Categories for the Mostly Mystery Mater Mailing

[Tormahto]

Regarding the category "Oldies but Goodies - great old varieties that have almost disappeared"
I'm not seeing it in the "Mater Mailing Master List tomatoes" thread. Am I just missing it?

You're not missing it.

Oldies but Goodies randomly come in from year to year, and are rarely requested. Most people want the latest and greatest. Since there usually aren't many sent in, I just put them in another suitable category, like red, pink, yellow, etc...When I do get a request for them, I know many of them by name, so I just pull them from the other category. There is not really a strict definition of Oldie, but I just look at all of the varieties from about 20 years ago (that are much older than that) having almost disappeared, as people go for the latest blues, striped, Dwarfs, micro-dwarfs, and more.

It's the same with the Beefsteak category, although these are the most sent in type of tomato, and the most requested type. When some people request pinks, or striped, or orange, etc...I just assume they mostly want large beefsteaks of those colors. So, beefsteaks coning in, generally go into another category by color.

And, it's basically the same with the Knock Your Socks Off category. Although I don't list these as a separate category, I set them aside, for the few people that request them. The problem, here, is that more people request Knock Your Socks Off than people sending them in. Understandable, because one person's KYSO can be another person's complaining that it's a dud, often depending on growing conditions, and other factors.

[BurgundySnail]

Regarding the category "Oldies but Goodies - great old varieties that have almost disappeared"
I'm not seeing it in the "Mater Mailing Master List tomatoes" thread. Am I just missing it?

You're not missing it.

Oldies but Goodies randomly come in from year to year, and are rarely requested. Most people want the latest and greatest. Since there usually aren't many sent in, I just put them in another suitable category, like red, pink, yellow, etc...When I do get a request for them, I know many of them by name, so I just pull them from the other category. There is not really a strict definition of Oldie, but I just look at all of the varieties from about 20 years ago (that are much older than that) having almost disappeared, as people go for the latest blues, striped, Dwarfs, micro-dwarfs, and more.

It's the same with the Beefsteak category, although these are the most sent in type of tomato, and the most requested type. When some people request pinks, or striped, or orange, etc...I just assume they mostly want large beefsteaks of those colors. So, beefsteaks coning in, generally go into another category by color.

And, it's basically the same with the Knock Your Socks Off category. Although I don't list these as a separate category, I set them aside, for the few people that request them. The problem, here, is that more people request Knock Your Socks Off than people sending them in. Understandable, because one person's KYSO can be another person's complaining that it's a dud, often depending on growing conditions, and other factors.

Funnily enough next year I am thinking to make a theme of old/family heirloom varieties. Is there a list of "Oldies but Goodies"? I think Red Barn could be there?

[BurgundySnail]

To enter a category it is suggested that you have 10 packs with a minimum of 5 seeds each of one variety rubber banded together...

I understand this to mean I send in 10 packs of something in Category X and then get 10 different packs of Category X back. Is that correct?

OK it looks like if I want to ask for "Oldies but Goodies" I will need to send 10 packs of "Oldies but Goodies"...Could someone please tell me which they are?

[Tormahto]

To enter a category it is suggested that you have 10 packs with a minimum of 5 seeds each of one variety rubber banded together...

I understand this to mean I send in 10 packs of something in Category X and then get 10 different packs of Category X back. Is that correct?

OK it looks like if I want to ask for "Oldies but Goodies" I will need to send 10 packs of "Oldies but Goodies"...Could someone please tell me which they are?

It likely won't matter.

The reason for sending in 10 packs of a single variety for any Category is for swap "balance". Participants often request varieties that are not in the categories that they send in. If everyone sent in beefsteaks but only requested cherries, the swap wouldn't work well. Either PM me a list of what you're sending in, and I'll let you know if any are Oldies But Goodies, or I'll do what I always do, just winging it, and you'll get your Oldies But Goodies.

