Megablooms!!!

[JohnJones]

You got the "true" expert opinion. Looks good to me.

[AZGardener]

Thanks guys! I do have a couple more on different plants. Now that I know what I'm looking for, it makes it a bit more exciting!

I always thought Big Zac was a hybrid variety, but some folks are sharing seed from some large Big Zac tomatoes. What gives? Is Big Zac a hybrid variety or has it been stabilized?

Thanks

Ted

[PA_Julia]

Ted,

It's been stabilized for a very long time. It was developed in the mid nineties by Minnie Zaccaria.
I am assisting Dr.Marv Meisner in testing a brand new strain that she has created called Zaczilla.
I'm excited as to what weights this cross can possibly achieve.

The seeds from my 4.46 LB Big Zac from 2013 has gone on to produce some 5.00 plus pound examples last season by a grower I shared seeds with.

[AKmark]

Are there environmental conditions that cause the formation of fused blossoms?

I finally got a double on my Big Zac's, and possibly have a larger fused bloom, it's still unopened though.
Terhune is kicking out several 3-4 fused blossoms, Delicious has a triple, and I got a megabloom off of a Dixiewine, which looks to be 5-6 blossoms fused together.
We will know more soon.

[PA_Julia]

Originally Posted by AKmark

Are there environmental conditions that cause the formation of fused blossoms?

I finally got a double on my Big Zac's, and possibly have a larger fused bloom, it's still unopened though.
Terhune is kicking out several 3-4 fused blossoms, Delicious has a triple, and I got a megabloom off of a Dixiewine, which looks to be 5-6 blossoms fused together.
We will know more soon.

Excellent!!! I'm very curious and excited about Dixiewine. Please keep me posted on everything Mark. Concerning environmental conditions causing mega blooms to form. It's environmental conditions that play a very important part in creating the optimal conditions necessary for a tomato plant to thrive. As it concerns being directly responsible for the creation of megablooms, no it wouldn't.

[charley]

is this just 2 or more blooms cherokee purple.and how do you tell how many blooms is in it

[PA_Julia]

Originally Posted by charley

is this just 2 or more blooms cherokee purple.and how do you tell how many blooms is in it

When one grows for size you become adapt at reading a fused bloom.

Since this bloom is not fully opened you cannot tell for sure but it appears to me to be four fused blooms.

Once the fused bloom is opened you can usually see the number of pistils present. Count those for a fairly accurate determination of size.

[Jeanus]

Thank you for this thread I have truly enjoyed it and am reading it again and again. Mega blooms and big tomatoes are interesting. I would caution some people that there is too much of a good thing you can overdo the fertilizer and fungicides then the plant will not be able to absorb nutrients. I love the pictures and your directions for making humongous tomatoes. I do not have the room to grow a big tomato, so will live vicariously through this thread.

[Anthony_Toronto]

Megablooms are a mega waste of mega time, if one assumes a finite amount of energy produced by a plant. A gigantic misshapen woody tomato that doesn't ripen properly is only of value to someone who wants gigantic misshapen woody tomatoes that don't ripen properly, which I assume is only those who are trying to break records. I pull them off unless a moment of weakness and curiosity convinces me that maybe one will make a half-decent tomato.

I actually enjoy reading about the adventures and misadventures of people like Julia who choose to garden and grow tomatoes for different purposes than I choose to garden and grow tomatoes. Keep up the good work Julia and others who are growing for size only. If I had some mega blooms to send you, I would.

Ted

[PA_Julia]

Ted, thank you for such nice words my friend.

My tomato lineup not only includes giants but also heirlooms of various types.

This season I have 28 plants for giants and 20 plants that are heirlooms and other OP varieties.

Concerning uneven ripening of tomatoes that grew from mega blooms; I have never had that issue simply because when the tomato flashes the slightest color, I pick it then place it in a refrigerator I use specifically for holding giants.

The refrigeration of such at approx 55 F retards the ripening process. The giants I grow are not eaten but used for seed.

Originally Posted by tedln

I actually enjoy reading about the adventures and misadventures of people like Julia who choose to garden and grow tomatoes for different purposes than I choose to garden and grow tomatoes. Keep up the good work Julia and others who are growing for size only. If I had some mega blooms to send you, I would.

Ted

[AJSears]

I am hope my mega-blooms ripen slowly so I can enter the "big ugly tomato" contest at our county fair! LOL

[AKmark]

Here is one of my ugly children, it is 5 tomatoes fused together. I have cut off the top and all suckers, the tomato is growing very good so far.
Thanks for the info Julia

[JohnJones]

Originally Posted by AKmark

Here is one of my ugly children, it is 5 tomatoes fused together. I have cut off the top and all suckers, the tomato is growing very good so far.
Thanks for the info Julia

Thanks AK.

Just a suggestion. If you will put your hand next to or behind the tomato and let your camera focus on that, you will likely get a much clearer photo of the tomato.

I would love to see a bit clearer photo. It looks gnarly.