Opinions on Ferris Wheel?

sprtsguy76 · February 18, 2012

Bought this one from Gleckers along with some others. Who has grown this one and what did you think of the taste and productivity? As a side note I sprouted about 8 seeds of Ferris Wheel recently and had one PL pop out of the bunch.

Damon

**nctomatoman** · February 18, 2012

I guess this is a sentimental favorite of mine - and also happens to be a good tomato! When I was digging dozens of varieties out of the USDA (searching primarily for the Livingston varieties), I also got a few that had interesting names. Little did I know that it was an 1890s variety from Salzer Seeds; when I started purchasing old seed catalogs, I was delighted to confirm that.

My suspicion is that it is a selection or Salzer's renaming of most popular large regular leaf pink of the time Ponderosa. I think the flavor is superior, though.

It should definitely be regular leaf....cull the PL (must be a stray seed).

robbins · February 20, 2012

I loved this big pink tomato!

Mudman · February 20, 2012

I will be growing this one for the first time this year also. I researched it quite a bit and never heard a bad thing about it.

Ken4230 · February 21, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by nctomatoman

It should definitely be regular leaf....cull the PL (must be a stray seed).

any chance it could be a PL Ferris Wheel?

**nctomatoman** · February 21, 2012

Ferris Wheel is a regular leaf variety. Any instance of PL would be indicative of a mix up or cross. I've grown it many times - I am the original source seed of it getting back into circulation - only seen RL (the only large PL pink back at that time - the 1880s/1890s - is Mikado aka Turners Hybrid)

Ken4230 · February 21, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by nctomatoman

Ferris Wheel is a regular leaf variety. Any instance of PL would be indicative of a mix up or cross. I've grown it many times - I am the original source seed of it getting back into circulation - only seen RL (the only large PL pink back at that time - the 1880s/1890s - is Mikado aka Turners Hybrid)

Thanks, Craig. That's what I wanted to know. Saw your video, It's nice to put a face with your post. I think I will add both to my 2013 list.

WVTomatoMan · February 21, 2012

I thought it was another very good pink variety (there seem to be a lot of them). As I recall it grew well and was fairly productive for a large pink. I got some decent sized tomatoes (1.0 - 1.75 lbs.) but nothing big (2 lbs. and over). This is in contrary to Salzer's ads which indicated it consistently produced big tomatoes. This is all from recall, I haven't grown it for several years. BTW, the variety from that ilk that consistently produced big tomatoes for me was Wood's Famous Brimmer.

Good luck.

Randy

February 18, 2012	#1
sprtsguy76 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2007 Location: Santa Clara CA Posts: 1,125	Opinions on Ferris Wheel? Bought this one from Gleckers along with some others. Who has grown this one and what did you think of the taste and productivity? As a side note I sprouted about 8 seeds of Ferris Wheel recently and had one PL pop out of the bunch. Damon

February 18, 2012	#2
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	I guess this is a sentimental favorite of mine - and also happens to be a good tomato! When I was digging dozens of varieties out of the USDA (searching primarily for the Livingston varieties), I also got a few that had interesting names. Little did I know that it was an 1890s variety from Salzer Seeds; when I started purchasing old seed catalogs, I was delighted to confirm that. My suspicion is that it is a selection or Salzer's renaming of most popular large regular leaf pink of the time Ponderosa. I think the flavor is superior, though. It should definitely be regular leaf....cull the PL (must be a stray seed). __________________ Craig

February 20, 2012	#4
Mudman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: NW Wisconsin Posts: 910	I will be growing this one for the first time this year also. I researched it quite a bit and never heard a bad thing about it. __________________ Mike

February 21, 2012	#6
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	Ferris Wheel is a regular leaf variety. Any instance of PL would be indicative of a mix up or cross. I've grown it many times - I am the original source seed of it getting back into circulation - only seen RL (the only large PL pink back at that time - the 1880s/1890s - is Mikado aka Turners Hybrid) __________________ Craig

February 20, 2012	#3
robbins Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MO Posts: 153	I loved this big pink tomato!

February 21, 2012	#8
WVTomatoMan Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: West Virginia - Zone 6 Posts: 594	I thought it was another very good pink variety (there seem to be a lot of them). As I recall it grew well and was fairly productive for a large pink. I got some decent sized tomatoes (1.0 - 1.75 lbs.) but nothing big (2 lbs. and over). This is in contrary to Salzer's ads which indicated it consistently produced big tomatoes. This is all from recall, I haven't grown it for several years. BTW, the variety from that ilk that consistently produced big tomatoes for me was Wood's Famous Brimmer. Good luck. Randy