2022/2023 variety questions and maybe answers

[Tormahto]

Another link for Grandee/Velmozha:

https://ke.f-interviews.com/1710-cold-r ... iptio.html

Great link, thanks! From this article, it sounds like Grandee/Velmozha are the same, but they are not Budenovka: "Some gardeners sincerely consider the Nobleman a kind of Budenovka tomato, because outwardly they are really similar. However, the creators of the variety are convinced that there is not a drop of truth in this assumption."

Other parts of interest to me, because of my geography:

• Amateur gardeners successfully cultivate the Noble both in the central regions of Russia and in the Volga region, but in the very south of the country the variety really feels uncomfortable.

• increased moodiness to the composition of the soil: the nobleman consumes a lot of nutrients and does not feel well in heavy soil

So, probably not a good choice for the hot, humid weather and clay soils of Virginia.

I was wondering why the article kept referring to "the Nobleman" and "the Noble," and then I found a TomatoEden description of Velmozha that says the name means "Dignitary" in Russian.

Probably not a good choice for the unamended clay soils of Virginia.

[Seven Bends]

Another link for Grandee/Velmozha:

https://ke.f-interviews.com/1710-cold-r ... iptio.html

Great link, thanks! From this article, it sounds like Grandee/Velmozha are the same, but they are not Budenovka: "Some gardeners sincerely consider the Nobleman a kind of Budenovka tomato, because outwardly they are really similar. However, the creators of the variety are convinced that there is not a drop of truth in this assumption."

Other parts of interest to me, because of my geography:

• Amateur gardeners successfully cultivate the Noble both in the central regions of Russia and in the Volga region, but in the very south of the country the variety really feels uncomfortable.

• increased moodiness to the composition of the soil: the nobleman consumes a lot of nutrients and does not feel well in heavy soil

So, probably not a good choice for the hot, humid weather and clay soils of Virginia.

I was wondering why the article kept referring to "the Nobleman" and "the Noble," and then I found a TomatoEden description of Velmozha that says the name means "Dignitary" in Russian.

Probably not a good choice for the unamended clay soils of Virginia.

I have to admit, the idea of growing a tomato with moodiness issues appeals to me, a good fit for my temperament.

I'm not as worried about our soil as I am about our hot, humid summers. If "the variety really feels uncomfortable" in the south of Russia, which is three degrees of latitude further north than here, it's going to feel absolutely miserable in the summertime steam of DC. As do we all.

[Tormahto]

Many of the Russian varieties really struggle, here. They produce OK, and then they are usually the first ones to die, in my garden. Cool, arid conditions are where many originated, the opposite of my conditions. But, they'll get a spot in my garden, as most, except the super early ones, have great flavor.

[Yak54]

Many of the Russian varieties really struggle, here. They produce OK, and then they are usually the first ones to die, in my garden. Cool, arid conditions are where many originated, the opposite of my conditions. But, they'll get a spot in my garden, as most, except the super early ones, have great flavor.

I found a really good one from Farmer Shawn (Carolyn's last seed offer) called Rosovye Krupnye. Strong healthy plant produces large beefsteaks with many weighing more than 20 oz.'s. One plant produced 58 tomatoes, with 4 that weighed more than 28 oz's in 2020. I'd give it a 8.5 on the taste scale. Grown in N.E. Ohio climate.

[GoDawgs]

I'm thinking the Grandee/Nobleman won't like it here in Georgia. I did some Russian tomatoes from Carolyn's seed last year too. Just as they were getting ready to produce, Mother Nature turned up the heat factor for the rest of the summer and the plants suffered. I got some tomatoes but couldn't help thinking they'd have done much better farther north.

[Tormahto]

I also grew RK in 2020. Very good production, large fruit, and great tasting 8.5s that get lost in a sea of 8.5 pink beefsteak trials, here.

I've been so spoiled with hundreds of such pink beefsteak varieties, that it takes a 9+ to get me excited. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

[Tormahto]

I'm thinking the Grandee/Nobleman won't like it here in Georgia. I did some Russian tomatoes from Carolyn's seed last year too. Just as they were getting ready to produce, Mother Nature turned up the heat factor for the rest of the summer and the plants suffered. I got some tomatoes but couldn't help thinking they'd have done much better farther north.

