This is one of those years I'd just as soon forget....... Absolutely hammered by curly top virus all summer long, I keep pulling plants. Not just the tomatoes, but cucumbers and beans were wiped out. On the positive side, I planted quite a few, so even pulling 60-70%, I still have 20 healthy plants left.

I tried several new varieties - one of interest is 'Cold Set' a determinant with slightly I was able to save seeds from J.D.'s Special Ox Heart before the virus got 'em all. Currently, the only Ox Heart going strong is "Ludwella's Ox heart", but only two out of 8 plants remain.

Thessaloniki seems to have resisted the virus, and while I haven't been paying all that close attention on viral resistance, I do know that it has been my best producer the last 4 years running, so maybe I need to pay better attention.

I still have 10 or so "OTV Brandywine" that are huge and doing what I would expect for a massive beefsteak. That part of the garden dodged the bullet re the virus. Eaten three now, and not bad at all.

We enjoyed eating that ripest Casey's with our sweet corn dinner.

They are very pretty! It weighed right at 8 ounces. That fits with my idea of a beefsteak (my standards aren't high ;o).

Fruit size seemed to be all lined up in order of ripening this year. First came all of the cherries. Then, all of the plums. The Early Girls showed up next - they are too small to be beefsteaks.

BTW David, I think we have Craig LeHoullier to thank for the OTV Brandywine. And, Craig going on quite a bit about Casey's Pure Yellow was what prompted me to order the seeds. It is suppose to be a "mid-season" variety but I picked 3 ripe tomatoes off that plant and some of the Early Girls have produce, like, one.

I luv a productive tomato plant! The Woodle's Orange are even more loaded than Casey's.

Steve

If this Casey's Pure Yellow is up to your high standards, I'll swap you some fresh seeds from OTV. If the day/night time temps are high enough, and it sure looks like it this year, OTV is best tasting tomato I've ever grown.

I looked at your temps, David. Yep, your overnights tend to have a few less 60's than here. But, a 70? We aren't going to have one of those either.

Casey is Jeff Casey in Airdrie/Calgary. He has a nice online catalog. Now, what should I do about it being orange and not yellow?

Steve

Here is a link that might be useful: Casey's Heirloom Tomatoes

That is a beautiful tomato. A couple dozen OTV's are turning pink, and in a few days, I will see if I can post a picture.

As promised:

Note the characteristic golden shoulders:

And what it looks like immediately after that first surgical cut on its way to BLTdom:

And just think, there are about another hundred of these guys out there on the vines.

Wow!

Not many seeds, good thing you've got another hundred, David . . ! And, you've had them for a number of years, correct?

"Golden shoulders?" So, is this kind of an orange-red tomato?

Steve

Steve, if you've grown oxhearts, many of them will have a golden top - its like that.

They do taste good this year. :-). I've grown them for at least 15 years now, but some years, the taste is better than others.

I was squeezing the seeds from 5 tomatoes today, and can verify seeds are few and far between. I have 12-odd plants going, isolated on the far side of the property, and I'll harvest some more seed every time I pick.

The BLT was good. Whole wheat toast, Best Foods mayo, 3 strips crisp bacon, and basil instead of lettuce. My daughter thinks she'll have on for dinner.