There hasn't been any severe imbalance since the first few years of the MMMM, so I no longer worry much about it. Dwarf Project, Kozulas and Micro Dwarfs are the only categories that run real low or out, because participants just starting with those types often want every variety of those, that comes into the swap. But, there still likely needs to be enough participants sending in the same types they are requesting, across every Category.

Or, a little mentioned part of the swap, sending in lots of seed donations.

The last option, likely not needed, is requesting to be "sponsored" for the Oldies But Goodies category. A lot of written communication is not need by long time participants. They'll read this, and know to send in Oldies but Goodies.

If you're still feeling antsy about not knowing if you'll receive what you're requesting, go ahead and request a sponsor, and someone will cover you. I likely have enough of leftovers in the collection to sponsor you, but I cannot guarantee it, until I finish doing the inventory.

The one thing that is getting balanced, is that we already have a couple of sharks, and now we have our first guppy.

[BurgundySnail]

To enter a category it is suggested that you have 10 packs with a minimum of 5 seeds each of one variety rubber banded together...

I understand this to mean I send in 10 packs of something in Category X and then get 10 different packs of Category X back. Is that correct?

OK it looks like if I want to ask for "Oldies but Goodies" I will need to send 10 packs of "Oldies but Goodies"...Could someone please tell me which they are?

It likely won't matter.

The reason for sending in 10 packs of a single variety for any Category is for swap "balance". Participants often request varieties that are not in the categories that they send in. If everyone sent in beefsteaks but only requested cherries, the swap wouldn't work well. Either PM me a list of what you're sending in, and I'll let you know if any are Oldies But Goodies, or I'll do what I always do, just winging it, and you'll get your Oldies But Goodies.

There hasn't been any severe imbalance since the first few years of the MMMM, so I no longer worry much about it. Dwarf Project, Kozulas and Micro Dwarfs are the only categories that run real low or out, because participants just starting with those types often want every variety of those, that comes into the swap. But, there still likely needs to be enough participants sending in the same types they are requesting, across every Category.

Or, a little mentioned part of the swap, sending in lots of seed donations.

The last option, likely not needed, is requesting to be "sponsored" for the Oldies But Goodies category. A lot of written communication is not need by long time participants. They'll read this, and know to send in Oldies but Goodies.

If you're still feeling antsy about not knowing if you'll receive what you're requesting, go ahead and request a sponsor, and someone will cover you. I likely have enough of leftovers in the collection to sponsor you, but I cannot guarantee it, until I finish doing the inventory.

The one thing that is getting balanced, is that we already have a couple of sharks, and now we have our first guppy.

I'm afraid I was already pronounced as a shark

I love the winging option, and I guess I'll try to save more seeds from my dwarfs if they're on high demand.

Thanks!

[karstopography]

11 bags of Honeynut squash seeds going to Westfield, likely in November. Kind of think these squash were isolated by timing of bloom, but I would not bet the farm in that. 20 seeds per bag+/-.

[Tormahto]

11 bags of Honeynut squash seeds going to Westfield, likely in November. Kind of think these squash were isolated by timing of bloom, but I would not bet the farm in that. 20 seeds per bag+/-.

This would be seen, and requested, more, if it was in the spoiler alert thread.

[MalachiteJen]

Which category would longkeeper tomato varieties go into? Novelty?

[SophieOLLIER]

Hello @MissS

Pepers are in the category "Everything else" ?

Thank you

[MissS]

Hello @MissS

Pepers are in the category "Everything else" ?

Thank you

You got it! They are.

[Tormahto]

Hello @MissS

Pepers are in the category "Everything else" ?

Thank you

There is a...

Master List Tomatoes

Master List Peppers

Master List Beans

Everything else will be on one more list.

All lists are currently outdated, with the pepper list likely being completely outdated.

Updates will be done during November and December, each time there is an update, it will have that date in the heading. An entire Master List will likely be updated in stages, such as the tomato Master List being updated by Categories, starting with Black and ending with Yellow/Gold/Orange/White/Bicolor.