True North Tomatoes

[KarenO]

Originally Posted by davidj

Hi Karen, I can't wait to try your tomato varieties ! I bought seeds of:
- Polaris (I'll compare it to Black Sea Man, which works well for me)
- Midnight Sun
- Taiga
- True Colors
- Zena's Gift

I like all purpose meaty not-too-juicy tomato that I can use for sandwich and also for sauce, so it seems I should like them all ! I'll report my results !

Are you breeding any orange tomato ?

You will find Polaris very different from black sea man which is determinate and regular leaf with a yellow epidermis.
I hope you will enjoy them.
I do have an orange in the works but early stages.
I look forward to hearing how they do for you!
KarenO

[Whwoz]

KarenO, Polarised ripened about a week ago, and the two Midnight Sun's are loaded with good size fruit, largest would be around 200 to 250 grams, not ripe yet.

[KarenO]

Originally Posted by Whwoz

KarenO, Polarised ripened about a week ago, and the two Midnight Sun's are loaded with good size fruit, largest would be around 200 to 250 grams, not ripe yet.

What did you think of the flavour? Interesting Polaris ripe for you before midnight sun
They look great!
Thank you for showing them to me , I hope you like them
Karen

[Fred Hempel]

Polaris beat Midnight Sun here too.

[KarenO]

Originally Posted by Fred Hempel

Polaris beat Midnight Sun here too.

For me Midnight Sun and Taiga are generally first. Fred do You still have seeds of Polaris and Taiga for sale? I know you sold out of Midnight Sun. not a lot of seeds in that one.
KarenO

[Whwoz]

KarenO, it would be fair to describe the flavour of Polaris s washed out,what is there is delicious but weak. Considering we have had 240 mm this year so far with a lot of clouds and limited sun, even had the heater on occasionally during the day and doona on the bed at night, it is not surprising. Will be a year for weak flavoured tomatoes.

[Fred Hempel]

I do still have Polaris and Taiga for sale.

Originally Posted by KarenO

For me Midnight Sun and Taiga are generally first. Fred do You still have seeds of Polaris and Taiga for sale? I know you sold out of Midnight Sun. not a lot of seeds in that one.
KarenO

[KarenO]

Originally Posted by Whwoz

KarenO, it would be fair to describe the flavour of Polaris s washed out,what is there is delicious but weak. Considering we have had 240 mm this year so far with a lot of clouds and limited sun, even had the heater on occasionally during the day and doona on the bed at night, it is not surprising. Will be a year for weak flavoured tomatoes.

That’s too bad. If you have some green still, pick justvat blush and let them ripen indoors out of the wet. After blushing all a tomato gets from the plant is water.
Something to try. Personally if it’s going to rain I pick anything blushing even a little.
KarenO

[Whwoz]

Originally Posted by KarenO

That’s too bad. If you have some green still, pick justvat blush and let them ripen indoors out of the wet. After blushing all a tomato gets from the plant is water.
Something to try. Personally if it’s going to rain I pick anything blushing even a little.
KarenO

Thanks for the information, will give it a shot

[Whwoz]

KarenO, cross posting this here with my Garden of Woz thread, but a bit surprised at how Midnight Sun is ripening. Seed from M, have not grown anything similar.

Apologise for photo quality, but done quickly on phone, lens is scratched

[KarenO]

You haven’t grown anything similar because there is nothing similar
It is a clear epidermis bicolour indeterminate potato leaf heart that colours up to almost all over pink exterior if left to ripen to maximum. Dont wait until it’s soft though
They can be eaten blushing like yours at which point will be less sweet or allowed to continue to ripen to a maximum of this
KarenO

[Whwoz]

Ok, Thank you

[KarenO]

Six new crosses done in 2019, each planned with an idea in mind.
I’m growing the F1’s now, if I get seed by April I may have room to do the F2 of one of them this year.
My priorities are the group at F5- cowboy, wild rose country etc. Continue to work on the dwarfs of my short and sweet project, some selections at F3 now from my Multiflora cross that were interesting as well.
Something that seems full circle to me is that among these are crosses I made with my own stable tomatoes. I think that makes me a tomato breeder.
Looking forward to getting started for the year but won’t be planting most until the end of March
I will post updates here sometimes but more regularly on my own page Northern Gardener if interested in my stuff that’s the best place for photos and updates.
Have a great season everyone! I’d Love to hear from anyone who is growing any of my released tomatoes this year.
KarenO

[Americangrams]

I would say that it is definitely time to start calling yourself a tomato breeder.

[KathyDC]

Karen, I have just purchased some of your seeds from Artisan, as I was very tempted by your photos here. My grow list is already set for this season, but I will include them in next year's. They look tremendously fun!