Red Lithium?

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Pokemato
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Red Lithium?

#1

Post: # 50283Unread post Pokemato
Sun Jul 11, 2021 11:03 am

Hello,

I received seed labeled Red Lithium in the MMMM and it's growing beautifully and is one of the most productive plants in my garden. However, the first one I pulled was heart-shaped. I realize it might be a cross because it's neighbor is Rebel Starfighter Prime. So, this morning I went to look, to make sure I'd pulled it from the correct plant and hadn't just gotten mixed up. I confirmed it was from the plant Red Lithium and, it looks like I have lots of heart shaped fruit on that plant. Anyone growing this one? Should it be a heart or no?
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Labradors
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Re: Red Lithium?

#2

Post: # 50284Unread post Labradors
Sun Jul 11, 2021 12:14 pm

It appears to be environmental, although others have written about Lithium Sunset throwing hearts. You can read more by Googling "Tomatoville Lithium Sunset".

Linda

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Re: Red Lithium?

#3

Post: # 50319Unread post zendog
Sun Jul 11, 2021 8:43 pm

I can't remember if I sent Red Lithium in to the MMMM or not so not sure if they are from me or someone else, but that is what mine looked like last year. I had gotten seeds from Marsha ([mention]Ginger2778[/mention]) in her very generous 2020 seed offer. She had recommended it to me as a good one to try and she was right.

It was productive and what you are showing was the shape/color I got last year. It is different than Lithium Sunset and I'm not really sure of the full background. I suspect it could still be unstable so I'd be curious if Marsha has some pictures of what she has grown. It was a great tasting tomato and I'm growing 2 plants this year. One is growing tomatoes like the ones in your picture and one looks more like a more solid colored beefsteak or maybe more of a very blunt heart, but I can't tell color of it for sure yet since none from that plant have ripened yet. I've eaten a couple of the striped heart ones so far this season that were great tasting like I remembered, and can't wait to see what the other plant produces when they're ripe.

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Ginger2778
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Re: Red Lithium?

#4

Post: # 50320Unread post Ginger2778
Sun Jul 11, 2021 9:42 pm

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Mine were blunt hearts if heart at all. Super productive great tasting pink striped fruits. I found this and named it, seeds were originally from a bag labeled Lithium Sunset, which is a striped bicolor. Fred Hempel (breeder of LS)was surprised to see red flesh, and we decided together to name it Red Lithium. I believe it to be stable, it has always grown same for me year after year. Probably the most productive tomato I have grown. And delicious!
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- Marsha

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Re: Red Lithium?

#5

Post: # 50325Unread post Gardadore
Mon Jul 12, 2021 12:32 am

Last year my tomato buddy was given the task to grow both lithium Sunset and Red Lithium for comparison. I never got to taste them for a number of reasons. This year I am growing the Red Lithium and amazed at how many flowers and tomatoes it is setting. I noticed today that some look heart shaped and was surprised so this is a timely thread. They are really small yet so we’ll see. Mine were from Marsha and I’m really looking forward to tasting them! Will be a while till that happens.

rossomendblot
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Re: Red Lithium?

#6

Post: # 50341Unread post rossomendblot
Mon Jul 12, 2021 9:33 am

Beautiful looking tomato!

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Labradors
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Re: Red Lithium?

#7

Post: # 50342Unread post Labradors
Mon Jul 12, 2021 9:40 am

This is a great tasting tomato. Productive too! I think everyone should try it :).

Linda

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Re: Red Lithium?

#8

Post: # 50345Unread post Ginger2778
Mon Jul 12, 2021 10:53 am

Pokemato wrote: Sun Jul 11, 2021 11:03 am Hello,

I received seed labeled Red Lithium in the MMMM and it's growing beautifully and is one of the most productive plants in my garden. However, the first one I pulled was heart-shaped. I realize it might be a cross because it's neighbor is Rebel Starfighter Prime. So, this morning I went to look, to make sure I'd pulled it from the correct plant and hadn't just gotten mixed up. I confirmed it was from the plant Red Lithium and, it looks like I have lots of heart shaped fruit on that plant. Anyone growing this one? Should it be a heart or no?

image.png
image.png
Mine are stable, but yours might be from a growout that got crossed last season. Mine weren't donated to the MMMM, so someone got seeds from me, grew it, then donated their saved seeds.
- Marsha

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Re: Red Lithium?

#9

Post: # 50357Unread post steve ok
Mon Jul 12, 2021 2:43 pm

Red Lithium was one of five varieties of seeds Marsha sent me in January of this year.
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Steve
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Re: Red Lithium?

