Santa Clara Canner and Diener

cowpoke · June 2, 2006

I am testing these this year. I am expecting relatively large beefsteaks from Santa Clara Canner but have some questions about Diener. Some descriptions indicate that Diener was bred from Santa Clara Canner; others that it was a selection from Santa Clara Canner. In reading the descriptions in the 2005 and 2006 SSE Yearbook Santa Clara Canner is described as a relatively large beefsteak while one description of Diener indicates it is a "flattish heart shaped Italian type tomato." Should I be looking for a paste tomato or a beefsteak here?

**nctomatoman** · June 2, 2006

Both Santa Clara Canner and Diener are flattened, oblate tomatoes, not paste or heart shaped. The history that we have on each is from a 1930's Michigan State Bulletin - when I get a chance (and find it!), I will type in what it says for each variety. I found each of them in the USDA collection and liberated them in 1995 - neither does very well at all in Raleigh; the varieties are best adapted to California.

JerryL · June 2, 2006

I grew both SCC and Diener in 2004. I wasn’t impressed by either. They were both OK and very similar but nothing to write home about.

Just another 8 – 10 oz. red tomato. If you’re going to use them for canning I guess they would be fine.

Based on the information I have found, Diener is a selection of Santa Clara Canner. It’s supposed to be a deeper crimson than SCC. It is also supposed to be 75 day DTM vs. 90 days. I don’t have my 2004 records with me but if it’s important to you I’ll look up my DTM results tonight and let you know.

barkeater · June 2, 2006

I grew Diener last year, and yes, it is a selection of SCC, as Jerry says.

Since it was bred for California's climate, that may explain why it did so poorly here. It was extremely late and produced 5 tomatoes total. It was very flattened and scalloped. The shape was the same as a cheese pumpkin. No flavor either for fresh use.

cowpoke · June 2, 2006

Thank you for clearing that up. I'll keep an eye on them to see if they come true.

Kenyadenola · July 29, 2006

I am growing four SC Canners, picked mainly because I live in Santa Clara County and thought it would be cool to grow a tomato with history tied to where I live. I have a wopping total of 3 tomatoes. From what I hear, it is not a great perfomer the first year.

June 2, 2006	#1
cowpoke Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: NC Posts: 4	Santa Clara Canner and Diener I am testing these this year. I am expecting relatively large beefsteaks from Santa Clara Canner but have some questions about Diener. Some descriptions indicate that Diener was bred from Santa Clara Canner; others that it was a selection from Santa Clara Canner. In reading the descriptions in the 2005 and 2006 SSE Yearbook Santa Clara Canner is described as a relatively large beefsteak while one description of Diener indicates it is a "flattish heart shaped Italian type tomato." Should I be looking for a paste tomato or a beefsteak here?

June 2, 2006	#2
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	Both Santa Clara Canner and Diener are flattened, oblate tomatoes, not paste or heart shaped. The history that we have on each is from a 1930's Michigan State Bulletin - when I get a chance (and find it!), I will type in what it says for each variety. I found each of them in the USDA collection and liberated them in 1995 - neither does very well at all in Raleigh; the varieties are best adapted to California. __________________ Craig

June 2, 2006	#3
JerryL Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: S.W. Ohio z6a Posts: 736	I grew both SCC and Diener in 2004. I wasn’t impressed by either. They were both OK and very similar but nothing to write home about. Just another 8 – 10 oz. red tomato. If you’re going to use them for canning I guess they would be fine. Based on the information I have found, Diener is a selection of Santa Clara Canner. It’s supposed to be a deeper crimson than SCC. It is also supposed to be 75 day DTM vs. 90 days. I don’t have my 2004 records with me but if it’s important to you I’ll look up my DTM results tonight and let you know. __________________ Jerry

June 2, 2006	#4
barkeater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NE Kingdom, VT - Zone 3b Posts: 1,439	I grew Diener last year, and yes, it is a selection of SCC, as Jerry says. Since it was bred for California's climate, that may explain why it did so poorly here. It was extremely late and produced 5 tomatoes total. It was very flattened and scalloped. The shape was the same as a cheese pumpkin. No flavor either for fresh use.

July 29, 2006	#6
Kenyadenola Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 35	I am growing four SC Canners, picked mainly because I live in Santa Clara County and thought it would be cool to grow a tomato with history tied to where I live. I have a wopping total of 3 tomatoes. From what I hear, it is not a great perfomer the first year.