Homework assignment from Teacher_Mike - Page 3

Teacher_Mike · March 8, 2006

All I can offer is a truly a little more.

The auction was in August, and it was an estate sale held on site at the farm. This auction was between Carlisle (any car show people out there?) and Newville, on a nice, curvy PA country road that hadn't (at that point,) yet been found by the devlopers...but check tomorrow, cause they're sprouting a lot more than corn in the old fields around here these days

. This was not one of the high faluttin' Pennsylvania "farm" auctions with 5 generations of period antiques - we have those too in this area. This was, by my estimate, a relatively recently working farm, probably only a few dozen acres, barn on one side of the road, older pieced-together and kinda sorta but not really remodeled farmhouse on the other.

The LARD CAN in mention was in a row of box lots in the back yard...the usual stuff - heaps of canning jars, mismatched chipped and cracked plates and such, half-empty bottles of cleaning supplies, and so on and so forth. I happen to like diggin through that "junk" for a treasure or two...books, local paper goods, or just something that catches my eye. I did not, however, open the lard can. If the auctioneer had not opened it and called out the contents, we wouldn't be having this conversation.

And the rest is in the first post in this thread. I only know it was the estate of Hazel Myers from the auction listing - I have no knowledge of or connection to the family, so I can't really follow up any more.

I've seen some, umm...interesting names mentioned so far. It sure is tempting to start throwing them around (Lard Can Lemon?) but it's way premature (Box Lot Blond?) to start talking about names, don't you think? (Hazel's High Bidder? Hmmm.)

SelfSufficient1 · March 8, 2006

Lol, Junk Collectors Dream popped into my head as I read that post.

clay199 · March 11, 2006

I was thinking about these mystery seeds last night as I pretended to study.

If they are hybrid seeds then all of the first generation that we are growing out should be the same right?

And next year's tomato crop of this should be the one to tell us if it is OP or hybrid (if they are hybrid they will start differing radically)

It might be a good idea to send seeds to the folks down under to trail prior to any of us sharing seeds for next year. If there is an issue with the seed than we will hopefully find out prior to us sending this out all over, and really messing up if it is unstable.

I hope you folks don't mind my optomistic thinking about us all getting good germination...

bully · March 11, 2006

It certainly doesn't hurt to speculate.

I for one am a master of hitching the cart in front of the horse.

If I had to guess and I don't but I will, I would say that they are saved seeds from an open pollinated tomato.

Most people keep their purchased seeds in the package they came in, according to Teacher_Mike these were not in a commercial package.
I have bought a lot of seeds from commercial ventures and they have never sent me 123 some seeds..more like 20 to 30.

In the can there were other saved seeds and marked envelopes from seed trades. So this person has a certain level of experience and more than likely wouldn't save seeds from a known hybrid.

If they are an F1 hybrid then our seedlings will be identical
If our seedlings are all different then they are either F2 or an envelope of mixed seeds...either way I'll sue the pants of Teacher_Mike and we'll all fly 'Down Under' and grow them out at my new posh Manly Australia getaway. 8)

valereee · March 12, 2006

Got my seeds, and they are soaking!

Val

Teacher_Mike · March 12, 2006

Quote:

I have bought a lot of seeds from commercial ventures and they have never sent me 123 some seeds..more like 20 to 30.

Good point, bully.

Don't know if I mentioned it before, but these were in an old glass coffee jar with a piece of masking tape on the outside with "yellow tomatoes" written on it. It's possible that she bought the seed and dumped it into the jar and didn't care what the full name was, I guess, but I'd bet against it.

I also thought that the seed looked like it had been saved because it was a little less "clean" than commercial seed usually looks to me. Anyone else think that? Or am I just Looking for something I want to see?

Quote:

either way I'll sue the pants of Teacher_Mike and we'll all fly 'Down Under' and grow them out at my new posh Manly Australia getaway.

You can sue my pants, bully, but I have to tell you they are teacher's pants and therefore NOT wealthy, plus they probably have some red ink smudges and smell like that cedar stuff they put on the floor when some kid barfs. They'll get you down alright, but I don't think they'll get you "Down Under." :lol

montanamato · March 12, 2006

My seed arrived yeserday and has been soaking overnight...

Unless Bully deliberately added chaff and dried matter to my packet, I am pretty sure they were saved seeds too. They certainly didn't look like a commercial variety to me...
The seeds sunk right away, and only a couple floated for a minute, so maybe there is hope.

Jeanne

valereee · March 12, 2006

My seeds were stuck together a lot more than most commercial seeds, and they mostly sank to the bottom right away. A couple wanted to float but they let me poke them down.

Teacher_Mike · March 12, 2006

Good to hear others noticed the "unclean" appearance...I wasn't imagining it (or wishing it there :wink: )

Quote:

Unless Bully deliberately added chaff and dried matter to my packet, I am pretty sure they were saved seeds too.

Hmmm...bully, have you been chaffing the seeds again? That's heirloom chaff and dried matter, there Jeanne, says bully...cost you more with the chaff...

Not too many floaters seems to say that maybe the seeds are not as old as I thought...which is neither here nor there, really, as we still don't know what the fruit will be like, except that it obviously increases the chance that we'll get to find out! All good news to my mind.

SelfSufficient1 · March 13, 2006

Got my seeds today. Out of mine 13 are floating

but then they have only been soaking a couple hours

.
They did look like saved seeds to me but then I have been known to save seeds from hybrids before I knew the difference

.

