Artisan Seeds launches - Page 14

Fred Hempel · October 22, 2013

Thanks Doug! I think there will be some interesting things from both farms in the next few years, and some of them will be the result of the cross-pollination that occurred.

Fred Hempel · October 22, 2013

2014 Artisan Seeds Plans:

1. The Artisan Seeds website -- www.growartisan.com -- will become less a site for the purchase of seeds, and more an informational site. We will no longer sell our widely released varieties at www.growartisan.com

2. Johnny's Selected Seeds will sell seeds for Blush, Pink Bumble Bee, Purple Bumble Bee, Green Tiger and Pink Tiger. Johnny's will also be the exclusive source for Lucky Tiger and Sunrise Bumble Bee (PVPs in the works).

3. Garden Life and Log House Plants will sell most, if not all, of the varieties listed above as seedlings and/or grafted plants (wholesale and retail).

4. AP Whaley Seed will be the best source for wholesale seed, for all of the generally available varieties

The new Johnny's catalog, containing Artisan Seeds varieties, is due out in mid-November. AP Whaley has the 5 generally available varieties listed now (Blush is listed as "Blush Tiger").

Fred Hempel · October 28, 2013

More info...

While we are discontinuing sales of generally available "Artisan" tomato varieties on our website, the website is now selling the following:

1. Maglia Rosa cherry tomato, because it is not available from our main partners. It is a great container variety. Good flavor and very productive.

2. Seeds of land-races that have been particularly valuable to our farm. These are genetically diverse packets of seed, which tend towards a "type" but still contain genetic diversity. We find the diversity very valuable for creating some diversity of color that is valued by our farmers' market customers.

Flavor for the land-races is consistently very good, but slightly variable as well.

True-breeding lines (new varieties) can be selected from any of our land-races, and any seed purchaser is absolutely free to do so. We have so many tomato projects going, that it seems that this is a good time to release our land-races. I think they are particularly valuable to farmers who want to grow the land-race for market (like our farm does), or for anyone interested in developing new varieties.

The land-races ARE NOT identified as "Artisan" varieties. They are instead identified as Baia Nicchia Farm land-races. This is to avoid confusion. The "Artisan" name will only apply to tomato lines that breed true.

You can see the new products at www.growartisan.com

linzelu100 · November 4, 2013

Fred,

My number one tomato this year, that I want to try is sunrise BumbleBee. Where can I find seeds for it?

Lindsey

Fred Hempel · November 4, 2013

Lindsey,

It is a Johnny's Selected Seeds exclusive -- available only from them around mid to late November.

Fred Hempel · November 12, 2013

One week until the Johnny's Selected Seeds 2014 catalog goes live online (November 19th). This will be a momentous occasion for us, as the catalog will include 7 Artisan Seeds varieties. Two of the varieties (Sunrise Bumble Bee and Lucky Tiger) will be sold exclusively through Johnny's. Blush, the tomato that really got it all started for us, will also be also available this year from Johnny's!

http://modernfarmer.com/2013/04/luck...ers-get-lucky/

Note: Sunrise Bumble Bee is visible in Avatar

Scope · November 13, 2013

Hi Fred,
Congratulations!
I'm looking forward to seeing JSS 2014 catalog and your forthcoming varieties.

Fred Hempel · November 14, 2013

Johnny's Selected Seeds announces R & D research partnership with Artisan Seeds:

http://www.johnnyseeds.com/t-Seed_Va...12013#artisans

As well as the seven varieties to be released at Johnny's starting November 19th.

natural · November 14, 2013

Fred,

Congrats on the launch. I grew Blush, Pink Bumblebee and Purple Bumblebee this past year. They were all exceptional. I will definitely grow the other released varieties this year.

How would you compare the production of pink tiger, lucky tiger to Blush? (Blush was VERY productive)

Similarly, how would you compare the production of Sunrise Bumblebee to say, Pink Bumblebee. I think that I had a stray seed in the Pink Bumblebee package and the resulting fruit looked very similar to Sunrise Bumblebee. It was not as productive as Pink Bumblebees.

