Zone 4 tomato grower list need to cut down

[Gobig_or_Gohome_toms]

PNW thanks for the input, I am growing allot more then what I knew I would keep as I got a little buying seed happy this year (supporting the seed companies at least) and also used Craig's dense planting method so I could start allot more varities and did start allot of similar varities.

I have Brandy Boy in the list as this year I am going to compare Brandy Boy, BWS, and Cowlicks. Plus 2 years ago I grew Brandy Boy and liked it very much. I also added Rose as it seems to often be listed as a rival to Brandywine.

Craig

[Gobig_or_Gohome_toms]

Carolyn the Indian Stripe you had sent to me last year and were marked 2003 double sow. I sowed them all last year and got probably 40-50% germination (did not take notes) So the seed that I planted this year is the fresh saved seeds from the plant that was grown at my in-laws house.

Craig

Originally Posted by carolyn137

Just to note that those Indian Stripe seeds from me were from either 2003 or 4 and I know they're still viable b'c I sent my dear brother in NC some of the same this Spring and he got some to germinate. But if you do use them please soak them in water o/n and sow ALL the seeds I sent b'c I know I sent lots of seeds of the older varieties on my seed offer list and on the pack said to sow at least_______ or to double sow and now I'm suggesting soaking o/n.

I have a good friend who gardens in St. Paul and over the years have sent him many varieties and as far as I know he hasn't had trouble with ANY of them in terms of getting them to mature.

And I just sent out seeds for a SSE request sent to me by another friend in MN, I forget the place name, but he is able to mature anything he wants to as well. Actually he's the person who sent me seeds for what became Todd County Amish and Amish Potato Leaf, both late season varieties.

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by Gobig_or_Gohome_toms

Carolyn the Indian Stripe you had sent to me last year and were marked 2003 double sow. I sowed them all last year and got probably 40-50% germination (did not take notes) So the seed that I planted this year is the fresh saved seeds from the plant that was grown at my in-laws house.

Craig

Aha, I misunderstood. Glad you got such good germination with those 2003 seeds and you're now using fresh seeds.

If you or anyone here has some fresh seeds of IS that you could share with me I'd appreciate it b'c I'm out and from time to time I do get requests for it. And if I do another seed offer here next year I won't be listing those 2003 IS seeds.

I'd grow my own IS plants to restock but I think most of your know that since I now use a walker I can't grow what I used to so concentrate on growing varieties new to all or most and someone else raises my plants for me and yet others help with seed production for the new ones.

My job is to find the new varieties in the first place.

[Gobig_or_Gohome_toms]

Since it grew at my inlaws I only saved seeds from one large fruit so I do not have any to share this year but if it stays on the grow list for me which I am probably planning on doing I will save some extra seeds. Here is thread I started about the fruit that I almost forgot about that has a picture of the one fruit I was able to save seeds from:

http://www.tomatoville.com/showthrea...=Indian+Stripe

Craig

[carpenterlady]

The reason I seem obsessed by dates of maturity is because I live about 20 miles from Lake Superior, which is like living near a big refrigerator. Definitely zone three. My biggest problem is getting tomatoes to blossom because our nighttime temps usually don't get high enough to set fruit until into July. Then we usually have freezing temps by late to mid September, sometimes sooner. I have lived up here for fifteen years and the only months I haven't seen snow, flurries, or sleet is July and August. An aunt that has lived here all her life told me years ago not to even bother with trying to grow tomatoes, that I am not in Iowa anymore. As I have gotten older I crave homegrown tomatoes. Mostly I have grown saladette, cherries, and other small fruited tomatoes. After years of struggling by starting from seed to find the best varieties for my area I discovered my friends living in different areas wanted my seedlings. So now I am broadening my horizons starting seedlings that I have no hope of getting a ripe tomato from. I do the research, start the seedlings, my friends grow them. I give them the seedlings, they give me tomatoes. It is a win-win for all of us. I love this forum, learning about varieties I am not familiar with and methods of growing tomatoes.

[matilda'skid]

That sounds like a great arrangement. I have too many tomatoes in my basement under lights. I waste lots of time just looking at them and fiddling around down there instead of cleaning my house. With your long winters, I would think raising seedlings would be a great mood lifter.

[KLorentz]

I would most certainly keep Cowlick's. A great mater. Now the rest on your list I have not grown but my Aunt swore by Rutgers. She did a lot of canning with it but also fresh eating.


Kevin

[Gobig_or_Gohome_toms]

Thanks Kevin yes Cowlicks, BWS, and Brandy Boy are staying on the list as I am comparing the 3 this year. Rutgers and the few other determinates on the list are for a co-worker that will be growing in containers that are not as large as the 20" ones I use. I was thinking Rutgers and Better Bush as the plants for them.

Craig

[remy]

If I had to pick what to keep on your list, my top 3 would be Stump of the World, Lucky Cross, and Cherokee Purple.
Remy

[b54red]

I would definitely keep Big Beef. It can take the heat of your upper deck and it is also a very productive tomato even when the temps drop. I had a couple last season that kept producing even after three freezes late in the year. It is a tomato plant that tolerates poor growing conditions and disease better than most.