Lots of tomato seeds planted…

It has taken more than two months of intermittent planting and many late nights, but I’ve started more than 30,000 seedlings indoors. About 1/2 of these are tomatoes with about 850 varieties represented. I have more than 200 additional varieties which I’ve decided I have neither the time nor the space to plant. And more importantly: no sure market.

Here’s the full list:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0AvteJL5raChLdHVmRV9USF84S0RRb0MyNFJDS1BrSFE&output=html

This list includes all but a handful of the BIG varieties listed at:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0AvteJL5raChLdFNEVEI1UzhkS0V1c3NJRUIzeXNtUFE&output=html

I’m more than two weeks behind schedule getting seeds of many of these tomato varieties planted, but it’s the best I’ve been able to manage. With proper care, all tomato seedlings should be big enough for transplanting by May 15th.

Still to plant indoors: melons, squash, cucumbers, pumpkins and a lot more – perhaps 3,500 total.

Still to pot up from plug trays: 22,000+ tomato, peppers, eggplant, etc. seedlings.

Still to plant and transplant outdoors: almost everything

Still to post here: pics, updates, progress reports…

Perfekta update

It turns out that the Perfekta seeds were apparently from 1969, making them 44 years old!  Final germation rates were:

For nicked seeds, 1 of 6 germinated

For intact seeds, 4 of 6 germinated

Too small of a sample size to draw statistical conclusions, but good evidence that nicking very old tomato seeds is probably not essential to facilitate germination.

Here’s the latest pic, with flower buds just a few days from opening:

We’re up to 29 plug trays planted – even trying plug trays for carrots and parsnips!  Here’s a pic of the early tomatoes at 13 days after planting:

This first tomato tray of the year had 93% germination rate.  I usually like to see at least 95%.  But this tray has 113 varieties from 54 sources.  There are bound to be a couple of bad batches.

And here’s the latest pic of Carolina Reaper pepper seedlings:

 

Let the Growing Season Begin!

Last week we started planting early season crops in ernest.  Up and growing well are:

Onions, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, lettuce, cilantro, sage, oregano, mint, thyme, kale, kohlrabi, cress, strawberry, asparagus, goji berry, pak choi, Romanesco broccoli, arugula, rhubarb, artichoke, celery, mustard greens, rosemary, lavender, chamomille, chervil, majoram, tarragon, fennel, leeks and others.

Also, one 288-cell plug tray of tomatoes of 113 varieties.  This includes 76 early varieties (<69 days to maturity), 10 additional dwarf varieties, and 27 of my favorites for flavor.  I hope to set out most of these in a high tunnel in mid to late March.  In theory, for the early maturing varieties at least, I should start getting some ripe tomatoes by late May!

I really like these plug trays – I can fit nearly 10,000 seedlings under my flourescent lights simultaneously!  No need for heating mats, excellent germination, decent early growth, and easy to pot up with minimal root disturbance.

The major issue I’ve had with plug trays is that when filled with moist seed starting mix, they sag badly when placed on standard 10-20 trays.  So watering is a real pain.  I’ve considered several options and have settled on this one -

From a surplus discount store, I obtained some used plastic covers from flourescent light fixtures.  Using a table saw, I cut these down to size (2-1/2″ wide, and 9-1/2 and 19-1/2″ long), cut half-slits in the middle, put two pieces together, then used this as a support brace.  So far it’s looking pretty good, and at 15¢ a per tray, that’s a huge savings over $2+ per tray I was considering with other options.  It adds up when we’re looking at 100+ trays!

Here’s the kind of weather we’ve been facing – one of the coldest and snowiest in many years:

 

 

Germinating 28-year-old Tomato Seeds

Perhaps some day I’ll learn to say “pass” on challenges?

In a recent seed exchange at The Tomato Depot, I snagged a dozen Perfekta seeds which were part of the amazing Spud Collection (Bill Malin).  These seeds were produced in 1985; I’ve never tried germinating anything that old!

So I’ve basically followed the directions posted at the forum.  Some people recommend scarifying old and/or hard seeds, so I nicked 6 of these seeds, opposite the hilum, with a razor blade. Then I soaked seeds for 26 hrs. in a solution of rainwater, Black Tea, about 1/8 teaspoon liquid fish emulsion, and a pinch of dehydrated sea kelp meal (Sea Magic).  This was kept at 78-80° F.

I just finished planting these (hopefully) rehydrated seeds in a medium of Sunshine Redi-Earth Professional Growing Mix in freshly cleaned and sterilized pots, again using rainwater.  I’ll keep these covered and at around 75-78° until germination.  I don’t expect to see any signs of life until at least January 12th.  But who knows?

