A Girl of Good Taste

[KYHeirloomer]

Sister Chatty has told about Maddy at the Tomato Festival, and how she had to sample all of the several dozen tomato varieties available.

When asked which was her favorite, Maddy unhesitantly choose Coer de Bleu, an oxheart-shaped heirloom.

Naturally, I taught Cathy how to collect seeds, so she could grow it next year.

Now, the rest of the story. The results of the blind taste testing were posted yesterday. And the unqualified winner----sound of drums, toot of horns---was Coer de Bleu!

Way to go, Maddy!

 

[Cook Chatty Cathy]

That is too cool!!! Wait til I tell her!!! I think from the sample she gave me to collect seed for that variety I only wound up with 2 seeds I will have to cherish and baby those 2 for everything they are worth

By the way Brook, when we got back to the campground I gently removed all the seeds from the tomato you gave me (the Cherokee Purple) and then proceeded to eat the entire tomato once the seeds were safe And thank you it was delicious!!!

 

[mrsjimmyp]

Congrats to Maddy !

 

[chubbyalaskagriz]

Awww... nice job, Maddy! Congratulations, honey-dumplin'!

 

[KYHeirloomer]

Cathy, the Cherokee Purple goes a long way towards disproving Red Foxx's great line. He said: Beauty is skin deep, but ugly goes clear to the bone.

Fact is, if Cherokee Purple isn't the ugliest tomato grown it runs whatever is a close second. But it more than makes up for its looks by its taste. CP consistently wins tomato taste tests, and, if God forbid I had to confine myself to just one variety, that would be it.

 

[Cook Chatty Cathy]

Here here Brook I absolutely concure 100%!!!

I kept looking at that tomato in the baggie and saying gosh that slice Brook let me taste sure was delicious, and kept thinking gosh it's a darn shame to let that beautiful thing go to waste, and next thing you know I was grabbing it out of the baggie and gently removed every single seed onto a white napkin at the picnic table (campers were walking by or would drive by eye-balling me [hee-hee] like I was a crazy or something!) and then I rewarded all my patient effort by eating the whole thing!!! Gosh it was better than m-m-m good! I let the sun dry the seeds as I did not know what else to do. After they had completely dried I gently removed the seeds from the napkin and placed them into a clean baggie (one of the ones you snuck and got me) and I have them in the freezer safe guarded for next year!

 

[KYHeirloomer]

Two things to be aware of.

1. Direct sunlight can be dangerous when drying or curing seeds and clones (such as garlic), because it can actually cook the item. Best bet, always, is warm but not in direct sun.

2. Your seed is not fully dried, even though it looked that way. Do not remove it from the freezer until you are ready to set seed, as the defrosting process can effect germination (condensation becomes a moisture source). And overset you seed greatly in case of point #1.

If you messed up, not to worry. Cherokee Purple seed is readily available. Meanwhile, I'm making inquiries about the Coer de Bleu.

I had send you the instructions for fermentation. An alternative some people use, however, is to spread the seed out on a paper towel or napkin, about an inch apart. When fully dried (two to three weeks) they cut the towel into squares, with a seed centered in each. Then they plant the whole thing. The bit of paper helps maintain moisture around the seed until it germinates.

The downside to that is that you are not removing the anti-germination compounds found in the gel coat. So germination can be low---sometimes less than 50%. So, again, you have to really over-plant to assure getting the number you want.

 

[Cook Chatty Cathy]

Thanks for the info. I had no idea the sun would actually cook the poor babies I think I will like the napkin method best. Even if I do have to plant more seed it just seems like I would have less bother and fuss that way and working full time leaves me no alternative but to try and accomplish as much as I can in as little time as possible. I am happy to learn I did not screw up those seeds. I was going to keep them frozen until next planting season, as I always freeze and re-use any seed that I do not use in one season for the next years garden. And Brook you know me I like to plant by Good Friday so they won't even be frozen a full year.