Picked my "WES The Whopper" Today (pics)

rnewste · February 21, 2009

As I am preparing the 'Tainers for 2009 and my last big WES was finally ripe, I snipped it this morning:

This guy was really large for this time of year - - about 4" across:

Came in at just over 1 pound:

...and relative to a Purple Haze, it dwarfs it:

Ray

**carolyn137** · February 21, 2009

Beautiful Ray.

I can't tell you how much I love Wes and it's one of the varieties that's been around for many years.

Sometimes I think folks prefer to go for the newest and latest and overlook some really great varieties. other older ones I like a lot are Chapman and Red Penna, and there are more than that that I think are overloooked.

No, no definite list at hand.

rnewste · February 21, 2009

Carolyn,

The sole reason I grew Wes this year was due to your recommendation. Not a "fad" tomato, and the taste is excellent. I am trying Prue for the first time this year also.

Wes would make a great tomato for sauce, etc. as it has very few seeds and is quite dense with little juice. Thanks for the recommendation!!

Ray

duajones · February 22, 2009

I am growing Chapman this year, would love to grow Wes next year if possible. Nice looking tomato there Ray

geeboss · February 22, 2009

So we're waiting in anticipation of the taste test of that beautiful matter Ray! By the way once you slice it up about how many seeds would that matter have in it?

George

rnewste · February 22, 2009

George,

I had low expectations (after all, it's WINTER in Northern California), but as I began to take the ole Cutco slicer down the center of the tomato making vertical slices, it cut like butter:

This puppy is dense with pulp, and while juicy, it was a firm tomato. Additional slices revealed very few seeds:

This would make an excellent paste tomato variety for sauces, etc.

And even though it lacked the favorable benefits of summertime sun and warmth, it was surprisingly tasty. I should have had a "tomato-tasting party" when cutting it - - but none of my friends would believe I had just picked it from the garden, while they were snow skiing 3 hours away.

Ray

ContainerTed · February 22, 2009

He's still at it!!!

That tomato looks awful ............. ly delicious!!!!!

Ted

rnewste · February 22, 2009

Ted,

I was going to take a picture of one of Earl's famous BLTs I just made with it - - but I thought that would be over the top, for you folks back there in the snow.....

Ray

**carolyn137** · February 22, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by rnewste

Ted,

I was going to take a picture of one of Earl's famous BLTs I just made with it - - but I thought that would be over the top, for you folks back there in the snow.....

Ray

How kind and compassionate and considerate you are Ray.

Do you understand the words 2nd day air?

rnewste · February 22, 2009

Sorry Carolyn,

You've got to speak up faster!!

The Wes has been "sliced and diced" (for the seeds) and all 160 are on the way to Darrel J. right now.

Ray

duajones · February 22, 2009

You even took the time to count the seeds? MAN, you are on top of things.

rnewste · February 22, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by duajones

You even took the time to count the seeds? MAN, you are on top of things.

Duane,

I needed to figure how much postage to put on the envelope!

Seriously, George had asked how many seeds were in the Wes.

Ray

**carolyn137** · February 22, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by rnewste

Sorry Carolyn,

You've got to speak up faster!!

The Wes has been "sliced and diced" (for the seeds) and all 160 are on the way to Darrel J. right now.

Ray

OK, I'll type faster next time.

Seems to me that Darrel could get his Wes seeds from Glenn in return for tomato seed he sends Glenn or peanut seed as well, but what do I know?

When do you expect to have your next Fall/Winter crop air ready?

rnewste · February 22, 2009

Carolyn,

I am working up a plan to "shmooze" Dear Wife to let me rip up half our back yard and build a year 'round greenhouse. If that goes through, then I'll be able to FedEx them to you all Winter!

Ray

Fusion_power · February 23, 2009

As an indication of the kind of guy Ray is, he was going to put his Wes tomato in a box and ship it to me so I could have the seed. What a guy!

I asked him instead to squeeze the seed onto a paper towel and seal them into a ziploc which would fit in a bubble mailer. This will get the seed to me in about 3 days which will be just right for me to be able to easily separate them out for careful drying, chilling, and then planting. Fresh seed germinate super fast if done right.

I did not get Wes seed from Sandhill for the simple reason that Glenn is VERY low on stock. He asked if I had any available and I do not.

I am sending Ray a care package which he can discuss at some point in the future. Barring incident, he will have more photos of great tomatoes to share.

DarJones

February 21, 2009	#1
rnewste Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Campbell, CA Posts: 4,064	Picked my "WES The Whopper" Today (pics) As I am preparing the 'Tainers for 2009 and my last big WES was finally ripe, I snipped it this morning: This guy was really large for this time of year - - about 4" across: Came in at just over 1 pound: ...and relative to a Purple Haze, it dwarfs it: Ray

February 21, 2009	#2
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	Beautiful Ray. I can't tell you how much I love Wes and it's one of the varieties that's been around for many years. Sometimes I think folks prefer to go for the newest and latest and overlook some really great varieties. other older ones I like a lot are Chapman and Red Penna, and there are more than that that I think are overloooked. No, no definite list at hand. __________________ Carolyn

February 22, 2009	#7
ContainerTed Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: 6a - NE Tennessee Posts: 4,538	He's still at it!!! That tomato looks awful ............. ly delicious!!!!! Ted __________________ Ted ________________________ Owner & Sole Operator Of The Muddy Bucket Farm and Tomato Ranch

February 22, 2009	#4
duajones Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Corpus Christi,Texas Z9 Posts: 1,996	I am growing Chapman this year, would love to grow Wes next year if possible. Nice looking tomato there Ray

February 22, 2009	#5
geeboss Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Fairfax, VA Z7 Posts: 524	So we're waiting in anticipation of the taste test of that beautiful matter Ray! By the way once you slice it up about how many seeds would that matter have in it? George

February 23, 2009	#15
Fusion_power Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,250	As an indication of the kind of guy Ray is, he was going to put his Wes tomato in a box and ship it to me so I could have the seed. What a guy! I asked him instead to squeeze the seed onto a paper towel and seal them into a ziploc which would fit in a bubble mailer. This will get the seed to me in about 3 days which will be just right for me to be able to easily separate them out for careful drying, chilling, and then planting. Fresh seed germinate super fast if done right. I did not get Wes seed from Sandhill for the simple reason that Glenn is VERY low on stock. He asked if I had any available and I do not. I am sending Ray a care package which he can discuss at some point in the future. Barring incident, he will have more photos of great tomatoes to share. DarJones