Teacher_Mike · March 13, 2006

Hmmm... all good. I'm hoping we can keep this thread active and keep a running commentary about progress - (or lack of it, but I hope not.)

Bully - how about yours? do they float? :wink:

SelfSufficient1 · March 13, 2006

About 5 hours now and only two are left floating here.

Teacher_Mike · March 13, 2006

Hmmm... all good. I'm hoping we can keep this thread active and keep a running commentary about progress - (or lack of it, but I hope not.)

Bully - how about yours? do they float? :wink:

WildLife · March 13, 2006

Hey

Meyers Lemon

Yellow Haze All
Hazellow
Mystellow

60% seeds sank easily, 40% after a couple stir/dunks.
Been 4 days total soak + earth.

Wild "whats in a name" Life

bully · March 13, 2006

Mine sunk faster than a heavy bulldog on a plastic sled in a flooded yard.
http://tinyurl.com/kchcr

March 8, 2006	#32
SelfSufficient1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Georgia, USA Posts: 188	Lol, Junk Collectors Dream popped into my head as I read that post. __________________ I could spend all day here!

March 13, 2006	#40
SelfSufficient1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Georgia, USA Posts: 188	Got my seeds today. Out of mine 13 are floating but then they have only been soaking a couple hours . They did look like saved seeds to me but then I have been known to save seeds from hybrids before I knew the difference . __________________ I could spend all day here!

March 13, 2006	#42
SelfSufficient1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Georgia, USA Posts: 188	About 5 hours now and only two are left floating here. __________________ I could spend all day here!

March 8, 2006	#31
Teacher_Mike Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Central PA Posts: 68	All I can offer is a truly a little more. The auction was in August, and it was an estate sale held on site at the farm. This auction was between Carlisle (any car show people out there?) and Newville, on a nice, curvy PA country road that hadn't (at that point,) yet been found by the devlopers...but check tomorrow, cause they're sprouting a lot more than corn in the old fields around here these days . This was not one of the high faluttin' Pennsylvania "farm" auctions with 5 generations of period antiques - we have those too in this area. This was, by my estimate, a relatively recently working farm, probably only a few dozen acres, barn on one side of the road, older pieced-together and kinda sorta but not really remodeled farmhouse on the other. The LARD CAN in mention was in a row of box lots in the back yard...the usual stuff - heaps of canning jars, mismatched chipped and cracked plates and such, half-empty bottles of cleaning supplies, and so on and so forth. I happen to like diggin through that "junk" for a treasure or two...books, local paper goods, or just something that catches my eye. I did not, however, open the lard can. If the auctioneer had not opened it and called out the contents, we wouldn't be having this conversation. And the rest is in the first post in this thread. I only know it was the estate of Hazel Myers from the auction listing - I have no knowledge of or connection to the family, so I can't really follow up any more. I've seen some, umm...interesting names mentioned so far. It sure is tempting to start throwing them around (Lard Can Lemon?) but it's way premature (Box Lot Blond?) to start talking about names, don't you think? (Hazel's High Bidder? Hmmm.)

March 11, 2006	#33
clay199 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Beyond Hope, British Columbia Posts: 201	I was thinking about these mystery seeds last night as I pretended to study. If they are hybrid seeds then all of the first generation that we are growing out should be the same right? And next year's tomato crop of this should be the one to tell us if it is OP or hybrid (if they are hybrid they will start differing radically) It might be a good idea to send seeds to the folks down under to trail prior to any of us sharing seeds for next year. If there is an issue with the seed than we will hopefully find out prior to us sending this out all over, and really messing up if it is unstable. I hope you folks don't mind my optomistic thinking about us all getting good germination...

March 11, 2006	#34
bully Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: S.E. MI Posts: 794	It certainly doesn't hurt to speculate. I for one am a master of hitching the cart in front of the horse. If I had to guess and I don't but I will, I would say that they are saved seeds from an open pollinated tomato. Most people keep their purchased seeds in the package they came in, according to Teacher_Mike these were not in a commercial package. I have bought a lot of seeds from commercial ventures and they have never sent me 123 some seeds..more like 20 to 30. In the can there were other saved seeds and marked envelopes from seed trades. So this person has a certain level of experience and more than likely wouldn't save seeds from a known hybrid. If they are an F1 hybrid then our seedlings will be identical If our seedlings are all different then they are either F2 or an envelope of mixed seeds...either way I'll sue the pants of Teacher_Mike and we'll all fly 'Down Under' and grow them out at my new posh Manly Australia getaway. 8)

March 12, 2006	#35
valereee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 6a SW Ohio Posts: 135	Got my seeds, and they are soaking! Val

March 12, 2006	#37
montanamato Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Montana Posts: 1,038	My seed arrived yeserday and has been soaking overnight... Unless Bully deliberately added chaff and dried matter to my packet, I am pretty sure they were saved seeds too. They certainly didn't look like a commercial variety to me... The seeds sunk right away, and only a couple floated for a minute, so maybe there is hope. Jeanne

March 13, 2006	#44
WildLife Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Long Beach, Calif Posts: 144	Hey Meyers Lemon Yellow Haze All Hazellow Mystellow 60% seeds sank easily, 40% after a couple stir/dunks. Been 4 days total soak + earth. Wild "whats in a name" Life