Hey DigitS'

[so lucky]

I have noticed your search for an early tomato, and wondered if you have tried Moskvich from the Johnny's catalog. It's supposed to be a 60 day red 4-6oz tomato. Or are you going for a larger tomato?

 

[digitS']

That looks like competition for the Early Girl, So Lucky. It was mentioned in that thread as a substitute.

I've never seen anything about splitting, which can be a big problem in my garden. One of TEG's gardeners said that it is about the same as Stupice. I had a problem with Stupice in my garden.

(Shifting eyes, looking for an excuse . . .) There is a certain resistance since it is also the name of the car made in the Soviet Union . . . I know, I know! Shoot.

Steve

 

[so lucky]

Well, maybe it needs to be renamed
I bought some Stupice seeds to try this year, and another one from the Sustainable Mountain Agriculture Center called Vinson Watts. I can't remember now what made it seem attractive, except this Mr Watts worked on perfecting it for 25 years or so, if I remember correctly.
I also bought some bean seed, called Headrick Greasy Cut-Short.
We'll see how they work.

 

[digitS']

Well, maybe it needs to be renamed
. . .

You mean like how my wife can't take that name "Bloody Butcher" so we have to call it Jollyrancher around here?

It was one reason why I wanted to cross that Bloody Butcher with a Kimberley. It seems kind of dishonest to just, up and give it a different name. But . . . if it could have some Kimberley genes in it - and still retain its good qualities - it would be more socially acceptable .

You know what? I was once a Moskvich. Yeah, some on TEG have long suspected it, no doubt. But, hey! That university town, Moscow, Idaho - home of the U of I .

Steve

 

[897tgigvib]

It is in the stars Digit:

Well, the postal system maybe...

Hopefully the Tomato seeds I sent you will get some decent germination. Among them are some cool early varieties, crossed up ones too. Those will be absolutely unique. At least one, but I think there are 2 which are Marianna's Peace crossed with quick maturing little ones. I think I packed BW X WB too, which is brandywine sudduth strain crossed with white beauty...

Whew. I didn't pack cosmonaut volkov... super tasty, kind of early, but for me in Montana, that variety cracked way open half way down the sides. But I think I put in a packet of Bonny Best

 

[digitS']

Wow, I've just been reading about that Marianna's Peace.

It looks to me as tho' there was a bit of "conflict" around that introduction into the world of heirloom tomatoes! In fact --- there is a variety called "Marianna's Conflict!"

These things get a history to them when people who are passionate about tomatoes get a hold of them. Can you imagine this from the perspective of an heirloom tomato: "Everything was cool there for such a long time. I just kept coming back year after year, in that one garden - except when the old folks died and then some other nice people began to take care of me - then I went off with the kids. Then! Somebody sold me or something! Suddenly, I'm all over the place and people are standing around arguing about me!!! I want to go hooooommme!"

You see, there is no such thing as many, many Marianna's Peace plants. They are all one, interconnected. Like aspens, a multitude of trees growing from the same roots.

Steve

 

[897tgigvib]

ok.

But, if ya start it inside extra early, and can get it to make tomatoes, the flavor is...

...still thinking...

Begins with the tomato fragrance with the kind of subtleness raspberries have compared to blackberries...the seed cavities have pronounced soft white ovary tissue, soft, tender, and you bite into it. A moment later you realize it is the first real tomato you ever ate. All others were pretenders.

Marianna's Peace. Pure.

I crossed it with Giant Syrian a few years after I selected for the healthiest Marianna's Peace and got it right. Pollen came from the same plant that made the tomato I am holding in my Avatar.

Those you will see with names such as Amy Sue, and Teddy. Also some with names like MP X GS RL5

 

[digitS']

So Marshall, you are saying there are "Amy Sue" and "Teddy" varieties out there that are offspring of your Marianna's Peace cross Giant Syrian?

I've have had blooming and plants with fruit set on them going in the garden. They have frozen in place a little bit. Not quite as bad as that Kimberley that I brought in from outdoors with, what was that, 80-90 day fruit on it that wouldn't ripen. But, something like that. The fruit continues to grow and ripen but the plant stays quite small. At season's end, I've got 3 tomatoes.

The Gary O Sena plant was a little like that this year. I really didn't know it had any fruit on it but - there they were, very early. The thing with it was that it continued to grow and produce more fruit. A good surprise and a little contrary to my experience. It always seems best if everything falls in place 1 2 3 without getting jerked around too much before being set out or with transplant shock and weather interference.

If you were so much involved in the past, you seem to have "moved on" from tomatoes some, Marshall.

Steve

 

[897tgigvib]

I was a regular TomatoManiac years ago.

Yes, Amy Sue, and Teddy are MP X GS PL several generations removed from f1. I also sent you f3 seeds of several unnamed sibling varieties. That cross made every f2 special! The f1 were very strong rl plants, several of which I perennialized in Montana, some in the greenhouse, some at home in my living room.

Little Roxy may do well for you, being small and somewhat early. This one was from a different cross.

Little Roxy is named after my ex girlfriend, the little firecracker...
Amy Sue is named after Roxy's oldest daughter who died from Stomach Cancer.

Teddy is named after some cute chick.

I sure hope at least some of those seeds are still good. They need a good home.

I know you'll enjoy the brassicas and the potential crosses among them.

 

[digitS']

Oh, I may enjoy those tomatoes too, Marshall!

An extra square foot here or an extra square foot there - trying something that I'm curious about. . !

I woke up this morning with this strange little thought. I'm not sure where it came from: "Nothing trumps enthusiasm." That's it - it was even nicely in words .

Steve