Dona F1 seeds
 

Again this year I am giving small lots of Dona F1 seeds to those
who request them and will meet a small request of mine.

For those unfamiliar with this variety, it is known as a French
market growers tomato and is very popular in France. It is my
personal favorite among red tomatoes.

Each individual requesting these can get 5 seeds. They cost a lot
to bring them from France and it is a lot of trouble. However, I
have just received a fresh lot a couple of weeks ago and have
enough to fill some requests.

I ask if you want these that you send me a stamped and self- addressed
envelope (standard letter postage). Either standard letter size
is OK (6-1/2" or 10"). Send me a private message through Tomatoville
and I will respond with a mailing address that you can use.

Thank you for your very generous offer. Dona F1 seeds are indeed very difficult to get.

regards,

Raybo:yes:

Hi. PM sent. Dust

xxxxxxx

Pm sent

PM Sent.

Thanks!

PM sent thanks.:D

What's so special about this French variety? Flavor? (not hoping to try it, already got too many varieties)..
It's nice to know that they have succesfully bred something that's so highly sought after. Cretainly never heard of it before.

OK, so a quick Google search revealed good resistance to various diseases, round regular fruits that keep long. Sounds lovely :)
"Cette variété, de type ronde rouge, est très productive et résistante à l'éclatement et aux maladies. Elle donne des tomates de petit calibre, fermes et réguliers.."

Thanks!
 

Thanks for the seeds--five up already. Here's a photo from the 90's

Sounds like a good market variety, very nice to offer here. I also have plenty of varieties and dont like reds much but I'd be interested to hear others reviews of it after growing.

Dona F1
 

@gdaddybill:

Oh yes, the 90's. Love the photo. Seeds for those must have
come from Shepherd's Seeds (Renee Shepherd). That's who was
importing them then, up until 2007 when they were discontinued for
a while.

Wouldn't it be nice if a similar seed company were to pick them up
again, now that they are back in production (2009). Heh, only two
years. They didn't get away with it!

Dona F1, source and phyto
 

For those few interested, these came from:

Graineterie A Ducrettet
14, rue Rene Cassin
Parc de la Chatelaine
FR-74240 Gaillard

(ducrettet.com)

They are a supplier of relatively large quantities of seed for French
market gardeners who probably don't want to run around and
locate a bunch of smaller packets. They apparently do a fair
amount of international trade as the site is now available in English
although they do not have ready-made packets. They will pack
whatever quantity you order in increments of 100 or 1000.


Also, for anyone who feels concern over the phyto-sanitary
situation (and you should), these are phyto certified by the French
Ministry of Agriculture. I have ordered from this company twice
and each time they automatically added phyto to the order.
Seems they know what they are doing.

Oh, I have wanted these for so long but can't plant out this season. I hope you will be saving seeds.

Marilyn, these are not OP - but there IS an OP version of Dona. I wonder how it compares????

Linda