What does "improved" mean?

Mudman · May 24, 2011

I have a seed packet from last year that is a Super Beefsteak tomato and on the back it says that it is an "improved" variety. Any clarification on this?

Worth1 · May 24, 2011

Stronger or healthier

"in a better or more valuable condition"

Sorry I couldn't help myself.

I have no idea maybe the packet has an "improved" label.

Worth

Mudman · May 24, 2011

Don't be sorry, I would have done the same thing and then cited Webster.

WVTomatoMan · May 24, 2011

In my experience when I like a product that is then new and improved, I don't like it as much.

Seriously I have no idea idea what improved means in this situation. Marketing gimmick?

Randy

Mudman · May 24, 2011

Here is what it say
Burpee Super Beefsteak
An improved Beefsteak type with a bigger yield.

Improved from Beefsteak? Hence the Super?
Oh that gives me a great idea! I can improve the Super Beefsteak and create Super Dooper Beefsteak!

Tormato · May 24, 2011

Improved mean$ more of $omething.

Doctor L

ve Apple

TZ-OH6 · May 24, 2011

Sometimes it means they added another disease resistance.

Super Sugar Snap peas carry powdery mildew resistance lacking in Sugar Snap. My package says "an improved Sugar Snap".

It can also mean better shape and/or productivity. Espanola Improved pepper is a cross between Espanola landrace pepper and commercial NuMex Sandia.

ContainerTed · May 24, 2011

It is also used when they want to offer something new and don't want to rename it (again). Renaming would mean a long "what's it look like and how does it taste" campaign to get folks comfortable and excited about the "new" item. It's just marketing lies meant to get us to spend our money with them.

Ted

Mudman · May 24, 2011

Ok. So improved could mean it was crossed as in TZ's pepper example.

barkeater · May 24, 2011

On a seed packet, which means from someone doing it for a living, "improved" means better than the original. It could be better in many different ways. It could be earlier, more crack resistant,firmer, more productive, less cat facing, uniform ripening instead of green shoulders, determinate instead of indeterminate, etc. etc.

Wi-sunflower · May 25, 2011

Or considering the example is from Burpee, it could mean NOTHING at all. Just their way of trying to sell you something for more money.

Carol

barkeater · May 25, 2011

Good point!

May 25, 2011

I noticed a lot of "improved" old varieties this year. Many were from Burpee at the big box stores, but some were at nurseries. I think Portesr Improved was one of the varieties. Since I've never grown Porters, I would have no idea what the improved would mean.

Ted

Close enuf · May 25, 2011

I once bought an early girl improved. It wasn't nearly as good as the regular early girl.

eyolf · May 25, 2011

"Improved" would likely mean that out of a field of a single variety, someone selected for the best plants by whatever criteria they liked, saved seed (perhaps even bagged blossoms) and grew them out to be certain they had locked in those traits.

I think this has actually happened a few times...we have stories of various seedsmen noticing plants and propogating them, Jung's in Wisconsin used to sell "Improved Wayahead" advertizing it as haveing been culled from single plant selections.

In practice, I expect that many times "improved" means nothing.

May 24, 2011	#1
Mudman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: NW Wisconsin Posts: 910	What does "improved" mean? I have a seed packet from last year that is a Super Beefsteak tomato and on the back it says that it is an "improved" variety. Any clarification on this? __________________ Mike

May 24, 2011	#3
Mudman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: NW Wisconsin Posts: 910	Don't be sorry, I would have done the same thing and then cited Webster. __________________ Mike

May 24, 2011	#5
Mudman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: NW Wisconsin Posts: 910	Here is what it say Burpee Super Beefsteak An improved Beefsteak type with a bigger yield. Improved from Beefsteak? Hence the Super? Oh that gives me a great idea! I can improve the Super Beefsteak and create Super Dooper Beefsteak! __________________ Mike

May 24, 2011	#6
Tormato Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MA Posts: 4,971	Improved mean$ more of $omething. Doctor Lve Apple

May 24, 2011	#7
TZ-OH6 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Mid-Ohio Posts: 848	Sometimes it means they added another disease resistance. Super Sugar Snap peas carry powdery mildew resistance lacking in Sugar Snap. My package says "an improved Sugar Snap". It can also mean better shape and/or productivity. Espanola Improved pepper is a cross between Espanola landrace pepper and commercial NuMex Sandia. Last edited by TZ-OH6; May 24, 2011 at 11:39 PM. Reason: typo

May 24, 2011	#2
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Stronger or healthier "in a better or more valuable condition" Sorry I couldn't help myself. I have no idea maybe the packet has an "improved" label. Worth

May 24, 2011	#4
WVTomatoMan Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: West Virginia - Zone 6 Posts: 594	In my experience when I like a product that is then new and improved, I don't like it as much. Seriously I have no idea idea what improved means in this situation. Marketing gimmick? Randy

May 24, 2011	#8
ContainerTed Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: 6a - NE Tennessee Posts: 4,538	It is also used when they want to offer something new and don't want to rename it (again). Renaming would mean a long "what's it look like and how does it taste" campaign to get folks comfortable and excited about the "new" item. It's just marketing lies meant to get us to spend our money with them. Ted __________________ Ted ________________________ Owner & Sole Operator Of The Muddy Bucket Farm and Tomato Ranch

May 24, 2011	#10
barkeater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NE Kingdom, VT - Zone 3b Posts: 1,439	On a seed packet, which means from someone doing it for a living, "improved" means better than the original. It could be better in many different ways. It could be earlier, more crack resistant,firmer, more productive, less cat facing, uniform ripening instead of green shoulders, determinate instead of indeterminate, etc. etc. __________________ barkeater

May 25, 2011	#11
Wi-sunflower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,591	Or considering the example is from Burpee, it could mean NOTHING at all. Just their way of trying to sell you something for more money. Carol

May 25, 2011	#12
barkeater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NE Kingdom, VT - Zone 3b Posts: 1,439	Good point! __________________ barkeater

May 25, 2011	#13
tedln Guest Posts: n/a	I noticed a lot of "improved" old varieties this year. Many were from Burpee at the big box stores, but some were at nurseries. I think Portesr Improved was one of the varieties. Since I've never grown Porters, I would have no idea what the improved would mean. Ted

May 25, 2011	#14
Close enuf Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Michigan Posts: 32	I once bought an early girl improved. It wasn't nearly as good as the regular early girl.

May 25, 2011	#15
eyolf Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Central MN, USDA Zone 3 Posts: 303	"Improved" would likely mean that out of a field of a single variety, someone selected for the best plants by whatever criteria they liked, saved seed (perhaps even bagged blossoms) and grew them out to be certain they had locked in those traits. I think this has actually happened a few times...we have stories of various seedsmen noticing plants and propogating them, Jung's in Wisconsin used to sell "Improved Wayahead" advertizing it as haveing been culled from single plant selections. In practice, I expect that many times "improved" means nothing. __________________ a day without fresh homegrown tomatoes is like... ...sigh