Red Robin... "On Steroids!"

Greatgardens · June 30, 2013

Thought I'd post a picture of one of my Red Robin plants. A couple of weeks late this year because of the cold spring, but doing very, very well. I've been getting good pickings from the three plants for more than a week. Just now hitting their peak.

I've saved my own seed for several years, and for whatever reason this year's plants seem to have branched more than I can recall form the past seasons. RR's are planted in 12" self-watering baskets. They have required "staking" and being tied up to support the loaded branches. Still a couple of the branches have split, but have not broken completely. This branching is probably pretty common, but I have not seen it before on my plants. In fact, I have one plant this year without branching, and it has relatively few tomatoes on it.

-GG

livinonfaith · June 30, 2013

Wow, that's a pretty tomato plant!

You have to save seeds from that one and hope those genetics get passed on!

roper2008 · June 30, 2013

Nice. Loaded with tomatoes. Do they taste good?

tlintx · June 30, 2013

That is lovely! What a nice use for a hanging pot.

Sun City Linda · July 1, 2013

Really a pretty plant! I have had seeds for Red Robin for a long time. Maybe I will finally grow some.........soon!

Greatgardens · July 1, 2013

They won't give Sungold a run for its money, but for a "first early" they are fine -- incredibly better than most from the grocery. They are flavorful and have a nice "tang" that is great for eating fresh or in salads. To me, they compare as superior to Tiny Tim and "Sweet 'n Neat." On par with Vilma, but a bit earlier for me.

The big advantage IMO is that they are so dwarf that I can start them inside in February and not need to put them in the cold frame until April. I usually put them in the hanging baskets about the 2nd week in May here in zone 5b. But most RR are like a "tree" with extremely short branches. They still are quite productive, though.

-GG

Quote:

Originally Posted by roper2008

Nice. Loaded with tomatoes. Do they taste good?

edweather · July 1, 2013

Nice looking tomatoes.....looks like it's getting plenty of fertilizer.

ChrisK · July 1, 2013

I've used RR in several crosses incl. with Sungold!

We'll see if we can improve on it (RR not Sungold that is!)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greatgardens

They won't give Sungold a run for its money, but for a "first early" they are fine -- incredibly better than most from the grocery. They are flavorful and have a nice "tang" that is great for eating fresh or in salads. To me, they compare as superior to Tiny Tim and "Sweet 'n Neat." On par with Vilma, but a bit earlier for me.

The big advantage IMO is that they are so dwarf that I can start them inside in February and not need to put them in the cold frame until April. I usually put them in the hanging baskets about the 2nd week in May here in zone 5b. But most RR are like a "tree" with extremely short branches. They still are quite productive, though.

-GG

peppero · July 2, 2013

NICE1 something like that can make you feel so optimistic in the early part of the year.

jon

Greatgardens · July 2, 2013

That's really interesting! And a 12" plant with a 12' plant.

Do you have any pics of the results? Be very interesting to see them or a description.

I'm 68, so it's a little late in the game for me to start crossing tomatoes, but I've thought of some interesting possibilities. But I must admit, that's not one that I would have thought of.

-GG

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisK

I've used RR in several crosses incl. with Sungold!

We'll see if we can improve on it (RR not Sungold that is!)

ChrisK · July 2, 2013

None of the Red Robin crosses yet (I have lots of F2 seed now though), but:

http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=28443

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greatgardens

That's really interesting! And a 12" plant with a 12' plant.

Do you have any pics of the results? Be very interesting to see them or a description.

I'm 68, so it's a little late in the game for me to start crossing tomatoes, but I've thought of some interesting possibilities. But I must admit, that's not one that I would have thought of.

-GG

tlintx · July 2, 2013

Greatgardens, it's never too late if you have a passion for it!

Grab one of your other flowering plants, and see if you can cross on the Red Robin. What have you got to lose?

July 1, 2013	#7
edweather Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Southeast GA, USDA 9a, HZ9, Sunset Z28 Posts: 393	Nice looking tomatoes.....looks like it's getting plenty of fertilizer. __________________ You'll be surprised what you'll never have to do, if you put it off long enough.

June 30, 2013	#2
livinonfaith Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina Posts: 1,332	Wow, that's a pretty tomato plant! You have to save seeds from that one and hope those genetics get passed on!

June 30, 2013	#3
roper2008 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Virginia Bch, VA (7b) Posts: 1,337	Nice. Loaded with tomatoes. Do they taste good?

June 30, 2013	#4
tlintx Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: SeTx Posts: 881	That is lovely! What a nice use for a hanging pot.

July 1, 2013	#5
Sun City Linda Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: SoCal Inland Posts: 2,705	Really a pretty plant! I have had seeds for Red Robin for a long time. Maybe I will finally grow some.........soon!

July 2, 2013	#9
peppero Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: selmer, tn Posts: 2,944	NICE1 something like that can make you feel so optimistic in the early part of the year. jon