Is there a "Who's Who" of Tomato Gardening out there?

huntoften · March 10, 2010

I know that Tatiana has a lot of great tomato growers on her site with brief bio's of some of them. I was wondering if there was more out there about the "Heavy Hitters" of tomato gardening, heirloom collecting, new variety design and cross breeding, etc. Maye something like a "Hall of Fame" with the SSE folks, Dr. Male's, LeHoulier's, Kraft, Mueller, Goldman and others that have contributed greatly to making growing tomatoes as popular as it is today. I know they have this for Giant Pumpkin growers, but haven't found it for 'mater folks.

Worth1 · March 10, 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by huntoften

I know that Tatiana has a lot of great tomato growers on her site with brief bio's of some of them. I was wondering if there was more out there about the "Heavy Hitters" of tomato gardening, heirloom collecting, new variety design and cross breeding, etc. Maye something like a "Hall of Fame" with the SSE folks, Dr. Male's, LeHoulier's, Kraft, Mueller, Goldman and others that have contributed greatly to making growing tomatoes as popular as it is today. I know they have this for Giant Pumpkin growers, but haven't found it for 'mater folks.

You need to think better of your self, we are all heavy hitters.

Do you realize that we are probably only a fraction of a percent of the total population that does this sort of thing.

THINK ABOUT IT,

Worth

**carolyn137** · March 10, 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by huntoften

I know that Tatiana has a lot of great tomato growers on her site with brief bio's of some of them. I was wondering if there was more out there about the "Heavy Hitters" of tomato gardening, heirloom collecting, new variety design and cross breeding, etc. Maye something like a "Hall of Fame" with the SSE folks, Dr. Male's, LeHoulier's, Kraft, Mueller, Goldman and others that have contributed greatly to making growing tomatoes as popular as it is today. I know they have this for Giant Pumpkin growers, but haven't found it for 'mater folks.

IN addition to Worth's comment, it isn't bios of great tomato growers that Tania has at her site, rather, for each tomato variety she describes she indicates where she got her seeds from, and many of them are not heavy hitters (???) and she also indicates the SSE code names of folks who grew the variety and what they had to say about it in their SSE listing for it in the SSE Yearbooks and I wouldn't consider all of them as what you call heavy hitters.

Sure, I could list for you who I think are heavy hitters, but I honestly don't know how I would do it b'c I don't know what a tomato heavy hitter actually is.

I could look in the SSE YEarbook and tell you those who list the most tomato varieties, but I don't think that's a fair way to do it, I could share with you those that do some darn good breeding of tomatoes, but that wouldn't do it either.

So I'll just go along with what Worth said and agree that there are one heck of a lot of tomato obsessed persons out there and not all of them even have computers so you'd know about them, and some have large tomato collections, and so there's no real way, in my mind, to designate who is a heavy hitter is as opposed to those who throw curve balls to heavy hitters.

**nctomatoman** · March 10, 2010

All I will admit to is that I used to hit pretty well (in softball playing for my work league) - and I am getting heavier than I would like to be!

huntoften · March 10, 2010

Ok..ok...ok!!!

You guys crack me up! None of you want to take credit for the great things you do...maybe I'll have to go on an interviewing campaign one of these days and write that book!

Maybe I could design some trading cards for tomato growers and genetic fanatics. Perhaps a pictorial calendar with "Farmer of the Month"

I guess I'm just doing anything I can to take my mind off the devastation damping off took on my seedlings this past week...I know I lost close to 500

**nctomatoman** · March 10, 2010

Question on the damping off - any thoughts of how/why it happened??

huntoften · March 10, 2010

I think I kept them too cool and moist. My grow table is by my front door and catches drafts. The ones on the edges of the trays were affected most. I lost probably 8-10 varieties...I'm afraid to count the total devastation.

ContainerTed · March 10, 2010

To me, the only "true" heavy hitter is the knowledge and experience of the folks who are here on this website. You can't buy this kind of help with our wonderful hobby/passion.

I agree with Worth. Anybody can be a heavy hitter for their location and their garden and their particular vegetable or fruit. Collectively, we all become heavy hitters for gardening because of the huge collective knowledge and experience base we have access to.

Ted

Worth1 · March 10, 2010

You have simply GAWT to let that surface dry out and use a 1 part hydrogen peroxide to 10 parts water spray on the soil and wee little plants to prevent damping off. REALLY, IT WORKS.

No way should you have had that many even in the cold my plants do well in 50 to 60 degree room temps with no damping off at all.

Neglect is the answer, neglect, let them dry out but not die.

Worth

RonnyWil · March 10, 2010

I've found a really great site that has about 4,300 tomato experts all unique in their own way. Each with a love and dedication to the tomato unequaled anywhere.

Here is the link:

http://www.tomatoville.com/

Worth1 · March 10, 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonnyWil

I've found a really great site that has about 4,300 tomato experts all unique in their own way. Each with a love and dedication to the tomato unequaled anywhere.

Here is the link:

http://www.tomatoville.com/

Looks to me like just one of many copies of Tomatoville.

They even have a guy like me there.

