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Minnesota

Looking to grow some "big" tomatoes this year. Looking for some Big Zac seeds or other comparable varieties. I have heard that people are having trouble with their orders from TotallyTomatoes, I would like to try this first before I depend on them.

2/19/2007 11:20:04 PM

Montoursville, PA

Totally Tomatoes has fresh seed. There were two previous crop failure years. They now have exclusive rights to the growing and distribution. My guess is that they have lots of small orders to fill with this one product.

2/20/2007 10:11:52 AM

there are other large varieties you can try as well

2/20/2007 1:12:58 PM

Central Pennsylvania lauralie1978@yahoo.com

I am growing 'Delicious' tomatoes this year. I heard they are supposed to get big. I guess you're supposed to start them indoors and let them get leggy, then plant them outside up to the first true leaf deep. The stem will develope extra roots to feed the plant and make the tomatoes huge. I'm gonna give it a try this year. I have a few extra seeds if you'd like to try this variety. Shoot me an email.

2/20/2007 1:33:25 PM

Central Pennsylvania lauralie1978@yahoo.com

I just read that Delicious holds the world record at 7 lbs.

2/20/2007 2:53:38 PM

Delicious holds record of 7 lbs 12 oz

2/20/2007 3:37:27 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

was it ever proven...or was it a publicity stunt for a fertilizer company?

2/20/2007 4:55:48 PM

Central Pennsylvania lauralie1978@yahoo.com

Well, so far this is all I found doing a google search for 'world record tomato'. I'll keep searching and let ya know what I find.

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/giants/msg0716513713421.html?6

2/20/2007 8:37:03 PM

Central Pennsylvania lauralie1978@yahoo.com

Delicious is an heirloom seed so you can save the seeds each year and they will grow true to type. Big Zacs are hybrids.

2/21/2007 9:36:46 AM

Montoursville, PA

I find it very hard to believe the Delicious claim when no grower of record has even come close before or after the record claim year. I could believe that Big Zac was the seed and the grower claimed otherwise to hide the truth. We do have records proving Big Zac as a possible producer of a tomato that size.

2/21/2007 12:01:05 PM

Flat Rock, Michigan

Doc
I have grown a lot of tomatoes, both hybrid and heirloom. While Delicious throws nice-looking, large tomatoes, they have produced nothing that other large varieties have not also grown. Omar's Lebanese, Giant Belgium, Polish, and even Kellog's Breakfast can all produce nice-sized fruit. If I were growing for size, I would go with Phil's from P&P.

2/21/2007 6:26:17 PM

Gays Mills,WI

I have some seed from a 3.1 pound Big Zac from 05 if you want to try. I started 4 plants from it last year. All plants produced 2.75-3 pound fruit. If interested email me at codyjacobus@yahoo.com

2/21/2007 6:55:52 PM

Montoursville, PA

Loosh....you are right on. I'm going with Big Zac, Burpee's new Porterhouse Hybrid and a proven local German Giant. The table fruit will be Early Girl and Oregon Spring. That's it. That's about three to many for us to eat.

2/21/2007 9:00:04 PM

ExtremeVegetables.com

"I have heard that people are having trouble with their orders from TotallyTomatoes,"

I read the same reviews and had the same concerns. A few weeks ago I placed an order with Totally Tomatoes for two packs of Big Zac. It did take a little longer than most seed vendors I am used to dealing with but they did arrive. Transaction went fine.
I'll be germinating the seeds within the next few days so we'll see how germination goes.

This year I will be growing for size; Big Zac, Delicious, OxHeart and my own Italian Heart.
I am hosting a Giant Tomato contest on my web site if anyone is interested, prize is yet to be determined but it's mostly really for fun and braggin rights. ;)

2/21/2007 9:21:16 PM

Central Pennsylvania lauralie1978@yahoo.com

I sent the seeds out yesterday. Let me know how they do for you if you grow them. Since Big Zac's are hybrids, does anybody know the crosses that make them? Thanks!

2/22/2007 10:56:29 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

That proprietory information that only the owner and distributor know. Although one half of it is supposedly rumoured to be Caspian Pink.

2/22/2007 11:21:58 AM

Lauralie1978 delicious is not an heirloom it is open pollinated not same thing.

docgripe you argument is incorrect since there only one case of big zac being over 6 lbs.

There are total of 2 well documented cases of delicious growing over 6 lbs. 6.5 in 1976 and 7.75 in 1986.

there are total of only 10 tomatoes ever that have enough info about them that is can reasonably been shown to have grown over 5 lbs. there may have others but with a picture and well document contest results how do know the claims are true.

2/22/2007 1:13:24 PM

ExtremeVegetables.com

Just to follow up. All 15 seeds which were planted have germinated within 5 days.

2/28/2007 8:11:39 PM

Maine

I just started some seeds from a 5.2 lb, and a 4.41 lb tomato that Chris lyons and his father John grew.

3/5/2007 7:16:19 PM

Montoursville, PA

Arguement?????? I see no arguement. I stated an opinion. It would be nice if you not make out of order statements that are not true as such. Being a whole and a quarter pound off is not being close in my opinion. Not even in the same ball park. I spoke of no other claims by any other person.

3/6/2007 4:14:35 PM

North,alabama

Hello everyone,I just found this looking for big zac seeds on google search.I have grown many different tomatoes for years,this is the first year i have heard of big zacs.Does anyone know where to get seeds.TT does not list them on their site that i could find.I heard they were also very slow to ship.I have grown parks whopper,giants,delicious,beefsteak,big boys,and others.I looking to grow some huge tomatoes.Any response will be greatly appriciated.thanks,

4/6/2007 11:34:58 AM

Minnesota

Here is the link to totally tomatoes and the BigZac ordering info:
https://www.totallytomato.com/ttsite/ttsiteviewproduct.aspx?ProductID=8156

I am not growing any BigZac's this year. My Delicious variety is doing well. I also planted some Phil's Fantastics from P&P Seeds about 10 days later then everything else. The plant growth on the Phil's have passed everything. Very impressive so far.

4/6/2007 12:17:48 PM

North,alabama

Thanks Chad,I will order some.I read some forum that stated there is a problem growing big zacs last couple years.Are Phils Fantastics a big variety?Thanks for your response.

4/6/2007 2:21:23 PM

Minnesota

Yes, phils in a big variety offered by P&P Seeds. I think the problem with BigZac's is that there was a crop failure two years ago, which caused there to be an issue with seed supplies. I believe everything is fine now.

4/6/2007 2:56:00 PM