Mat-Su Express - Page 9

BigVanVader · May 30, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by AKmark

Glad you liked it, many in the M-S E, A. family of the original cross produce intense tasting tomatoes as you described. You will also like the Mat-Su Super B./ B family. Those have smoother fruit to an extent, and seem to produce serious loads of tomatoes. Trusses on those plants threw up to 45 flowers on some, we just pruned a bunch off. Same good tasting fruit on most plants, a few were not quite as intense as A, but of course we don't save seed from those. My selection for my F6 was very good, and I have a bunch of those seeds going now.

The purpose of these crosses Sherry and I have been working on is, early - early mid-season tomatoes, THAT TASTE GREAT, not... okay, decent, average, pretty good, or almost good. LOL
We will get out some others soon, Sherry has a dark tomato ( Susitna) that is one of the best blacks I have ate, the F7' s are growing now. Neither of us is interested in ever selling seeds or anything like that, we just like good tasting tomatoes that we can grow well in AK.
Going to do some Rebel Yell crosses this year

Ok I am going to assume that my plant is a super B and I should thin the truss to 8 or so fruits. No rush though. I want to see if they all set. These things are a beast, and very easy to trellis as well.

AKmark · May 31, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigVanVader

Mark I have a huge cluster all setting. Would you thin them or ? Looks like around 15 and it's already a little droopy.

I think you have A. and I would prune them to 5-7 tomatoes to get larger fruit. A. overall is the best tasting, they are no slackers in the yield category either.

BigVanVader · May 31, 2017

Ok Mark thanks! Going to be rough, but I guess it's baby tomato murdering time.

imp · May 31, 2017

Never having to, gulp, murder baby tomatoes on a truss, how do you decide which to pluck or cut off????

Gosh, ya'll keep talking about these and they sound so exciting that I want to grow some next year! Keep increasing seed, so I can get some hopefully next year!

Oh, geez, maybe I am a tomatoholic.....

Gardeneer · May 31, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by AKmark

There is now several sources of seed. LOL I can send you some too, you could even do a fall crop in your area.
I am with you on trying to pronounce some of those names, I just wing it. LOL

Time is nearing, to plan on a fall crop.
So if I want to plant out on/about July 15th, I should start seeds now.

I would like, possibly, the strain that is early fruiting.
Mark, Cole, if you read this post by any chance, and can donate a few Mat-Su seeds, I would appreciate it. PM me please so that I can mail out SASE your way.
Thanks much in advance.
Gardeneer

AKmark · May 31, 2017

I left a few plants after my disaster, these are not Mat-Su, but are an unnamed F3 of PL Black Krim x PL Early Girl. They will last on the vine, have a good texture, they do not crack, and the yield is decent. LOL The taste is interesting, not sweet, but they do have a zing to them, kinda like a good Druzba taste.

What do you think? I am thinking market tomato 101

AlittleSalt · May 31, 2017

Mark, they look wonderful. I haven't tried Druzba, but I like tomatoes that taste different. My favorite tomatoes have a high acidic/sweet balance. Boring tomatoes put me to sleep.

KarenO · May 31, 2017

wow, Mark, those look fantastic. I am dying for a taste of a real big garden tomato. Can you mail me one ?

KarenO

jmsieglaff · May 31, 2017

Wow. I am speechless, simply wow. Drool.

Gardeneer · May 31, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gardeneer

Time is nearing, to plan on a fall crop.
So if I want to plant out on/about July 15th, I should start seeds now.

I would like, possibly, the strain that is early fruiting.
Mark, Cole, if you read this post by any chance, and can donate a few Mat-Su seeds, I would appreciate it. PM me please so that I can mail out SASE your way.
Thanks much in advance.
Gardeneer

UPDATE:

Got the offer. Thank you, Cole.

Over and done.

jmsieglaff · June 9, 2017

My Mat-Su Express (plant 11 source) opened flowers today. It is later than most but that is because the first sowing didn't germinate. So really it is actually doing quite well in that respect.

Mark, I believe you do single stems in your GH. Do you or other growers know how tall this will get? If it is a shorter variety especially if 3-4 main stems are allowed to grow I often let those plants sucker a bit more. Just curious for planning purposes.

Thanks! Justin

Gardeneer · June 9, 2017

M_S_E looks a lot like Brandy Boy in vigor and fruit shape. Is it red or pink ?
Now I am set to grow it in my fall garden.

Cole_Robbie · June 9, 2017

It's red.

Gardeneer · June 9, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cole_Robbie

It's red.

Thanks, Cole.
They look red on the monitor's screen. But I wasn't sure

BigVanVader · June 10, 2017

Yeah I'd say that would make a good market tomato. I learned last year that most folks just want a red tomato that is better than cardboard.

June 9, 2017	#132
Gardeneer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7 Posts: 4,912	M_S_E looks a lot like Brandy Boy in vigor and fruit shape. Is it red or pink ? Now I am set to grow it in my fall garden. __________________ Gardeneer Happy Gardening !

May 31, 2017	#123
BigVanVader Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Greenville, South Carolina Posts: 3,099	Ok Mark thanks! Going to be rough, but I guess it's baby tomato murdering time.

May 31, 2017	#124
imp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Wichita Falls, Texas Posts: 4,832	Never having to, gulp, murder baby tomatoes on a truss, how do you decide which to pluck or cut off???? Gosh, ya'll keep talking about these and they sound so exciting that I want to grow some next year! Keep increasing seed, so I can get some hopefully next year! Oh, geez, maybe I am a tomatoholic.....

May 31, 2017	#127
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	Mark, they look wonderful. I haven't tried Druzba, but I like tomatoes that taste different. My favorite tomatoes have a high acidic/sweet balance. Boring tomatoes put me to sleep.

May 31, 2017	#128
KarenO Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Island Posts: 5,922	wow, Mark, those look fantastic. I am dying for a taste of a real big garden tomato. Can you mail me one ? KarenO

May 31, 2017	#129
jmsieglaff Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Southern WI Posts: 2,742	Wow. I am speechless, simply wow. Drool.

June 9, 2017	#133
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	It's red.

June 10, 2017	#135
BigVanVader Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Greenville, South Carolina Posts: 3,099	Yeah I'd say that would make a good market tomato. I learned last year that most folks just want a red tomato that is better than cardboard.