RE: Heirloom Maters

[vebyrd36]

Here is a few of my favorite heirloom maters. I have been growing many of these since I was 3 years old. Some grows here better then others. I also grow other heirloom vegs as well. VIVI
b]Black Krim
Brandywine,
Cherokee Purple
Green Zebra
White Wonder
Nebraska Wedding (orange)
Amish Paste
Aunt Ruby's German Green
Creole
Homestead
Manyel
Stupice
Super Sioux
Tropic [/b]

[lakngulf]

My son and daughter-in-law gave me some Brandywine seed that was supposed to be the same kind that Thomas Jefferson grew way back when. They were GREAT.

I still have some packets of seed, but this past year was the first time I saved some seed from a couple of the best looking tomatoes. I have some growing in the greenhouse now. We will see.

[dustyrivergardens]

some of mine are heirloom almost all are open pollinated you have some taste ones on your list. There are 12 to 20 thousand different tomato varieties I have been saving seeds for a short time and have accumulated about 75 varieties and with that I have a hard time planting half that amount.lol I need more garden... I plan to plant 40 varieties this year with only maybe 2 hybrids.

[vebyrd36]

I sometimes plant hybrid maters, but they are far away from my looms.

[dustyrivergardens]

now you have my curiosity up why would it matter about your hybrids being near your heirlooms?

[vebyrd36]

We have always separated ours. Only because of the chance of cross-pollination. Which does not happen often but it can happen. Since we save seed I don't want to take the chance. Gotta consider the insect factor.

[dustyrivergardens]

tomatoes are generally pollinated by the wind. most all heirlooms started out at one time as hybrids which is 2 different kinds of tomato usually open pollinated heirlooms...that crossed.

[vebyrd36]

Yep anything with in 30-100 feet of each other or so.

[dustyrivergardens]

You must have a huge farm. I have access to about 2 and a half acres to grow on but I don't use much of it I do plant my tomatoes a lot closer but I cover mine and tag my blooms on my heirloom tomatoes to prevent wind or insect pollination. I do like to cross tomatoes and try to breed new types of tomatoes. I would like to be able to have that kind of space and water near by very cool.

[vebyrd36]

Dad's mater patch is about 10 acres on average. Mine is 5 acres, but I'm always experimenting with things. I like to graft and layer and develop things. I remember when I was 10 I had a tomato/potato plant as one plant.

But, I do like thinks that have not been tampered with to much. I think sometimes we have to many hybrids we sometime get lost in what gardening really is, which is to connect with mother nature as well to our roots.

[dustyrivergardens]

you might be right but some of these new tomato are just to beautiful not to give them a try have you tried any tomatoes by Brad Gates over at wild boar farms they are so great looking and dang there really good tasting

[vebyrd36]

No but my brother Bobby who lives in Cotton Valley LA orders most of his from Wild Boar. He has a huge garden that he sales out of and allows the community to come in pick.

I'll have some hybrids, like whopper and early girl.

[dustyrivergardens]

I only grow two hybrids Sun Gold and Juliet I have been growing these two for years the family would not like me to much if I did not grow there favorites. I grow about 10 varieties from wild boar fams they are very poplar at the market for me. Nice meeting you enjoyed the chat...

[vebyrd36]

Goodnight