Member discussion regarding the methods, varieties and merits of growing tomatoes.
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September 30, 2017 | #1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: NewYork 5a
Posts: 2,303
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and the 2017 winner goes to...
Thank you Cross Hemisphere Dwarf Project. ....First I would like to thank the parents, BeautyKing and Dwarf WildFred F4, and special thanks to Craig Leholier, ncTomatoman, for introducing them to each other. Thank you Tomatoville member, sdzejachok, for nurturing the offspring via PurpleStripe F5 and finding this needle-in-the- haystack. And naming it Metallica. I'm sure others were involved and should be thanked... Again thank you Craig for sending me the seeds saved. I'm just another messenger in the process, growing out two plants from the seed packet sent. You are the rock star this year Metallica. I wasn't expecting much from these plants having never grown in bags or on the kitchen deck. 22 dwarfs and 13 micros still producing Sept 30th. Fantastic experience. Probably a combination of factors, environmental, etc helped. 7hrs of sun was a risk but in all the heat of August it was probably a good thing. Metallica - a solid 9.5 -6-8oz -excellent flavor -rich, buttery, juicy, so savory, full flavored and so well balanced. The last fruit scored a 9.8...my 'solid' 9.5 for the plant means the fruit can go a bit up or down on the scale. All fruit has been great and still have a few more about to ripen. The stem end slice, after saving the seeds, (for Pete's sake, of course I saved seed, lol), I squeezed the juice into a tbsp...so good, then ate the rest like an apple. The best tomato I have had in my 20 yrs of growing heirlooms. Juice everywhere. ^none of this is meant to be so serious, , it is just a tomato! But with such a disaster season up on the farm, this was such a welcomed surprise and I even have hot peppers, Germination test, aprox. 24 seed is 95% and may have good lead on a winter greenhouse and I'll grow a few. Metallica has moved to my stable of favorites so next Spring I will plant at least a dozen and up the pot size. Metallica is much like TennSuited, GGWT, CherokeeChoc/Purple, Owen's purple...all did well this year. |
September 30, 2017 | #2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: NewYork 5a
Posts: 2,303
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Forgot to mention how heavy they are for their size. A good
feature of Metallica is the stem strength and size. Even in full color/blush, the fruit will not let go. All fruit needed Felcos to harvest. Like mentioned, never thought I could grow toms here. Grew a few herbs for years. Then added a height extension to the railing when acrobatic rescue pup #2 joined the family. 2015 I tried a micro patio variety that was rogue and gave zero fruit so I never thought I could grow anything more than a few herbs. That has proved wrong. Grew micros last Winter and a few dwarfs, started another tray early with peppers...all took off and had fruit early June. The railing is a perfect height for the dwarfs. |
September 30, 2017 | #3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: U.K
Posts: 21
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Nice looking tomatoes and deck!
Congrats! |
September 12, 2018 | #4 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: NW Indiana
Posts: 6
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Metallica seed?
Where do I find seed for the metallica tomato?
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September 12, 2018 | #5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: NewYork 5a
Posts: 2,303
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That's pretty funny I wrote that last year....
And this season ?, 2018 ?, still my favorite. It is a dwarf project tomato from the Beauty line and not a released variety yet. I grew comparables this year from various growers, same beauty line.... All very good and similar. Different plant structure. |
September 13, 2018 | #6 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin
Posts: 3,146
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After all of your praises, I'm sure that we will all be looking forward to Metallica's release. Do you have an idea of how close it is?
__________________
~ Patti ~ |
September 14, 2018 | #7 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: NewYork 5a
Posts: 2,303
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Will it do as well for everyone as well as it has done for me? It is close to perfect and
this years plants are identical to last season...same structure. on the same plants I have a beefsteak shape and a near heart. I pick at full blush close to metallic stripes but off the vine they get very black. They hold very well indoors for a good week and darken to a rich brown/black. I like a heavy dark tomato that gives a few days opportunity to enjoy... I'm guessing it is close but that decision is not mine. With all my leaf mold issues this season I will not share seeds. Even though my micros and dwarfs pulled through I am not comfortable passing that on. I will heat treat my own saved seed next season and use 2019 as a trial for my issues... High heat, drought, then wet, hot, horrible heat soggy weather, no cracking or splits.... It is the only tomato I have served 'nude' at my tomato tasting menu party last weekend. Not even sea salt. Just a bit of basil and par-cel. |
September 14, 2018 | #8 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Detroit
Posts: 688
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Looking good!
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