I think I'm going no-till - Page 18

Cole_Robbie · July 27, 2016

That's odd. I get the opposite experience. My tomatoes are gone by August if I don't spray, but my pepper plants seem invincible.

Cole_Robbie · July 28, 2016

http://i.imgur.com/mVy3Aa9.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/cARU6g8.jpg

I believe these seeds came to me labelled "Russian," which is not much of a tomato name, given that are thousands of Russian varieties. I finally got around to trying them, and they rival Mat-Su Express for best red tomato of the year. Fruit set was tremendous, the fruit were huge, plant was fairly compact, and they did not cat-face at all. They are a little ugly in the pic, because the plant sprawled on the ground.

Based upon the big yield from a small plant, and uniform fruit, as well as decent shelf life, my own wild guess is that it could have once been a Russian commercial variety. It's certainly been one of my best finds of the year.

Cole_Robbie · July 30, 2016

Crunch Sweet Orange: http://i.imgur.com/Dv9w2eV.jpg

Closest to the camera is one Purple Bumble Bee, the rest are Black Vernissage: http://i.imgur.com/7AW4Llf.jpg

Overall, the Purple Bumble Bee is a smaller tomato, although it's hard to tell from that pic. I still like it better than the Black Vernissage, but BV is still good enough to be part of a market mix.

Big Sun Habanero, these things are huge: http://i.imgur.com/4f2fGow.jpg

And I think Sweet Sue must like me - she's blushing http://i.imgur.com/CeA9IUC.jpg

M.SeanF. · July 31, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cole_Robbie

Crunch Sweet Orange: http://i.imgur.com/Dv9w2eV.jpg

Closest to the camera is one Purple Bumble Bee, the rest are Black Vernissage: http://i.imgur.com/7AW4Llf.jpg

Overall, the Purple Bumble Bee is a smaller tomato, although it's hard to tell from that pic. I still like it better than the Black Vernissage, but BV is still good enough to be part of a market mix.

Big Sun Habanero, these things are huge: http://i.imgur.com/4f2fGow.jpg

And I think Sweet Sue must like me - she's blushing http://i.imgur.com/CeA9IUC.jpg

Your peppers look amazing, mine haven't really kicked in yet.

I grew PBB and BV last year, along with Violet Jasper. I preferred PBB out of the three. BV was a little too sweet and mild, VJ had good flavour but not quite sweet enough, PBB hit the Goldilocks Zone with a nice balance of flavour and sweetness.

I just got Sweet Sue in a swap, after seeing your pic I can't wait to grow it next year.

Cole_Robbie · August 4, 2016

Supa Hots! http://i.imgur.com/HrPCdU8.jpg

Big Sun Habanero in the back, Fatali, Naga Viper, and White Bullet Habanero

The rest of my messy pepper pile: http://i.imgur.com/HU9kM7B.jpg

Aerial · August 4, 2016

Ooh nice!!!!! Indeed the year of peppers, success!

I found the Black Naga plant from the seeds you sent. It has just begun flowering so still a while to go..

tryno12 · August 5, 2016

hi cole, i believe these are just calf wonders, simple enough but wow what a mess, anyway a few are recovering - what i need to find out now is what are the best tasting tomatoes( i remember Brandywine was good - tried a Jerurselem today that was ok seems like beefsteak are still my favorite), where to get seeds, and how to get the GREEN of myself and clothes after working on the vines?

I also see we have a few large fruits but not alot, maybe i gotta learn to trim for fruit? beefhearts, big beef, and big boy seem to do ok, but few fruits, the dang cherry's i am growing are not good tasting and the grapes are terrible, .......next year i hope to plan better - only 3rd yr of retirement so i better start to focus on plant types, yields, etc. Have been spraying Neem/Insecticidal Soap along with a rotation of Bonide Cu, Seranade, and Draconil with some Cl2 on the ground between plants and on ripening table to keep bugs gone......... I am trying to get a lot of stuff figured out.
Thanks
Oh, we got about 1.5" rain today - what a blessing after the 2+week drought!!

Cole_Robbie · August 5, 2016

Thanks, Aerial.

I will do a seed offer over the winter, tryno, stay tuned. I save a lot of seeds and then give them to people who mail me a self-addressed stamped envelope.

tryno12 · August 5, 2016

how do you get the "green" tomato dye off the clothes and hands, nails? I will be looking forward to some seeds of good flavor and yields..............
Thank You

Cole_Robbie · August 5, 2016

Dawn dish soap works well. Scrub the nails with a nail brush. I look like I've been working on a car after picking.

tryno12 · August 5, 2016

Thanks much!

imp · August 9, 2016

Cole, been reading along and enjoying the thread very much. I like the details and the reviews and pictures.

that Crunch orange pepoper looks good! Have to try it next year if the flavor is so good. Normally only like sweet reds, because of the flavors.

Keep posting, I enjoy both your posts and every one elses' too!

Cole_Robbie · August 9, 2016

Thanks, Imp.

The Crunch Sweet Orange is the sweetest pepper I ever tried. The knife is sticky after I cut into it. Here's a batch on the grill last night. There's a few Golden Treasures on top: http://i.imgur.com/FlG7of3.jpg

The worst part about the Crunch Sweet Orange is that they are virtually seedless...which is only bad when one is trying to stock up on seeds. Each pepper only has 5-10 seeds in it.

I diced half of one Big Sun Habanero and mixed it in with ground beef to make burgers. It was really good, pepper flavor without excess heat. I will chop in more next time. The dicing and then the cooking curtail the heat.

Aerial · August 9, 2016

Cole, does any of your friends enjoy superhots?

