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Old November 4th, 2009, 01:47 AM   #1
klorentz
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Default Next years tomato patch .......................

Should be very special.Not only will all five varieties that I planted last year will return next year and some I am planing to have will be a take two ( they never saw the garden) I will get to plant one while it is not unknown has not really made the rounds throughout the garden community ( as far as I know ). Vorlon. I just got this one from a seed saver in Wisconsin. I am very excited about this one mainly cuz what I have heard so far sounds pretty good.(disclaimer)My getting this tomato is in no way shape or form connected to my being a fan of Babylon 5 .

After a years long absence also returning to the garden will be Abe Lincoln. When I grew this mater back in Cali it came out perfect. No cracks,no catfacing and no BER. Most where the 8oz to 1lb range and very tasty.

A word about Al-Kuffa.This is a little tomato with big tomato taste.Juicy ,fairly thin skin ,salad size and perfect for container growing as it is a patio size plant. I got this one from Baker Creek this year and it really is a great tomato.I urge you to try it.

My sisters kids love tomatoes.And the bite size grape tomatoes I have (3) will be a perfect snack for them. They love having a tomato they can eat like candy.

Some tomatoes I have for next year you might remember from Camo's review list. Like Earl's Faux and Carbon and of coarse the ever growing in popularity Cowlicks Brandywine which I grew this year. Fantastic taste and some of them where huge! I think Camo created a monster when he started sending the seeds out for this one.

I think there will be a few surprises as far as maters go which will make all the more fun.I know my Dad and Aunt would have had a blast with this.


Kevin
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Old November 4th, 2009, 07:52 AM   #2
blueribbontomatoes
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Default Re: Next years tomato patch .......................

One of the pleasures of growing tomatoes is all the planning and choosing! My list is started with varieties that absolutely must be planted, and then there's a second list of "gee I'd really like to plant these too if I can possibly find the place to put them." I'm trying not to etch anything into stone because when the catalogs come out there will be more, and then the seed savers's yearbook always has some for the must list.
Last season's goal was 100 varieties, and 108 made it planted. I haven't decided yet about the numbers for next year. Probably about the same, but I've started opening up new ground and will keep doing it until I run out of steam. Lots of ground - steam is the issue

I grew Abe Lincoln this year and was also impressed with it. I didn't mean to, but I saw the plants at Lee's garden center in Hodgenville, Ky (birthplace of Abe Lincoln), and of course I couldn't resist the irony. Mine were in the 4-6 oz range, but they produced very well and a nice addition to the soup pot. I'll put it back on the list in a few years.

Kevin, I'm glad to hear you're doing well and excited about getting back to the garden.

Maria
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Old November 4th, 2009, 09:04 AM   #3
Gary
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Default Re: Next years tomato patch .......................

Good morning Kevin and Maria.
My personal selections for growing is on hold for the moment. I am in the process of selecting heirloom varieties for Thieneman's Nursery where I volunteer. 2010 season will be ten years with my helping with the heirloom tomatoes. The Last season we had about 150 varieties, 40 of which were Kentucky varieties. Many of the Kentucky varieties came from Maria's blueribbontomatoes.com. We have a large number of gardeners who always look forward to growing our wonderful tomatoes. Many drive long distances to purchase our tomatoes.
I am making a list of a number varieties which I hope to grow if my health holds up. In the mean time , I will be contemplating the warm days of spring and another year of enjoying fresh tomatoes.
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Old November 4th, 2009, 09:15 AM   #4
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Default Re: Next years tomato patch .......................

grow on ya'll.
good job gary.
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Old November 4th, 2009, 10:24 AM   #5
klorentz
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Default Re: Next years tomato patch .......................

Quote:
Originally Posted by blueribbontomatoes View Post
One of the pleasures of growing tomatoes is all the planning and choosing! My list is started with varieties that absolutely must be planted, and then there's a second list of "gee I'd really like to plant these too if I can possibly find the place to put them." I'm trying not to etch anything into stone because when the catalogs come out there will be more, and then the seed savers's yearbook always has some for the must list.
Last season's goal was 100 varieties, and 108 made it planted. I haven't decided yet about the numbers for next year. Probably about the same, but I've started opening up new ground and will keep doing it until I run out of steam. Lots of ground - steam is the issue

I grew Abe Lincoln this year and was also impressed with it. I didn't mean to, but I saw the plants at Lee's garden center in Hodgenville, Ky (birthplace of Abe Lincoln), and of course I couldn't resist the irony. Mine were in the 4-6 oz range, but they produced very well and a nice addition to the soup pot. I'll put it back on the list in a few years.

Kevin, I'm glad to hear you're doing well and excited about getting back to the garden.

