Project "Campari"

[Duh_Vinci]

Well,

Sometime in mid March, we had dinner with some Costco purchased tomatoes (hybrid) called "Campari". These to me are the best tasting variety when it comes to the store purchased once.

So sometime during the meal, I thought why not save few seeds just for fun. And so I did. Washed them well, did not dry these seeds, just planted into the peat-pod... In the few days, all seeds sprouted.

I completely understand, that it is a hybrid, and in no-way I'll get exactly the same tomato as store bought "Campari", but still, I was rather curious. Specially, after seeing a photo on Dave's Garden that one of those plants grown with vines over 12' tall. So why not, I tried.

As soon as I saw first true leafs, I transplanted it into 6oz cup with organic soil mix, few drops of diluted organic fish oil fertilizer, and at about 3 weeks, I had this:

[img]https://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i230/duhvinci/2009_garden/store_tomato_campari_planted.jpg[/img]

Kept watering, few weeks later, once the weather gotten warm, it went outside into a mini green house on the deck. Still in the 6oz cup:

[img]https://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i230/duhvinci/2009_garden/campari_growing.jpg[/img]

Eventually transplanted to 16oz cup, and about 7 weeks old:

[img]https://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i230/duhvinci/2009_garden/campari_large.jpg[/img]

It is growing very strong so far. Few days ago I transplanted it to the ground with some garden soil and organic 4-6-4 fertilizer. Raining for the past 3 days, will take some pics of the progress tomorrow if the rain stops...

Regards,
D

[plkelly]

What fun! Be sure to keep posting pictures--I want to see what your tomatoes look like.

Think I'll try some myself!

[Duh_Vinci]

I'm surely enjoying watching this thing grow, just wish I would have done it sooner!

A week and a half since transplant (three lower sets of leafs I stripped and planted it deep). So today:

[img]https://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i230/duhvinci/2009_garden/campari_large_inground.jpg[/img]

And what do you know, it has a first cluster of buds, hoping for some flowers soon!

[img]https://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i230/duhvinci/2009_garden/campari_large_inground_buds.jpg[/img]

Looks like the rain will stop for the next few days, I know it need good shot of sunshine! The bottom leafs will have to go in the favor of growing up!

Regards,
D

[Duh_Vinci]

I think it is time for that long "overdue" update...

Being an F1 variety, it was noted that a performance of the plant and it's behavior will be rather unpredictable. So this is what the plant did:

It grew and was maturing faster than the rest of it's neighbors, all planted at the same time, all from seeds (Black Cherry and Golden Gem). Suddenly, Campari growth rate upwards just stopped. I really was not sure what it was doing. It rained for nearly 2 weeks straight, and what does this guy do? Thickned its stems to the size of a small tree, started to bloom like crazy (all you saw was yellow), and now growing upwards again for the past week or so, rather rapidly.

What did it leave on its stems during the "non-growing" period?

[img]https://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i230/duhvinci/2009_garden/campari_large_inground_fruit1.jpg[/img]

And a little closer

[img]https://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i230/duhvinci/2009_garden/campari_large_inground_fruit2.jpg[/img]

And a little closer

[img]https://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i230/duhvinci/2009_garden/campari_large_inground_fruit3.jpg[/img]

While this little dude is really short (at the moment), as you can see, it is absolutely loaded with fruit! Looks like will begin to ripen very soon...

Now just waiting to see what will it taste like

Regards,
D

[plkelly]

Amazing! And how fun. It's always a miracle to me to see what can come out of one little seed.

[Duh_Vinci]

A little update on Campari...

Growing strong, very strong! Keep flowering and producing long clusters of fruit. Taste - to me, just as the store bought version where my seeds came from.

[img]https://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i230/duhvinci/2009_garden/campari_large_inground_fruit4.jpg[/img]

Productive - so far, is indeed on par or better than the "early girls", just taste better and a bit more compact vines.

I saved the second seedling, was not planning on it originally, but didn't want it to go to waste. So I dug up the hole in the ground, mixed some compost, peat moss and some native soil and planted it few weeks ago. Growing strong too. Over 5' tall, behaves differently than the first one - no bush, single stem, straight up, but the same, long clusters and blooms despite the heat and humidity. Will take some pics over the weekend.

Regards,
D

[cottonpicker]

duh_vinci..... very interesting story and photos! I have often wondered how seeds from store-bought Campari tomatoes would turn out. Now, we know! Thanks!!!!
Ldd

[SP8]

Awesome set of pictures and a great success story, thanks for putting it all together so well for us and congratulations.