Sun Gold F1

[RayR]

Originally Posted by ginger2778

Not only foolproof, but practically bulletproof. Great disease tolerance.

I wish I could say the same, but in the last 2 years I grew Sungold it had the poorest resistance to Septoria of any variety in my garden.

[snugglekitten]

Originally Posted by FarmerShawn

I have to admit that Ambrosia Gold is giving Sungold some solid competition this year. I have a dozen Sungold plants outside this year, just to try to satisfy market demand and leave enough for my needs, but darn, those AGs sure are tasty.

Shawn, very inspiring to know this. Thanks for that tidbit.

[snugglekitten]

Originally Posted by RayR

I wish I could say the same, but in the last 2 years I grew Sungold it had the poorest resistance to Septoria of any variety in my garden.

This is one reason I enjoy crossing the wild current tomatoes of South America with old breeds.

I told know if I could get a grown up Sungold, quasi-stabilized, cross it with a wild tomato and preserve the "Sungoldness" but it may be worth a shot some day.

[kath]

Originally Posted by RayR

I wish I could say the same, but in the last 2 years I grew Sungold it had the poorest resistance to Septoria of any variety in my garden.

I've grown it for nearly 20 years, never spray it, and it always gets Early Blight and some Septoria Leaf Spot sooner or later. It's held up better than most of the hundreds of other tomato varieties I've tried, though, and seems to be able to stay ahead of the worst of it. Usually I'm removing the branches just below the trusses that are bearing.

[remy]

Originally Posted by joseph

I don't grow it any more because I don't want to contribute to the companies that make it nor to encourage the way of thinking associated with how and where it is produced and distributed.

I'm interested in what you are talking about. Sungold is made by Takii Seed in Japan. (Sun Sugar is made by Seminis so I do not carry that any more.) I do not see anything about Takii being a bad company.

[joseph]

I know nothing about Takii seed. Whether they are a good company or a bad company doesn't matter to me. What matters to me is that they are a far-away company. I have chosen, where available, to only plant locally produced seed, and also to plant seed only from mom and pop type operations. So mega-international cultivars are not of interest to me. I pretty much only grow local artisan varieties. I also do not plant named cultivars like Sungold because of the intense inbreeding that is required to produce the seed.

My varieties end up being deeply connected to my land, my climate, my pests, the farmer, and the eaters. That doesn't happen with mega-international varieties. They always remain foreigners that are mal-adapted to my garden, to my senses, and to my way of doing things.

[AlittleSalt]

Joseph, I understand what you wrote. I honestly had to look up where the Cache Valley in The Great Basin is. In several posts and replies I have made here - I have made it clear that I believe crops grown in the same place time-and-time again do actually become acclimated to their surroundings. I have proof of this. I also plant varieties that were developed for exactly where I am planting. I have shortcuts on my desktop for heirloom vegetable and flower varieties for the county I live in and the county just south of us.

But I do wonder if planting varieties from afar - if those varieties might not make my garden their new home? I try to choose seeds developed for the same latitude as my own. A good closer example is El Paso from the DFW area in Texas. 650 miles separate us - yet the temps are almost the same every day. In El Paso, I saw oak trees, grass, cactus, and dust. In my yard, you'll find oak trees, grass, naturally occurring cactus, and dust.

[drew51]

I don't like to be told I have to plant native plants. I like to grow tropical plants. I have grown them for over 40 years. I like to grow the unusual. Growing local is no challenge, if I had to plant only local, I would plant nothing. I also find this conversation quite ironic as tomatoes are most definitely tropical plants, and do not originate from North America. Domesticated in Mexico, but from South America. At least that is the current belief. So anyway I think we should bring everything here, throw it in the garden and see what sticks. I like peppers, tomatoes and peaches, and will never stop growing them because they are foreign and not local.
Aliitlesalt what you about planting varieties from afar, yeah like the tomato, it was a good idea way back when, and is a good idea today. I'm growing tzambalo this year. Seem way not adapted. Producing fruit, but it is taking forever to ripen. Hangs on the ground, i keep stepping on it, and the dog knocks it off the plant. The exact kind of challange I live for. Seed is so hard to get, I'll overwinter under lights to ripen it, if I have to. Maybe started indoors in the winter, I can get fruit in the summer. We will see!

