Tomatopalooza....numbah TEN! - Page 3

Father'sDaughter · July 29, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by nctomatoman

I hope the organizers collected info on who most of the people were and how they found out about it - much lower percentage of my seedling customers, many many new faces. Who were all those people?

Simple -- they were there to see the area's tomato celebrity! Amazing what a little TV coverage can do.

It sounds like a fantastic, well planned event. I know if I lived in the area I wouldn't have missed it!

gssgarden · July 29, 2012

Here's a question stemming from Farmer's Daughters post..

How do you guys get the word out? Flyers? Local papers? Web?

Greg

meadowyck · July 29, 2012

kurt

the link once you get to the main page you then have to click on each picture.

**nctomatoman** · July 29, 2012

Greg, my web site, Tomatopalooza website, I use Twitter, a few local magazines picked it up - the independent I think - Jimmy and Fred has their local area, my daughter on Listserve, the WRAL thing, my direct email to as many seedling customers as I know email for - so a bit of this and that

kurt · July 29, 2012

Jan Understood,did so,got the maters but got image size of maters only,no variety placard as in thumbnail view.

**nctomatoman** · July 29, 2012

Somewhat more considered thoughts on a great day -

http://tomatopalooza.weebly.com/1/po...der-craig.html

meadowyck · July 29, 2012

sorry I though you were wanting to move between them, that is what I get for thinking I could read a few messages while I waited to leave this house this afternoon...LOL

**nctomatoman** · July 30, 2012

Let's get a bit more technical re Tomatopalooza - since I never left the Dwarf table for the most part, here is how the people seemed to react to various varieties (as well as my perception of how they tasted)

Dwarf Caitydid - gorgeous fruit, really tasty - this was grown from seed Michael sent me and it the latest generation (as is what Ray is growing) - very promising as a nice large bicolor release from the Pesty line.

Striped Tidy and Fred's Tie Dye - people loved the color and the flavor of both.

Dwarf Blazing Beauty 3434, 3435, 11-40, 3410 - nice to be able to taste them all side by side. Slightly varying shades of orange, with 11-40 the darkest color. All of them exhibited intense flavor and distinct tartness - this will be another really good one to focus on to be sure it is released as soon as possible - a large potato leaf orange with sparkle!

Uluru Ochre 3481, 11-147, 3460 - all showed the distinct color, none showed the intensity of flavor that we got last year - could just be that it doesn't like the extreme heat. 11-147 probably the lead selection.

Boronia 3463 - too bad this was the only representative - but showed well.

Loxton Lad and Loxton Lass - I think that we have some great Loxton Lass samples that should be the lead selection - will be a very well liked medium large regular leaf orange. Nice potential here!

Summertime Gold 2512, 08-145, 11-181, Lee's sample - I am so happy we have good leads for reselection - the 08-145 and 11-181 are pretty much identical and what we are aiming for - looked and tasted great. Lee's sample, oddly, wasn't quite right - probably a bit of remaining segregation- a bit too round, firm, and different interior. With its advanced generation, 11-181 is the one to work up for seed and re-release.

Sweet Scarlet Dwarf 3412 - this is the best red I've tasted yet from the project (not surprised - Tipsy as a line is just loaded). Plus incredible interior color - deep crimson with green gel-surrounded seeds. And this isn't even as good as the 11-43 that I grew, but didn't have a fruit to bring. We have a good lead - and I suspect other NHers have great leads as well.

Dopey F2 selections 1, 2, 3, 4 - I went back to seeds from the F1 - the heart shaped one that a volunteer found - and grew four dwarfs, 1, 2, and 3, were round to oblate yellow/red bicolors, 4 is nearly white - alas, none of them tasted very good. We were lucky to find Dwarf Russian Swirl - otherwise, I think we can put this line to bed.

Ivalde F1 and F2 selections 2, 4, and the F1 - we have fruit that tend to go heart shaped, and thus far have pink and yellow/pink bicolors. Flavors are good - the Ivalde line is well worth pursuing - I have a fruit from selection 1 at home that is 1.5 lbs, pink heart shaped, and potato leaf, but not ready to taste yet.

Wherokowhai 3505, 3437 - Outstanding results - medium large, smooth bicolors, hard to select between these two - another very high priority to get on the market as a potato leaf bicolor.

