Does anyone know how heirloomtomatoes.net is these days as far as the seed being what it's supposed to?
I came across them in my little notebook from years ago and I know Chuck has passed on but the site is still apparently active and I wondered if the quality is still there.

Thanks for any help!

***** Dawn, I hate to say this b/c Chuck was such a good froend of mine, but unless Donna has something unique that you can't get anywheres else I wouldn't take a chance on the seeds.

Chuck died in June of 2002 and for several years before that a lot of seeds got mixed up b'c of his medical condition at the time. And so not only is seed age a potential problem, but for many of the varieties there is no commercial wholesale source where Donna can replace any of them/

And do me a favor. Please e-mail me at cmale@aol.com so I can catch up with you. Well I remember our last chat leaning on pallets of goodies behind Hortus Nursery in Pasadena. LOL

Carolyn

Dawn, I hate to say this b/c Chuck was such a good froend of mine, but unless Donna has something unique that you can't get anywheres else I wouldn't take a chance on the seeds...

Well on my post praying for some sweet full-sized yellow-orange to fruits, I was pleasantly reprised on Burrackers Favorite. I think CW disclosed this one.

Ya, I gots some seeds of BF and I will do them in 2008 patch. Not enough to distribute.

Reg

Chuck brought me a lot of the varieties I still grow today. Mortgage Lifter Estler was one I really enjoyed.

DarJones

Man, I am sorry to hear that. I suppose I could look at it as a grab bag if I ordered anything, but I would make very sure not to share seed from that source without full disclosure....besides, I doubt anything there has less flavor than most hybrids .

Carolyn, I'll be in touch soon - wasn't sure if you remembered me or not - we sure remember you!

Do I understand (from another thread) that your book has another printing out soon?

Dawn

Should be part of the fun for this year!
After years ( decade+) of being content with Brandywine ( long story but basically I found myself last year with but some 13 seeds left ... wife claimed that I must have left them on "her" counter too long) , I found a couple of these forums and decided that I must be missing out on something! So I ordered several others and last year was SAD! Wrong to type on the majority.
It struck me hard ( especially with red 4 oz Cherokee Purples?) and so I went off on a tangent ... there ain't but so many years for me to garden.
Anyway, I acquired some 800 different varieties this past year and about 50 were from Donna. All are on this years grow list due to the potential age of the seed.
The transaction was prompt and pleasant. 20 of 72 varieties I started today came from them ( 31 of the 72 varieties I plan to start tomorrow will be also) ... only time will tell but I'm hoping for the best!

I ordered seed from the Chuck Wyatt site Fall 2005, and they sprouted okay for me in 2006 and 2007. I have no idea how old they were. Some were even the ones Donna was selling for 50c a pack, which would indicate "discontinuation."
I called her once a year or so ago, and she said something that left me with the impression that a lot of her seeds were only 2 years old.

Bill

I wondered about that today myself Bill .. they did not *all* appear to be too old. Some did appear a bit old but several seemed awfully close to some that I saved last year ... was just a thought I had via but my appearance perspective.

Donna may be getting some wholesale and she may also have entered into some kind of subcontract arrangements with one or more persons.

Carolyn

Donna may be getting some wholesale and she may also have entered into some kind of subcontract arrangements with one or more persons.
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Which would make her pretty much another vendor of the same seed source as most others ... another source is cool with me.
I even understand most of it ... here in GA, you must submit like one pound of tomato seed to the state for testing before you can offer it for sale. This limitation defines larger sources as the supplier ... and perhaps why many of my seed packets are stamped with an origin of Thailand or China?
So we individuals maintain enough of a supply to sustain our own .. but that is about it?

Hi Bill

Thought I'd report on the Brandywine/NAR F1's and F2's you sent.

The F2's germinated in 4 days at around 69F. (I use no heat mats or artificial lights.)The seeds were size LARGE. The seedlings are healthy and among the tallest of all my varieties thus far.

The F1's took 8 days to pop. The seeds were very much on the small size. They just sprouted yesterday. I am hoping They can shed their seed coats. My experience teaches me that robust seedlings almost never give a problem with sticky seed coats. I'll post in another day or two.

I am going to go with 4 or 5 F2 plants to help you with the grow-out. I'll go with 2 F1's if I can. The F1'a really have me excited based on your reviews last fall. NAR and Brandy are among my two favorites so I hope I get a chance to sample their offspring...:)

SO HAPPY the Giants beat Bellyache! Colts all the way again next year...:)

Oh man ... wasn't that great for Papa Manning!!! He must be one proud daddy.

Listen, about the F2s ... watch for the PLs. There should be 25% plus or minus. You may have a bit of trouble telling the PLs at first because the F1s were intermediate leaf form looking a bit like PLs when young and having minimal serrations as they matured. But some of the F2s should be pure smooth leaf PLs.

About the weaker germination on the F1s ... hmmmmmm. Maybe I better start storing the seeds under refrigeration. They were fairly robust sprouters last year. Oh well.

Thanks so much for taking an interest in the BWxNAR. Hope you enjoy them.

Bill

I'll say. Old Arch must be beside himself. There was a third brother, Cooper, who was a wide-out in college but suffered a bad back injury and had to give up football. He and Peyton actually played one year together in HS. Just think if he had made Pro and was on Peyton's team. I think it just great for Arch who never played on a winning NFL team. He went to 2 Pro Bowls and was Player of the Year one year but man they were bad Saints teams he played for. Sure are some dominant football genes in that family...:)

Seed coats now removed successfully from the F1's. I will grow two F1's and about 5 F2's. Can't wait to taste them. In the meantime I satisfy my requirements with a couple or three Momotaro's per week growing in my diningroom. Man I wish Momo's were bigger though...:)