PlainJane wrote: ↑Sat Sep 09, 2023 5:59 amWhat a nice haul!

Thanks, couple more of those in the On Deck Circle: The Futures Market is also open: 'Nother Monster Guido Heirloom, from a plant that's produced all manner of same; (@Uncle_Feist, please note lack of soil-n-root ball...). Will be sending beau coup seeds to MMMM! For anyone who hasn't yet been MOONED by a Zapotec Oaxacan, here's yer chance: The Gotch

From left: Two (2) trays of Mountain Merit, Monster Guido Heirloom on right (well over 50+lbs/23 kgs from one vine!) Yaqui Hybrid in blue bowl. The Gotch

That is one impressive haul.

PlainJane wrote: ↑Wed Sep 13, 2023 6:26 pmThat is one impressive haul.

Those Monster Guidos have been off'n the charts; the MMMM will be the beneficiary of many seeds!

The Gotch

Coupla The Gotch's Tomatoes got a Travelin' Jones and are on their way up to Moose Point, AK, stashed in a pal's carryon luggage.

The Gotch

I heard something about a tomato tasting there in Madison. Did you attend?

MissS wrote: ↑Sun Sep 24, 2023 8:17 amI heard something about a tomato tasting there in Madison. Did you attend?

Matter-a-fact...I HOSTED it. Had in-laws, niece and boyfriend over yesterday. FEATURED: Amish Paste, Greenbush Italian, Guido, Italian Gold, KY Beefsteak, Lemon Boy, Mountain Magic, Old German, Opalka, Pink Magic, and Sheboygan.

Why so few...NOT any Uncle Steve's Italian, Cornue de Andes, Santa Maria, Mushroom Basket, Radiator Charlie Mortgage Lifter, Mountain Merit, Pink Gift, Pink Giant, etc.? Not enough room!

Seven voters, two (2) points for Best, one (1) for 2nd.

The winner...Pink Magic with seven (7) points. Greenbush Italian, Lemon Boy, and Mountain Magic all tied for 2nd with four (4) points apiece. The Gotch

Wow, what fun! It’s such a blast to host tomato tastings and see people’s reactions.

That looks like quite the event! Hmm, Pink Magic won over your favorite Mountain Magic. I bet that it broke your heart.

Those plum/pastes sure have some hard competition going up against a beefsteak in a taste test. Sometime you ought to try an ox-heart. They have great flavor, are nice and meaty with few seeds so they are great for sauce and canning or fresh eating. I rarely grow plum/paste types anymore due to all of the BER that they get. Oxhearts are just as good if not better for sauce/canning without the problems.

@MissS "Hmm, Pink Magic won over your favorite Mountain Magic. I bet that it broke your heart."

Yup! But the Jardín del Gotch Taste Test Winner had already been determined for 2023.

Would you's consider Amish Paste an Oxheart? The biggest surprise was that no one voted for the Sheboygan, or the Opalka, which Seeds-n-Such claims is so tasty that chefs don't use spices when cooking with it.

The Gotch

@Cornelius_Gotchberg the key here is "when cooking with it". Cooked tomatoes have a much different flavor profile than fresh eating. I grew Brokenbar's Costoluto Genovese last year. It was the blandest tomato that I ever did eat. However, it makes a great sauce! Go figure.
Amish Paste is a plum tomato. Tasty for cooking and for sauce, not a heart at all. LOL

Cornelius_Gotchberg wrote: ↑Sun Sep 24, 2023 8:39 am The winner...Pink Magic with seven (7) points.
The Gotch

I think in another post you said someone brought you the Pink Magic seeds from Bulgaria. Is this a hybrid or OP? I tried googling, but different sites say different things, and maybe there are multiple tomatoes under that name.

I grew Bolgarskoe Chudo (Bulgarian Miracle) and Bulgarian Old Sort this year. Both did great, and Bolgarskoe Chudo was probably my favorite tomato this year, so now I'm eager to try other Bulgarian varieties.

Seven Bends wrote: ↑Sun Sep 24, 2023 3:36 pmI think in another post you said someone brought you the Pink Magic seeds from Bulgaria. Is this a hybrid or OP?

You's read right; OP to my knowledge and I'm saving seed.

The Gotch

i grew opalka maybe one year, and thought it was kinda bland compared to my UNCLE STEVE ITALIAN.
same thing with polish linguisa.


keith

rxkeith wrote: ↑Sun Sep 24, 2023 4:28 pm i grew opalka maybe one year, and thought it was kinda bland compared to my UNCLE STEVE ITALIAN.
same thing with polish linguisa.


keith

H/T! Yer recommendation is the ONLY reason I gave Uncle Steve's Italian another shot; let's just say I'm saving seed...

The Gotch

What caused the demise of this brutally ravaged newcomer Pink Gift? As I was taking down this big-Oxheartesque-fruited, outstandingly productive vine, a ripe one fell from on high and SPLATTED.

Its...um...expiration was worsened by yours truly culling seed with ham fists and a spoon....

The Gotch

Cornelius_Gotchberg wrote: ↑Sun Oct 01, 2023 9:23 am What caused the demise of this brutally ravaged newcomer Pink Gift?
thumbnail_IMG_2334.jpg

As I was taking down this big-Oxheartesque-fruited, outstandingly productive vine, a ripe one fell from on high and SPLATTED.

Its...um...expiration was worsened by yours truly culling seed with ham fists and a spoon....

The Gotch

It think that most likely it's between the 3" of rain we just had and being a bit over-ripe. Too much water on a ripe fruit is not a good mix. I lost a few myself.

Im literally already excited to start next year already! I found mini cauliflower seeds..
thank for the pictures and updates I’m definitely gonna grow the cucumbers in the ground

MissS wrote: ↑Sun Oct 01, 2023 11:29 am It think that most likely it's between the 3" of rain we just had and being a bit over-ripe. Too much water on a ripe fruit is not a good mix. I lost a few myself.

The SPLAT sound of their landing is only outdone by the immediate terror of seeing it begin it's terminal descent, am I right?

Pink Gift was an extremely pleasant surprise as an unexpectedly productive 1st year effort. The seeds were brought back from Europe by a friend; I've saved some and you'll be getting some.

The Gotch

Cornelius_Gotchberg wrote: ↑Sun Oct 01, 2023 1:08 pm

MissS wrote: ↑Sun Oct 01, 2023 11:29 am It think that most likely it's between the 3" of rain we just had and being a bit over-ripe. Too much water on a ripe fruit is not a good mix. I lost a few myself.

The SPLAT sound of their landing is only outdone by the immediate terror of seeing it begin it's terminal descent, am I right?

Pink Gift was an extremely pleasant surprise as an unexpectedly productive 1st year effort. The seeds were brought back from Europe by a friend; I've saved some and you'll be getting some.

The Gotch

Thank you so very much. I am honored!