I am just trying to set expectations to determine how many plants of each variety to plant that will result in fairly even production across varieties.

Thanks,
Bill

Fred Hempel · November 14, 2013

Bill,

Lucky Tiger produces pretty much similarly to Blush. Pink Tiger may be the Tiger type that is a bit less productive, but it really looked pretty productive at the site where the seed was grown this year.

You are not the only one that got a "sunrise" type in the your pink bumble bee packet. I think that has been selected out, but you never really know. There was no mention of a yellow marbled segregation from the seed producers this summer.

Sunrise bumble bee should be as productive as the other two bumble bee lines, at least based on what I saw at the production site this past summer.

Fred

Quote:

Originally Posted by natural

Fred,

Congrats on the launch. I grew Blush, Pink Bumblebee and Purple Bumblebee this past year. They were all exceptional. I will definitely grow the other released varieties this year.

How would you compare the production of pink tiger, lucky tiger to Blush? (Blush was VERY productive)

Similarly, how would you compare the production of Sunrise Bumblebee to say, Pink Bumblebee. I think that I had a stray seed in the Pink Bumblebee package and the resulting fruit looked very similar to Sunrise Bumblebee. It was not as productive as Pink Bumblebees.

I am just trying to set expectations to determine how many plants of each variety to plant that will result in fairly even production across varieties.

Thanks,
Bill

natural · November 14, 2013

great! Thanks for the information. I'm all in

Fred Hempel · November 15, 2013

Buying our varieties in Europe this year:

Suttons Seeds (UK) will be distributing our striped cherry tomatoes in Europe for the coming season, and will most likely have them available very early in 2014. They will first be available online, though they are not available yet. Later they will be in the Suttons catalog (published in July). The names may be slightly different at Suttons, as there are already other "tiger" tomatoes listed in Europe.

Heritage · November 15, 2013

Congratulations Fred! It is great to see your efforts rewarded. Johnny's is smart to offer your select varieties. And, a couple of PVP's in the works? Impressive!

Steve

Fred Hempel · November 18, 2013

Updates:

Highland Kale is back on our website. It is also available in smaller packet size at Tania's site.

All striped Artisan Cherry tomatoes will be available starting tomorrow at Johnny's

Fred Hempel · November 19, 2013

Millard Murdock's Captain Lucky is also now available at Johnny's. Here's hoping his royalties are significant.

October 22, 2013	#197
Fred Hempel Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Sunol, CA Posts: 2,723	2014 Artisan Seeds Plans: 1. The Artisan Seeds website -- www.growartisan.com -- will become less a site for the purchase of seeds, and more an informational site. We will no longer sell our widely released varieties at www.growartisan.com 2. Johnny's Selected Seeds will sell seeds for Blush, Pink Bumble Bee, Purple Bumble Bee, Green Tiger and Pink Tiger. Johnny's will also be the exclusive source for Lucky Tiger and Sunrise Bumble Bee (PVPs in the works). 3. Garden Life and Log House Plants will sell most, if not all, of the varieties listed above as seedlings and/or grafted plants (wholesale and retail). 4. AP Whaley Seed will be the best source for wholesale seed, for all of the generally available varieties The new Johnny's catalog, containing Artisan Seeds varieties, is due out in mid-November. AP Whaley has the 5 generally available varieties listed now (Blush is listed as "Blush Tiger"). Last edited by Fred Hempel; October 22, 2013 at 11:58 AM.

November 4, 2013	#199
linzelu100 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Virginia Posts: 447	Fred, My number one tomato this year, that I want to try is sunrise BumbleBee. Where can I find seeds for it? Lindsey __________________ Lindsey

October 22, 2013	#196
Fred Hempel Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Sunol, CA Posts: 2,723	Thanks Doug! I think there will be some interesting things from both farms in the next few years, and some of them will be the result of the cross-pollination that occurred.

