Siberian pink honey

[janezee]

Ooooooooo, I'm so jealous! That's so beautiful, I want to cry! Mine is just 12" tall, and it will be a while before I have fruit at all.
Congratulations!

j

[clara]

Mines were transplanted end of May (we had some frosty nights before) and today there are 12 fruits + a lot of blossoms, but no ripe fruit yet. I'm so curious about the taste! clara

[MikeInOhio]

Hi,

Mike here, from Ohio Heirloom Seeds. I added the "Siberian" to the Pink Honey as a result of the location of the seed source. It does sound like the same variety Tatiana chronicled. These seeds have been grown in the dachas around Omsk for at least 40 years, but I don't know if they exhibit any peculiar traits relative to Tatiana's variety. As Carolyn mentioned, I have found 50 days to be about right. I harvested my first set last week.

I can tell you that they aren't doing quite as well this year. We are about 8 degrees warmer here in Ohio than last year, and precipitation has been about half of normal. I water daily, but it doesn't seem to make much of a difference when it's 97 outside. The plants were definitely bigger in '11, and the fruit-set was better. But I'm still guessing 12 pounds per plant.

Please let me know if I can answer anyone's questions. Thanks for the great posts, Carolyn. I'm very curious to hear feedback.

Mike

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by MikeInOhio

Hi,

Mike here, from Ohio Heirloom Seeds. I added the "Siberian" to the Pink Honey as a result of the location of the seed source. It does sound like the same variety Tatiana chronicled. These seeds have been grown in the dachas around Omsk for at least 40 years, but I don't know if they exhibit any peculiar traits relative to Tatiana's variety. As Carolyn mentioned, I have found 50 days to be about right. I harvested my first set last week.

I can tell you that they aren't doing quite as well this year. We are about 8 degrees warmer here in Ohio than last year, and precipitation has been about half of normal. I water daily, but it doesn't seem to make much of a difference when it's 97 outside. The plants were definitely bigger in '11, and the fruit-set was better. But I'm still guessing 12 pounds per plant.

Please let me know if I can answer anyone's questions. Thanks for the great posts, Carolyn. I'm very curious to hear feedback.

Mike

HI Mike, glad you stopped by.

I have to think that maybe your friend who sent you the seeds possibly made a mistake in telling you that it's been grown for 40 years since if you look at posts 7 and 8 in this thread I think you'll see that all the other info about it indicate that it's said to be a NEW variety and a CV ( commercial variety).

If you looked at the Google IMAGES I put up you'll also see a commercial pack of Pink Honey from Russia.

http://rareseeds.com/pink-honey-tomato.html

Above is a link to Baker Creek where they say it was selected for in Western Siberia and there is a breeding station in Western Siberia. Jere at Baker Creek has had several Russian folks at his place from time to time and that's why they have introduced so many varieties from various sites in the former USSR, now called the CIS ( Commonwealth of Independent States)

And of course Andrey and Tania both have contacts in the CIS as well.

When you do a Google search for Pink Honey you'll see that the only seed source selling it as Siberian Pink Honey is you and all others sell seeds as just Pink Honey, since as Tania said at her page the variety name, and she spelled it in Russian, does not contain the word Siberian/

I think I also mentioned in a post above that Bill McDorman of High Altitude Seeds/ Seeds Trust, was perhaps the first person to go to Siberia in 1989 and get seeds from the Siberian Institute of Horticulture where they breed tomatoes as well as inventory local varieties being grown.

And here's a link to his story about that first trip to that Institute in Western Siberia and the Baker Creek blurb also mentioned that Pink Honey was a "selection" from Western Siberia:

http://secure.seedstrust.com/index.p...d=25&Itemid=25

Craig L and If bought almost all of the varieties that Bill brought back, split the seeds between us and had a great time with those then new varieties to everyone since Bill was the first one to introduce them outside of the former USSR, specifically, Western Siberia. We SSE listed them in the early 90's and fact is, and Craig will remember this, we were short changed on seed count for several of the varieties.

