|
Post by PatrickW on Jan 9, 2010 5:55:23 GMT -5
Hi Ozarklady, First of all it's nice to see you here on the forum. I'm usually too busy to greet all the new people that come along, but after reading some of the things you've posted I think you'll fit in here well. I've also written some things on my blog about saving tomato seeds, which isn't a lot different from the advice already give here, but if you're interested you can find it here: www.patnsteph.net/weblog/2006/01/saving-tomato-seeds/If you want to see some pictures, I also wrote something similar last year for the UK Guardian newspaper blog: www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/gardening-blog/2009/jun/24/gardensI'll get into it a bit more in a second, but I have not heard about using Ajax, but rather TSP, for a similar purpose. As a rule, if you ferment your seeds properly you don't need to use anything to clean them. To specifically address your question of the seeds on the paper towel. The only issue you are likely to have is the gelatinous seed coat, which is a germination inhibitor. In nature, tomato seeds can last 10+ years in the ground and the germination inhibitor insures they keep popping up over a number of years to be as weedy and annoying to us gardeners as possible. This is where the TSP or I guess Ajax comes in, as it is strong enough to remove the seed coat without fermenting. Be sure to wear gloves if you use either of these very strong cleaners, and be advised many organic gardeners don't consider these chemicals suitable for an organic garden, even if they are only used on the seeds. I personally don't think they are necessary. Tomato seeds don't generally need to be stratified, as far as I know. Truth be told, for your purposes, I think you'll get perfectly acceptable results if you just plant your paper towel. Probably not all the seeds will germinate, but you don't need them all to. The idea of tasting every tomato before you save seeds from it is an excellent one. In the future consider using a coffee filter instead, the seeds will stick less. When you think in terms of long term storage, or sharing seeds with others, you should remove the seed coat first.
|
|
|
Post by extremegardener on Jan 9, 2010 14:17:24 GMT -5
Okay, I feel like a spy, but here's what I saw at the High Mowing Seeds field day in mid-September while strolling through their 800+ variety trial gardens: HMS is just over the mountain from me, in a similar zone 4 location. These certainly were eye-catching. I should have sampled one, but I didn't... I also should have moved the piece of grass that obscures part of the label... There weren't any plants with purple foliage that I saw. I'm guessing there are a bunch of different OSU Blue/Purple strains out being trialed. So, my perennial question, how early are the various strains folks here have trialed? Looking at these plants, which had the benefit of a black plastic mulch, I figured they probably wouldn't be early enough for me. They certainly are fascinating...
|
|
|
Post by thehills on Jan 9, 2010 14:33:45 GMT -5
Hi there Great photos :-) I started my seeds very late, probably 2 weeks before last frost, and even give the poor season, I had two fruits mature. I am in Zone 5 / close to Zone 4 and expect good results with a standard start (6-8 weeks pre last frost seed start), and a "reasonable" growing season this year.
|
|
|
Post by ozarklady on Jan 9, 2010 20:07:59 GMT -5
May I have a photo of the blue tomatoes... I would love to share just the photo with other friends, and family in emails. I don't want to infringe any copyright, nor use them in any commercial context. I just think they are gorgeous and would like to show them to folks, some who don't go to forums at all. Thanks for the kind words. Some others here say... blame me for them being here... so I will pass the buck... blame Dan.. a.k.a. Grunt for my being here. We were friends and corresponded quite a while before he invited me... I think he was being cautious... (I am joking) But, we discussed gardening alot, and he said, check out this link. He may have even given me the link earlier.. but one day, I looked, and liked what I saw. Sometimes, you guys are over my head big time.. But that is cool.. that means I gotta use my brain... ha ha. I do enjoy learning, and I do read alot, so when my questions get annoying... please remember... I do learn... I am teachable... ha ha.
|
|
|
Post by ozarklady on Jan 9, 2010 20:50:53 GMT -5
Some very nice tomato tutorials. And one of your posters did like I did with the paper towel... But, I threw most of the ones away that stuck... :-( I was bad... They didn't look right, and didn't feel right, they were sticky, and I warned you, I am new to seed saving and they weren't right, so I threw them out. I simply ordered seeds of the varieties that didn't save right.. Oh well, 2010 is a new year! And I have all of you to help me learn this...