Originally Posted by joseph

I know nothing about Takii seed. Whether they are a good company or a bad company doesn't matter to me. What matters to me is that they are a far-away company. I have chosen, where available, to only plant locally produced seed, and also to plant seed only from mom and pop type operations. So mega-international cultivars are not of interest to me. I pretty much only grow local artisan varieties. I also do not plant named cultivars like Sungold because of the intense inbreeding that is required to produce the seed.

My varieties end up being deeply connected to my land, my climate, my pests, the farmer, and the eaters. That doesn't happen with mega-international varieties. They always remain foreigners that are mal-adapted to my garden, to my senses, and to my way of doing things.

Well stated! While I admire people with your attitude, my personal attitude seems to desire things from far away. Many of my favorite varieties have eastern European origins. I will almost always try a variety with a background story like Radiator Charlie (Mortgage Lifter), or Barlow Jap, or Dana's Dusky Rose, or Limbaughs Potato Top. The stories and the travels fascinate me. Many times, the well traveled varieties find themselves on my "favorites" list simply because they are good tomatoes and grow well in my local, north Texas garden. They didn't need to become acclimated to my location. They grew and produced well right out of the envelope they arrived in. While high heat and insects burden my garden each year, high altitude and short growing seasons burden yours. I can understand the need to acclimate to your conditions more than mine. I'm trying to locate a source for Austins Black Cherry right now because of the story behind it and the hope that it will be more vigorous than the standard Black Cherry in my garden. It probably won't be, but it may. I will be able to answer that question simply by trading a few seeds with someone instead of natural selection over years of grow outs.

Ted

[remy]

Originally Posted by AlittleSalt

I have never seen a Sun Gold F1 - much less tasted one. I am going to ask for this variety from WinterSown to check it my/ourselves.

Some of what I have read about this hybrid tomato is:

It is the sweetest tomato available.
Is the most popular tomato in the world today here in 2014.

If you have grown or tasted this variety, your opinions and thoughts would be very insightful and interesting.

AlittleSalt,
It is the only hybrid that I grow on a consistent basis (I try others once in awhile, but I am normally disappointed) as it was bred for flavor, and it is unique. My husband loves them, and I can eat them to my heart's content without worrying about saving seeds. It is very sweet but it has other flavors going on too. It has won more than once Sweetest tomato at the Buffalo~Niagara Party.
I don't know if I would say it is the most popular tomato, but it is the only hybrid that people always want plants of from me in the spring. Other than that they want heirlooms.

Originally Posted by joseph

I know nothing about Takii seed. Whether they are a good company or a bad company doesn't matter to me. What matters to me is that they are a far-away company. I have chosen, where available, to only plant locally produced seed, and also to plant seed only from mom and pop type operations. So mega-international cultivars are not of interest to me. I pretty much only grow local artisan varieties. I also do not plant named cultivars like Sungold because of the intense inbreeding that is required to produce the seed.

My varieties end up being deeply connected to my land, my climate, my pests, the farmer, and the eaters. That doesn't happen with mega-international varieties. They always remain foreigners that are mal-adapted to my garden, to my senses, and to my way of doing things.

Thank you for clarifying your statement.

[AlittleSalt]

I should have added why I am trying the suggested varieties for my area first: I'm growing them to find out if I like them or not? For me, gardening is a new experience. One day, I know I will be trying varieties not suggested for my area. Next spring, I am going to try the very early Siberian tomatoes because members here suggested I try them.

[Labradors2]

I have to agree with Ray that my Sungold plant, which is growing in an open area with lots of air flow, is very prone to Septoria. I think that is its only fault - sigh!

Linda

[Labradors2]

Farmer Shawn,

Does Ambrosia Gold have that wonderful Sungold fragrance?

Linda

[dustdevil]

I think Sungold cracks mostly when it is more towards the deep orange color and it's rainy/humid.

[FarmerShawn]

Linda, I'm afraid I have to acknowledge that I don't have a discriminating smeller. Sungolds smell pretty much like any other tomato to me. So I guess I can't say if AGs have that elusive fragrance or not. Sorry!


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