All the above aside, I'm growing Pink Honey this year and being a dedicated heart lover, of tomatoes that is,, I'm looking forward to seeing how it turns out. And the fact is that someone who bought seeds from you, several packs, sent one pack to me so I'm growing it from seeds that you produced.

[janezee]

I like its Russian name, Rozovyi Myod. Rolls right off the tongue.

j

[RobinB]

My Pink Honeys are growing fast. The tallest one has grown 14" in 11 days! When I first set this one out, I had a short bamboo piece that I put in there as a temporary support. You can see it in both photos. The first photo was taken on June 26, and the second was taken today, July 7.

The plant seems to be "unfolding" upward. That's the only way I can describe it. It's hard to keep up, but I'm trying to keep it upright and tied gently to the pole.

The sepals are HUGE, and on a few of the blossoms they seem to be stuck together. I gently separated them and the blossom seems fine. Strange. I also noticed stuck sepals on a Vince P1 plant.

No fruit set yet, but at this rate, hopefully it will start soon.

[janezee]

Robin, I'm finding mine to be very vigorous, too. We finally have sun, daytime temps above 65º, and nighttime lows above 45º. And did I mention sun?

I have high hopes of its becoming my 'biggie' of the year! (fingers crossed)

j

[MikeInOhio]

Carolyn,

Thank you for all the information. I checked online when I first started the plants and could only find Tatiana's page. I don't think Baker was selling them at that time.

The photo on Tatiana's site looked identical to what eventually grew, but the 80 days didn't make sense. I assumed that mine were an earlier variety from Omsk.

I think I will buy some seeds from Baker next year and see if they are identical. In the meantime I will remove the "Siberian" from the name so as not to cause confusion.

Thanks,
Mike

[dustyrivergarden]

I have a few planted they are doing well and have fruit set it will be fun to see how they develop.

[Tania]

I respect the need of having a translated name for folks who cannot pronounce foreighn names, but this variety's name is 'Rozovyi Myod', and not 'Pink Honey'. I am so sorry that many commercial sources have been selling it under the translated name. I really am. Sigh. Not the first time this happens, but I hope it will happen less often in the future, as we learn to respect the original names.

Mike, there is NO WAY this variety could have been grown for 40 years in anyone's datcha. If this was the case, I'd highly doubt any Russian gardeners would still be remembering its name.

Tatiana

[Tania]

Here is a link to a picture posted by a Russian gardener: http://eva.ru/albumpage/212840/906852/5562003.htm

[Tania]

I agree with Carolyn that DTM can vary greatly - even when grown in the same garden in different years! And of course it will be very different for folks in difference gardening zones. An early 50-day tomato is most likely going to be 75-80 days in our PNW garden. Or more like 100+ days if we are talking this season that has been exceptionally rainy and cold up until last week.

[MikeInOhio]

Tania,

I think you are correct about the name. I'll call it "Rozovyi Myod" from here on out, along with the translation.

Of course the DTM varies by location and growing conditions, but I'm in zone 6. Last year was cool and damp, and I harvested my first tomato in 37 days. This year has been extremely hot and dry, and I believe it was 39 days. It, and Mr. Bruno, are the earliest varieties I am growing this year.

Do you have any additional information on "Russian Queen"? Your website is about the only information I can find about this variety. It's been the star of my new varieties- huge plants with loads of fruit.

Thanks,
Mike

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by MikeInOhio

Tania,

I think you are correct about the name. I'll call it "Rozovyi Myod" from here on out, along with the translation.

Of course the DTM varies by location and growing conditions, but I'm in zone 6. Last year was cool and damp, and I harvested my first tomato in 37 days. This year has been extremely hot and dry, and I believe it was 39 days. It, and Mr. Bruno, are the earliest varieties I am growing this year.

