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On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

This year the GPC list of tomatoes grown posted on BigPumpkins.com was over 250 tomatoes. Each year the list gets bigger. Unfortunately only 16 of the tomatoes listed included the variety of the tomato. I believe it may be even worse next year as we lose the tomato genetic knowledge. Does anyone not understand the importance of knowing what variety of tomato they are growing for future growers of the seeds? The genetics of pumpkins are well documented. Tomato genetics are going by the wayside. Too bad but it is what it is and no one, not even BP.com, seems to care. HELP!

10/12/2015 9:24:19 AM

Prairie Du Sac Wi

I think the problem is that on some or all of the weigh of registration forms there is no separate lines for variety. They just ask the seed mother and seed father. And most people just put in the weight and last name ,just like we do for pumpkins. I think way more people would enter the variety info if there were separate lines for it.

Like ......seed mother_________variety________...seed father_______variety________

10/12/2015 11:58:35 AM

Wixom MI.

Marv is this what you mean ?

7.33 hunt(delicious)x 8.41 MacCoy(big zac)

Puting the variety name in parentheses ?

10/12/2015 12:39:47 PM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

It is only recently that people are making crosses of tomatoes and if you make a cross you actually have developed an entire other animal. To properly identify the hybrid you have made both parents would have to be mentioned. However most growers are just growing seeds they get from someone else such as MacCoy or Boudyo. MacCoy has been in the past growing mostly offshoots of Big Zac and so when his seeds are passed on it is enough to include that in the name such as 8.42 MacCoy (Big Zac) 2014. A tomato grown from that seed would be called something like 4.86 Joe Blow (Big Zac) 2015. Somewhere in the name should be the actual variety used. In the BP.Com data there is very little recognition of actual variety and so people growing the seeds will not even know for sure what variety they grew and would not be able to even include it in the naming of their seeds and so the ancestry and genetics are lost.

10/12/2015 1:38:49 PM

Prairie Du Sac Wi

I totally agree . But the question is ...is what is the best course of action to solve the problem. I'd say the GPC needs to add a variety line to the registration at the weigh offs.

But like what Chris is showing. Putting the variety in parentheses may work. And that's how I'll do it from now on but only a few will see this. So I think the GPG needs to make a easy change to the registration.

10/13/2015 3:23:27 AM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

The fact that only 3 people actually posted her is a reflection of the concern...ie nobody really cares.

10/16/2015 12:09:20 PM

Central NY

I care.. I def put down the variety on my forms...from there , not sure what I can do ...

10/16/2015 12:39:31 PM

Connecticut, USA

I have created a field for this information. Now we will just have to get as many populated as we can. Someone who actually wants to help and not just complain should contact me to do the work.

10/16/2015 1:10:02 PM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

I would be only too happy to help with this and I have a tomato expert who I believe would also like to help. I think the two of us could do this as well as anyone. We are both very compulsive and also motivated to see the genetics of the tomatoes we all grow preserved for the future.

10/16/2015 4:56:19 PM

Wixom MI.

Marv i think that you are the perfect person to set up this idea !!! I am rather new to tomato growing and i really want to push cross pollinating and like you said, when you only put a persons name and weight up their after a few years you have no idea if it came from a big zac,delicous,mega marv,brutus magnum,domingo,slankard, etc....i know that i have a lot to learn with crossing tomatoes, but i truely need to know what tomato vatiety i am crossing with to make a good true cross.good luck marv looking forward to the future progress in tracking tomato genetics.

10/17/2015 10:18:52 AM

Oswego,ny

makes sense, just confirmed that all 8 of the tomatoes at the Oswego weigh-off did have grower of the seed info.and open so something to backtrack from is there.
personally im partial to delicious .So I plant them and have great results.for the last 5 years anything recorded by me was this variety.
wish I had more time to do more documentation.
great concept , hope it takes off.

10/18/2015 7:33:40 AM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

I sent Ken email awhile ago but it must not have gotten through. Several growers offered to help with the listing of tomato varieties. After we get started, it may take awhile, possibly most of the winter. But, at least, it will be there.

11/4/2015 3:32:00 PM