BIG Tomatoes Raised in 2012

In 2012 we raised 109 tomato plants from seeds of DOCUMENTED weights of varieties which have been demonstrated (or claimed in a few cases) to grow to 2 lbs. or more.  Following is a table of those 109 lineages.  I am in the process of organizing pics and compiling results of this endeavor and will update this table once that effort is completed.

Following this list of 109 is an overview of the largest specimen of 59 varieties produced by Delectation of Tomatoes through 2012.

Tomato   Plants Raised in 2012

by   Delectation of Tomatoes, etc.

from   Documented Large to GIANT Specimens

Variety   (Weight in lbs., Grower, Year)

Amana Orange (1.638 DT 2010)

Bear Claw   (1.226 DT 2011)

Behemoth King   (1.538 DT 2011)

Belmonte   (1.824 DT 2010)

Big Rainbow   (1.888 LBH 2011)

Big Zac   (1.552 DT 2011)

Big Zac   (1.716 DT 2009)

Big Zac   (1.736 DT 2011)

Big Zac   (1.988 DT 2011)

Big Zac   (2.008 DT 2011)

Big Zac   (2.258 DT 2011)

Big Zac   (2.266 DT 2011)

Big Zac   (2.464 DT 2011)

Big Zac   (2.510 DT 2011)

Big Zac   (2.660 DT 2011)

Big Zac (2.75   DT 2009)

Big Zac   (2.762 DT 2010)

Big Zac   (3.000 Diaz 2010)

Big Zac (3.24   Perry 2011)

Big Zac   (3.308 Diaz 2010)

Big Zac (3.59   Perry 2009)

Big Zac (3.72   Watson 2011)

Big Zac (3.77   Timm 2010)

Big Zac (3.9   Catapano 2007)

Big Zac (3.91   Timm 2011)

Big Zac (3.94 Pennington 2010)

Big Zac (4.04   Johnston/Butler 2010)

Big Zac (4.20   Diaz 2011)

Big Zac (4.28   Timm 2010)

Big Zac (4.59   Lyons 2006)

Big Zac (4.70   Hartung 2011)

Big Zac (4.77   Timm 2010)

Big Zac (4.91   Lyons 2011)

Big Zac (5.32   Lyons 2011)

Big Zac (5.35   Lyons 2010)

Big Zac (5.64   Timm 2010)

Black   Mountain Pink (1.560 DT 2011)

Brandywine,   Pink (1.062 DT 2011)

Brandywine,   Pink (1.57 Brandyberry 2011)

Brandywine,   Sudduth’s (1.322 DT 2011)

Brutus Magnum   (6.25 Meisner 2011)

Burpee   Supersteak (1.682 DT 2010)

Church (1.662   DT 2010)

Church (2.495   DT 2011)

Church (2.515   DT 2011)

Church (3.36 Perry 2008)

Cleota Pink   (2.108 DT 2011)

Cuostralée   (1.296 DT 2011)

Da Costa’s   Portuguese (1.388 DT 2011)

Delicious   (1.328 DT 2011)

Delicious   (1.8 Wild 2011)

Delicious   (3.85 Landry 2011)

Delicious   (3rd gen. Gordan Graham)

Delicious   (4.25 Lyons 2010)

Delicious   (4.42 Landry 2011)

Delicious (4.46 Marley 2011)

Delicious   (4th gen. Gordan Graham)

Delicious   (5.41 Landry 2011)

Delicious   (6.51 Meisner 2011)

Delicious   (7.33 Hunt 2010)

Dutchman   (1.148 DT 2011)

Florida Pink   (1.328 DT 2011)

Fred Limbaugh   Potato Top (1.638 DT 2011)

German (1.414   DT 2011)

German Red   Strawberry (1.300 DT 2011)

Giant of   Siebenburgen (1.492 DT 2011)

Gildo Pietroboni (3 Kott 2011)

Green Giant   (1.292 DT 2011)

Hillbilly   (1.320 DT 2011)

Homer’s   German Oxheart (1.738 DT 2011)

Hoy (3 Kott 2011)

Hungarian   Heart (1.544 Jacobs Cove 2010)

Italian   Heart? (4.19 Perry 2011)

Kellogg’s   Breakfast (1.350 DT 2011)

Kentucky   Beefsteak (1.440 DT 2011)

Large Barred   Boar (0.972 DT 2011)

Leadbeatter’s   Lunker (4.017 Leadbeatter 2012)

