Topic: Siletz tomatoes

[tricia]

I have some very sturdy plants but am confused as to whether they are determinate or indeterminate. Googling brings advice that they are either or!

I can't remember who sent me the seeds so I don't know which variant they are.

Has anyone else grown them? As they bear largish fruit - maybe I should grow them as indeterminate and stake them well?

Tricia

[no-lottie]

Tricia - Siletz tomato plants grow no more than 60 cm high and although don't need a stake as such, will benefit from some support once the fruit is getting some size to it. They are a lovely tasting tomato and are quite big fruit considering the size of the plant.

[no-lottie]

Maybe your seeds came from Oz.  :)

I have posted 3 photos of Siletz amongst the tomato photos in my gallery.

[Jeannine]

It is  cool weather ,it is parthenocarpic..doesn't need pollination to set fruit... it is definitely a determinate  (bush), it has been a standard in my garden for years, don't prune it,however unlike most determinates this one  produces fruit over a long time and can grow taller than similar types ,I cage mine as it can sprawl , but you can stake it and tie in if you prefer but don't cordon it. Fruit is  about,3 inches, bright red .Early in season fruit has few seeds.

Good choice for a cool summer.

XX Jeannine

[tricia]

Thanks for the response no-lottie. I've just checked my seed box and find they did come from Australia. Doug Mcsee -

http://www.ozgrow.com/viewforum.php?f=15&sid=89ee967558377c8590b16de7d2f57cff

sent me several tomato varieties last year.

Now, I'm just hoping we get a decent summer and no blight!

Hi Jeannine, thanks for the info. I shall cage them with hard plastic 'chicken-wire' so that I can stick bamboo canes through to help hold the weight of the fruit - I'm nothing if not optimistic  ;D ;D

Tricia

[no-lottie]

A great guy he is too.  ;D

[tricia]

I love Melbourne - whereabouts are you? My friends live in North Balwyn, Beaumaris and North Caulfield.

Tricia

[no-lottie]

I'm in Cranbourne which is s/e of Melbourne.

[Jeannine]

I just got a seed savers catalogue today and they are classed as indeterminate in there, looked in a few more and they are determinate!! Thought I better let you know.  With the mixed info it might turn out that they are semi determinate, I would treat them as determinate, don't prune them, cage well and see what happens. XX Jeannine

[Jayb]

I'm trying some Siletz toms too, from the same guy as Tricia.

Good choice for a cool summer.
XX Jeannine

Sounding good  :)

Mmm looking forward to having a taste later on, handsome tomato from the pictures no-lottie.

[tonybloke]

my siletz seed came from Ed Hume seeds,  @ $1.79 a packet. (got friends in Idaho ;))

[tricia]

Thanks Jeannine - that is what I've decided to do - stake and cage them outside and hope for a no blight summer!

Tricia