Do you have any additional information on "Russian Queen"? Your website is about the only information I can find about this variety. It's been the star of my new varieties- huge plants with loads of fruit.

Thanks,
Mike

Mike, I started several years ago with my SSE listings as well as my seed offers here listing varieties with their original name and then in parens putting the translated name, so Pervaya Lyubov ( First Love), is how I would list that one.

About Russian Queen. I got my seeds from Reinhard Kraft in 2010, we always exchange seeds, and here it is on his 2010 growout list, last one down:

http://tomaten.bplaced.net/Tomatenfotos/anbau-2010.htm

I grew it as did Craig who had an extra plant from the ones he raised for me. Yes, the plant is huge, yes it's a tomato machine, but neither Craig nor I could stand the taste of it, so I never SSE listed it and never offered it in my seed offer here either, I just checked that 2011 seed offer to be sure.

I think Reinhard may have been the original source for it but Manfred Hahm may have it on his list and Geza may have gotten it and if Manfred had it one his list them for sure others in Europe might have gotten it as well.

Where did you get your seeds from?

Since I had no intentions of listing it after tasting it I never asked Reinhard any background info on it, but he usually mentions a country, a person, etc., and none of that happened. What he does say is neuheit, which means a novelty variety and knowing him that doesn't speak to good taste, I don't think.

But, some folks do like a very aggress8ive taste, so there you are, I don't, and what I don't like and have strong feelings about that I don't SSE list nor do I offer it in my seed offer here. At least I don't think I have.

I just Googled it and found a page from Craig's blog where he said he liked the taste, which is not what I remember:

http://nctomatoman.weebly.com/1/cate...harvest/1.html

I guess I'm the friend he referred to since I sent him the seeds.

Just one other Google link to Tville where Craig said his Russian Queen plant was struggling.

For all I know I could still have some Russian Queen seeds back there but maybe not b'c a lingering memory says that Craig saved some seeds as well, and may have sent some up to me. I'd have to check.

I don't know who was doing the major seed production for it, it wouldn't have been Craig or myself, but I'd have to check that out as well.

So yes, a huge indet plant, very vigorous, red with gold stripes on the fruits, on the small side, RL and see how you like the taste when they ripen up/

I also checked Ventmarin in France but he doesn't have it listed. Not a seed source, just a very comprehensive listing of varieties for thousands of varieties, most with pictures and histories where available. And mostly correct.

[carolyn137]

Mike, I need to update my info on Russian Queen b'c as I was reading a book I thought about it again and checked some older e-mails form Reinhard.

And yes, it did originate with him and he got it from what he called a Russian/German co-worker and at first he said he thought it looked liked Csikos Botermo but he said the fruits are plum shaped, and he thought the taste was really good for a striped variety.

Although I had requested seeds of Russian Queen Neil Lockhart got his first so we decided that Neil would send some seeds to Craig L in Raleigh who raises all my plants anyway. Neil never SSE listed it as far as I can see looking at the Yearbook but Al Anderson did in the 2012, seeds from Neil. The y exchange seeds somewhat privately so I can understand that. And I found the e-mail where Craig said he was sending me 125 seeds of RQ , so while I know I had fruits, lots of them, and tasted it, unless Freda can help me set up fermentations it doesn't get done.

Now obviously I didn't SSe list it with only 125 seeds, I may have had few more than that from a small fermentation I set up myself, I think I did and asked Craig if he had more when filling requests for my seed offer, see below.

Sure enough I DID offer it in my recent 2012 offer and said Russian Queen, red with gold stripes, not sweet.

So that not sweet memory was there at the time from the summer of 2011, and still is.

Edited to add that I send out 5-6 seeds of fresh 2011 seeds so there were plenty of folks who got Russian Queen seeds from me but I didn't check the germination 2012 thread to see who they were and that would be incomplete anyway b'c not all who got seeds reported back. A performance thread goes up in late summer. early Fall, so maybe I'll get more feedback at that time.