will be getting the best PBTD available.

2. Seed companies are less likely to sell you the wrong variety because of a cross, seed contamination or seed mix-ups.

3. The cost of going to Brad Gate's site and buying a packet of seed is probably less than the cost of getting "free" seed in a trade where one has to a) make a list of all the seed they saved, b) make a list of the varieties they want in return, c) go back and forth with potential traders about what they still have, d) organize mailings, e) send emails reminding your trading partner to send the seed, f) posting at Tomatoville photographs of something that is not the right variety, g) repeat process until the right seed arrives.

In some cases seed is only available through trade, and trading is very valuable. But, I think that if you really want to grow a tried-and-true variety, without worrying about mix-ups and hassles, seeds should be bought.

[KathyDC]

I really completely agree -- I personally do both. I purchase seeds when it's a variety I really truly want to grow. But I trade seeds too, primarily for varieties I'm interested in but not quite enough to purchase -- or for rare varieties that aren't commercially available anymore.

The ironic part is, of all the tomatoes that have ripened in our garden so far, this faux PBTD is one of the most tasty! Too bad I have no idea what it is.

Kathy

[BucksCountyGirl]

Looks delicious, whatever it is! Hope you enjoyed your lunch!

[socalgardengal]

Looks yummy! How was it?

[Salsacharley]

Originally Posted by KathyDC

I really completely agree -- I personally do both. I purchase seeds when it's a variety I really truly want to grow. But I trade seeds too, primarily for varieties I'm interested in but not quite enough to purchase -- or for rare varieties that aren't commercially available anymore.

The ironic part is, of all the tomatoes that have ripened in our garden so far, this faux PBTD is one of the most tasty! Too bad I have no idea what it is.

Kathy

I have to say that I've duped myself twice already this year using my own saved seeds. I have a supposed to be Golden Jubilee plant that I used saved seeds from last year and hasn't produced fruit yet, but it is a PL????

Now I have what is supposed to be a Green Velvet that I saved seeds from last year that is showing pink/red fruit so far.

Would these be considered "Golden Jubilee x Mystery F1" and Green Velvet x Mystery F1"?

I bought a box store Golden Jubilee RL just to compare the results with my mixed up one.

Charley

[Fred Hempel]

Hi Kathy,

Sorry, My soapbox speech wasn't really directed at you specifically. It has been something I have wanted to say for awhile.

Hopefully you will find out what your tomato is, and if not, you can make up your own "heirloom" story! Perhaps your great grandmother brought it over on a boat from Italy, or your great Uncle stole it from the garden of the last Russian Czar, and sewed it inside his underpants.

Originally Posted by KathyDC

I really completely agree -- I personally do both. I purchase seeds when it's a variety I really truly want to grow. But I trade seeds too, primarily for varieties I'm interested in but not quite enough to purchase -- or for rare varieties that aren't commercially available anymore.

The ironic part is, of all the tomatoes that have ripened in our garden so far, this faux PBTD is one of the most tasty! Too bad I have no idea what it is.

Kathy

[NarnianGarden]

Politely butting in: As it has been said before, many commercial sources aren't necessarily always more reliable than homegrowers. I have heard enough 'surprises' to convince me that I'd rather get my seeds from farmers and hobby gardeners who grow their own plants and collect their own seed. Bigger companies have mix-ups too, and that's worse, because you pay more for the fancy packaging and pretty picture, expect to get what the pack says.

[Redbaron]

Originally Posted by NarnianGarden

Politely butting in: As it has been said before, many commercial sources aren't necessarily always more reliable than homegrowers. I have heard enough 'surprises' to convince me that I'd rather get my seeds from farmers and hobby gardeners who grow their own plants and collect their own seed. Bigger companies have mix-ups too, and that's worse, because you pay more for the fancy packaging and pretty picture, expect to get what the pack says.

I think you will find that the small commercial growers listed by mischka as recommended (and mentioned by Fred) are in fact very high quality. In fact many are small farmers and hobby gardeners that have a small business selling seeds to help cover the cost of their hobby. Around here you will find much more passion in rescuing an heirloom or developing a new superior variety, than mass producing low quality for profit.

[PA_Julia]

It was only a matter of time before I chimed in on a thread with the word "" big "" as it pertains to tomatoes.

Congrat's on a big slicer Kathy!!

[joseph]

Congratulations. It's unlikely that I will harvest anything that big, or even close to it.

My experience with large seed companies is that their quality assurance is much less than optimal. It's what happens when you pay minimum wage to a kid that doesn't know anything about farming who is bored stiff with the work, and can't wait to get off so that their real life can begin.

[KathyDC]

Originally Posted by socalgardengal

Looks yummy! How was it?

It was very good! I gave it a 7.5. There are many plants in my garden with green fruit not yet ripened, but of the ones that have ripened so far, it's my #2 favorite - and very productive so far with loads of enormous green fruit hanging down.

Right now, Barlow Jap has the top taste - so far - with an 8! I'd really like to taste the Barlow and this one, which I'm now calling "mystery beefsteak" (original!) side by side.

Kathy

[KathyDC]

Well, day before yesterday I picked an even bigger tomato - one pound exactly, my biggest yet. It was "Greek Domata," which has put out some enormous fruits. I also picked another 14oz of my "mystery beefsteak," as well as another 14oz Greek Domata. Here's a picture of the 1 pounder, with my last few days harvests, and a shot of all the fruit on the "mystery beefsteak" plant ripening.

Love it!

Kathy

[RobinB]

Kathy,
Congratulations on your first slicer! Does your mystery beefsteak seem like it's going to keep the green shoulders or was that first one picked a little early?

My Pink BTD is stubbornly refusing to ripen. I've only got two clusters of fruit and then the heat hit everything stopped. Pink BTD does not like heat (at least in my garden in this year), not one little bit. Our last heat wave ended nearly two weeks ago and it was looking like PinkBTD might be producing more fruit, but now it's 104-105 again. It's started dropping blossoms again, and those green fruit are not getting bigger, they're just hanging there, taunting me!