Start S F1 - Page 4

Milan HP · July 16, 2021

Hello Ddsack,
actually, I wasn't quite right when I wrote that there wasn't a sign of ripening. In the morning the following day I noticed 3 toms on Start 1 (one stem only) started blushing. Start 2 and 3 are still as green as before. And I counted the numbers of trusses on each of them today: Start 1 - 8, Start 2 - 11 and Start 3 - 16.
Milan HP

ddsack · July 17, 2021

That's great, Milan! You should have some to eat soon! I noticed that my 2nd plant now has one blushing as well, plus a couple more on the first plant. But the tomato I brought into the house still is not red enough to taste test. So far, I have had about 6 mature Stupice fruit. I am waiting for a side by side taste test of the two varieties. I can see that Start F1 will be more productive, but not as early.

MrBig46 · July 17, 2021

Quote:

Originally Posted by Milan HP

Hello Ddsack,
actually, I wasn't quite right when I wrote that there wasn't a sign of ripening. In the morning the following day I noticed 3 toms on Start 1 (one stem only) started blushing. Start 2 and 3 are still as green as before. And I counted the numbers of trusses on each of them today: Start 1 - 8, Start 2 - 11 and Start 3 - 16.
Milan HP

Vladimír

MrBig46 · July 17, 2021

Quote:

Originally Posted by Milan HP

Hello Ddsack,
actually, I wasn't quite right when I wrote that there wasn't a sign of ripening. In the morning the following day I noticed 3 toms on Start 1 (one stem only) started blushing. Start 2 and 3 are still as green as before. And I counted the numbers of trusses on each of them today: Start 1 - 8, Start 2 - 11 and Start 3 - 16.
Milan HP

It is logical that tomatoes will ripen later on a plant with more stems. No need to try it. The difference is whether one root feeds 8 inflorescences or 16. This will delay maturation. I do not understand why I would grow Start F1 on a few stems and lose one of its highest values - early. To speed up ripening, it is recommended to cut the plant behind the second inflorescence (Stupice). There is a smaller harvest, but the fruits are very early.
Vladimír

Labradors2 · July 17, 2021

Milan,

Thank you so much for your comment. I really thought I had blown it, growing these tall tomatoes in 3 gallon containers, and that they were dying. I will give them some Mag/Phos today and see if that will revive them

.

Linda

Greatgardens · July 17, 2021

My first Start S is blushing (barely). We have had a very wet, dreary July, but amazingly very little splitting, and only one Ruby Crush plant (in dirt) shows any Septoria.

Milan HP · July 20, 2021

Hello Vladimir,
it seems to be logical but I have learnt that Mother Nature doesn't always follow our logic. Yes, I know you're skeptical about my observations (perhaps rightly so). So, I'll tell you and the others the latest news: Start 3 has developed some blush as well, unlike S2. Not very logical, is it?
Well, I just want to get some hands-on data to go by. Yes, anyone can object that the conditions are not identical. They can't be with living organisms, but I have tried to get as close as I can. I just wonder if there are other studies related to the same thing. I'd like to compare.
Milan HP

Oliver · July 20, 2021

Quote:

Originally Posted by ddsack

And that's exactly why! For me, Stupice consistently ripens tomatoes about 2 weeks before others. Since I have room for about 40 tomatoes in my front garden, why would I wait 2 weeks to start eating fresh tomatoes? It's true that when the better tasting mid-season tomatoes start to bear, Stupice gets ignored as a fresh eater, but I have not found an earlier tomato that tastes as good. With a short northern growing season, I can't wait to get a home grown tomato!

That's why I've been looking at early determinates like Stupice. I recently got some Jagodka seeds and am looking at getting some Start F1 seeds if I can. Just tired of August/September tomatoes every year.

Milan HP · July 20, 2021

Hello Oliver,
I am not sure if Vladimir's scheme is still in operation, but if not, I can send you some. No problem at all.
Well, in my post I didn't say that the marks in taste the first S1 toms got (from me, of course) were 7.5 and 8 (on a 0 - 10 scale). Not really a bad school report for the very start of the season.

There's a small flaw: 8 out of 10 of my first toms (no matter what variety) were cracked. Not badly, but still. I put it down to the cold weather spell they had to get through after plant-out and high humidity and temp fluctuations recently. It's never happened to me before, I mean start-of-season cracking.

Milan HP

Oliver · July 21, 2021

Quote:

Originally Posted by Milan HP

Hello Oliver,
I am not sure if Vladimir's scheme is still in operation, but if not, I can send you some. No problem at all.
Well, in my post I didn't say that the marks in taste the first S1 toms got (from me, of course) were 7.5 and 8 (on a 0 - 10 scale). Not really a bad school report for the very start of the season.

There's a small flaw: 8 out of 10 of my first toms (no matter what variety) were cracked. Not badly, but still. I put it down to the cold weather spell they had to get through after plant-out and high humidity and temp fluctuations recently. It's never happened to me before, I mean start-of-season cracking.

Milan HP

Milan, that would be awesome if you could.

CrazyAboutOrchids · July 30, 2021

Here in CT, I am having the WORST year of gardening I've ever had! The rain, the heat, seems like everything except my jalapenos are unhappy. Anytime stuff gets to blossom, we get a wave of heat and I get blossom drop. All plants are stunted, affected - EXCEPT Start F1!!!!

