A little while ago Markfield rover very kindly sent me seeds of this variety originally from HSL, a pink plum type which I've grown, enjoyed and been able to share seeds with the tomato swap. I got to thinking was this more of a paste tomato? But when I checked the internet it seems the name perhaps belongs to a yellow beefsteak tomato rather than my tasty pink plum! I've emailed HSL (description in 2009 catalogue) to see if they can clarify but I wondered also if anyone here can shed a bit of light?
Link to Tatiana's http://t.tatianastomatobase.com:88/wiki/Bijskij_Zeltyi also Bijskij Plum http://t.tatianastomatobase.com:88/wiki/Bijskij_Plum which sounds like my variety?
Are yours like these 'plums' on this photo?
http://www.ghorganics.com/BrandwineYellow.htm
The earliest description of this tomato (and origin information) I know of is on Professor Klapprott's webpage:
BijskijZeltij [Genbank-Braunschweig (Nr.51330) - Bijsk = Stadt im Altaigebiet; Zeltij = Gelb] '91 erhalten. Gelbfrüchtige Sorte (L. esculentum) aus GUS. {92} 1992 sehr große gelbe Fleischtomaten von zarter Konsistenz.
BijskijZeltij Genebank Braunschweig No 51330. Bijsk - a town in the Altai mountain area, Zeltij - yellow. Received 91. Yellow fruited variety (l esculentum) from Sowjet Union. Grown in 92. In 1992 very large yellow beefsteak tomatoes, tender consistency.
Reading Tatiana's wiki page, it seems like a wrong type was accidentally sent in 2007 under the name of BZ and presumably this wrong type was passed on and spread. As there is no conclusive origin information for the plum version, it is possibly a case of mistaken identity.
url
http://joogen.bplaced.net/tom/a-k-tom.htm#b
In other words, definitely not a plum, but a beefsteak tomato. HTH
Yes they looked pretty much like that. I've written on the envelope, cordon pink fruit 2" long, productive and good cooked. From the HSL catalogue it is not clear how far they can be traced.
Interesting and thank you Galina for your information. Tania's site information is much the same, I think it probable Bijskij Zeltyi is the tomato listed by Double Helix Farm, I think they are sourcing quite a few of the varieties from Russian Federation.
Found a bit more. Braunschweig Genebank is part of Gatersleben. The tomato is indeed listed:
LYC 1354
Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. convar. esculentum var. esculentum
Bijskij Zeltyj
*Sowjetunion
D: Bot. Gart. Univ. Tomsk, UdSSR: -
no detailed description available, spelling like Tatiana's, original source botanical gardens, university of Tomsk, Sowjet Union
Manfred Hahm/Reinhard Kraft have published a photo:
http://tomaten.bplaced.net/Tomatenfotos/Biskij-Zeltij.jpg
and a description
545 Biskiy Zeltiy
Große Fleischtomate, orange-gelb, dunkler als 501, süßsauer, innen oft ein rosa Kern, wohlschmeckend.
Large beefsteak tomato, orange-yellow, darker than 501 (his numbering system), sweet/sharp, often with pink central core, tasty.
Spelling is different again - due to translation difficulties with cyrillic script I think.
Quote from: Jayb on February 17, 2012, 15:07:15
I think it probable Bijskij Zeltyi is the tomato listed by Double Helix Farm, I think they are sourcing quite a few of the varieties from Russian Federation.
I have just been on their website. Not only did they change the name (anglicised it) which does not help trace the origin of any variety, they also give no original source information. Who knows?
Unfortunately they are doing that with many they are listing.
And I can not be of any help ! Only to say that the seeds were straight from the packet.
To add to the confusion I also from HSL have Fablonelistnyj - and when I googled these I got everything from mini beefsteak flat yellow cherry!!
I have original seed from both these if anyone wants to have a go.
Quote from: markfield rover on February 21, 2012, 12:34:34
And I can not be of any help ! Only to say that the seeds were straight from the packet.
To add to the confusion I also from HSL have Fablonelistnyj - and when I googled these I got everything from mini beefsteak flat yellow cherry!!
I have original seed from both these if anyone wants to have a go.
Markfield Rover, I grew Fablonelistnyi from your seeds last year and they turned out exactly as expected, no discrepancies there. And a very nice tomato to boot. :)
Looks like HSL got the plum version. As long as they and we all know that there are two versions under the same name, we can accommodate. Tatyana's website has done a great job untangling the differences.
I remember the problems with Lancashire Lad - a nice purple podded pea from HSL - until somebody found historical information that says LL should be a green podded pea. Doesn't mean that LL purple should not be grown any more, just that it needs explaining. BZ plum or LL purple podded should do the trick :)
Did you get a reply from HSL, JayB?
Not yet :)
It does sound probable that the tomato we have grown as BZ is known elsewhere as BZ Plum. I'm hoping HSL will be able to clarify. Both are good tomatoes (thank you ;D MR) and I'd agree are growing true to the description HSL has given, my query was just if the name they gave is the correct one. I hope that makes sense