I have been to Amsterdam, I was amazed at the open markets. And the most memorable hamburger that I have ever had was in Amsterdam, out by the ocean... It was a work of art. And it tasted as good as it looked. The people there were awesome also. We were so impressed that we rented a motel room and spent the night to enjoy more of Amsterdam. Wonder if you are in any of my photos of there, ha ha... Wouldn't that be a coincidence? ha.
|
|
|
Post by iva on Jan 10, 2010 9:09:18 GMT -5
May I have a photo of the blue tomatoes... I would love to share just the photo with other friends, and family in emails. I don't want to infringe any copyright, nor use them in any commercial context. I just think they are gorgeous and would like to show them to folks, some who don't go to forums at all. Sure you can. If you need one in bigger size, tell me and I'll upload it and send you a link, just tell me which one you like best
|
|
|
Post by kypos on Jan 12, 2010 13:21:43 GMT -5
Hallo,
Ich bin Gärtner von der Grenze Deutschland - Luxemburg. Wir haben eine Hairloom Garten mit 1 ha. Privat-und mit dem des Landes. Ich bin sehr Interesse an der "OSU Blue Tomato", aber ich kann leider keine Samen finden. Vielleicht könnte man mir Samen nach Deutschland senden? Oder senden Sie mir einen Link, um einige Samen. Es ist ein sehr anbauwürdige Sorte, die ich gerne näher kennenlernen möchte. Ich kann auch alte Sorten tauschen. Einfach schreiben war Sie brauchen. Vielen Dank für Ihre Nachricht. Clare ____________________________________________________
I am a gardener from the border Deutschland - Luxemburg. We have a Hairloom Garden with 1 ha. privat-und withe the country. I am very interesting "OSU Blue Tomato", but I can not found seeds to buy. Would someone be so kind as to send my seeds to Germany? Or could you showme a Link to buy seeds, only for 2-3 plants? Its an great variete of tomato and I hope you could help me to plant this tomato at the saison 2010. (Sorry for my little english). Many thaks for your trouble. With kind regards, Clare
|
|
|
Post by orflo on Jan 12, 2010 14:42:33 GMT -5
Hallo Clare, kein Problem, ich sende einen PM, Frank
|
|
|
Post by pugs on Jan 12, 2010 20:04:04 GMT -5
Clare,
I won't have any seeds untill this fall. I'm just getting a few myself. I'd be happy to send some to you then.
Maybe Iva has some and she is in Europe, so it would be easier to get them.
Also, your English if fine. I only speak one language, so I'm impress with your multilanguage skills.
Pugs
|
|
|
Post by Alan on Jan 12, 2010 20:42:58 GMT -5
Hello kypos, nice to have you here!
If you still need some seed send me a private message with your address and I'll send some out to you my friend!
|
|
|
Post by iva on Jan 13, 2010 4:08:23 GMT -5
Clare, I have only a few to spare, but would love to give them to you, and as pugs said, it would be much easier cause I'm from Europe. Contact me if you are interested Oh, and you can write in Deutch, I understand quite a bit but am not fluent in it...
|
|
|
Post by Darth Slater on Jan 13, 2010 7:40:00 GMT -5
Clare, I have only a few to spare, but would love to give them to you, and as pugs said, it would be much easier cause I'm from Europe. Contact me if you are interested Oh, and you can write in Deutch, I understand quite a bit but am not fluent in it... Hello Iva, Darth here, Where did you get your seeds for the P20?
|
|
|
Post by iva on Jan 13, 2010 8:38:36 GMT -5
I got them here, from a HG forum member and then I raised my own plants, so I have my own seed now, but not much of it.
|
|
|
Post by kypos on Jan 15, 2010 13:19:42 GMT -5
Thank you Frank, Iva, and all the others....
I become Seeds for the garden. And I am very happy. THANK YOU SO MUCH !! And I`m sorry for my bad english.... If my seeds are plants, I send a picture to show you my Tomatos and we hope it will be a gud garden jear 2010. Best wishs for all,
Clare
|
|
|
Post by Alan on Jan 15, 2010 21:57:54 GMT -5
Glad to have you at Homegrown Goodness and we are all glad to share! Don't worry about your bad english, English is my primary language and I'm not particularly good at typing or speaking it myself! Enjoy our little community my friend!
|
|