Supersteak F1 - what to expect?

Duh_Vinci · February 27, 2011

Hello all!

I usually grow additional seedlings for co-workers (with limitations to what's on my grow list is what you get). But this time, someone asked me to start few seedlings for his family. He's farther lives in Italy, and sent him two packages of seeds:

Supersteak F1 and San Marzano II. I really don't see anything so special about them to be shipped from Italy, but whatever, I told them I'll set the seeds.

Now, San Marzano I 'm definitely not considering for myself, Supersteak F1, at least on the photo looks gorgeous, with faint green shoulders, very much resembling a nice heirloom... I'm guessing it is the same variety as Supersteak F1 sold in the US (or can it be different?)

Is it worth growing (limiting myself to much fewer plants this year)? Any feedback on this variety?

Also, if I was to ask them to send some good varieties of seeds from Italy, anything in particular you would recommend?

Regards,
D

jwr6404 · February 27, 2011

2010 was my worst year ever for tomatoes here in the PNW. The one exception was supersteak. It looked like the photo,as I recall, was very productive and Tasty.

Wi-sunflower · February 27, 2011

If it's the same Supersteak F-1 that's grown here, it also goes by the name Burpee Supersteak.

I've grown it for many years and it's usually a rather BIG, but late beefsteak. It can also grow large and misshapen or lumpy as many of the oversized beefsteaks can do.

I will mention that I've been saving the seeds and growing out the F-2 to F-4 generations right next to the F-1 and they all look exactly alike to me. I have some pics from 2009 and if anything the F-3 or 4 (not sure at the moment which) was doing better than the F-1. The plants looked healthier.

Carol

Duh_Vinci · February 27, 2011

Thank you both for the feedback, appreciated!

Carol, aside from some differences in shape (somehow they made the photo appear as if these were some oversized hearts), I think this maybe the same thing:

I think I may set one in the ground, just to see what it does... There is always room for fresh tomato juice

Any suggestions on "better" or "unique" varieties to ask from Italy?

Regards,
D

**mdvpc** · February 27, 2011

D

Italians like tomatoes that are a little bit from ripe-they like green shoulders-they pick them that way. My friends in Italy dont really know anything about heirlooms, most of them go to the local nursery and get hybrid plants. So not surprising that he was sent a hybrid variety.

jwr6404 · February 27, 2011

Burpees Supersteak was what I grew. Just found the envelope and may plant again if my tight travel schedule permits.

ContainerTed · February 27, 2011

Actually, the tomato in my avatar is a Supersteak. They do well in containers as well as in the ground. Taste was pretty good, too.

This year, Supersteak F2 is on my grow list.

Ted

brokenbar · February 27, 2011

Any or all of the Costolutos would be great as well as Ciliegia, which I hear is an outstanding cherry variety. I brought back seeds from a GIANT paste tomato I purchased at the Pescheria in Venice which I am anxious to trial this year. It had no name, just "sauce" tomato. I am going back to Rome in Nov. 2011 and hope to find a few other varieties. Also going to Morocco and hope I can find seeds there as well. I do know that Morocco has a big greenhouse industry that grows tomatoes but know nothing of varieties or what backyard gardeners would grow.

"Costoluto" means "ribbed" or fluted or ruffled so there are actually many kinds of "Costoluto" tomatoes, ie: Fiorentino, Genovese, etc. I am told there are about 4 others ( I would REALLY, REALLY, REALLY like to find those others...

)

Duh_Vinci · February 27, 2011

Thank you all very much for the feedback, appreciate it!

Michael, it does surprise me somewhat, considering the land of "tomato sauce" is Italy, but you nailed it! His father grows those out in his smaller garden, and loves them, he does by them at the market as seedlings, so he wanted his son and his family here to try them. That is how these seeds came about...

Regards,
D

**mdvpc** · February 28, 2011

D

I was in Montepulciano with some friends we had just met. One of them is an organic gardener there-grows everything. He bought all of his veggies as transplants and almost all the tomatoes were hybrids that he grew. He really didnt understand the concept of starting your own seed, saving seed-he couldnt see the sense of taking the trouble to do that.

February 27, 2011	#1
Duh_Vinci Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Locust Grove, VA Posts: 292	Supersteak F1 - what to expect? Hello all! I usually grow additional seedlings for co-workers (with limitations to what's on my grow list is what you get). But this time, someone asked me to start few seedlings for his family. He's farther lives in Italy, and sent him two packages of seeds: Supersteak F1 and San Marzano II. I really don't see anything so special about them to be shipped from Italy, but whatever, I told them I'll set the seeds. Now, San Marzano I 'm definitely not considering for myself, Supersteak F1, at least on the photo looks gorgeous, with faint green shoulders, very much resembling a nice heirloom... I'm guessing it is the same variety as Supersteak F1 sold in the US (or can it be different?) Is it worth growing (limiting myself to much fewer plants this year)? Any feedback on this variety? Also, if I was to ask them to send some good varieties of seeds from Italy, anything in particular you would recommend? Regards, D

February 27, 2011	#2
jwr6404 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: University Place, WA Posts: 481	2010 was my worst year ever for tomatoes here in the PNW. The one exception was supersteak. It looked like the photo,as I recall, was very productive and Tasty. __________________ Jim

February 27, 2011	#5
mdvpc Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 4,386	D Italians like tomatoes that are a little bit from ripe-they like green shoulders-they pick them that way. My friends in Italy dont really know anything about heirlooms, most of them go to the local nursery and get hybrid plants. So not surprising that he was sent a hybrid variety. __________________ Michael

February 27, 2011	#6
jwr6404 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: University Place, WA Posts: 481	Burpees Supersteak was what I grew. Just found the envelope and may plant again if my tight travel schedule permits. __________________ Jim

February 27, 2011	#7
ContainerTed Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: 6a - NE Tennessee Posts: 4,538	Actually, the tomato in my avatar is a Supersteak. They do well in containers as well as in the ground. Taste was pretty good, too. This year, Supersteak F2 is on my grow list. Ted __________________ Ted ________________________ Owner & Sole Operator Of The Muddy Bucket Farm and Tomato Ranch

February 27, 2011	#8
brokenbar Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: South Of The Border Posts: 1,169	Any or all of the Costolutos would be great as well as Ciliegia, which I hear is an outstanding cherry variety. I brought back seeds from a GIANT paste tomato I purchased at the Pescheria in Venice which I am anxious to trial this year. It had no name, just "sauce" tomato. I am going back to Rome in Nov. 2011 and hope to find a few other varieties. Also going to Morocco and hope I can find seeds there as well. I do know that Morocco has a big greenhouse industry that grows tomatoes but know nothing of varieties or what backyard gardeners would grow. "Costoluto" means "ribbed" or fluted or ruffled so there are actually many kinds of "Costoluto" tomatoes, ie: Fiorentino, Genovese, etc. I am told there are about 4 others ( I would REALLY, REALLY, REALLY like to find those others...) __________________ "If I'm not getting dirty, I'm not having a good time."

February 28, 2011	#10
mdvpc Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 4,386	D I was in Montepulciano with some friends we had just met. One of them is an organic gardener there-grows everything. He bought all of his veggies as transplants and almost all the tomatoes were hybrids that he grew. He really didnt understand the concept of starting your own seed, saving seed-he couldnt see the sense of taking the trouble to do that. __________________ Michael