Bendigo Blush - grew as a pink nippled oval cherry tomato and people liked it. Needs work on color selection/stabilization, but we should get some nice cherries out of this.

Dwarf Jade Beauty, Dwarf Beryl Beauty, Dwarf Kelly Green - The first two are released and people loved them - Kelly Green will be released this fall and people loved it.

Dwarf Sweet Sue - two perfect specimens brought and tasted and it was very well received - due for release this fall.

Summer Sunrise - another that people really loved - and due for release this fall.

I brought many other Dwarfs, as did Lee - I will let Lee describe how his tasted - the only two I tried were Sean's Yellow Dwarf, which is really good, and one of the Brawny's - also really good.

But the ones I listed above were the ones I was there for when they were cut and tasted.....

**Lee** · July 30, 2012

All in all a very nice day.

We had over 190 people sign in, which I believe is the largest number we've ever had attending.
We had 160 different tomato varieties represented.

Here's the results of the best tasting and most unusual voting:
Best Tasting:
Shannon's and Mexico Midget - 5 votes each
Cossack Pineapple and Dester Amish - 4 votes each
Black Cherry, Cherokee Purple, Sungold - 3 votes each
Anna Russian, German Queen, Orange Heirloom, Strawberry Margarita - 2 votes each

Of course, I forgot to vote which is why Cuostralee isn't in that list!

Most Unusual:

Cossack Pineapple - Winner
Goldie, Garden Peach, Mexico Midget, Green Zebra, Uluru Ochre - Runners Up

We had 4~5 tables that held the red/pink varieties and 4 for the cherries, greens, blacks, orange, yellow, whites, and bi-colors.
We had 3 tables for the dwarves.
I spent most of my time at the dwarves, but the notable others I tasted were Ferris Wheel, Dester Amish, Cuostralee (which was good, but not at its best), Black Cherry, Lillian's Yellow, and Kentucky Yellow Heirloom. My Orange Heirloom was good, but I'm more partial to a tomato with bite...

Speaking of which, Loxtan Lad, Dwarf Blazing Beauty, and Wherokowhai were all quite remarkable for their amazing burst of flavor. These were from the dwarf table.

Also there I had the final observations/comments:

Summertime Gold - All were a little off this year. Still an 8, but I suspect the weather around Raleigh subdued the flavors a bit.

Sean's Yellow Dwarf - A very nice tomato leaning more to the sweet side of things. Many folks had favorable impressions of this one, so I think it will be made available
very soon. This one is in process for southern hemisphere seed production, and may be commercially available there before the NHer's have it!

Dwarf Mahogany - I dumped last year's F4 seed and went back to the F3 this year to try and get back to the flavor and production I got from the F2. This one seems to be back
in business as many folks really liked the flavor of this one.
My dad (again) has grown the best of the lot, and I will move forward with his.

Brawny F3 - The size/shape and color of this one is as expected. However, the fruit from my dad's garden has a much better taste. Many folks really liked the flavor and texture of this one, so I will move forward with this version.
Didn't get to compare it to Sweet Scarlet Dwarf, but I think the size/flavor potential of this one (future Dwarf Cuostralee!) keep it in a class of it's own.

All in all it was a very pleasant day.... but I had to come back to work to recover from the weekend!

Lee

Here's some of my favorite pix:

**nctomatoman** · July 30, 2012

Thanks Lee....quite a day. I am still pretty much brain dead today. Can't even ponder walking into the garden!

**nctomatoman** · July 30, 2012

A reminder to check out the Tomatopalooza site - capturing lots more comments from attendees in the blog, and we will be adding more photos there as well -

http://tomatopalooza.weebly.com/

**Patrina_Pepperina** · July 30, 2012

I assume that table pic is the dwarf table because I can see some 'maters that look like Uluru Ochre

Enjoyed reading about the event and the tastings - thanks folks! No wonder you guys are tired

Patrina

**Lee** · July 30, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrina_Pepperina

I assume that table pic is the dwarf table because I can see some 'maters that look like Uluru Ochre

Enjoyed reading about the event and the tastings - thanks folks! No wonder you guys are tired

Patrina

But of course! Although from the looks of them now, it's
hard to tell... I mean 8 years ago the dwarf table would've
had maybe 4 small tomato varieties on it.....