Grandee will like get two pampered spots in my garden. One in full sun, the other in the earliest morning sun, with the earliest shade in the evening.

[habitat-gardener]

I'm thinking the Grandee/Nobleman won't like it here in Georgia. I did some Russian tomatoes from Carolyn's seed last year too. Just as they were getting ready to produce, Mother Nature turned up the heat factor for the rest of the summer and the plants suffered. I got some tomatoes but couldn't help thinking they'd have done much better farther north.

Grandee will like get two pampered spots in my garden. One in full sun, the other in the earliest morning sun, with the earliest shade in the evening.

another early determinate!!

[root_grow]

@habitat-gardener I’d describe Grandee as tolerant of cool conditions, but not early. Only one year as reference but they ripened more or less the same time as many other varieties. Then again most of my garden is early-mid types so factor that in… but it definitely wasn’t among the first ripes. I kind of forgot about them until suddenly I had a giant bowl full of surprisingly uniform beautiful delicious just-the-right-size tomatoes.

[Tormahto]

I'm thinking the Grandee/Nobleman won't like it here in Georgia. I did some Russian tomatoes from Carolyn's seed last year too. Just as they were getting ready to produce, Mother Nature turned up the heat factor for the rest of the summer and the plants suffered. I got some tomatoes but couldn't help thinking they'd have done much better farther north.

Grandee will like get two pampered spots in my garden. One in full sun, the other in the earliest morning sun, with the earliest shade in the evening.

another early determinate!!

Don't get your hopes up that you'll find more than one good tasting early determinate in a year.

[habitat-gardener]

I'm thinking the Grandee/Nobleman won't like it here in Georgia. I did some Russian tomatoes from Carolyn's seed last year too. Just as they were getting ready to produce, Mother Nature turned up the heat factor for the rest of the summer and the plants suffered. I got some tomatoes but couldn't help thinking they'd have done much better farther north.

Grandee will like get two pampered spots in my garden. One in full sun, the other in the earliest morning sun, with the earliest shade in the evening.

another early determinate!!

Don't get your hopes up that you'll find more than one good tasting early determinate in a year.

Only the hundreds of choices from the MMMM (and my not-unlimited garden space) have kept me from ordering several early determinate heat-tolerant "excellent tasting" varieties from Nikitovka! I've been tempted several times in the past year. And now it's too late for this year.

[Tormahto]

I'm thinking the Grandee/Nobleman won't like it here in Georgia. I did some Russian tomatoes from Carolyn's seed last year too. Just as they were getting ready to produce, Mother Nature turned up the heat factor for the rest of the summer and the plants suffered. I got some tomatoes but couldn't help thinking they'd have done much better farther north.

Grandee will like get two pampered spots in my garden. One in full sun, the other in the earliest morning sun, with the earliest shade in the evening.

another early determinate!!

Don't get your hopes up that you'll find more than one good tasting early determinate in a year.

Only the hundreds of choices from the MMMM (and my not-unlimited garden space) have kept me from ordering several early determinate heat-tolerant "excellent tasting" varieties from Nikitovka! I've been tempted several times in the past year. And now it's too late for this year.

We both know that the discernment between a catalog "excellent tasting" tomato and a garden "excellent tasting" tomato comes with time. I'll have to visit their online catalog one of these years.

[Yak54]

I also grew RK in 2020. Very good production, large fruit, and great tasting 8.5s that get lost in a sea of 8.5 pink beefsteak trials, here.

I've been so spoiled with hundreds of such pink beefsteak varieties, that it takes a 9+ to get me excited. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

I'd say it's a good thing. I'm always looking for those 9's also.

[OhioGardener]

Only the hundreds of choices from the MMMM (and my not-unlimited garden space) have kept me from ordering several early determinate heat-tolerant "excellent tasting" varieties from Nikitovka! I've been tempted several times in the past year. And now it's too late for this year.

I just placed an order with Nikitovka thinking their site may not be available if things get really bad over there and also that they may appreciate the business right now. I've grown out quite a few of their varieties in the past and found several that I really like. Some others not so much as I've found some of their non-E European varieties to not be true.

