Mt. Magic F1 at TGS

[carolyn137]

There are several who have been asking about the availability of this hybrid, bred by Randy Gardner, especially those who got it from my free offer for it and Smarty F1 and Plum Regal F1.

I'ts already been noted that Mt. Magic will be available at Seedway, 100 seed minimum for about $33, so I was so pleased when I spoke to Linda at TGS this morning that she was able to get some seeds from her Bejo rep.

She said that seeds were in limited quanitities and she hasn't received them yet but would probably offer them in smaller packs,no price decided on right now. When I talked with Linda earlier in the year I had asked her if she had a Bejo rep, she said she did, and so the contact was made.

Several of us have been in contact with Bjo reps and have urged them to make Mt Magic, especially, more available in less than commercial seed quantities. One rep said that there's an outside probability that Johnny's might also have them, not known at this time. And Johnny's also sells seeds for Randy's new grape tomato Smarty F1.

Several folks who trialed these this past summer from my seed offer here, and I agree, said that even when full red it's best to keep them a few days before eating them b'c the flavor seems to improve a lot.

Linda and I had many topics to cover, such as varieties for me to send her for trial b/c she was so behind in trials I didn't send her anything for trial for this past summer. But I can tell you when the catalog goes to print, which is Dec 3rd, I think I remember, and she flys to where it's set up to approve the color contrast on the pictures and has done so for many years.

She said to start expecting catalogs in mid- December and the website should be updated at that time as well.

Hope that helps for those of you who have been asking about availability of some of Randy's newer hybrids, two of which have some great disease tolerance genes bred in ( see the specs in my Spring seed offer for these ), and I know some want them for use in their own breeding projects for those disease genes.

[FILMNET]

Both of mine Smarty and Magic M were the last plants which died here, actually i pull them out of 5 gal pots, still green small leaves. Very tough leaves, stems thick skin and still had red and green fruit.Really nice plants after all, I emailed them for some more 3 months ago, i got 2 small packages of Magic Mountain and Plum Regal, so i hope we get some smarty's , i will plant all next year.Thanks Carolyn

[carolyn137]

An update on current places to buy Mt. Magic F1 seeds.

I already mentioned Seedway, 100 seed minimum for about $33.

Twilley Seeds is listing them for about $9.50 for 20 seeds.

And I was talking to Linda at TGS this AM, her seeds are in and she'll be selling them for $4.95/20 seeds when her 2011 catalog and website are updated. Her 2011 catalog should arrive in mid-Dec and her website updated around that date as well.

[dustdevil]

The price seems a bit steep...25¢-47¢ a seed!

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by dustdevil

The price seems a bit steep...25¢-47¢ a seed!

\\I think the price was expected to be steep for a coup[le of reasons.

First, seed production was apparently known to not be what they had expected.

Second, the genes for specific disease tolerances/resistances in Mt Magic and Plum Regal are the latest and best for several diseases, so that factors in as well.

If TGS can sell the seeds at half the price that Twilley is charging it should tell you something about profit margin, since both places will want to cover their cost plus make money on the seed sales.

And there are some other hybrids such as the BHN ones and some of the TSWV and Fusarium FFF ones that also are higher priced as well.

And I'm sure that some tomato breeders, professional or otherwise, will want MT Magic and possibly Plum Regal to use in their projects for the genes they have re diseases.

[barkeater]

Johnny's has Mtn. Magic seed. The mini pack of 10 is 3.95

[cecilsgarden1958]

I was wondering why the excitement over Mt. Magic? Hybrids are not usually on the rave list here and this one doesn't seem all that exciting.
I saw talk of genes and tolerances etc, which in the past usually means red rubber ball. Am I missing something?

CECIL the befuddled

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by cecilsgarden1958

I was wondering why the excitement over Mt. Magic? Hybrids are not usually on the rave list here and this one doesn't seem all that exciting.
I saw talk of genes and tolerances etc, which in the past usually means red rubber ball. Am I missing something?

CECIL the befuddled

I don't know if you're missing something or not Cecil, b'c it all comes down to your expectations.

Aside from the fruits tasting great when you keep them after they're full red for a few days there are a lot of folks who are interested in the latest and newest genes for Late Blight tolerance with this variety as well as some other disease tolerances.

I've grown it for two years now and even in this year when I didn't get fruits off half of my plants this one, along with Smarty F1, also bred by Randy Gardner, formerly of NCSU, did wonderfully.

I offered free seeds for both MM and Smarty in my free offer here this past Spring but I don't know if I have enough seeds to offer them again, but you can see that there are now many seed sources for it.