2013 Grow List -- Central Valley, CA

[z_willus_d]

I thought I would post my grow list for next season here. I've attenuated the lists this year, focusing in on the varieties that showed best last season. I'm aiming for 35 plants total. I intend to graft every one of these to Maxi-fort root-stock, so I'll be growing out twice as many scions from the below list and then another 70 root-stock seedlings. That's 140 individual seedlings!!

Well here's the list as I have it now. I'll be starting seeds this weekend. I need to locate more grafting clips and pots if anyone has a suggestion for where to obtain the clips at a reasonable price. Also, any suggestions for deletions/additions on the list, feel free to chime-in.

Thanks,
Naysen

Variety Qty Type
KBX 4 Orange, slicer
Wes 3 Paste, heart
Cherokee Purple 2 Black, slicer
Costuluto Genovese 2 Paste
Van Wert Ohio 2 Red, medium
Goose Creek 2 Red, slicer
Indian Stripe 1 Black, slicer
JD's Special C-Tex 1 Black, slicer
Black Cherry 1 Cherry
Sara's Galapagos 1 Cherry
Sungold F1 1 Cherry
Green Zebra 1 Green, medium
Absinthe 1 Green, slicer
Casino 1 Paste
Russo Sicilian Togeta 1 Paste
Brandywine from Croatia 1 Pink, slicer
Brandywine Red 1 Pink, slicer
Brandywine Sudduth's 1 Pink, slicer
Brandywine, Cowlick's 1 Pink, slicer
Stump of the World 1 Pink, slicer
Pruden's Purple 1 Purple, slicer
Purple Dog Creek,
Kentucky 1 Purple, slicer
Barlow Jap 1 Red, slicer
Pink Berkely Tie Dye 1 slicer
Claude Brown's Yellow
Giant Kentucky Heirloom
Tomato Seeds 1 Yellow, slicer
Kellogg's Breakfast 1 Yellow, slicer
Mystery Yellow
(for Dad) 1 Yellow, slicer
-------------------------------------------
Total 36

[z_willus_d]

Already made some changes. I forgot about seeds received from Kath's SASE offer in the Fall as well as Ron's Carbon Copy offer. Some hard displacements to make room for: Carbon Copy, Heshpole, Work Release Paste, and Madam Jardel's Black.
-n

[TightenUp]

nice list! you have a nice selection there.

did you grow kbx and kelloggs breakfast before? if so did you notice any differences? kelloggs was one of my favs last year so i'm growing it again but also added kbx to my grow list.

also i think barlow jap would be a pink tomato

[rnewste]

Naysen,

You will have a nice variety of tomatoes this Season.

Mine area about 2" tall today and will be gowing under the lights shortly.

Great time of year, isn't it.

Raybo

[z_willus_d]

Jeff,

Yes, I grew both KBX and Kellogg's Breakfast last year. KBX was my season favorite, hands down. Kellogg's didn't do as well, but it might have been environmental. Some prefer KBX, and others Kellogg's. I thought I'd give them both a try grafted this year and reevaluate, bias toward the KBX. I'm sure you'll love it. Good catch on the barlow, it's definitely a Pink beefsteak type.
-naysen

[z_willus_d]

Hi Ray, nice to "hear" from you. Yes, this recent weather has been superb! I've been busy building another retaining-wall/raised-bed off my hillside -- couldn't ask for better weather to work a pickaxe in. I think seed-planting day always provides for maximum enthusiasm and excitement for the possibilities of the future season. I'm right in that zone right now.

I saw your list in your thread. It's not hard to covet your plans.
-naysen

[TightenUp]

Originally Posted by z_willus_d

Jeff,

Yes, I grew both KBX and Kellogg's Breakfast last year. KBX was my season favorite, hands down. Kellogg's didn't do as well, but it might have been environmental. Some prefer KBX, and others Kellogg's. I thought I'd give them both a try grafted this year and reevaluate, bias toward the KBX. I'm sure you'll love it. Good catch on the barlow, it's definitely a Pink beefsteak type.
-naysen

Thats good news. i cant wait to try KBX!

my yellows for this season
Blonde Boar
KBX
Kelloggs Breakfast
Barnes Mountain Yellow
Amana orange
Dwarf Mr Snow


i'm very interested barnes mountain yellow as another comparison to kelloggs breakfast
http://t.tatianastomatobase.com:88/w...ountain_Yellow

[z_willus_d]

Alright. I've got half of the tomatoes seeded. That there on the far left are my Maxifort Rootstock, which I have atop my only heat mat. The scions I have sharing the larger pots, since it doesn't matter about the intermixed root systems. (I'll be chopping off their tips.)