Maria

Yep the planing stage can be rather interesting.Been trying to get Cosmonaut Volkov in the garden for three years since I first saw the listing on the BC site.So it made it's debut this year along with three others I have never planted before. One way or the other it was going to get to the garden along with the Cowlicks, Thessaloniki and Al- Kuffa .

Next years goal was set a 25 varieties. It will probably have to be expanded to 30 as some folks have sent some surprise varieties to me. This will most likely mean that I will plant only 2-3 plants for the majority of what I have.being everyone except my BIL are big tomato nuts all this will go over well.All that is except the grape tomatoes. As we know a well tended cherry or grape mater bear like there is no tomorrow so I will plant one each of these maybe two if I am spared the room.

I am glad you tried Abe Lincoln. My Mom really loved this one when we grew it many years ago. She could not get over that one and how well it did.

Excited? You bet. Tomatoes are only a part of it but the rest of the garden is a whole other thread.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gary View Post
Good morning Kevin and Maria.
My personal selections for growing is on hold for the moment. I am in the process of selecting heirloom varieties for Thieneman's Nursery where I volunteer. 2010 season will be ten years with my helping with the heirloom tomatoes. The Last season we had about 150 varieties, 40 of which were Kentucky varieties. Many of the Kentucky varieties came from Maria's blueribbontomatoes.com. We have a large number of gardeners who always look forward to growing our wonderful tomatoes. Many drive long distances to purchase our tomatoes.
I am making a list of a number varieties which I hope to grow if my health holds up. In the mean time , I will be contemplating the warm days of spring and another year of enjoying fresh tomatoes.
Gary
Good morning Gary. I am really glad to hear your doing your part to help preserve Kentucky's tomatoes. While I have turned an eye to some from other countries I hope to see how some Kentucky tomatoes do up here in Michigan.Should be interesting.keep up the good work.

Quote:
Originally Posted by redneckplanter View Post
grow on ya'll.
good job gary.
Yep I am sure we will with so many tomatoes to plant



Kevin
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Old November 4th, 2009, 06:55 PM   #6
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Default Re: Next years tomato patch .......................

Gary,

Cant wait to see your list!!!

Kevin,

I grew out Vorlon this past summer. Considering the parentage of Vorlon I was a little disappointed. I really like both Cherokee Purple and Pruden's Purple. Both have done well here for me.

But it was not a very good year weather wise here in southern Indiana overall so I am going to give it another try because folks have given it such high praise and I feel it should get a second chance. Of course YMMV.
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Old November 4th, 2009, 07:36 PM   #7
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Default Re: Next years tomato patch .......................

Quote:
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Gary,



Kevin,

I grew out Vorlon this past summer. Considering the parentage of Vorlon I was a little disappointed. I really like both Cherokee Purple and Pruden's Purple. Both have done well here for me.

But it was not a very good year weather wise here in southern Indiana overall so I am going to give it another try because folks have given it such high praise and I feel it should get a second chance. Of course YMMV.

I hear ya on the weather.production should have been better. Although we had some good maters one I thought could have been a bit better.That was Cosmonaut Volkov.I am bringing it back for the same reason you are bringing Vorlon back to your garden. Now this is not to say Cosmonaut Volkov was bad I just think it could have been better.


Kevin
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Old November 4th, 2009, 09:37 PM   #8
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Default Re: Next years tomato patch .......................

Waaaagh!!!!

I have a VERY small garden but want to try some varieties not sold at my local Lowes. I just really don't know which ones to pick.

HELP!! I'm intrigued by the purples and wanted to try some.

Brad
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Old November 5th, 2009, 08:12 AM   #9
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Default Re: Next years tomato patch .......................

Thieneman's tomato plant selection is a very good reason to save some space in the garden til the last minute (and that's not easy to do!) I brought home a boxful in April and hope to do it again

One thing that's made it easier to fit more in is to plant cherries only in containers, and one per variety is plenty. Coyote is the only exception, and it has it's own dedicated place.

Brad, Cherokee Purple might be a good one to try. It is popular for a reason - a great tasting workhorse! Wessel's Purple Pride is on my must list. Gary brought a few to the Berea seed swap this year and they went over big with everybody. Camo also gives them a good review.

It sure would help to know what the weather will be like!
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Old November 5th, 2009, 09:48 AM   #10
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Default Re: Next years tomato patch .......................

Quote:
Originally Posted by blueribbontomatoes View Post
Gary brought a few to the Berea seed swap this year and they went over big with everybody. Camo also gives them a good review.

It sure would help to know what the weather will be like!
I have family in Berea, I didn't know there was a seed swap there
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