Leadbeatter’s   Lunker (4.364 Leadbeatter 2012)

Leadbeatter’s   Lunker (4.905 Leadbeatter 2012)

Magnum (1.482   DT 2011)

MegaMarv (5.51 Meisner 2011)

Michael’s   Portuguese Monster (1.932 DT 2011)

Mong (1.680   DT 2011)

Mr.   Underwoods Pink German Giant (1.788 DT 2011)

Nature’s   Riddle (1.382 DT 2011)

Neves Azorean   Red (1.798 DT 2010)

Omar’s   Lebanese (1.724 DT 2010)

Persimmon   (1.290 DT 2011)

Phil’s   Fantastic (1.410 DT 2011)

Pineapple   (1.596 DT 2010)

Porterhouse,   F2 (2.062 DT 2011)

Pruden’s   Purple (1.522 DT 2011)

Pusztakolosz   (1.446 DT 2011)

Rebecca   Sebastian’s Bull Bag (1.828 MGS 2010)

Rebecca   Sebastian’s Bull Bag (2.200 DT 2010)

Richardson   (1.433 DT 2010)

Rosalie’s Big   Rosy (1.000 DT 2011)

Russian   (2.010 DT 2011)

Russian   (2.319 MGS 2010)

Russian 117   (1.284 DT 2011)

Slankard’s   (1.530 DT 2011)

Sylvan Gaume   (1.416 DT 2011)

Tiffen   Mennonite (1.234 DT 2011)

Todd County   Amish (1.936 DT 2011)

Virginia   Sweets (2.218 DT 2011)

Vorlon (0.980   DT 2011)

West Virginia   Sweetmeat (1.352 DT 2011)

White Wonder   (1.268 DT 2011)

Zore’s Big   Red (1.278 DT 2011)

BIG Tomato Varieties Grown by Delectation of Tomatoes through   2012
Variety	Weight (lb.)	Harvest Date	Notes
Behemoth King	1.538	10/4/2011	Seeds from this & descendents
Belmonte	1.962	8/22/2010	Seeds from   descendents, grown to 3 lbs.
Bezrazmernyi	1.698	9/12/2012
Big Bill	1.504	9/5/2012
Big Rainbow	1.888	10/8/2012	Seeds from this &   descendents
Big Zac	3.486	12/6/2012	From 3.94 < 7.18   lbs.
Black Mountain   Pink	1.560	8/30/2011	Seeds from this &   descendents
Brandywine,   Pink	1.570	8/25/2011
Brandywine,   Sudduth’s	1.438	9/28/2012
Brutus Magnum	2.006	9/3/2012
Chilo della   Garfagnana	1.546	8/13/2012	Sibling grown by   others to 3.563 lb.
Church	3.208	9/13/2012
Cleota Pink	2.108	9/29/2011	Seeds from this &   descendents
De Weese   Streaked	1.560	9/4/2012
Delicious	1.968	10/24/2012	Parents were 6.51   < 7.33 lbs.
Donskoi	1.866	9/12/2012
Frank’s Large   Red	1.432	8/18/2012
Fred Limbaugh   Potato Top	1.638	9/27/2011
German	1.904	7/25/2010	Seeds from this &   descendents
Giant of   Siebenburgen	1.492	10/10/2011
Gildo   Pietroboni	1.962	10/27/2011
Gold Medal	1.310	10/18/2012	Parent was 3.70 lbs.
Hazel Mae	1.548	8/25/2012
Hendershott	1.500	8/25/2012
Homer’s German   Oxheart	1.738	9/1/2011
Hoy	2.048	9/9/2012
Hungarian   Heart	1.402	9/15/2012	Parent was 1.544 lb.
Italian Heart	1.752	10/3/2012	Parent was 4.19 lb.
Joe’s Pink   Oxheart	1.678	9/11/2012
Kentucky   Beefsteak	1.440	9/13/2011
Lara’s Giant	1.195	10/4/2012	Sibling grown by   others to 1.7 lb.
Leadbeatter’s   Lunker	1.758	9/15/2012	Parent was 4.017 lbs.
Magnum	1.564	8/23/2012
Mazarini	2.246	10/14/2012
MegaMarv	2.678	9/9/2012	Parent was 5.51 lbs.
Mémé Beauce	1.546	8/17/2012
Michael’s   Portuguese Monster	1.932	8/30/2011	Seeds from this &   descendents
Mong	1.680	8/10/2011
Mr.   Underwood’s Pink German Giant	1.788	9/1/2011
Neves Azorean   Red	1.798	8/4/2010	Seeds from this &   descendents
Omar’s   Lebanese	1.724	11/7/2010
Oxheart   “Giantissimo”	2.294	8/31/2012
Porterhouse   (F2)	2.062	9/1/2011
Portuguese   Monster	2.610	10/11/2012
Pruden’s   Purple	1.552	8/28/2011
Pusztakolosz	1.446	10/4/2011
Rebecca   Sebastian’s Bull Bag	2.200	8/10/2010	Seeds from this &   descendents
Richardson	1.433	11/8/2010	Seeds from this &   descendents
Russian	2.319	10/16/2010	Seeds from this &   descendents
Shuntukski   Velikan	1.978	8/4/2012
Siberian Giant	1.438	8/18/2012
Slankard’s	1.530	10/4/2011
Sumo	1.782	10/11/2012
Super   Beefsteak	1.546	9/13/2012	Off-type bicolor,   very tasty
Sylvan Gaume	1.416	9/6/2011
Todd County   Amish	1.936	10/14/2011
Tuxhorn’s Red   And Yellow	1.430	8/25/2012
Virginia   Sweets	2.218	9/29/2011
West Virginia   Sweetmeat	1.806	9/7/2012

