True North Tomatoes

[KarenO]

Originally Posted by Fred Hempel

Interesting. Very efficient.

? Very efficient

Just these two crosses could keep me busy for the rest of my life. I suppose that is actually pretty efficient if that is what you mean Fred.

Karen

[Fred Hempel]

Is that not the definition of efficiency?

2 well-chosen crosses and careful attention to markers got you a diversity of cool things, even though you are limited to growing smallish populations.

Definitely efficient.

Quality (of crosses) over quantity.

Originally Posted by KarenO

? Very efficient

Just these two crosses could keep me busy for the rest of my life. I suppose that is actually pretty efficient if that is what you mean Fred.

Karen

[KarenO]

Originally Posted by Fred Hempel

Is that not the definition of efficiency?

2 well-chosen crosses and careful attention to markers got you a diversity of cool things, even though you are limited to growing smallish populations.

Definitely efficient.

Quality (of crosses) over quantity.

That means a lot to me coming from you Fred, I do love my tomatoes, I do study them intently, the smaller number makes that both possible and necessary
Karen

[KarenO]

And the last of the first group of stable “ True North Tonatoes”
Polaris
Potato leaf large irregular clear epi green shouldered purple/ red beefsteaks,
Some are “ sort of hearty” this is also from the Ludmilla pink heart x captain lucky cross.
From the start the shape was not the smooth broad hearts I was selecting for and it has remained ridged, irregular, lumpy,some may even say ugly - until you taste it. The flavour is outstanding rich and delicious, I could not leave it behind despite it being the ugly duckling of this group. For me, one of the best tasting tomatoes I’ve ever eaten.
Indeterminate, midseason earliest fruit are often compound as for me it seems to produce more compound blooms than my others. Normal fruit Average 8-10oz, early ones larger. Few seeds, green gel very solid meaty mottled darker red Center.

[hl2601]

Ugly? No way! Polaris is a beauty in my eyes! Congratulations on all these releases. It must feel so good to present all your hard work. YAY!

I love oddly shaped tomatoes...
Polaris looks like it has a nice texture, too.

Originally Posted by hl2601

Ugly? No way! Polaris is a beauty in my eyes! Congratulations on all these releases. It must feel so good to present all your hard work. YAY!

Agreed, definitely a beauty with those colors!

[MI Farmer]

Karen, your tomatoes - and the labor of love you put into them - are truly inspiring!


Sue

[Ann123]

No no, ribbed tomatoes are beautiful.
Congrats for tasty tomatoes in a northern climate!

[KarenO]

There is a sase Seed offer in a separate thread here as well as on my Northern Gardener page.
https://www.facebook.com/NorthernGardenerCanada/
KarenO

[JosephineRose]

Hi Karen,

I've been meaning to ask - Did Tundra end up not making the cut? I didn't see it in the seed offer.

Does it still need work?

[ginger2778]

Originally Posted by JosephineRose

Hi Karen,

I've been meaning to ask - Did Tundra end up not making the cut? I didn't see it in the seed offer.

Does it still need work?

I'm not Karen, but I can answer: I must be getting kind of old, because somehow Tundra slipped by me in the first seed sowing I have four of them growing now and setting fruit. Will probably make another offer for it separately.

[KarenO]

Originally Posted by ginger2778

I'm not Karen, but I can answer: I must be getting kind of old, because somehow Tundra slipped by me in the first seed sowing I have four of them growing now and setting fruit. Will probably make another offer for it separately.

Hardly old my dear and with so much to do and plant no wonder . but it Matters not a bit, eight new ones for this year is plenty Have to have something for next time or folks will forget Can release it later or for 2020 with KARMAs apricot and miracle
KarenO

[ddsack]

Just reporting that I had good germination on all four of the True North varieties. Most were popping up on day 6 in starting mix. All but one seed was up by day 10. (Now it's day 14.)

Midnight Sun 5/5, - first, most uniform germination
True Colors 5/5 - most variable times, 3 slower
Polaris 5/5 - 2 slower
Taiga 4/5 - 2 fast, 2 slow pokes


The first true leaves are now about 1/4 long for the older seedlings and they need to be transplanted to individual quarters, but our recent snow storm wiped out my foot path to my greenhouse where I prefer to do messy dirt work, so they'll have to be patient and wait a couple of days.

[KarenO]

Originally Posted by ddsack

Just reporting that I had good germination on all four of the True North varieties. Most were popping up on day 6 in starting mix. All but one seed was up by day 10. (Now it's day 14.)

Midnight Sun 5/5, - first, most uniform germination
True Colors 5/5 - most variable times, 3 slower
Polaris 5/5 - 2 slower
Taiga 4/5 - 2 fast, 2 slow pokes


The first true leaves are now about 1/4 long for the older seedlings and they need to be transplanted to individual quarters, but our recent snow storm wiped out my foot path to my greenhouse where I prefer to do messy dirt work, so they'll have to be patient and wait a couple of days.

Thank you Dee, happy to hear your germination was good.