Burpee discontinues Bush Big Boy

[cecilsgarden1958]

Looks like Harris isn't the only one. Burpee has removed my favorite hybrid, BUSH BIG BOY from their catalog. Glad I bought lots last year and stored them, when I noticed they were demoted to the white sale bin.

CECIL

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by cecilsgarden1958

Looks like Harris isn't the only one. Burpee has removed my favorite hybrid, BUSH BIG BOY from their catalog. Glad I bought lots last year and stored them, when I noticed they were demoted to the white sale bin.

CECIL

Cecil, I'm not sure of your reference to Harris Seeds b'c while they lost Moreton Hybrid, they brought it back, then lost it again and didn't list it again until this year when in Cooperation with Rutgers they reintroduced Moreton Hybrid.

In my head I keep thinking of Moreton HYbrid as the Lazarus variety b'c it arose from the dead, not once, but twice.

I wonder why Burpee axed Bush Big Boy? Low sales, needed the room at the website or catalog to include new varieties ( doesn't make sense if the website) or maybe the folks who ere doing seed production stopped doing it for whatever reason.

[cecilsgarden1958]

It dawned on me, that I hadn't checked the web site, but it's not available here either.

http://www.burpee.com/product/vegeta...rrivals&page=1

CECIL

[simmran1]

Cecil, I was going to the new for '09 Burpee black Truffle

http://www.burpee.com/product/vegeta...+(30+seeds).do

-same situation, (though plants of this may be available).

While looking through my favorite seed sellers on Ebay I happened upon this. Maybe this is an alternative for you.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Bush-Boy-Tomato-seeds_W0QQitemZ350137222697QQihZ022QQcategoryZ1512 QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262

[Wi-sunflower]

the new for '09 Burpee black Truffle

Since they describe it as "pear shaped", I doubt it's much if anything different from the Japanese Black Trifele that several catalogs listed the last few years.

If you would like to try any, I have lots of seed for the Trifele.

There is another thread here at TV about how some of Burpee's "exclusive" varieties seem to just be someone elses tomato with a Burpee name on it.

Frankly since Burpee sold out to ?? (Ball I think), the company has gone down significantly. And yes they have dropped several varieties I used to grow and without any warning that I knew about.

Fortunately I still had some seed and was able to grow out their supposed hybrids. I now have F-3 to 5 for Pixie and Basket King, long gone Burpee varieties.

[simmran1]

Thanks for the offer, Wi, but I'll have to pass as I will have more seed than garden.
From the above heads up, I don't see the Bush Boy in the '09 print catalog; but oddly the 'Truffle is'. To me you shouldn't waste catalog space on a product you don't have in hand.
At least the, 'we're already out' is there, because there's nothing more frustrating than ordering - then receiving substitutes.

[cecilsgarden1958]

Originally Posted by simmran1

Cecil, I was going to the new for '09 Burpee black Truffle

http://www.burpee.com/product/vegeta...+(30+seeds).do

-same situation, (though plants of this may be available).

While looking through my favorite seed sellers on Ebay I happened upon this. Maybe this is an alternative for you.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Bush-Boy-Tomato-seeds_W0QQitemZ350137222697QQihZ022QQcategoryZ1512 QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262

Thanks, but Bush Big Boy and Bush Boy are not very similar.

CECIL

[Wi-sunflower]

I too don't like subs, but I can see why stuff like that sometimes happens.

Most of these catalogs from the bigger companies have a huge "lead time" for when they have to send the info to the printers. Like last summer sometime. They often have to take on faith what will be available from the growers in another part of the world like China or Thailand.

If something happens to the crop in the meantime, well, too bad, so sad.

That's why it's a lot better to buy what seeds you can from a "family" opperation that does it's own growing.

[OldHondaNut]

Just a note here to say I'm still growing Bush Big Boy. When it was discontinued back in the day it came back in 2011. I bought several pack and divided them into groups of 5 and placed them in the refrigerator. This year, 2025, they have all sprouted and look as healthy as any other.


At one point I took a couple of the F1 tomatoes and grew F2. It was a fail, lacked taste and production. The bush was normal, just not the tomatoes. I still have a few years left to grow and I might try f2 again but it's so much work and likely a fail.


Hope you don't mind the revival of an old thread. I guess the message is, if you like an F1, buy enough to keep you going for as long as you like. So many others I wish I had stocked up on (Merced, Sunmaster).

[VirginiaClay]

Glad you were able to keep growing this variety. Not sure from your post how many seeds you have left, but Urban Farmer sells seeds for Bush Big Boy, or at least they claim to. No one else seems to have them now.

Have you tried BushSteak Hybrid? I haven't grown it, just wondering if it might be similar, maybe what Burpee slotted into their lineup in place of Bush Big Boy?

I still miss the old "Burpee VF Hybrid" tomato, our favorite back in the day, which disappeared without warning in the early 2000s and we hadn't stocked up on seeds.

[OldHondaNut]

Originally Posted by VirginiaClay

Glad you were able to keep growing this variety. Not sure from your post how many seeds you have left, but Urban Farmer sells seeds for Bush Big Boy, or at least they claim to. No one else seems to have them now.

Have you tried BushSteak Hybrid? I haven't grown it, just wondering if it might be similar, maybe what Burpee slotted into their lineup in place of Bush Big Boy?

I still miss the old "Burpee VF Hybrid" tomato, our favorite back in the day, which disappeared without warning in the early 2000s and we hadn't stocked up on seeds.

Since the seeds are no longer made I wonder if Urban Farmer is selling an F2 or later seed?



Sorry to hear about Burpee VF hybrid. There are just no guarantees from year to year. I love my heirlooms but none have out performed the few hybrids like Bush Big Boy for me.

[VirginiaClay]

Yes, it seems unlikely that they would still have F1 seed, unless possibly it's still being produced somewhere for other markets (countries). I'd be skeptical.

Certainly seems like it would be illegal to sell F2 or later seeds for an F1 hybrid without clearly identifying them as such.

[RJGlew]

Originally Posted by VirginiaClay

I still miss the old "Burpee VF Hybrid" tomato, our favorite back in the day, which disappeared without warning in the early 2000s and we hadn't stocked up on seeds.

Have you tried "Early Pick VF Hybrid" from Burpee?

[MrsJustice]

It good to see you'll.

Maybe one day I will like the Hybrid Tomato Seeds. But I do grow if they are good tasting to try myself.

But enjoy your Hybrid Tomato search. I had some Customer last year asked me about Bush Big Boy Tomatoes. So they must be good to leave a lasting impression.

[VirginiaClay]

Originally Posted by RJGlew

Have you tried "Early Pick VF Hybrid" from Burpee?

Yes, good thinking. When I saw that in the Burpee catalog a couple of years ago, I thought maybe there was a possibility it was the same tomato as the old Burpee VF Hybrid, or at least something developed from it. I grew it and was very disappointed. It was paler in color, slightly mealy and "store-bought" in texture, not very flavorful, and smaller. Not the miracle I was hoping for!