Worth

TomatoDon · March 10, 2010

Hey Ronny,

Has Stringers and Dan West got any tomatoes in yet? One of my pilgrimages is to both of those on Poplar, and then to the Dan West out east, in your neck of the woods I believe.

What are you growing this year?

I'm down near Oxford, give me a shout.

Don

goodwin · March 10, 2010

Worth - I'm sorry, but you can't blame any of the hilarity and absurdity you sow on some double out there.
More seriously, though, I think it's a shame some companies borrow, rename, and 'patent' known varieties as their own.

PaulF · March 10, 2010

When you get around to the list of Who's That?? I will still be trying to figure out how to grow tomatoes.

RonnyWil · March 10, 2010

Don,

I haven't been by either one lately but I thought I saw some plants today at Easy Way Produce in Bartlett. They most likely are Bonnie Plants. I like the Chef Jeff stuff because they have more heirlooms. I have seen them at Stringers in the past but I'm not sure about Dan West. I have seen them at Union County Co-op in New Albany. I haven't bought any there in two years because I've been growing my own.

This year I have 36 varieties started, 12 each, and most are up about an inch and a half. Hopefully they'll be ready by the middle of April.

March 10, 2010	#1
huntoften Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Kansas CIty Posts: 560	Is there a "Who's Who" of Tomato Gardening out there? I know that Tatiana has a lot of great tomato growers on her site with brief bio's of some of them. I was wondering if there was more out there about the "Heavy Hitters" of tomato gardening, heirloom collecting, new variety design and cross breeding, etc. Maye something like a "Hall of Fame" with the SSE folks, Dr. Male's, LeHoulier's, Kraft, Mueller, Goldman and others that have contributed greatly to making growing tomatoes as popular as it is today. I know they have this for Giant Pumpkin growers, but haven't found it for 'mater folks. __________________ Kansas City, Missouri Zone 5b/6a

March 10, 2010	#4
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	All I will admit to is that I used to hit pretty well (in softball playing for my work league) - and I am getting heavier than I would like to be! __________________ Craig

March 10, 2010	#5
huntoften Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Kansas CIty Posts: 560	Ok..ok...ok!!! You guys crack me up! None of you want to take credit for the great things you do...maybe I'll have to go on an interviewing campaign one of these days and write that book! Maybe I could design some trading cards for tomato growers and genetic fanatics. Perhaps a pictorial calendar with "Farmer of the Month" I guess I'm just doing anything I can to take my mind off the devastation damping off took on my seedlings this past week...I know I lost close to 500 __________________ Kansas City, Missouri Zone 5b/6a

March 10, 2010	#6
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	Question on the damping off - any thoughts of how/why it happened?? __________________ Craig

March 10, 2010	#7
huntoften Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Kansas CIty Posts: 560	I think I kept them too cool and moist. My grow table is by my front door and catches drafts. The ones on the edges of the trays were affected most. I lost probably 8-10 varieties...I'm afraid to count the total devastation. __________________ Kansas City, Missouri Zone 5b/6a

March 10, 2010	#8
ContainerTed Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: 6a - NE Tennessee Posts: 4,538	To me, the only "true" heavy hitter is the knowledge and experience of the folks who are here on this website. You can't buy this kind of help with our wonderful hobby/passion. I agree with Worth. Anybody can be a heavy hitter for their location and their garden and their particular vegetable or fruit. Collectively, we all become heavy hitters for gardening because of the huge collective knowledge and experience base we have access to. Ted __________________ Ted ________________________ Owner & Sole Operator Of The Muddy Bucket Farm and Tomato Ranch

March 10, 2010	#9
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	You have simply GAWT to let that surface dry out and use a 1 part hydrogen peroxide to 10 parts water spray on the soil and wee little plants to prevent damping off. REALLY, IT WORKS. No way should you have had that many even in the cold my plants do well in 50 to 60 degree room temps with no damping off at all. Neglect is the answer, neglect, let them dry out but not die. Worth

March 10, 2010	#10
RonnyWil Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Collierville TN Posts: 106	I've found a really great site that has about 4,300 tomato experts all unique in their own way. Each with a love and dedication to the tomato unequaled anywhere. Here is the link: http://www.tomatoville.com/ __________________ I'm two days older than dirt and I like to play in it.

March 10, 2010	#12
TomatoDon Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MS Posts: 1,521	Hey Ronny, Has Stringers and Dan West got any tomatoes in yet? One of my pilgrimages is to both of those on Poplar, and then to the Dan West out east, in your neck of the woods I believe. What are you growing this year? I'm down near Oxford, give me a shout. Don __________________ Zone 7B, N. MS

March 10, 2010	#13
goodwin Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Espanola, New Mexico Posts: 606	Worth - I'm sorry, but you can't blame any of the hilarity and absurdity you sow on some double out there. More seriously, though, I think it's a shame some companies borrow, rename, and 'patent' known varieties as their own.

March 10, 2010	#14
PaulF Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brownville, Ne Posts: 3,284	When you get around to the list of Who's That?? I will still be trying to figure out how to grow tomatoes. __________________ there's two things money can't buy; true love and home grown tomatoes.