Snarkie

So I ordered Homestead and Tropic VFN seeds. Both arrived and I set them on the table. My cats thought it was fun to play with the plastic bags, so I have one missing, and one intact. Neither were marked. I have no idea WTF I have left, but they are still great for the South.

They are either indeterminate Tropic VFN or Semi Determinate Homestead. If you are in the South, both are great tomatoes for the heat and humidity. I have about 50 seeds, so for $3.25, they are yours. I'm leaning toward Tropic, but I cannot be certain.

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Doug (D.A. Hänks) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2955582/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1


The Only Eastern Redwood Forest in America




"Nuke my 'nanners, will you?!"

smeash

Thanks for the offer. Ive tried twice to germinate the homestead variety with no luck! Have you had success?

Snarkie

I haven't tried yet. I was going to plant one of each to get going over the winter, but now IDK which I have. It looks there are more than ten seeds in there; 40 or so, so I'm thinking they might be Tropic, but I am unsure. So this is kind of like a grab bag, LOL. All I can tell you is if they germinate, they will be heat and humidity tolerant. I'm probably going to order some more Tropic and just stay with them, keeping them out of the cats' reach!

If no one wants these, I'll get them going and give the seedlings to my neighbors. So, they'll be available until late January or so.

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Doug (D.A. Hänks) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2955582/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1


The Only Eastern Redwood Forest in America




"Nuke my 'nanners, will you?!"

smeash

I know the homestead variety has very tiny seeds if that helps. You may have inspired me to try again to germinate some.. from what most sellers say, the homestead germinates sometimes months after planting... no real rhyme or reason.. The other thing they say is once you grow them, they will come back forever due to the thousands of seeds from tomatoes that fall off the vines.

edwmax

I don't find this to be true. My fresh seeds germinate in 3 to 6 days. Older seeds (> than 2 years) may take 2 to 4 weeks. Tomato seeds need light to germinate and thus planted shallow (about 1/4 inch). The deeper the seed the longer it will take to germinate if at all.



You said " ... they will come back forever due to the thousands of seeds from tomatoes that fall off the vines." ... This might be true in a bed that is not plowed or weeded. But in a garden most of the seeds would rot in the soil and the few 'volunteer plants would be weeded out when plowing or hoeing. You wouldn't know it.


Tomato seeds are generally about 1/8" or slightly less in diameter. The seeds do vary in size depending on the size of the fruit. You only want seeds from full size tomatoes and not from sub-standard fruit. ... To collect tomato seeds, cut open & squeeze out the pulp and allow it to sour for a few days. This will cause the gel sac around the seed to separate. Then skim off the fermented scum. The good seeds will be at the bottom. Wash the seeds in a strainer and allow to dry.

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smeash

Hi and thanks Edmax.. My understanding from the 2 vendors i ordered my homestead seeds from was that they are extremely difficult to germinate. Have you had luck in growing this variety? Im fairly experienced with tomatoes, as i grow 30-50 varieties a year. The homestead is the only one i havent been able to germinate.. but that may just be bad seeds. reviews from other customers complained of the same .. but a few said their seeds germinated months after planting. I would really like to grow this variety, as it is perfect for my environment.

Snarkie

Funny thing, Max-

Back in 1983 or so, I took some seeds from a cherry tomato at a restaurant and planted them in my uncle's garden. Damn things grew! This was long before Monsanto dominated everything with their GMO crap. I guess those were heirlooms, eh?

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Doug (D.A. Hänks) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2955582/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1


The Only Eastern Redwood Forest in America




"Nuke my 'nanners, will you?!"

Snarkie

The Tropic VFN will probably be better. It's indeterminate and just as hardy if not more so.

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Doug (D.A. Hänks) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2955582/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1


The Only Eastern Redwood Forest in America




"Nuke my 'nanners, will you?!"

Snarkie

Well, I found the missing bag of seeds, so I know what's what now. No need to sell anymore.

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Doug (D.A. Hänks) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2955582/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1


The Only Eastern Redwood Forest in America




"Nuke my 'nanners, will you?!"

Snarkie

Hey Seth-

Mine all germinated at a normal rate; even faster than the Everglades. If you'd like, I can tell you who I ordered mine from.

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Doug (D.A. Hänks) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2955582/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1


The Only Eastern Redwood Forest in America




"Nuke my 'nanners, will you?!"

Backyard Banana Joe

Yes!!! Me too! I have tried at least two, maybe three times, unsuccessfully.

edwmax

I found this guide for tomatoes. Tomato Guide

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edwmax

It is easy to save seeds from the heirloom type type tomatoes and other vegges. Especially for the expensive &/or hard to find varieties. For tomatoes, just squish out the seeds from over ripe tomatoes; mix this with a little water and allow to ferment for 1 or 2 days. The fermentation will loosen the gel sack around the seed. Then rise a couple of times and remove any thing that floats. Strain and air dry the seeds. ... There may be a little bit of trash material ... but who cares these are your seeds and you are not paying $$$ for 15 or 20 seeds at the store. .... Heirloom types are usually old type hybrids that come back true to themselves. .... OH, tomato seeds can be good for 4 years when properly stored ( cool & dry).



If you try to save seeds from the newer hybrid type tomatoes these might be 'trade marked' so don't try to sell these; the seed might come back true to the plant or one of its parents, which generally are good plants themselves; And, still worth trying .... A germination test on a few of the hybrid seeds will show if the seeds will produce.


I'm sure most of you already know all this ..... please forgive me ....

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Snarkie

No, this is all good stuff. The purpose of sites like this is to share knowledge and information and learn from it.

I will also say again, that my Homesteads pretty much all germinated, so if anyone wants to know where I got my seeds, lemme know. My biggest issues were with the Everglades. Only a few hatched, and the little ducklings are growing pretty slow, but the one I did as a test back in January has maters on it already, fruiting far faster than the Homesteads and Tropics.

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Doug (D.A. Hänks) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2955582/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1


The Only Eastern Redwood Forest in America




"Nuke my 'nanners, will you?!"

edwmax

Hummmmm .... check your moon phase and the Old Framers Almanac for correct planting/setting time.


May be you needed a pair of chicken feet tied into a cross and a rabbit's foot hanging close by!!!!! hehehehe ....

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LaBananaGwr2018

I agree also, some people may know or most people may know about saving seeds but there alway is someone that has just started growing from seeds. I save my own seeds from plants that we grow. If we keep growing them than the newer strains will develop stronger and be better

Snarkie

I think the Old Framers are either working at Lens Crafters, Michaels or building Timber Peg homes... The Old Farmers might be a place to start though...

IDK about the chicken feet. I'll have to find my lucky bullets I used to wear around my neck; they all bounced off of me, just like the meteorites. That's got to be some positive life karma there.

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Doug (D.A. Hänks) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2955582/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1


The Only Eastern Redwood Forest in America




"Nuke my 'nanners, will you?!"

edwmax

Hummmm ... must have been rubber bullets if they bounced off of you. I got to find my old spud gun. I'll bet the 'tater bullet' will bounce you about 5 ft backwards .....

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Snarkie

.30-30 and a .22; both ricochets. I wore the .30-30 around my neck for years. It's worn flat on the back side from wearing it for so long. I think it's still in my jewelry box. I'll have to have a looksee. Those were the ones that bounced off and found. The shotgun pellets and the one that went through were lost or not worth saving.

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Doug (D.A. Hänks) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2955582/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1


The Only Eastern Redwood Forest in America




"Nuke my 'nanners, will you?!"