I'm all out of Maxifort seeds, so I could only plant enough for a single pass at the grafting, but I know I'll have at least 50% fall-out, so I need to grow many more. It's insane how expensive the RS seeds can be. I purchased a 50-pack for ~$23 (not inc. S & H) from Johnny's Select Seeds. There's got to be a better way to stock the root-stock.

Let's see how they do.
-naysen

[Mlm1]

Naysen, that is a great looking list. I am looking forward to seeing what Steve wants me to trial this year. I won't know my grow out list until I get my package from him. I may start my grafts in a few weeks but I won't start my main crop until mid to late Feb. Normally I don't plant out until the middle of April since they usually just sit in the ground until it warms up in mid April. We sure have had some beautiful weather lately, makes me feel like starting some seed now just in case it stays this warm and sunny. This sure is a a fun time of the year.
Marla

[z_willus_d]

Marla, it's great to hear from you. I had a difficult time limiting myself to 36 varieties, but I learned my lesson (I hope) last season to not "crowd" the plants. I should have ~50% more area this season and maybe 50% fewer vines.

When I think of tomatoes that I want to eat, I'm drawn to those you brought by late summer last year. They were all so amazingly sweet and delicious. I hope I can duplicate some of the magic this season.

I used wall of water shields around some of my early set-outs last season, and I'll probably give that a try again to get an early start.

Have fun.
-naysen

[rwsacto]

Hi Naysen,
Looks like a very ambitious plan. I am also planning to try grafting a few, starting next month. In my research, I noted one source who took the cut tops of the rootstock and rooted them in starting mix for a second grafting. Maybe you can get a better return on your RS investment?

Good Luck,
Rick

[Crandrew]

Originally Posted by rnewste

Naysen,

You will have a nice variety of tomatoes this Season.

Mine area about 2" tall today and will be gowing under the lights shortly.

Great time of year, isn't it.

Raybo

Raybo,

You are already at 2 in?. Are you guys inland? I'm in SoCal, on an island, and get a major gloomy apr and may. Last year I hardened off 6" plants the second week of march and they seemed to do ok. Should I be starting now?
Hmm


Excellent list by the way. I've been convinced to buy some Kellogg's breakfast now.

[AZGardener]

Great list!!! I need to post mine.... Kelloggs Breakfast has always done great for me (Phx). So has Sungold, Black Cherry, and Cherokee Purple. I guess they love the heat!

[aclum]

Hi Naysen,

Interesting list! Lots of yellows, greens, and cherries - none of which I've grown or tasted - other than a green zebra. I'll post my central california list in a separate thread. We have a few varieties in common, but not many - 5 or so, I think.

I've been planting seeds beginning in early december - and have continued planting due to all my grafting failures mentioned in another thread. I just started some new seeds a couple of days ago and the Prue came up the next day!! You'll be swimming in tomatoes before too long <g>.

Looking forward to progress reports!

Anne

[z_willus_d]

Originally Posted by rwsacto

Hi Naysen,
Looks like a very ambitious plan. I am also planning to try grafting a few, starting next month. In my research, I noted one source who took the cut tops of the rootstock and rooted them in starting mix for a second grafting. Maybe you can get a better return on your RS investment?

Good Luck,
Rick

Hi Rick, that's an interesting idea, going recursive on the RS. Two concerns come to mind. First, will the rooted top be as robust and vigorous in the short, medium term as the mother plant? I know it's very important to have healthy, vigorous mother and child plants during the union process. Second thought is just that it would be trickier to match up the scion and 2nd root-stock, since the cutting from the RS would likely be thicker and of a different girth than that of a fresh scion seedling. I'm sure it could be done though, just maybe pushing the limits of my skill (a place I'm already at). I had a lot of difficulty this winter trialing grafting of Maxifort to New Dwarf Project seedlings. The stem thickness is much greater, generally, on the dwarf plants, so it made the grafting process and even the end result less straightforward, I think. Marla sure made short work of the job, but my latter attempts were less blessed.

In any case, I wish you all the best with your grafting trials. Please post a picture or two of the results when you can.

-naysen