German Johnson

Misfit · November 8, 2014

I was wondering if there are different types/strain of this tomato? I first came across GJ years ago while living in the triad area of North Carolina. At a roadside stand near Badin
Lake.

These tomatoes were nothing like the ones that i've tried at various farmers markets in the Piedmont subsequently. They were very misshapen, cracked, lobed, (though the color looked right) and down right made people wince when looking at them. Albeit, very good tasting! Year after year they would have these for sale. Nothing like the more round and uniform ones found at farmers markets.

Could they have it mislabeled, or are there different strains?

Btw, here's an article that gives a nice shout out to one of our own, I ran across while researching for an answer.http://www.ourstate.com/tomatoes/

-Jimmy

AKmark · November 8, 2014

I grew these last year, and loved them. Yes, there are different versions such as a (PL) version. I am looking for seeds of what they call the Benton strain. If anyone could share a few that would be appreciated, I'll send you many back, I only need 3-4 seeds.
This may help too.
http://www.tomatoville.com/showthrea...t=17550&page=2

Misfit · November 8, 2014

Thanks, that was an interesting read. I wonder how Camo's grow out project went?

-Jimmy

dfollett · November 8, 2014

I grew both RL & PL this year. Fruit and flavor were identical. The RL produced a little better - very large with great taste.

ginger2778 · November 8, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by dfollett

I grew both RL & PL this year. Fruit and flavor were identical. The RL produced a little better - very large with great taste.

Good to hear because I am growing the PL now.

**carolyn137** · November 8, 2014

http://t.tatianastomatobase.com:88/w...on_Potato_Leaf

I've been told that the original was RL, Tania's page confirms that, and that there was a spontaneous mutation to PL such that one was originally grown in one area and the other in a different area.

In my area in the NE they are considered a southern variety and I know of few up here who grow either version, I know I haven't,

Here's a link from a few years back where Camo was talking about his Benton one, and folks were expressing their thoughts about it being any different from the original RL one, so why give it a new name.

http://tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=17550

Carolyn

b54red · November 9, 2014

I am growing the PL version from my own saved seeds and have had good luck with it since grafting because it is very susceptible to fusarium. Before grafting I would usually only get a few trusses at most before they died but the last two years have had some last the whole summer and into the fall.

This year I had some plants from my seedlings that produced two different looking fruit so I may be dealing with some type of cross or mutation. Almost all of my seedlings were potato leaf and I only grafted and grew out that leaf type; but I had tow distinct colors. One was pink and the other looked like a paler version of a black tomato. Fruit size and shape was identical and as far as I could tell the flavor was nearly the same except the darker fruit was slightly more full flavored and was my best tasting of all my tomatoes this past summer. I planted a good number of GJ this fall but none has ripened yet so I don't know if this difference has happened with any of them yet. I do know that my plants were equally divided among the two this past spring. All the saved seed came from multiple fruits that were all German Johnson PL that I grew the last few years.

Bill

Gerardo · August 2, 2015

I have a few German Johnson PL plants and have noticed the trusses to be fairly puny. Perhaps it was a strong heat wave or the DE/Neem I sprayed.

2 plants are in a 10 gallon grow bag and 1 plant shares a 25 gallon fabric pot with 3 other tomatoes.

They are in different parts of the garden and have differing water dynamics (fabric vs plastic), yet the result has been equal: relatively small protrusions that are impersonating a truss that don't really develop. They were all started at the same time and they're up to their 2nd/3rd nub/truss.

Anyone else notice meager trusses on GJ PL? I'll let them grow some more and see how they unfold. If they're still underdeveloped after the fourth/fifth cluster, I'm gonna cut my losses, as my real estate is in short supply.

As far as I can tell, all other plants are doing great under the same regimen.

I'll snap some pics and post 'em in a few hours.

Gardenboy · August 2, 2015

German Johnson is ONE of my top ten favorites! I grow the PL variety. I prefer the GJ over any Brandywine tomato. Here in south FL it does produce late in the season but be patient. The taste is well worth the wait! You can find the Benton strain at danasgardenplace.com I grew it one year and it was pretty good but not as good as the PL variety..only my opinion.

AKmark · August 2, 2015

I have grown the PL, RL, and Benton's, I like the nicer fruit that I got from the Benton's, they are all good, and very meaty.

**carolyn137** · August 2, 2015

If any of you want some followup on the Benton one please go to the WANTED seed subforum and read there.

Carolyn

Gerardo · August 3, 2015

Gardenboy + AKmarK:

I'm really glad you guys chimed in. I went back to the plants and most likely it was the heat and scorching sun. I moved them so they receive a bit of shade during the hot part of the day and added worm-compost tea and some dilute fertilizer. Fingers crossed but it seems to have resolved the issue. The new trusses are looking better. I'll wait as long as it takes since it seems unanimous on taste alone. Cheers.

Misfit · August 4, 2015

I'll be growing the PL version of German Johnson next year.