Trinidad Moruga Scorpion and Carolina Reaper Pepper

The very day I learned that a batch of Trinidad Moruga Scorpion hot pepper pods had broken through 2,000,000 on the Scoville Heat Unit scale, I ordered 10 seeds. These I planted indoors on February 02, 2012. Only 6 seeds sprouted. I babied them for weeks until I had room (and time) to transplant them into the backyard high tunnel on June 29th – along with several other superhot varieties (Bhut Jolokia, 7 Pot Barrackapore, Naga Viper, Trinidad Scorpion, Trinidad Scorpion Butch T, Naga Morich).

The Trinidad Moruga Scorpion plants have been healthy but did not even start to get buds until October. I have yet to see an open blossom on any of the 6 plants, let alone a pod.

Well, some serious winter weather is settling in and I cannot afford to keep heating the high tunnel (this is NOT a greenhouse…). The aphids are horrible and have not responded to organic pest control methods. There are quite a few living ladybugs, but they are very lethargic most of the time. The aphids, on the other hand, keep sucking the life out of the tomato and lettuce plants, and reproducing like bacteria, regardless of whether the temperature is 34° or 107°.

So I’ve decided to try to save my most valuable pepper plants through the winter. Yesterday I constructed a small “low tunnel” within the high tunnel and mounted a metal halide light. The pepper plants should stay cozy for the next 3 months. Aphids will be the major challenge (along with paying the electric bill…)

Also, a couple of weeks ago I read about the Carolina Reaper Pepper (previously known as HP22B for Higher Power, pot 22, plant B) and, predictably, immediately purchased some seeds directly from the developer. After 3 days in the fridge, I planted 11 seeds on December 05, 2012. These peppers have been tested several times over the past few years and AVERAGE 1,474,000 SHU’s!!! (my throat burns and my nose runs just thinking about eating one of these pods…)

 

 

 

Big Zac (3.486 DT 2012)(3.94 Pennington 2010)

Start over, do over, more than a little embarrasing.  In addition to eating crow and swallowing pride, I also have to choke on a big electric bill for the light – a light which grew some fungus and thousands of aphids, but not a tomato.

OK time for some excuse making:
Just a simple tpyo – I meant  3.48, not  4.38! (blasted dyslexia…)
Wrong ballpark (where DID I drop that GPS unit…)
Just a demonstration of what not to do
I can’t be accused of being a pessimist anymore
Rotting won the race over ripening
Rotten tomato award?

First light frost on day 42; first hard frost day 62; first serious mold on day 78 – that’s when it should have been picked! Mold management is crucial when air circulation is poor; this one was covered for as long as 3 continuous days in November.

Density (specific gravity) estimate is 0.91 (compared to water) , which is a bit less than the average 0.95 for tomatoes that are half ripe.

This one would be classified as “horseshoe” shaped.

This fruit gives some vague idea of what a 9 lb. tomato might look like; a perfectly spherical (NO lobes or cracks…) and ripe tomato with a diameter equal to the maximum of this one (20.1 cm) would likely weigh about that much.

Obviously the formula needs some serious reworking to take deep lobing into account.  I’ve worked up some Geometry Adustment Factors already, so next year I’ll start integrating those into predictions.

Lessons learned, trial and error, back to the drawing board, better luck next time…