Lee

kenny_j · August 4, 2012

Lee, Shannons, a paste as listed by Tania's???? Tied for top taste? I want some!!!!!!!!!! Are they really that good?

gssgarden · August 18, 2012

PM me Kenny if you'd like some seeds!

Greg

July 29, 2012	#33
meadowyck Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: Brooksville, FL Posts: 1,001	kurt the link once you get to the main page you then have to click on each picture. __________________ Jan “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” -Theodore Roosevelt

July 29, 2012	#34
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	Greg, my web site, Tomatopalooza website, I use Twitter, a few local magazines picked it up - the independent I think - Jimmy and Fred has their local area, my daughter on Listserve, the WRAL thing, my direct email to as many seedling customers as I know email for - so a bit of this and that __________________ Craig

July 29, 2012	#36
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	Somewhat more considered thoughts on a great day - http://tomatopalooza.weebly.com/1/po...der-craig.html __________________ Craig

July 29, 2012	#37
meadowyck Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: Brooksville, FL Posts: 1,001	sorry I though you were wanting to move between them, that is what I get for thinking I could read a few messages while I waited to leave this house this afternoon...LOL __________________ Jan “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” -Theodore Roosevelt

July 30, 2012	#38
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	Let's get a bit more technical re Tomatopalooza - since I never left the Dwarf table for the most part, here is how the people seemed to react to various varieties (as well as my perception of how they tasted) Dwarf Caitydid - gorgeous fruit, really tasty - this was grown from seed Michael sent me and it the latest generation (as is what Ray is growing) - very promising as a nice large bicolor release from the Pesty line. Striped Tidy and Fred's Tie Dye - people loved the color and the flavor of both. Dwarf Blazing Beauty 3434, 3435, 11-40, 3410 - nice to be able to taste them all side by side. Slightly varying shades of orange, with 11-40 the darkest color. All of them exhibited intense flavor and distinct tartness - this will be another really good one to focus on to be sure it is released as soon as possible - a large potato leaf orange with sparkle! Uluru Ochre 3481, 11-147, 3460 - all showed the distinct color, none showed the intensity of flavor that we got last year - could just be that it doesn't like the extreme heat. 11-147 probably the lead selection. Boronia 3463 - too bad this was the only representative - but showed well. Loxton Lad and Loxton Lass - I think that we have some great Loxton Lass samples that should be the lead selection - will be a very well liked medium large regular leaf orange. Nice potential here! Summertime Gold 2512, 08-145, 11-181, Lee's sample - I am so happy we have good leads for reselection - the 08-145 and 11-181 are pretty much identical and what we are aiming for - looked and tasted great. Lee's sample, oddly, wasn't quite right - probably a bit of remaining segregation- a bit too round, firm, and different interior. With its advanced generation, 11-181 is the one to work up for seed and re-release. Sweet Scarlet Dwarf 3412 - this is the best red I've tasted yet from the project (not surprised - Tipsy as a line is just loaded). Plus incredible interior color - deep crimson with green gel-surrounded seeds. And this isn't even as good as the 11-43 that I grew, but didn't have a fruit to bring. We have a good lead - and I suspect other NHers have great leads as well. Dopey F2 selections 1, 2, 3, 4 - I went back to seeds from the F1 - the heart shaped one that a volunteer found - and grew four dwarfs, 1, 2, and 3, were round to oblate yellow/red bicolors, 4 is nearly white - alas, none of them tasted very good. We were lucky to find Dwarf Russian Swirl - otherwise, I think we can put this line to bed. Ivalde F1 and F2 selections 2, 4, and the F1 - we have fruit that tend to go heart shaped, and thus far have pink and yellow/pink bicolors. Flavors are good - the Ivalde line is well worth pursuing - I have a fruit from selection 1 at home that is 1.5 lbs, pink heart shaped, and potato leaf, but not ready to taste yet. Wherokowhai 3505, 3437 - Outstanding results - medium large, smooth bicolors, hard to select between these two - another very high priority to get on the market as a potato leaf bicolor. Bendigo Blush - grew as a pink nippled oval cherry tomato and people liked it. Needs work on color selection/stabilization, but we should get some nice cherries out of this. Dwarf Jade Beauty, Dwarf Beryl Beauty, Dwarf Kelly Green - The first two are released and people loved them - Kelly Green will be released this fall and people loved it. Dwarf Sweet Sue - two perfect specimens brought and tasted and it was very well received - due for release this fall. Summer Sunrise - another that people really loved - and due for release this fall. I brought many other Dwarfs, as did Lee - I will let Lee describe how his tasted - the only two I tried were Sean's Yellow Dwarf, which is really good, and one of the Brawny's - also really good. But the ones I listed above were the ones I was there for when they were cut and tasted..... __________________ Craig

