From

Location

Message

Date Posted

NB, Canada

I was planning on trying to grow giant tomatoes next year, but I have no seeds. I was just wondering where I could find some. Thanks.
Nicole

1/2/2004 8:02:36 PM

Southeast Wisconsin

I have grown tomatoes over 30 years, even was in charge of a large hydroponic operation. The biggest tomato variety I have ever grown was from Burpee called Delicious. It's not a smooth round type. But any of them that go over 2-3 lbs usually look like a big boxing glove. Good luck in your endeavors.

Russ

1/2/2004 9:12:54 PM

Norton, MA

Go to seedoutlet.com.

1/2/2004 9:35:44 PM

Syracuse, NY

the ones you want are called Big Zac, from a company called totallytomatoes.com---get their catalog and/or order the same day directly---biggest ones i have ever grown, and i'm sure they would be a lot bigger following the directions.
trust me. Big Zac. totallytomatoes.com yeah.....'pal2

1/3/2004 2:52:37 AM

Syracuse, NY

sorry, didn't mean to outspeak other responses.
try these others also.

1/3/2004 2:54:22 AM

Liverpool , England

The biggest I have ever grown are Big Zac and Black Russian, had the Zac to over 4b.5lb and the Russian to over 3lb.

Alun

1/3/2004 5:53:44 AM

NB, Canada

I went to totallytomatoes.com to get a catalogue, but I think it's only for the US.

1/3/2004 9:12:48 AM

Cornelius, Oregon

You can also go to Giantsofthegarden.com
The world record variety and others are available there.
Big Zac's are on the way.

The Pumpkinguru

1/3/2004 11:11:22 AM

GatewaytoH...

www.totallytomato.com

1/3/2004 2:42:10 PM

Md/ Usa

You want burpees delicious which has held the world record since 1976 with 6.5 lbs in 1976 and 7.75 in 1986 .
big zac has tendency to crack.

1/3/2004 8:19:30 PM

GatewaytoH...

http://www.burpee.com/

1/3/2004 8:43:28 PM

GatewaytoH...

I couldn't find the burpee delicious?

1/4/2004 3:35:01 AM

ontario

Nicole....Big Zac from totally tomato will not ship to Canada......you need to have someone in the USA purchase and ship up...I have tried and so has John Lyons who grows the monsters for weigh=off in Port Elgin.......

1/4/2004 8:54:42 AM

Md/ Usa

try weeksseeds.com as burpees delicious there giant variety
section.

1/4/2004 10:51:13 AM

French River,P.E.Island, Canada

I got my Delicious Tomato seeds from Victory seeds,
Clifford Picketts grew a 4.1 lber from them.

Try this link

http://www.victoryseeds.com/catalog/vegetable/tomato/tomato.html

1/4/2004 11:09:32 AM

Long Island,New York

Anyone who knows anything would never grow shelf seed for Ag's, does that philosophy carry through to Tomatoes and we just haven't progressed that far with tomato seed selection or am I missing something?

1/4/2004 12:42:12 PM

Key West, FL

Big Zacs are hybrids aren't they? And that means they don't produce seeds?? I've never grown a big tomatoe, but I think thats what I've heard.

1/4/2004 1:46:10 PM

ontario

Ben Big Zacs are the best.....

1/4/2004 2:44:29 PM

Key West, FL

I was responding to G, I was thinking that was the reason why people don't grow seeds from big tomatoes.

1/4/2004 3:14:19 PM

Eddyz@efirehose.net

I've grown my own seeds, and have made the 3rd generation, each time the fruit is bigger, and this year I did 4.2 lbs, I don't know if the size is related to seed or if I am becoming a better grower. But I am trying my seed again and also a few of the originals from 3 years ago, so I may be able to come to some kind of conclusion. I have had no luck with Big Zacs, but I have luck with Delicious.
Ernie AKA Giant Veggies could help on this subject.

1/4/2004 4:15:33 PM

Sask, Canada

Thanks Eddy, I was going to jump in to this thread when I had a few minutes.

