PNW Container Project

[kwone67]

Hello Tomatovillers!

Longtime reader, first time poster and now novice breeder. I live in Seattle and not only confronted with weather challenges but also growing space. I now live in a bottom of a duplex with absolutely no room to grow except for a few small containers and very poor light.

Although I keep a garden at my Moms house of about 15-20 plants in Federal Way (25 miles south) I still feel the need to grow at my place even with the challenges. Having not been happy with the past few varieties I decided to try and breed my own that are suitable for containers 2'-4' tall, early, don't need a lot of light and of course taste amazing

I know tall order but who knows I might get lucky. So with that end in mind I made the following crosses today at my Mom's house.

Azoychka X Yamal
Azoychka X Sophie's Choice
Azoychka X Cherokee Purple
Ben Gantz X Yamal
Ben Gantz X Sophie's Choice

Obviously being a novice breeder and having just made crosses I would appreciate any thoughts, comments or constructive criticism that could help a newbie out. Keep in mind this is just a fun hobby project.

Thanks

Kevi Kev

[Sherry_AK]

Hi, Kevi Kev. Welcome to Tomatoville! You might take a look at the Dwarf Project section here to find some varieties that are very suitable for containers and can grow in a variety of conditions. Of course, they would all like some nice sunshine (but in your part of the country and mine this year, that's hard to come by!).

Good luck with your project.

Sherry

[BennB]

The Cherokee Purple is one of my favorite PNW varieties. I traditionally done very well growing them in some small spaces (I've always had 3 or 4 in one 10 sf area) on the planting strip on the south side of my house.

This year I got a small greenhouse and I have two Cherokee Purple in containers and they are not doing as well as I had hoped. They are pretty leggy and pretty thin on flowers and only a couple fruit. I am wondering if it is actually too warm in the greenhouse for them.

If you get any extra seeds from your Azoychka X Cherokee Purple experiment, I'd love to have the chance to try them out next year!

Benn

[kwone67]

Hi Sherry,

I have been looking around at the Dwarf Project and entertained growing a few but ultimately I decided to try my hand with some parent varieties that I like that I know will grow well in the PNW but having said that I am planing on growing a few next year and see how they preform.


Benn,

CP and AZ have always done well for me in the past and I have often thought this would be an interesting cross. If the cross is good I would be happy to share seeds once the line has stabilized a bit.

Kevi Kev

[Sherry_AK]

Originally Posted by kwone67

Hi Sherry,

I have been looking around at the Dwarf Project and entertained growing a few but ultimately I decided to try my hand with some parent varieties that I like that I know will grow well in the PNW but having said that I am planing on growing a few next year and see how they preform.

You've made some good choices. I've grown all those except Ben Gantz. I also grow in containers. Another one I'd suggest would be Sasha's Altai, which to me seems almost identical to Sophie's Choice except that it's usually a few days earlier here.

Let us know how your season progresses.

Sherry

[kwone67]

Originally Posted by Sherry_AK

You've made some good choices. I've grown all those except Ben Gantz. I also grow in containers. Another one I'd suggest would be Sasha's Altai, which to me seems almost identical to Sophie's Choice except that it's usually a few days earlier here.

Let us know how your season progresses.

Sherry

Thanks for the Sasha's Altai suggestion, I will have to take a look that one for next year. I love the plant and fruit size Sophie's Choice, perfect for containers but are never early for me, my first ripe fruit is usually not until September. Yamal on the other hand is setting fruit nicely and just starting to show signs of ripening.

Kevi

[janezee]

Ah, this talk makes me very happy!

I'm growing my first Yamal, Sasha's Altai, and CP this year.
No greenhouse for me, and no tomatoes in the ground until the week of the 4th this year, so I'm just hoping to get some ripe ones at all. My Sophie's Choice and Azoychka have met their demise already, thanks to spider mites, I think. So Ben Gantz is the only one I didn't have seeds for, either.

I, too, would be able and willing to help you on grow-outs, when you get there! Best of luck!!!!!

jane

P.S. Welcome to the forum!

[kwone67]

Originally Posted by janezee

Ah, this talk makes me very happy!

I'm growing my first Yamal, Sasha's Altai, and CP this year.
No greenhouse for me, and no tomatoes in the ground until the week of the 4th this year, so I'm just hoping to get some ripe ones at all. My Sophie's Choice and Azoychka have met their demise already, thanks to spider mites, I think. So Ben Gantz is the only one I didn't have seeds for, either.

I, too, would be able and willing to help you on grow-outs, when you get there! Best of luck!!!!!

jane

P.S. Welcome to the forum!

Hi Jane,

Thanks for your support, sorry about your AZ and SC. Loosing a plant is always heartbreaking especially if you only just got them in the ground, hopefully you will have good karma and all your other plants will produce early and be fine. Once I get a little stability in the lines I will offer seeds to whoever wants them.

Kevi Kev