Topic: Seed Circle 2010 Growing/Feedback

[Jayb]

I'm growing Delaware cabbage and Cut n' Come again cabbage (from ISSA) in the same row. Leaf shape is very similar although Delaware has some reddy colour on the leaf. The leaves have quite a tender texture and a fairly robust flavour. I'm looking forward to sampling them lightly cooked.

These two varieties happen to be next to a patch of young swedes, the leaf shape looks identical.

[galina]

Have just pulled the first white beetroot.  I'm very impressed.  Good size root, super foliage.  Enough for a couple of meals.  Thank you.

[jazzidoodle]

Apart from potatoes hae the worst season ever if the  very late frosts didn't get  plants then the rain did.

[galina]

Have just found out that 'OSU blue', that exotic tomato with the dark purple skin we were lucky to have in our seed circle stash, is to be released commercially in the USA, under the name of 'Indigo Rose'.  Here is one source
https://www.nicholsgardennursery.com/store/product-info.php?pid1564.html

[goodlife]

It will be interesting to find out if this 'indigo rose' is been picked having any difference to the OSU blue we grow. Perharps they found a seedling that 'behaved' differently to the others and using that as 'mother' for commercial seeds. ???

[galina]

It will be interesting to find out if this 'indigo rose' is been picked having any difference to the OSU blue we grow. Perharps they found a seedling that 'behaved' differently to the others and using that as 'mother' for commercial seeds. ???

There are several pictures on the web and they look identical to 'our' OSU blue.  Also initially after the cross, flavour was described as not very pleasant, even 'inky' in earlier selections.  Our OSU blue is delicious and has a deep flavour a little like the Russian brown tomatoes.  And the later selections of Indigo Rose which are now commercially available, are also said to have delicious flavour.  I think our seeds are very similar, if not identical, to Indigo Rose.

[Jayb]

You may be right although I believe Indigo Rose is also known as P20-3-1 (Dr Myers eagerly awaited variety) and it is the first time this selection is being released to the public. What we grew is simply known as OSU, which found it’s way from the university rather than being released. Flavour is reported to be superior in Indigo Rose and it is a far more stable variety with a clear epidermis rather than the yellow with OSU blue. I agree flavour is quite good with OSU, although often read it reviewed poorly, I wonder if our cooler growing conditions which also help bring out the colour also help flavour?

I couldn't resist, I’ve ordered some from the above company and I'm looking forward to comparing how they do next year. Managed to slip in a few other seeds too  ;D

[galina]

You may be right although I believe Indigo Rose is also known as P20-3-1 (Dr Myers eagerly awaited variety) and it is the first time this selection is being released to the public. What we grew is simply known as OSU, which found it’s way from the university rather than being released. Flavour is reported to be superior in Indigo Rose and it is a far more stable variety with a clear epidermis rather than the yellow with OSU blue. I agree flavour is quite good with OSU, although often read it reviewed poorly, I wonder if our cooler growing conditions which also help bring out the colour also help flavour?

I couldn't resist, I’ve ordered some from the above company and I'm looking forward to comparing how they do next year. Managed to slip in a few other seeds too  ;D

Interesting.  And no, I have never picked the outer skin off and held it against the light to see what colour it is.  I assumed it must be a later version because it does taste good and not as described earlier.  At some stage OSU was crossed with Sungold to improve the flavour and our OSU tastes good enough to be after that cross. 

Why on earth cross anything with sungold???  Having grown out several generations of sungold progeny from a so-called stabilised OP sungold, I know just how variable this variety is.  Even now after generations I get different colours and different shapes.  I have only one variant which is red and spindle shaped (with a little 'tail') that stays reasonably the same, with delicious, but somewhat sharper flavour than sungold.  Cross anything with sungold I would have thought is a recipe for an unstable variety for generations to come  ;D  But there are probably more stable sungold OPs around.   

Well, we will know for sure next year ;)  What an interesting comparison experiment.

[Jayb]

Lol, I crossed Sungold F7 to Miro Gemma and Ditmarsher  ;D

One of our members sent me this link to Indigo Rose http://www.johnnyseeds.com/p-8711-indigo-rose-og.aspx They do appear quite a bit smaller than OSU we have been growing.

[galina]

Lol, I crossed Sungold F7 to Miro Gemma and Ditmarsher  ;D

One of our members sent me this link to Indigo Rose http://www.johnnyseeds.com/p-8711-indigo-rose-og.aspx They do appear quite a bit smaller than OSU we have been growing.

Yes, they look large cherry sized, haven't seen this picture before but you are right, not like our OSU. 

Also what is this peculiar days to maturity or bloom?  Does this mean there is now a days from sowing to bloom and from bloom to harvest and both are 75days, ie 5 months altogether from seed to harvest?  Or is it a days to bloom for flowers and days to harvest after planting out for tomatoes?

[pumkinlover]

Those indigo rose look gorgeous, the polish on them is slightly surreal!

[Jayb]

No idea, I've not noticed it written like that before. I'll guess it is 75 days from sowing to first truss/flowers, and a further 75days plant out to first ripe fruit which would take it to 150 days seed to ripe fruit.

Nichols Garden and Nursery has it listed 'Open polilnated, Indeterminate 70 days' which is the way I've usually seen it.

They do look polished  ;D

[galina]

Lol, I crossed Sungold F7 to Miro Gemma and Ditmarsher  ;D

I guess with the aim of getting miniature plants with Sungold type tomatoes, interesting.  Did you dehybridise the Sungold?

[Jayb]

I guess with the aim of getting miniature plants with Sungold type tomatoes, interesting.  Did you dehybridise the Sungold?

A miniture with flavour would be a treat  ;D
No someone else started these Sungold off, very kindly I was sent them in a swap a few years back. Up until now one has been red and one yellow, very tasty too. But not this year, so a few more generations needed at least!

[galina]

First tomato up this year on day 3 in the propagator is Black Cherry.  Not just one seed, but all that were sown uniformly.  Thanks 1066.  Looking forward to growing and tasting these.  Not enough room last year, so they had to wait a year, but that hasn't done the seeds any harm evidently  ;D

[galina]

First tomato up this year on day 3 in the propagator is Black Cherry.  Not just one seed, but all that were sown uniformly.  Thanks 1066.  Looking forward to growing and tasting these.  Not enough room last year, so they had to wait a year, but that hasn't done the seeds any harm evidently  ;D

Tomato Black Cherry

And they are very nice, almost more dark purple than brown, a striking colour and lots of them and tasty.  Nice variety!  :) -  (just don't tell the family that a few 'disappeared' before the bowl got to the kitchen ..........)

Climbing French Bean Australian Sweet Purple

Ruud,  just harvested a load of Australian Sweet Purple bean.  Superb, large purple and they seem to thrive on this rain (although all beans were late this year).  A good variety.  I am curious to find out a bit more about them as google is very sparse with any details.  Certainly will save seeds of this one  :)