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On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

Has there been any progress relative to finding out from Frank Catapano whether he used a Lyons seed (BZ) or his own family seed to grow this 3.9 pound tomato? If he used his own family seed the consequences as to the heritage of tomatoes being grown by many of us today will be heavilly impacted. It is something we need to know for sure for those of us deciding what to plant next year in the limited spaces we all have.

1/5/2014 11:52:37 AM

Cameron

No word from Russ Landry Yet. I'll post if I hear anything.

Jane & Phil

1/6/2014 11:30:14 AM

Ontario, Canada.

OK then I just got the scoop from Dr. Frank Catapano this evening. He grew his own complete seed line until 2007 when he grew the 4.59 Lyons. So the 3.4 is a different seed line than the 3.90

Chris is correct. Frank reviewed his records and he was able to discern that the 3.90 is from the BZ seed line Via Chris Lyons. Frank does not have any 3.90 seeds left. However, he does have from the same plant a limited qty of 3.75's left that he weighed at Port Elgin in 2007, they were never widely grown.

The 3.4 produced my 5.41 in 2011. There are no 3.4's left except for a few that I have left. He does have some 2.75 left from the same seed line. These were grown a year earlier than the 3.4. Interestingly Frank confirms that the 2.75 plant produced approximately 200 pounds of tomato's on a single plant. If anyone is interested they could be available upon request from the GVGO. The 5.41 is basically an open cross. It does have some hybrid vigor but this is only IMHO. In the right growers hands it may produce a monster. It was grown in the same patch as the 7.33 Hunt and was hand pollinated with the same electric tooth brush. I have found as noted and pictured in my diary this summer that in does through large "Flat Tire" CC fruit.

Hope this helps

Russ

1/12/2014 8:41:34 PM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

It helps a lot. Thanks.

1/12/2014 8:51:07 PM

I am interested in some Russ.
Thanks
Bird

1/12/2014 11:29:29 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Franks tomato line is his own dating back to 1998 as he grew the offspring year after in his backyard just north of Toronto in a community called Woodbridge. The origin is unknown. They were called a heart shaped tomato. He has described them as meaty and tasty. He grew them mostly for eating. He started to weigh them after he had one plant that produced 200 pounds in 2005. My experience with the 3.4 and in my 5.41 offspring is the plants will produce multiple fused blossoms on several trusses that grow large flat multi segmented fruit.

I will contact Frank shortly and get back to you on availability.

Thanks
Russ

1/13/2014 10:48:22 AM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

Based on information available the 2007 Catapano 3.90 seed was a Big Zac F3. The seeds from Boudyo 6+ pound tomatoes are up to F7 and F9 Big Zac. There has been a lot of selecting in between. I believe you would be better off, if going for a big tomato, to grow some of the more recent seeds or the seeds that were the direct ancestors of the 6+ pounders.

1/14/2014 11:33:21 AM

Corbin, KY

I think Dr. Marv is correct about the Big Zac line there has been a lot of selection for size and mega blooms between the F3 and F7+. Dr Catapano has been growing a line of heirloom tomatos that produce big single fruit and mega blooms. Might just be what the doctor ordered to breed into the Mega Marv, Delicious, Brutus Magnum, and even the Big Zac F7+. Might just create that hybrid vigor we are looking for to reach that 8 pounder.

1/14/2014 2:47:59 PM

Ontario, Canada.

I have a meeting with Frank tomorrow. I have two requests for seeds from the 2.75 Catapano. If anyone else would like some please post here.

Russ

1/15/2014 12:01:39 PM

Marion,IN

Russ, I'm very interested in the 2.75 seeds. If I could get a few that would be great. I've re-read the post multiple times. What seed line did the 2.75 Catapano come from exactly? Thank you.

Mark G.

1/15/2014 9:32:42 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Mark. I met with Frank yesterday. The 2.75 is from his own seed line that he received from some friends in Toronto area location. The are some type of heart shaped tomato that is meaty and tasty.

Frank grew this heart shaped seed line from 1998 never weighing any or showing any of them. The 2.75,(2005) he has left are the result of 6 years of selfed fruit grown in 2005. He gave me some of his 3.4's (2006 seven years selfed)In 2009 I grew a few of the 3.4's in 2010 for fun and with very little care I had numerous large fruit that tasted very good.

In 2011 I decided to grow a few more 3.4's. This resulted in my 5.41 Landry 11. This was my first serious attempt in growing large tomatoes.

I have only 4 seeds left of the 3.4 and Frank has none left. However, Frank has found 100 or so seeds of the 2.75 grown in 2005.

My take is that the 2.75 should produce every bit as good as the 3.4. Meaning that if I can grow a 5.41 fruit from the 3.4 with little experience it must have some potential. Granted I did some experimenting with the 5.41 plant treating it mostly like an AGP. For starters I grew it in a green house as and early spring plant. The fruit set was very late on the fourth cluster in mid August. The plant was given a lot of teas brewed with Fulvic acid, phoshites, Ca, IBA, kelp. I used Red light in the pre morning dawn and after dusk. I blinked the plant at night with red light as well to slow senescence and ripening.

Maybe I just got lucky. I believe crossing the 3.4 with Big Zac or Delicious seed lines could IMHO result in some offspring that might display hybrid vigour.

1/17/2014 9:35:44 AM

East Carbon, Utah

This is some very interesting and useful history! I too would love to get a couple of seeds from the 2.75, but I seem to have lost your email address Russ. Here's mine:
dale@gianttomatoseeds.com

1/18/2014 4:48:13 PM

Goodwood, Ontario, Canada

I am growing both a 7.33 Hunt and a 5.22 Hunt in my greenhouse. Hoping to cross the two strains (Delicious & Big Zac.

3/13/2014 10:16:32 AM