October 28, 2013	#198
Fred Hempel Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Sunol, CA Posts: 2,723	More info... While we are discontinuing sales of generally available "Artisan" tomato varieties on our website, the website is now selling the following: 1. Maglia Rosa cherry tomato, because it is not available from our main partners. It is a great container variety. Good flavor and very productive. 2. Seeds of land-races that have been particularly valuable to our farm. These are genetically diverse packets of seed, which tend towards a "type" but still contain genetic diversity. We find the diversity very valuable for creating some diversity of color that is valued by our farmers' market customers. Flavor for the land-races is consistently very good, but slightly variable as well. True-breeding lines (new varieties) can be selected from any of our land-races, and any seed purchaser is absolutely free to do so. We have so many tomato projects going, that it seems that this is a good time to release our land-races. I think they are particularly valuable to farmers who want to grow the land-race for market (like our farm does), or for anyone interested in developing new varieties. The land-races ARE NOT identified as "Artisan" varieties. They are instead identified as Baia Nicchia Farm land-races. This is to avoid confusion. The "Artisan" name will only apply to tomato lines that breed true. You can see the new products at www.growartisan.com

November 4, 2013	#200
Fred Hempel Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Sunol, CA Posts: 2,723	Lindsey, It is a Johnny's Selected Seeds exclusive -- available only from them around mid to late November.

November 12, 2013	#201
Fred Hempel Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Sunol, CA Posts: 2,723	One week until the Johnny's Selected Seeds 2014 catalog goes live online (November 19th). This will be a momentous occasion for us, as the catalog will include 7 Artisan Seeds varieties. Two of the varieties (Sunrise Bumble Bee and Lucky Tiger) will be sold exclusively through Johnny's. Blush, the tomato that really got it all started for us, will also be also available this year from Johnny's! http://modernfarmer.com/2013/04/luck...ers-get-lucky/ Note: Sunrise Bumble Bee is visible in Avatar

November 13, 2013	#202
Scope Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Climate Zone　9B in Asia Posts: 26	Hi Fred, Congratulations! I'm looking forward to seeing JSS 2014 catalog and your forthcoming varieties.

November 14, 2013	#203
Fred Hempel Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Sunol, CA Posts: 2,723	Johnny's Selected Seeds announces R & D research partnership with Artisan Seeds: http://www.johnnyseeds.com/t-Seed_Va...12013#artisans As well as the seven varieties to be released at Johnny's starting November 19th.

November 14, 2013	#204
natural Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: North GA Posts: 530	Fred, Congrats on the launch. I grew Blush, Pink Bumblebee and Purple Bumblebee this past year. They were all exceptional. I will definitely grow the other released varieties this year. How would you compare the production of pink tiger, lucky tiger to Blush? (Blush was VERY productive) Similarly, how would you compare the production of Sunrise Bumblebee to say, Pink Bumblebee. I think that I had a stray seed in the Pink Bumblebee package and the resulting fruit looked very similar to Sunrise Bumblebee. It was not as productive as Pink Bumblebees. I am just trying to set expectations to determine how many plants of each variety to plant that will result in fairly even production across varieties. Thanks, Bill

November 14, 2013	#206
natural Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: North GA Posts: 530	great! Thanks for the information. I'm all in

November 15, 2013	#207
Fred Hempel Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Sunol, CA Posts: 2,723	Buying our varieties in Europe this year: Suttons Seeds (UK) will be distributing our striped cherry tomatoes in Europe for the coming season, and will most likely have them available very early in 2014. They will first be available online, though they are not available yet. Later they will be in the Suttons catalog (published in July). The names may be slightly different at Suttons, as there are already other "tiger" tomatoes listed in Europe.

November 15, 2013	#208
Heritage Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: San Diego Posts: 1,255	Congratulations Fred! It is great to see your efforts rewarded. Johnny's is smart to offer your select varieties. And, a couple of PVP's in the works? Impressive! Steve

November 18, 2013	#209
Fred Hempel Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Sunol, CA Posts: 2,723	Updates: Highland Kale is back on our website. It is also available in smaller packet size at Tania's site. All striped Artisan Cherry tomatoes will be available starting tomorrow at Johnny's

November 19, 2013	#210
Fred Hempel Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Sunol, CA Posts: 2,723	Millard Murdock's Captain Lucky is also now available at Johnny's. Here's hoping his royalties are significant.