We have pulled over 30 fruit from our 1 plant. Fruit ranges from 1.5 oz to 2.0 oz but I have had a couple over that with the biggest at 2.45 oz. The size is perfect for snacking, salads, burgers or just sliced and eaten as is. They have what I would consider a 'true' tomato taste and pair well in a salad with some Sunsugars tossed in. I started 2 plats - gave 1 to a friend who lives about 30 - 40 mins south of us. He has lots of fruit but none ripened yet.

We are really enjoying our Start F1! Thank you for sharing with us!!!!

Labradors2 · July 30, 2021

Once I allowed Start tomatoes to ripen properly, I really enjoyed the taste. It's a productive and early tomato, and I look forward to growing them again next year.

Thanks again,
Linda

Tormato · July 30, 2021

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oliver

That's why I've been looking at early determinates like Stupice. I recently got some Jagodka seeds and am looking at getting some Start F1 seeds if I can. Just tired of August/September tomatoes every year.

Stupice is early, but it is indeterminate.

Greatgardens · July 31, 2021

Start S has been producing steadily for the last 1-2 weeks. It is a good tomato for sure. In its ~10 gallon tub, it provides mostly 3-4 oz tomatoes. There is some sun scald, so the tops of most tomatoes must be cut off. Sunscald has been an issue here this year with all of my regular-size toms. It also has some circular cracking. It reminds me of Early Girl, but about a week or so later here in zone 5b. Flavor? It has a good red tomato taste, similar to Early Girl (IMO). I would certainly grow it again if the seeds were easily available for purchase.

MrBig46 · August 7, 2021

It rains every day (40 mm yesterday) and my tomatoes crack a lot. This also applies to Start F1, but this variety is usually able to heal the crack and does not mold like other tomatoes. Every loss is sorry, but without a roof there is nothing to do against excessive rain.
Vladimír

July 17, 2021	#47
ddsack Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Northern Minnesota - zone 3 Posts: 3,231	That's great, Milan! You should have some to eat soon! I noticed that my 2nd plant now has one blushing as well, plus a couple more on the first plant. But the tomato I brought into the house still is not red enough to taste test. So far, I have had about 6 mature Stupice fruit. I am waiting for a side by side taste test of the two varieties. I can see that Start F1 will be more productive, but not as early. __________________ Dee **************

July 31, 2021	#59
Greatgardens Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,124	Start S has been producing steadily for the last 1-2 weeks. It is a good tomato for sure. In its ~10 gallon tub, it provides mostly 3-4 oz tomatoes. There is some sun scald, so the tops of most tomatoes must be cut off. Sunscald has been an issue here this year with all of my regular-size toms. It also has some circular cracking. It reminds me of Early Girl, but about a week or so later here in zone 5b. Flavor? It has a good red tomato taste, similar to Early Girl (IMO). I would certainly grow it again if the seeds were easily available for purchase. Last edited by Greatgardens; July 31, 2021 at 05:48 AM.

July 16, 2021	#46
Milan HP Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Ústí nad Labem in the north of the Czech Republic Posts: 332	Hello Ddsack, actually, I wasn't quite right when I wrote that there wasn't a sign of ripening. In the morning the following day I noticed 3 toms on Start 1 (one stem only) started blushing. Start 2 and 3 are still as green as before. And I counted the numbers of trusses on each of them today: Start 1 - 8, Start 2 - 11 and Start 3 - 16. Milan HP

July 17, 2021	#50
Labradors2 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Ontario Posts: 3,895	Milan, Thank you so much for your comment. I really thought I had blown it, growing these tall tomatoes in 3 gallon containers, and that they were dying. I will give them some Mag/Phos today and see if that will revive them . Linda

July 20, 2021	#52
Milan HP Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Ústí nad Labem in the north of the Czech Republic Posts: 332	Hello Vladimir, it seems to be logical but I have learnt that Mother Nature doesn't always follow our logic. Yes, I know you're skeptical about my observations (perhaps rightly so). So, I'll tell you and the others the latest news: Start 3 has developed some blush as well, unlike S2. Not very logical, is it? Well, I just want to get some hands-on data to go by. Yes, anyone can object that the conditions are not identical. They can't be with living organisms, but I have tried to get as close as I can. I just wonder if there are other studies related to the same thing. I'd like to compare. Milan HP

July 30, 2021	#56
CrazyAboutOrchids Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Zone 6 - CT Posts: 155	Here in CT, I am having the WORST year of gardening I've ever had! The rain, the heat, seems like everything except my jalapenos are unhappy. Anytime stuff gets to blossom, we get a wave of heat and I get blossom drop. All plants are stunted, affected - EXCEPT Start F1!!!! We have pulled over 30 fruit from our 1 plant. Fruit ranges from 1.5 oz to 2.0 oz but I have had a couple over that with the biggest at 2.45 oz. The size is perfect for snacking, salads, burgers or just sliced and eaten as is. They have what I would consider a 'true' tomato taste and pair well in a salad with some Sunsugars tossed in. I started 2 plats - gave 1 to a friend who lives about 30 - 40 mins south of us. He has lots of fruit but none ripened yet. We are really enjoying our Start F1! Thank you for sharing with us!!!!