[rxkeith]

talk to me about muli flora tomatoes.
gary showed some uncharacteristic restraint sending me just four varieties.
i have rose quartz
stormin norman, reminds me of the tigers former first base man stormin norman cash. remember him?
amber keyes
mega trusses

do these plants get huge or are they suitable for container growing?
are they more likely to cross pollinate? if so i can distance them from the main croppers.

also a question on a variety that is written on a 1/2 inch by 7/8 inch square of paper. yes i measured.
on one side it says either zolt or could be 2014 with maybe ann underneath and 123 on the third line.
on the other side it says maybe rev rich keyes.
how can you write that small?


keith

[Tormahto]

talk to me about muli flora tomatoes.
gary showed some uncharacteristic restraint sending me just four varieties.
i have rose quartz
stormin norman, reminds me of the tigers former first base man stormin norman cash. remember him?
amber keyes
mega trusses

do these plants get huge or are they suitable for container growing?
are they more likely to cross pollinate? if so i can distance them from the main croppers.

also a question on a variety that is written on a 1/2 inch by 7/8 inch square of paper. yes i measured.
on one side it says either zolt or could be 2014 with maybe ann underneath and 123 on the third line.
on the other side it says maybe rev rich keyes.
how can you write that small?


keith

Rev. MIchael Keyes, 2014, ann123. You're pretty good at reading poor writing, but then you're the rx, so you've likely had some practice.

It's another multi-flora.

Also, I don't know if you received Lea von Annemarie. If you did, my restraint was in not sending the only other multi-flora in the swap, Barry's Crazy Cherry, which you likely received previously. That's about as uncharacteristic as I can get.

And, if you think that label is small, I likely never sent you one of Mr BIg's original seed packs.

[rxkeith]

talk to me about muli flora tomatoes.
gary showed some uncharacteristic restraint sending me just four varieties.
i have rose quartz
stormin norman, reminds me of the tigers former first base man stormin norman cash. remember him?
amber keyes
mega trusses

do these plants get huge or are they suitable for container growing?
are they more likely to cross pollinate? if so i can distance them from the main croppers.

also a question on a variety that is written on a 1/2 inch by 7/8 inch square of paper. yes i measured.
on one side it says either zolt or could be 2014 with maybe ann underneath and 123 on the third line.
on the other side it says maybe rev rich keyes.
how can you write that small?

i stand corrected.
i have six multi flora varieties. i have barrys crazy tomato, and there is rev. michael keyes.
looks like they are all indeterminate varieties.
i am leaning toward having them away from the other tomatoes. i think they might be bumble bee attractants
with all the blossoms.


keith

[BettyC-5]

I have grown Rev. Michael Keyes and Rebel Alliance, both nice tasting with their own flavors. I don't think I would put them in a container. I want to grow one of them this year but haven't decided on which one. I don't remember anything about the bees or pollination, I wasn't saving seed.
Rebel Alliance on top, Rev. Michael Keys on bottom

29 Reb.A. & RMK.JPG

[OhioGardener]

I'm a little late to the party here, but I finally finished researching and filling in my spreadsheet. The following are ones that I either had trouble finding or have additional questions for. Thanks!

Note: Edited to remove the ones for which answers have been posted.

Aunt Eula's Rockhouse Pink - Is this the same as AER Yellow except for color?

Carneal Tiger - Indet/Det? Plant size? Early/Mid/Late? Fruit size? Country of origin?

Elbonian Mudslinger? Indet/Det? Plant size? Early/Mid/Late? Fruit size? Color? Breeder/origin?

Kiev sent by @coolbythecoast Do you know the original seed source?

Mega Trusses - Is there another name? MF? Indet/Det? Plant size? Early/Mid/Late? Fruit size? Color? Origin?

TorreLanne Indet/Det? Plant size? Early/Mid/Late? Fruit size? Color? Origin? Is it the same as this: https://www.fondazioneslowfood.com/en/s ... na-tomato/

Uncle Steve's Italian Indet/Det? Plant size? Early/Mid/Late? Fruit size? Color? Origin?

Also, in my searches, I happened to stumble on this catalog of traditional Spanish varieties that I thought some in this group may find interesting. I'd love to find a seed source for the orange ones!
https://bitalytal.files.wordpress.com/2 ... s-2013.pdf

[habitat-gardener]

Try a search for Microbeicum Occemus. I saw it listed at several French sites.
I grew it several years ago: early indet red minibeefsteak shape