Also, I actually figured out my original question regarding misshapen fruits. At the roadside stand they separated the "normal" GJ from the not so normal. I believe the odd shapes were from mega blossoms (amazing what you can learn on the T-Ville forums).

Here's a pic of a Starfire Isis that I think did the very same thing; with my garden knife for reference.

November 8, 2014	#1
Misfit Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Baltimore Posts: 165	German Johnson I was wondering if there are different types/strain of this tomato? I first came across GJ years ago while living in the triad area of North Carolina. At a roadside stand near Badin Lake. These tomatoes were nothing like the ones that i've tried at various farmers markets in the Piedmont subsequently. They were very misshapen, cracked, lobed, (though the color looked right) and down right made people wince when looking at them. Albeit, very good tasting! Year after year they would have these for sale. Nothing like the more round and uniform ones found at farmers markets. Could they have it mislabeled, or are there different strains? Btw, here's an article that gives a nice shout out to one of our own, I ran across while researching for an answer.http://www.ourstate.com/tomatoes/ -Jimmy

November 8, 2014	#2
AKmark Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Wasilla Alaska Posts: 2,010	I grew these last year, and loved them. Yes, there are different versions such as a (PL) version. I am looking for seeds of what they call the Benton strain. If anyone could share a few that would be appreciated, I'll send you many back, I only need 3-4 seeds. This may help too. http://www.tomatoville.com/showthrea...t=17550&page=2 Last edited by AKmark; November 8, 2014 at 02:11 PM.

November 8, 2014	#6
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	http://t.tatianastomatobase.com:88/w...on_Potato_Leaf I've been told that the original was RL, Tania's page confirms that, and that there was a spontaneous mutation to PL such that one was originally grown in one area and the other in a different area. In my area in the NE they are considered a southern variety and I know of few up here who grow either version, I know I haven't, Here's a link from a few years back where Camo was talking about his Benton one, and folks were expressing their thoughts about it being any different from the original RL one, so why give it a new name. http://tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=17550 Carolyn __________________ Carolyn

August 2, 2015	#8
Gerardo Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: San Diego-Tijuana Posts: 2,598	I have a few German Johnson PL plants and have noticed the trusses to be fairly puny. Perhaps it was a strong heat wave or the DE/Neem I sprayed. 2 plants are in a 10 gallon grow bag and 1 plant shares a 25 gallon fabric pot with 3 other tomatoes. They are in different parts of the garden and have differing water dynamics (fabric vs plastic), yet the result has been equal: relatively small protrusions that are impersonating a truss that don't really develop. They were all started at the same time and they're up to their 2nd/3rd nub/truss. Anyone else notice meager trusses on GJ PL? I'll let them grow some more and see how they unfold. If they're still underdeveloped after the fourth/fifth cluster, I'm gonna cut my losses, as my real estate is in short supply. As far as I can tell, all other plants are doing great under the same regimen. I'll snap some pics and post 'em in a few hours. Last edited by Gerardo; August 2, 2015 at 12:36 PM.

August 2, 2015	#9
Gardenboy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL Posts: 784	Benton- German Johnson German Johnson is ONE of my top ten favorites! I grow the PL variety. I prefer the GJ over any Brandywine tomato. Here in south FL it does produce late in the season but be patient. The taste is well worth the wait! You can find the Benton strain at danasgardenplace.com I grew it one year and it was pretty good but not as good as the PL variety..only my opinion. Last edited by Gardenboy; August 2, 2015 at 01:31 PM.

November 8, 2014	#4
dfollett Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Utah Posts: 693	I grew both RL & PL this year. Fruit and flavor were identical. The RL produced a little better - very large with great taste.

November 9, 2014	#7
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	I am growing the PL version from my own saved seeds and have had good luck with it since grafting because it is very susceptible to fusarium. Before grafting I would usually only get a few trusses at most before they died but the last two years have had some last the whole summer and into the fall. This year I had some plants from my seedlings that produced two different looking fruit so I may be dealing with some type of cross or mutation. Almost all of my seedlings were potato leaf and I only grafted and grew out that leaf type; but I had tow distinct colors. One was pink and the other looked like a paler version of a black tomato. Fruit size and shape was identical and as far as I could tell the flavor was nearly the same except the darker fruit was slightly more full flavored and was my best tasting of all my tomatoes this past summer. I planted a good number of GJ this fall but none has ripened yet so I don't know if this difference has happened with any of them yet. I do know that my plants were equally divided among the two this past spring. All the saved seed came from multiple fruits that were all German Johnson PL that I grew the last few years. Bill

August 3, 2015	#12
Gerardo Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: San Diego-Tijuana Posts: 2,598	Gardenboy + AKmarK: I'm really glad you guys chimed in. I went back to the plants and most likely it was the heat and scorching sun. I moved them so they receive a bit of shade during the hot part of the day and added worm-compost tea and some dilute fertilizer. Fingers crossed but it seems to have resolved the issue. The new trusses are looking better. I'll wait as long as it takes since it seems unanimous on taste alone. Cheers.