My Tomato Holy Grail

Fred Hempel · March 28, 2022

I love bicolor beefsteak tomatoes.

For years I have not been able to grow them on our farm, because they are too difficult.

My Tomato Holy Grail is a firm, flavorful, consistent, well-shaped, bicolor beefsteak that is produced early on productive plants.

At least that is most of the "must-have" trait list.

The others are described at our new Kickstarter project.

If this sounds good to you, please come along for the ride with us.

MrsJustice · March 28, 2022

Hello and Nice pictures.

Have you tried to grow the Hillbilly Heirloom Tomatoes? They are so Beautiful, Taste better than any Bi-Corol Tomato, and are easy for me to grow on my Tomato Farm.

DK2021 · March 28, 2022

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fred Hempel

I love bicolor beefsteak tomatoes.

For years I have not been able to grow them on our farm, because they are too difficult.

My Tomato Holy Grail is a firm, flavorful, consistent, well-shaped, bicolor beefsteak that is produced early on productive plants.

At least that is most of the "must-have" trait list.

The others are described at our new Kickstarter project.

If this sounds good to you, please come along for the ride with us.

I'm aboard!
Thanks for including some photos of potential parent lines and for explaining the thoughts behind the selections. Always interesting to understand the process.

Spike2 · March 28, 2022

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fred Hempel

My Tomato Holy Grail

That is one beautiful tomato Fred!1

ClarkB · March 28, 2022

I'm in, Fred. Can't wait to see what you come up with.

KarenO · March 29, 2022

It was a privilege to have seen your breeding lines in Mexico and it will be exciting to see this project unfold. Count me in as well, I think it’s a sure thing.
KarenO

Fred Hempel · March 29, 2022

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrsJustice

Hello and Nice pictures.

Have you tried to grow the Hillbilly Heirloom Tomatoes? They are so Beautiful, Taste better than any Bi-Corol Tomato, and are easy for me to grow on my Tomato Farm.

I like Hillbilly. Along with Big Rainbow it is one of the bicolors I have had the best luck with. Very above average flavor-wise.

But, not consistent enough (or productive enough) compared to other beefsteaks, to grow rows of.

Fred Hempel · March 29, 2022

Thanks ClarkB, DK2021 and KarenO

I do think the fun of this project is that it is the rare "hybrid" project where there is an opportunity to try out a number of top candidates, and choose the one that is best for you. Even if it is not the overall top choice.

And with regard to the breeding lines that Karen referred to, I feel very fortunate there are so many good candidates for parents that are in the mix right now. It makes it seem much more likely that we will check all the most important boxes, and probably some other ones too.

sic transit gloria · March 31, 2022

The "early" trait may be the hardest to develop. I've grown Hillbilly, Big Rainbow, Virginia Sweets, and Lucky Cross. VS and LC are the best, imo. Bi-color are a bit mild for my palette, though.

Fred Hempel · March 31, 2022

Quote:

Originally Posted by sic transit gloria

The "early" trait may be the hardest to develop. I've grown Hillbilly, Big Rainbow, Virginia Sweets, and Lucky Cross. VS and LC are the best, imo. Bi-color are a bit mild for my palette, though.

I didn't mean "early" as in early season. But as in relatively early. Mid season. Around 70 days. This is when our new beefsteak, Benevento, starts producing. So I think we can do that. Hybrids seem to often be "synergistically" early. Both Benevento parents are much later.

Yak54 · March 31, 2022

Very nice Fred. I will "stay tuned" for your future reports on this project. Lucky Cross has been a favorite and is a "must grow" variety for me.

Fred Hempel · April 18, 2022

Last day to sign up for this project.

Fred Hempel · April 7, 2023

For those of you who have our top 3 bicolor beefsteaks -- please report results (good and bad) here. If you can compare them to Benevento, all the better.

It is getting late, but they are still available at the Artisan Seeds website.

biscuitridge · April 7, 2023

Both the Rainbow jazz heart and Benevento are too susceptible to shoulder cracking otherwise I love the taste and plant vigor,I don't grow either one anymore just because of the cracking.

Fred Hempel · April 8, 2023

Quote:

Originally Posted by biscuitridge

Both the Rainbow jazz heart and Benevento are too susceptible to shoulder cracking otherwise I love the taste and plant vigor,I don't grow either one anymore just because of the cracking.

Were you growing beefsteaks near them that did not have shoulder cracking?

March 28, 2022	#1
Fred Hempel Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Sunol, CA Posts: 2,723	My Tomato Holy Grail I love bicolor beefsteak tomatoes. For years I have not been able to grow them on our farm, because they are too difficult. My Tomato Holy Grail is a firm, flavorful, consistent, well-shaped, bicolor beefsteak that is produced early on productive plants. At least that is most of the "must-have" trait list. The others are described at our new Kickstarter project. If this sounds good to you, please come along for the ride with us. __________________ Artisan Seeds -- www.growartisan.com

March 28, 2022	#2
MrsJustice Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Hampton, Virginia Posts: 1,492	Hello and Nice pictures. Have you tried to grow the Hillbilly Heirloom Tomatoes? They are so Beautiful, Taste better than any Bi-Corol Tomato, and are easy for me to grow on my Tomato Farm. __________________ May God Bless you and my Garden, Amen https://www.angelfieldfarms.com MrsJustice as Farmer Joyce Beggs

March 29, 2022	#8
Fred Hempel Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Sunol, CA Posts: 2,723	Thanks ClarkB, DK2021 and KarenO I do think the fun of this project is that it is the rare "hybrid" project where there is an opportunity to try out a number of top candidates, and choose the one that is best for you. Even if it is not the overall top choice. And with regard to the breeding lines that Karen referred to, I feel very fortunate there are so many good candidates for parents that are in the mix right now. It makes it seem much more likely that we will check all the most important boxes, and probably some other ones too. __________________ Artisan Seeds -- www.growartisan.com

March 31, 2022	#11
Yak54 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2009 Location: Madison, OH, zone 6 Posts: 470	Very nice Fred. I will "stay tuned" for your future reports on this project. Lucky Cross has been a favorite and is a "must grow" variety for me. __________________ Dan

April 18, 2022	#12
Fred Hempel Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Sunol, CA Posts: 2,723	Last day to sign up for this project. __________________ Artisan Seeds -- www.growartisan.com

March 28, 2022	#5
ClarkB Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2020 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 32	I'm in, Fred. Can't wait to see what you come up with.

March 29, 2022	#6
KarenO Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Island Posts: 5,931	It was a privilege to have seen your breeding lines in Mexico and it will be exciting to see this project unfold. Count me in as well, I think it’s a sure thing. KarenO

March 31, 2022	#9
sic transit gloria Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: KS 5b/6a Posts: 249	The "early" trait may be the hardest to develop. I've grown Hillbilly, Big Rainbow, Virginia Sweets, and Lucky Cross. VS and LC are the best, imo. Bi-color are a bit mild for my palette, though.

April 7, 2023	#13
Fred Hempel Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Sunol, CA Posts: 2,723	For those of you who have our top 3 bicolor beefsteaks -- please report results (good and bad) here. If you can compare them to Benevento, all the better. It is getting late, but they are still available at the Artisan Seeds website. __________________ Artisan Seeds -- www.growartisan.com

April 7, 2023	#14
biscuitridge Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: washington Posts: 498	Both the Rainbow jazz heart and Benevento are too susceptible to shoulder cracking otherwise I love the taste and plant vigor,I don't grow either one anymore just because of the cracking.