Mat-Su Express

[AKmark]

Originally Posted by Greatgardens

MSE is producing ripe tomatoes again. I let one get dead ripe before eating it, and it was milder. Still had enough zip, but definitely down a bit from when not so ripe. Excellent tomato, and still nearly completely disease-free. I've pulled off only a very few leaves from it, thus far. The first tomatoes had some radial cracking, virtually none now. Really nice sized plant and fits nicely in the big Burpee cage. I'd say this is a keeper! Good work, Mark!


-GG

Glad you like it, but get ready for a couple real treats. I have a pink Bloody Butcher x Dester at F6. It has been the best tomato for us two years in a row. Deadly old fashioned tomato taste, utterly over the top. It blew BW, Crnkovic Yugoslavian, RY, Elgin Pink, all of my measuring sticks away. It will be named Mat-Su Old School. I still am getting some segregation, so be patient.

[JosephineRose]

Originally Posted by AKmark

Glad you like it, but get ready for a couple real treats. I have a pink Bloody Butcher x Dester at F6. It has been the best tomato for us two years in a row. Deadly old fashioned tomato taste, utterly over the top. It blew BW, Crnkovic Yugoslavian, RY, Elgin Pink, all of my measuring sticks away. It will be named Mat-Su Old School. I still am getting some segregation, so be patient.

That is dangerous information!

[Greatgardens]

One bit of criticism (to balance my praise) -- there is a good bit of catfacing on my MSE. Most are not too bad, but probably a half-dozen with pretty severe CF. Perhaps that can be selected out or minimized? Didn't really have any periods of cool weather, so I think this must be a genetic thing. (?)
I'm definitely looking forward to hearing about your further breeding efforts. I'll definitely grow MSE again next year.

-GG

[AKmark]

Originally Posted by Greatgardens

One bit of criticism (to balance my praise) -- there is a good bit of catfacing on my MSE. Most are not too bad, but probably a half-dozen with pretty severe CF. Perhaps that can be selected out or minimized? Didn't really have any periods of cool weather, so I think this must be a genetic thing. (?)
I'm definitely looking forward to hearing about your further breeding efforts. I'll definitely grow MSE again next year.

-GG

Yes, you may get a little. These are bred for early production and taste, not appearance, but I never really had that too bad either. Early Girl Hybrid and plenty of other have that perfect shape and cosmetics you may be looking for.

[Greatgardens]

I've grown Early Girl for many years. But next year I'll grow Burpee's Summer Girl instead (along with MSE and a few standbys). One of the things that I like most about MSE is that it has remained mostly disease free. Maybe it is when I planted it or the alignment of the planets, but it has virtually no Septoria. That's pretty remarkable. Hope it repeats next year.

[tryno12]

GG, I am in Indy and had no problems at all w/MSE this year. Last year I had BER persist for most of summer but no cat facing - I probably water too much. My only complaint is the thick skins but I believe a better taste than Early Girl. I still have a plant going strong since 7/6 or so.......
Pete

[Greatgardens]

Hi Pete-
Is yours planted in soil or a container? Mine is in a regular container (with a shallow tray under it.) Planning on an EarthBox for next year and maybe a second one in soil for comparison. I keep saying I'm going to cut back on the number of plants I grow, but so far there's little progress on that goal.

[tryno12]

Hi GG, one plant is in Ok soil and one is in better soil w/ less sun. Both do well. I like them because they are one of my earliest and do ok. I water nearly every day, bleach spray often, and use Tomato Tone / MG / 12.12.12 more TT than the others........ I just hope next yr is as good as the last 3 but I will cut back - over 100 plants leaves too little time for other things.
Picture shows table after giving 50#'s away for the third time this season. I grew 73 varieties and now know what is going in next yr but don't know what isn't
Pete

[Barb_FL]

Originally Posted by tryno12

......I grew 73 varieties and now know what is going in next yr but don't know what isn't
Pete

Totally different climate. but interested in what's out and what's in for next year.

[tryno12]

Well, I can't seem to get a good yield from Olive Hill, AR German Green, unless in precious space of raised bed saved for Dwarfs so prob out.

Captain Lucky, Big Cheef, Bear Creek, Dana's Dusky Rose, Elgin Pink, Indian Zebra, Indian Stripe, KBX, GGWT, Cherokee Purple, Matsu Express, Artic Rose (D), Yukon Quest (D), Summertime Green (D), Brandy Fred (D), Crimson Sockeye (D), Tennessee Suited (D), Beauty King (D), Cherokee Tiger (D), Coastal Orange (D), Firebird Sweet (D),★ Scarlet Heart (D), Sleeping Lady (D), New Big (D), Mr. Snow (D), Summer Sunrise (D), Sweet Sue (D), Tasmanian Chocolate (D), Tastywine (D), Wild Fred (D), Wild Spudleaf (D), Uluru Ochre (D),★

the "ins"

This is so far...........

[tryno12]

Hi GG, here is a photo of one of my Matsu's still going good today...........
Pete

[tryno12]

In better form:
1)Captain Lucky
2)Big Cheef
3)Bear Creek
4)Dana's Dusky Rose
50Elgin Pink
6)Indian Zebra
7Chocolate Stripe
8)KBX
9)GGWT
10)Cherokee Purple
11)Matsu Express
12Artic Rose (D)
13)Yukon Quest (D)
14)Summertime Green (D)
15)Brandy Fred (D)
16)Crimson Sockeye (D)
17)Tennessee Suited (D)
18)Beauty King (D)
19)Cherokee Tiger (D)
20)Coastal Orange (D)
21)Firebird Sweet (D)
22)Scarlet Heart (D)
23)Sleeping Lady (D)
24)New Big (D)
25)Mr. Snow (D)
26)Summer Sunrise (D)
27)Sweet Sue (D)
28)Tasmanian Chocolate (D)
29)Tastywine (D)
30)Wild Fred (D)
31)Wild Spudleaf (D)
32)Uluru Ochre (D)
33)Mocha Splash

[tryno12]

GG, here is the pic of the Mat-Su in front of house identified as a Mat-Su. Does it look like the 1rst pic of Mat-Su I posted? Some fruits round, some flattened and ribbed a bit......
Pete

[Whwoz]

Mat-su Express has greeted the sun Down Under. 4 or 5 plants up Mark

[clkeiper]

wait... mine don't really look like these. I have oblate a bit wrinkly and almost "C" shaped red tomatoes. they look just like African Queen just red. Maybe I need a new couple seeds to try? I just wasn't excited about these. nor were they great bearers of fruit. not at all what I was expecting after seeing AK Marks photos and hearing his praise for them.