July 29, 2012	#32
gssgarden Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: N.C. Posts: 1,827	Here's a question stemming from Farmer's Daughters post.. How do you guys get the word out? Flyers? Local papers? Web? Greg

July 29, 2012	#35
kurt Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Homestead,Everglades City Fl. Posts: 2,500	Jan Understood,did so,got the maters but got image size of maters only,no variety placard as in thumbnail view.

July 30, 2012	#39
Lee Tomatopalooza™ Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NC-Zone 7 Posts: 2,188	All in all a very nice day. We had over 190 people sign in, which I believe is the largest number we've ever had attending. We had 160 different tomato varieties represented. Here's the results of the best tasting and most unusual voting: Best Tasting: Shannon's and Mexico Midget - 5 votes each Cossack Pineapple and Dester Amish - 4 votes each Black Cherry, Cherokee Purple, Sungold - 3 votes each Anna Russian, German Queen, Orange Heirloom, Strawberry Margarita - 2 votes each Of course, I forgot to vote which is why Cuostralee isn't in that list! Most Unusual: Cossack Pineapple - Winner Goldie, Garden Peach, Mexico Midget, Green Zebra, Uluru Ochre - Runners Up We had 4~5 tables that held the red/pink varieties and 4 for the cherries, greens, blacks, orange, yellow, whites, and bi-colors. We had 3 tables for the dwarves. I spent most of my time at the dwarves, but the notable others I tasted were Ferris Wheel, Dester Amish, Cuostralee (which was good, but not at its best), Black Cherry, Lillian's Yellow, and Kentucky Yellow Heirloom. My Orange Heirloom was good, but I'm more partial to a tomato with bite... Speaking of which, Loxtan Lad, Dwarf Blazing Beauty, and Wherokowhai were all quite remarkable for their amazing burst of flavor. These were from the dwarf table. Also there I had the final observations/comments: Summertime Gold - All were a little off this year. Still an 8, but I suspect the weather around Raleigh subdued the flavors a bit. Sean's Yellow Dwarf - A very nice tomato leaning more to the sweet side of things. Many folks had favorable impressions of this one, so I think it will be made available very soon. This one is in process for southern hemisphere seed production, and may be commercially available there before the NHer's have it! Dwarf Mahogany - I dumped last year's F4 seed and went back to the F3 this year to try and get back to the flavor and production I got from the F2. This one seems to be back in business as many folks really liked the flavor of this one. My dad (again) has grown the best of the lot, and I will move forward with his. Brawny F3 - The size/shape and color of this one is as expected. However, the fruit from my dad's garden has a much better taste. Many folks really liked the flavor and texture of this one, so I will move forward with this version. Didn't get to compare it to Sweet Scarlet Dwarf, but I think the size/flavor potential of this one (future Dwarf Cuostralee!) keep it in a class of it's own. All in all it was a very pleasant day.... but I had to come back to work to recover from the weekend! Lee Here's some of my favorite pix: __________________ Intelligence is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put one in a fruit salad. Cuostralee - The best thing on sliced bread.

July 30, 2012	#42
Patrina_Pepperina Cross Hemisphere Dwarf Project™ Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New South Wales, Australia Posts: 3,094	I assume that table pic is the dwarf table because I can see some 'maters that look like Uluru Ochre Enjoyed reading about the event and the tastings - thanks folks! No wonder you guys are tired Patrina __________________ Truth is colourful, not just black and white. PP: 2005

August 4, 2012	#44
kenny_j Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: holly michigan Posts: 380	Lee, Shannons, a paste as listed by Tania's???? Tied for top taste? I want some!!!!!!!!!! Are they really that good?

August 18, 2012	#45
gssgarden Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: N.C. Posts: 1,827	PM me Kenny if you'd like some seeds! Greg