In the Bay Area there's a famous burger joint that serves habanero burger. It's a "required" initiation to the group in my old company and no one was able to finish one (that I know). But everyone enjoys watching the newbie "cry".

http://theswingindoor.com/habanero-burger-xxx/

Cole_Robbie · August 9, 2016

Not yet. I'm trying to get people into it, but they never understand until they taste a prepared product made with superhots that they like.

Habanero flavor does pair well with burgers, even used sparingly.

August 9, 2016	#269
Aerial Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: CA Posts: 410	Cole, does any of your friends enjoy superhots? In the Bay Area there's a famous burger joint that serves habanero burger. It's a "required" initiation to the group in my old company and no one was able to finish one (that I know). But everyone enjoys watching the newbie "cry". http://theswingindoor.com/habanero-burger-xxx/ Last edited by Aerial; August 9, 2016 at 06:02 PM.

July 27, 2016	#256
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	That's odd. I get the opposite experience. My tomatoes are gone by August if I don't spray, but my pepper plants seem invincible.

July 28, 2016	#257
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	http://i.imgur.com/mVy3Aa9.jpg http://i.imgur.com/cARU6g8.jpg I believe these seeds came to me labelled "Russian," which is not much of a tomato name, given that are thousands of Russian varieties. I finally got around to trying them, and they rival Mat-Su Express for best red tomato of the year. Fruit set was tremendous, the fruit were huge, plant was fairly compact, and they did not cat-face at all. They are a little ugly in the pic, because the plant sprawled on the ground. Based upon the big yield from a small plant, and uniform fruit, as well as decent shelf life, my own wild guess is that it could have once been a Russian commercial variety. It's certainly been one of my best finds of the year.

July 30, 2016	#258
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	Crunch Sweet Orange: http://i.imgur.com/Dv9w2eV.jpg Closest to the camera is one Purple Bumble Bee, the rest are Black Vernissage: http://i.imgur.com/7AW4Llf.jpg Overall, the Purple Bumble Bee is a smaller tomato, although it's hard to tell from that pic. I still like it better than the Black Vernissage, but BV is still good enough to be part of a market mix. Big Sun Habanero, these things are huge: http://i.imgur.com/4f2fGow.jpg And I think Sweet Sue must like me - she's blushing http://i.imgur.com/CeA9IUC.jpg

August 4, 2016	#260
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	Supa Hots! http://i.imgur.com/HrPCdU8.jpg Big Sun Habanero in the back, Fatali, Naga Viper, and White Bullet Habanero The rest of my messy pepper pile: http://i.imgur.com/HU9kM7B.jpg

August 4, 2016	#261
Aerial Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: CA Posts: 410	Ooh nice!!!!! Indeed the year of peppers, success! I found the Black Naga plant from the seeds you sent. It has just begun flowering so still a while to go..

August 5, 2016	#262
tryno12 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Indianapolis Area 46112 Posts: 857	hi cole, i believe these are just calf wonders, simple enough but wow what a mess, anyway a few are recovering - what i need to find out now is what are the best tasting tomatoes( i remember Brandywine was good - tried a Jerurselem today that was ok seems like beefsteak are still my favorite), where to get seeds, and how to get the GREEN of myself and clothes after working on the vines? I also see we have a few large fruits but not alot, maybe i gotta learn to trim for fruit? beefhearts, big beef, and big boy seem to do ok, but few fruits, the dang cherry's i am growing are not good tasting and the grapes are terrible, .......next year i hope to plan better - only 3rd yr of retirement so i better start to focus on plant types, yields, etc. Have been spraying Neem/Insecticidal Soap along with a rotation of Bonide Cu, Seranade, and Draconil with some Cl2 on the ground between plants and on ripening table to keep bugs gone......... I am trying to get a lot of stuff figured out. Thanks Oh, we got about 1.5" rain today - what a blessing after the 2+week drought!!

August 5, 2016	#263
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	Thanks, Aerial. I will do a seed offer over the winter, tryno, stay tuned. I save a lot of seeds and then give them to people who mail me a self-addressed stamped envelope.

August 5, 2016	#264
tryno12 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Indianapolis Area 46112 Posts: 857	how do you get the "green" tomato dye off the clothes and hands, nails? I will be looking forward to some seeds of good flavor and yields.............. Thank You

August 5, 2016	#265
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	Dawn dish soap works well. Scrub the nails with a nail brush. I look like I've been working on a car after picking.

August 5, 2016	#266
tryno12 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Indianapolis Area 46112 Posts: 857	Thanks much!

August 9, 2016	#267
imp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Wichita Falls, Texas Posts: 4,832	Cole, been reading along and enjoying the thread very much. I like the details and the reviews and pictures. that Crunch orange pepoper looks good! Have to try it next year if the flavor is so good. Normally only like sweet reds, because of the flavors. Keep posting, I enjoy both your posts and every one elses' too!

August 9, 2016	#268
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	Thanks, Imp. The Crunch Sweet Orange is the sweetest pepper I ever tried. The knife is sticky after I cut into it. Here's a batch on the grill last night. There's a few Golden Treasures on top: http://i.imgur.com/FlG7of3.jpg The worst part about the Crunch Sweet Orange is that they are virtually seedless...which is only bad when one is trying to stock up on seeds. Each pepper only has 5-10 seeds in it. I diced half of one Big Sun Habanero and mixed it in with ground beef to make burgers. It was really good, pepper flavor without excess heat. I will chop in more next time. The dicing and then the cooking curtail the heat.

August 9, 2016	#270
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	Not yet. I'm trying to get people into it, but they never understand until they taste a prepared product made with superhots that they like. Habanero flavor does pair well with burgers, even used sparingly.