#10

Post: # 50359Unread post Ginger2778
Mon Jul 12, 2021 2:56 pm

Ah so you all are getting heart shapes? Maybe I had cross! Mine had mild heart shaping, but only in some. Or it might elongate in the heat, I grow while we are cooling down, not in the heat. This is interesting.
Steve Ok, was the seed sent in January of 2020? I didn't do a seed offer this year.
- Marsha

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Re: Red Lithium?

#11

Post: # 50367Unread post Dawn
Mon Jul 12, 2021 5:11 pm

IMG_20210712_145124521~2.jpg
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Ok, so I read this thread yesterday, and was pretty sure my plant got killed by my dog or the crazy heat wave. So today, I was looking at the tomatoes I stuck in the raised beds in the side of the house and found these tomatoes. I knew there was a Rainbow Jazz Heart in that bed, figured it was this plant. Followed the plant to the tag, Red Lithium.

I was extremely hot for a while, 3 days above 110, it cooled down, but it cooled down to the high 90s/low 100s.
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Last edited by Dawn on Mon Jul 12, 2021 5:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Dawn
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steve ok
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Re: Red Lithium?

#12

Post: # 50368Unread post steve ok
Mon Jul 12, 2021 5:15 pm

[mention]Ginger2778[/mention] PM sent.

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Re: Red Lithium?

#13

Post: # 50373Unread post Ginger2778
Mon Jul 12, 2021 5:49 pm

Yep, undeniably a heart. Maybe it's not stable.
- Marsha

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Re: Red Lithium?

#14

Post: # 50506Unread post Gardadore
Thu Jul 15, 2021 5:22 am

Mine are now bigger and have the same heart shape as those above. I gave a plant to my sister-in-law and hers are also heart shaped. Believe they were from 2020 offer from Marsha. Sent to me as a “must have”! Since I love hearts can’t complain especially if they taste as good as the blunt ones. Can heat really cause such a difference? We have been hot and humid with short periods of cooling down.

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Re: Red Lithium?

#15

Post: # 50510Unread post Ginger2778
Thu Jul 15, 2021 6:13 am

Gardadore wrote: Thu Jul 15, 2021 5:22 am Mine are now bigger and have the same heart shape as those above. I gave a plant to my sister-in-law and hers are also heart shaped. Believe they were from 2020 offer from Marsha. Sent to me as a “must have”! Since I love hearts can’t complain especially if they taste as good as the blunt ones. Can heat really cause such a difference? We have been hot and humid with short periods of cooling down.
Heat wouldn't cause this very pointed true heart shape. Looks like a cross happened a while back.
- Marsha

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Re: Red Lithium?

#16

Post: # 50517Unread post Gardadore
Thu Jul 15, 2021 9:38 am

Marsha,
Do you think you have seeds left from your original blunt ones that would continue to produce them? It would be a shame for you to lose the variety you discovered!

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Re: Red Lithium?

#17

Post: # 50524Unread post Ginger2778
Thu Jul 15, 2021 12:42 pm

Gardadore wrote: Thu Jul 15, 2021 9:38 am Marsha,
Do you think you have seeds left from your original blunt ones that would continue to produce them? It would be a shame for you to lose the variety you discovered!
I'll look!
- Marsha

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Re: Red Lithium?

#18

Post: # 50607Unread post Tormato
Fri Jul 16, 2021 3:05 pm

Dawn wrote: Mon Jul 12, 2021 5:11 pm IMG_20210712_145124521~2.jpg
IMG_20210712_145128047~2.jpgIMG_20210712_145135245~2.jpg

Ok, so I read this thread yesterday, and was pretty sure my plant got killed by my dog or the crazy heat wave. So today, I was looking at the tomatoes I stuck in the raised beds in the side of the house and found these tomatoes. I knew there was a Rainbow Jazz Heart in that bed, figured it was this plant. Followed the plant to the tag, Red Lithium.

I was extremely hot for a while, 3 days above 110, it cooled down, but it cooled down to the high 90s/low 100s.
Are you saving plenty of seeds from your extra elongated variation? ;) ;)

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Re: Red Lithium?

#19

Post: # 50615Unread post Dawn
Fri Jul 16, 2021 8:01 pm

Probably, but only if they taste good 😂
Tormato wrote: Fri Jul 16, 2021 3:05 pm
Are you saving plenty of seeds from your extra elongated variation? ;) ;)
Dawn
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Re: Red Lithium?

#20

Post: # 51292Unread post Dawn
Wed Jul 28, 2021 4:56 pm

IMG_20210728_143808716~2.jpg
We have first blush. Don't be alarmed by the size, it got hot early and violently 😂 this year, everything has been struggling. Stump of the World ripened at the same size (and was delicious).
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Dawn
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