|
|
Post by michaeljohnson on Jul 20, 2010 0:00:12 GMT -5
Here is a photo of the incredibly hairy stems and leaves of the growing version of He-Man rootstock, note the large flowers trusses also. The stems are so covered in hair that it makes the stems look like a solid white tube. Attachments:
|
|
|
|
Post by mnjrutherford on Jul 20, 2010 6:15:49 GMT -5
Here is a photo of the incredibly hairy stems and leaves of the growing version of He-Man rootstock, note the large flowers trusses also. The stems are so covered in hair that it makes the stems look like a solid white tube. I've only been able to coax 1 seed to germinate and grow here. I'm hoping to put it in the garden soon, with the idea of getting as much seed from it as possible depending on how it thrives and develops. It sure is interesting looking at this point. Do you have any notion regarding disease resistance qualities? |
|
|
|
Post by wildseed57 on Jul 21, 2010 12:39:53 GMT -5
It is interesting to look at, is it a tomato variey or a compatible solanus species? I've never tried grafting a tomato onto a diferent root stock, I suppose it helps to protect them from nematode damage?
George W.
|
|
|
|
Post by ottawagardener on Jul 21, 2010 17:05:19 GMT -5
Pretty nifty looking. I wonder if it repels any common pests?
|
|
|
|
Post by michaeljohnson on Jul 23, 2010 0:31:57 GMT -5
He-Man rootstock, is purely derived from other tomato varieties,and was developed in Japan a few years ago, it is one of the very few rootstock available that uses only tomato varieties in it's make up, it also has a rather unusual smell to it regarding the leaves etc when you either break or crush a leaf, very similar to same smell you get from the variety (Sungold) leaves when crushed-most odd, and very distinctive.
The fruit set pretty easy and are like large bunches of buff coloured cherries, later turning to a yellowy shade- I wouldn't be at all surprised if this was not bred into (SUNGOLD) somewhere along the line because it has that same distinctive smell about it,
It is strongly resistant to almost every know tomato disease, and also resists late blight strongly too, they can catch it mildly but after about a week new growths start springing up and it goes on to grow just as vigorous as before until around november time, generally speaking any tomato plant that it is grafted on to produces thirty or forty percent more fruit per plant during the season than a normal plant of the same variety would do.
|
|
|
|
Post by mnjrutherford on Jul 23, 2010 6:24:14 GMT -5
The only seedling that germinated passed away. I'm having a terrible time with this here. I'm beginning to think this part of the world is tomato cursed!
I shall persevere! I have sauce in the freezer, ketchup has been made, all good signs.
MJ, can you please give me the recipe for the medium you are using to germinate the He-Man? I'm certain that I'm doing something terribly wrong. I have had very poor germination rates all the way around.
|
|
|
|
Post by michaeljohnson on Jul 24, 2010 2:06:04 GMT -5
Just standard seedling mix, available from most garden centers -as always, these seeds usually take from three to five days longer to germinate than other tomato seeds for some reason, at a temp of around 72 degress F.
|
|
|
|
Post by mnjrutherford on Jul 24, 2010 6:27:34 GMT -5
hmmm... such a mystery.  Perhaps the temperatures? I have watered them well and the drainage is good. I'm going to put out another 4 seed today. Aphids are starting to go after the plants in the garden. Today is a tomato care day so I'll get out to do a squishing job. I would spray with soap water but there is no rain coming for awhile... |
|
|
|
Post by ottawagardener on Jul 24, 2010 11:24:13 GMT -5
Jo,
I feel we all must help you break the tomato curse. Have you started a thread with evidence of the crime pictures? I want to see foliage, wilt, bug invasions, the works!
Telsing
|
|
|
|
Post by mnjrutherford on Jul 24, 2010 12:25:33 GMT -5
::ROARing with laughter:: TELSING! I beg your mercy and your pity woman!!!! I'm sitting here in my undies, soaking wet, stinky as all get out, and afraid to bend over cause I might not be able to stand back up again. It's 95 degrees out and I've been pulling weeds, pulling radish and feeding them and some nice plump harlequin bugs to the birdies. I've gone through the tomato patch and picked something akin to 20 lbs of tomatoes. I've processed about 10 pounds of tomatoes into pots which are slowly simmering into sauce. I've got about 4 lbs of cherry tomatoes waiting patiently in a salt water bath for me to take them out and get them started dehydrating... It's 1:18... I've been at it since about 6:30... and YOU want me to take pictures?!?!?  I love you! You are awesome. Tell ya what, I love your idea and I'm gonna follow up on it. But not till tomorrow, OK? We need to go out to the farmer for eggs and I really do need to work up the cherry tomatoes and get them out drying. Tomorrow is our day of rest so I can work the patch plant by plant taking photos and notes. I'll get them posted as soon after as possible. Thanks so much for your suggestion. Congratulations on your possible place! Keep us posted on that side of things!!! |
|
|
|
Post by ottawagardener on Jul 24, 2010 19:07:19 GMT -5
When you put it that way... I guess I will wait. Given your tomato *problem,* you seem to be coming out the other side of tomato harvest on the plus side!
|
|
|
|
Post by mnjrutherford on Jul 25, 2010 6:48:18 GMT -5
When you put it that way... I guess I will wait. Given your tomato *problem,* you seem to be coming out the other side of tomato harvest on the plus side! Thanks for your patience Telsing! ;D Yea, I know it "sounds" like I'm doing well, but I've lost 13 out of 36 plants originally set out. Some of those have been replaced, I'll show photos, but they are not producing just yet. There is also a lot of unusable fruit. I'm picking the fruit before it fully ripens as well. If I had 36 plants in one of my California gardens, we'd be supplying tomatoes to the majority of the west coast population! So, truly, I am grateful for what we've achieved, it gets better each year, and next year I think we will be really up to snuff. I'll be posting soil test data for you as well. Patrick looked at last years results for me and gave me some excellent advice. We've improved things, but we still have a ways to go there as well. |
|
|
|
Post by robertb on Apr 10, 2017 15:04:17 GMT -5
I've got two healthy seedlings of this. Has anyone tried grafting potatoes onto it?
|
|
|
|
Post by philagardener on Apr 10, 2017 18:11:22 GMT -5
Wait, do you mean you want potato tops and tomato bottoms? |
|
|
|
Post by steev on Apr 10, 2017 18:42:16 GMT -5
That would avoid the "zucchini curse" of over-production.
|
|
Perhaps the temperatures? I have watered them well and the drainage is good. I'm going to put out another 4 seed today. Aphids are starting to go after the plants in the garden. Today is a tomato care day so I'll get out to do a squishing job. I would spray with soap water but there is no rain coming for awhile...
I love you! You are awesome.
