OSU Blue Tomatoes and the other Blueberry one.. growing comparisons.

[Jayb]

In the GMO John Innes tomato photos, it shows them as a dwarf/container plant. There is also no visual darkened colouration on the stem or leaves. 
I think it is most likely the 'Blueberry' plants I am growing are OSU Blue, although they currently show more darkening in foliage than those from OSU.

if it is blue all through...don't suck it to see!!

;D

[Jayb]

[amphibian]

In the GMO John Innes tomato photos, it shows them as a dwarf/container plant. There is also no visual darkened colouration on the stem or leaves. 
I think it is most likely the 'Blueberry' plants I am growing are OSU Blue, although they currently show more darkening in foliage than those from OSU.

if it is blue all through...don't suck it to see!!

;D

In pea genetics, several genes are involved in the depth of penetration of anthocyanin through the plant and eventually to the pods, I suspect the situation may be similar with tomatoes, but who can say how this entirely foreign snapdragon gene behaves in the GM crop.

[ruud]

some intresting reading about this topic.
http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=11677

[Jeannine]

I was reading somewhere in the last few days about the only GM tomato that was sold in stores,US I think, the Flavorsaver,  it apparently tasted disgusting and the shop pulled them after a couple of days, the writer simply could not eat it. I will try anf find the article. XX Jeannine

[amphibian]

I was reading somewhere in the last few days about the only GM tomato that was sold in stores,US I think, the Flavorsaver,  it apparently tasted disgusting and the shop pulled them after a couple of days, the writer simply could not eat it. I will try anf find the article. XX Jeannine

Carol Deppe described FlavrSavr as tasting like gasoline, that said though FlavrSavr was an odd choice of GM meddling in that they tried to breed a tomato that stayed hard even when ripe, but this seemed to ignore the fact that flavours develop as the fruit softens.

[amphibian]

So what do people here want to do with OSU Blue and its sublines? Just grow it and compare it to other anthocyanin producing lines, or do people want to engage in some breeding work with it?

[Jeannine]

It probably was Carol Deppe I was reading her book just yesterday.

Re OSU Blue, I have time on my hands now for the first time in a long time and I want to do a bit of work with some tomatoes and some squash, I started  of being curious about the Blue, and will see what it is like.. I have heard the taste described as bland, not bad, good and a spitter,so we will see,of course like anything else  taste can depend on weather,soil and growing methods. I shan't know till end of the season what I wil be doing with this one but I will isolate to keep pure for the seeds.

XX Jeannine

[amphibian]

It probably was Carol Deppe I was reading her book just yesterday.

Re OSU Blue, I have time on my hands now for the first time in a long time and I want to do a bit of work with some tomatoes and some squash, I started  of being curious about the Blue, and will see what it is like.. I have heard the taste described as bland, not bad, good and a spitter,so we will see,of course like anything else  taste can depend on weather,soil and growing methods. I shan't know till end of the season what I wil be doing with this one but I will isolate to keep pure for the seeds.

XX Jeannine

I want to incorporate these blue genes into some really tasty tomatoes, maybe some cherries. I'm concerned about them just looking muddy coloured though, I think the blue is going to be a tricksy customer.

[Jeannine]

Good point, maybe we can all help each other..the point of thid post actually. I am woried as my plants are very tiny as I planted late but they are under growlights so am keeping fingers crossed Does anyone know if they are determinate or indereminate.. XX Jeannine

[gp.girl]

Don't get caught....the company owns those genes and they can and will cease seed/plants from other farmers/growers that has been contaminated with 'their' genes.

On the other hand if you can breed one with flavour as well, ha ha multimillion dollar multinationals

;D ;D ;D ;D

[ruud]

The plants i had last year were inbetween,just to small for indeterminate and to big for determinate,but they need staking.

[Jeannine]

did you prune them , did either one end with the growing tip turning into a flower truss XX Jeannine

[amphibian]

Mine are still to germinate, with our total lack of spring I am worried that I may not get a crop at all. Which has left me wondering whether I should just use the flowers to cross with a tomato that will give me a crop this year.

I have been considering doing a cross between a blue shouldered tomato and Gold medal, to create a tricolour variety that is essentially banded horizontally, like a Zoom lolly.

[amphibian]

My OSU Blue have fair sprung out of the dirt, this morning I have several seedlings showing their heads, very rapid germination.

[lottiedolly]

My OSU are about 8" tall and growing really really well, i am keeping them in the front porch which is south facing and should get a lot of sun and heat, i have heard that the amount of sunlight determines the strength of blue.

[amphibian]

My OSU are about 8" tall and growing really really well, i am keeping them in the front porch which is south facing and should get a lot of sun and heat, i have heard that the amount of sunlight determines the strength of blue.

That and temperature yes. Bright but cool growing conditions would be the best as I understand it.

[superspud]

gp.girl, I watched an enlightening programme on TV a while ago about the devil child Monsanto and their GM crops, I also read about what they are doing to the poor farmers in the USA and how they are losing their farms over court cases against them for seed that has ben wind borne and then grown on their land, its disgracefull, and down the road from me between the Newbury and Basingstoke road is field up on field of Rape seed, its even growing on the roadside now. I wonder how long before the Monsanto spies start that lark here.

In respect of OSU blue, Ruud one of mine has started growing  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D, no sign of my Amish Paste coming up though ....Yet.

[Jeannine]

BUMP

How are things progressing now, mine are way behind everyone elses but still very clearly purple foliage XX Jeannine

[Jayb]

All seem to be growing ok, although mine seem prone to leaves curling, a couple of the earliest flowers on the Blues have not set, but I wondered if this may have been due to cold weather at the time?

One of my Blues remains quite different in type, different leaf shape and no noticeable blue colouration anywhere. The Blueberries are still showing darker colouring on their stems and leaves than the Blues. Even though they are all in a polytunnel its quite obvious from the plants colouration whch is on the sunny side.

Blues vines are about 3½-4' high, flowering now on the 3 truss going on 4th.
Blueberries are starting flowering 2nd truss and about 2½' high.
Rightly or wrongly I'm treating them as cordon as that's what they seem to be.   

These are of the Blues
[attachment=1][attachment=2][attachment=3]

[Jayb]

Blueberries

[attachment=1]
[attachment=2]

Sunny to shady side reflects in the stems colouration

[attachment=3]