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Oak Grove, Mn

I think in the last year we have become familiar with the term ribbon-blossom. Some of these ribbon-blossoms are exhibiting really long stems to the blossom. I have called mine a sunflower- but also was considering calling it a periscope. Any other ideas what to call this long ribboned stem. And how does this relate to tomato anatomy...where the pedicel and peduncle are all fused?

Here is an example of one of my plants:
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=279039

Here is an example from one of Frostbite's plants:
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=279213

7/29/2017 3:52:55 PM

Hamilton Nj

i have a ribbion vine on theese plants
5.5 fulk
5.61 megadom
1.68 spaz
4.25 may

there not big ribbons wat tom do u have ribbon vines on??? pizza

7/29/2017 5:48:10 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

Both of mine are from my 3.77 wixom slammers. I am interested to see how pruning technique will affect two more plants. Both of those plants have a mega at the junction of ribboned main separates to individual vines. I just looked at the 5.61 that I have growing. It does have a double to the blossom but it is not a periscope. Only a few inches long. what I am now calling a periscope is 6 inches or longer. The 1.68 is interesting. I believe the 1.68 Spaz was ribbon blossom. I tried it last winter but only got a single. Looks like certain lines are more apt to toss the ribbons. I am thinking placement of these ribbons and pruning effect is what causes the periscope ribbon.

7/29/2017 6:24:37 PM

Central NY

I call them by different names depending on the shape and size ...full of curse words though...

7/29/2017 7:23:10 PM

Eastern Shore of VA

I had one on the 4.80 Wixom slammer.
It was the very top of the plant.
All ribbon vine and the blossom was the "head".
Lost it to the heat I guess.
Temps jumped from mid 80s to upper 90s that week.
Looked like a triple.
I called it a few curse words too porkchop....

7/29/2017 9:17:14 PM

Lebanon, Oregon

Ribbon stem/blossom is good. Shouldn't be ribbon vine. Agree with P.Chop. Going out to the garden and seeing a few of these releases those words of excitement. Periscope is an excellent slang word. Reminds me of a ribbon cable in electronics.
Without having anything to do in botany, I fully think that the first flowers, in general, sometimes never separate as designed. The stems stay together and when the plant really gets going fast they all separate. I produced quite a few in various sizes. My 1.68 for me did not produce a ribbon but some mediocre 3somes.
I have had some blossom end rot. One plant may have some, the one next to it nothing.
For me the 4.48 LaRue (7.10 Foss) has produces some really large ribbons. One plant had 3 at once and I made the choice to cut two. It just took yesterday. The other has a super nice one going but now has blossom end rot. Crap.
The 5.55 White (Kraken) I have going has a really curved ribbon about 3.5" around. It has been gaining 1-1.5" day vs all the rest gaining .5"/day.
The ribbons are cool but the jury is still out for me if it has any impact on tomato size. My largest at this point is a 6.88 McCoy and 7.05 P.Chop, solid, beefy 2-3 fused tomatoes. Oh, the 6.23 MegaZac is cradled in the giant jock strap and can't measure. On a small ribbon.
Agree with P.Chop about touching them. I am sure there is some contamination from measuring and touching them. Some of the disease I see start as surface dark areas and spreads differently that BER. No more touchy.
My big concern is heat. We have a rare heat wave coming up in the NW. I will have 3 days of 100-110F and don't know the effects. Warm nights! But they will be covered and cooking in the day.
Anyways bnot, ribbon blossom/stem, periscope..it's all good.

7/30/2017 1:15:52 AM

I. Falls, Minn

Even if it sets, I'm not sure how it will grow. It is pointing right back to the stem, and will have to grow around it. I'm trying to slowly wedge it open.

7/30/2017 7:46:00 AM

Mn

THIS is what I do when i see a ribbon vine......
“Dear Lord Baby Jesus, or as our brothers to the south call you, Jesús, we thank you so much for this bountiful ribbon vine mater and the always delicious Taco Bell. I just want to take time to say thank you for my family, my two beautiful, beautiful, handsome, striking sons, Walker and Texas Ranger, or T.R. as we call him, and of course, my red-hot smoking wife, Carly who is a stone-cold fox.”

7/31/2017 9:57:04 AM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

I believe that what you are calling a ribbon vine is actually two or more vines fused together forming what looks like a ribbon much as blossoms fuse to form a megablossom. At the end of these fused vines, so-called ribbon vines, there appears to be a tendency for the formation of a megablossom and perhaps if fertilized successfully, a rather large tomato. Correct me if you believe I am wrong. If you agree with what I have said, exactly what line of seeds is producing this ribbon formation? It may be that several different varieties are producing these ribbons as I see above that Domingo and some Big Zac lines have had these. And it also is apparent that because the vines are fused does not guarantee that the tomato on the end of this fused vine will also be fused, sometimes more than one tomato on the end. Anyone agree or disagree? So now we are talking about fused vines with or without a fused blossom on the end.

7/31/2017 10:24:53 AM

Walla Walla Wa.

You are absolutely right that there could be more than one tomato on the end,and I also believe soil factors into the equation,not necessarily genetics.

7/31/2017 11:35:33 AM

Bloomington, IN USA

Qtip you are a hoot! I presume you saw Talladega Nights?
I think that is very perceptive Marv. So what we are dealing with here is fusion separately or together of the vine, the blossom truss and the blossom.
What features of the soil do you think might be involved, general fertility or certain elements?
I have seen ribbon vines in cases where I suspect it could be related to some of the fertilizers I was giving.
Last week I cut back a 6.23 Konieczny because I failed to pollinate the huge ribbon blossom and a fused stalk is rising up out of it.

7/31/2017 1:06:17 PM

Eastern Shore of VA

I had that ribbon vine on the 4.80 Wixom slammer.
I planted in new dirt this year.
Hardly any amendments in the soil.
I've only sparingly added fertilizer.

7/31/2017 5:30:19 PM

Wixom MI.

Yes i have seen many verieties displaying these massive megablooms. I think that maybe the term ribbon vine may be getting a little over used but i like to use the term on the truely massive ones.i think i have seen about 4-5 of them so far this year that meet that term.

7/31/2017 6:38:33 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

I think that ESheel's plant meets the criteria..was looking at his 4.8...i think it is a nice one. I will throw out a new characteristic....on the same periscope ribbon mega plant i have...i also have this:

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=279531

What are we going to call the characteristic of tossing a megablossom from a leaf node: That is why I say your portuguese monster-delicious cross is interesting Chris. Seeing this on multiple leaf nodes..I think i have an open cross.

7/31/2017 6:59:59 PM

Eastern Shore of VA

I had a nice one bnot.
Unfortunately,she didn't take.
Don't know if it will work,but the plant is still very small.
I cut the ribbon vine off for the hopes that the tiny sucker that had started might grow and give me another shot at a blossom.
The ribbon was the top of the plant.
The MB was on top like a sunflower.
The sucker has started growing now.
Will see what I can do.

By the way,bnot I have really enjoyed your diary this year.

7/31/2017 9:55:31 PM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

I have no idea what is causing a 'ribbon vine" or why a blossom might form on the end of one. This may be something that has been happening for a while and not being noticed or commented on or it may be something new. I think we will all just have to observe what is taking place and commenting on what we see. We can learn from each other. For now I am satisfied calling the fused vine a ribbon vine and the blossom on the end, when we see one, a megablossom, knowing that these are in fact fused vines and blossoms.

8/1/2017 10:22:00 AM