For Big Maters Delicious or Big Zac are good, I grow thunder creek (which I created some years ago) do to time and space I probably will just grow my new cross (I'll mention that in the next post)

Ben: Big Zacks are hybrids which means there seed or off-spring F2, F3's etc. will not be true to type and will revert back to either parent. Hybrids do produce seeds.
The only NEW giant tomato variety I know of that is OP is my thunder creek those seeds if collected will produce true to type as they have been through a select grow out over 6 years. Remember there are lots of tomato's out there that you can grow 3lb tomato's from, when I have time I'll post the top ten of these. Also with the WCPGA website back up rather quickly any extra time I have till spring I am putting up giantveggies.com which will have a section devoted to just giant tomato's, I do have a site now at geocity's and I'll try to find the url for you folks.

TTYL
Ernie
Giant Veggies

1/4/2004 5:07:45 PM

Sask, Canada

Like mentioned before I have created a new variety which is being named now for info on how to vote for the new name go here, http://www.bigpumpkins.com/MsgBoard/ViewThread.asp?b=3&p=60003

Some back ground on the new variety.

After years of trial and error I've now selected the two best parents for what I think will be among the best giant tomato variety out there, one parent is the same as my thunder creek and one parent is the same as the big Zac, Minnie which has been a good friend of mine for numerous years was kind enough to help and supply the seed for the new variety. This variety will be a hybrid until several years of growing out the cross to reach an OP variety. The new variety last season produced a 5.3lb tomato on a plant which had 9 tomato's not one being under 3lbs. This with very minor care.

For you that don't know me I have been growing giant tomato's now for some 9 years and have studied everything I could find, I prefer breeding and genetics and have grown probably over 500 different heirloom variety's to date. My PB for giants is 6.8lbs. and most range 3.5 to 5.0lbs.

If any one has a question on tomato's, post it here and I'll try to do my best to help. Please don't send questions via e-mail I'm very busy right now but will try to answer questions here once a day or so. Also by posting here every one can learn from the thread.

TTYL
Ernie
Giant Veggies

1/4/2004 5:27:22 PM

Montoursville, PA

My Big Zak Plants never got a fair chance to grow this summer. By observation and mention here I will say the deer preferred Big Zak enough that my other tomato plant were left alone.

My other tomato plants were not nibbled on until very late in the season noting that the Big Zaks were almost history via the nibbling deer before the deer paid any attention to my other plants. I shall grow them again as a diversionary plant.

Please note that I understand that deer will eat any plant just about any time they are present. This is however a season long observation....this year.

1/4/2004 6:30:49 PM

Syracuse, NY

well, i guess i'll just HAFTA order some when they become available! i intended to only grow Bic Zacs from now on, but this Thunder Creek sounds awesome! i had awesome seedlings this year, so combining that with monster potential......!

1/5/2004 12:19:59 AM

GatewaytoH...

I am not having any luck weeksseeds.com had a fire and are closed for now. Thanks for the information. I'd like to check the site out later.

1/5/2004 5:31:33 AM

caro mi.

ernie , I am interested in some airloom tomato seeds ,dont need to be giants, just a good canning tomato. can you or anyone help me here ? Dan

1/5/2004 9:29:37 PM

Sask, Canada

Dan:

There are lots of good canning heirloom tomatoes, some are:

Ace 55
Campbell's
Cannonball
Earlibell
Red Cloud
Principe Borghese
San Marzano
Roma VFA
New Yorker
Heinz
Rutger's

By far my favorite canner is Ace 55 and produces in abundance. A good place to get seeds of this variety and some others are here, http://www.tomatogrowers.com/late.htm

Hope this helps,
TTYL
Ernie
Giant Veggies

1/5/2004 10:56:45 PM

Sask, Canada

Growers:

I have been swamped with e-mail request's for seeds from the Thunder Creek and new variety, I will let you know I am out of "Thunder creek" seeds those of you I e-mailed in the fall will get some if I haven't sent yours yet. As for the new variety all seed this year will be used for next year as a grow out is also being started on this variety.

The only seed available for this variety is for the winners of the tomato naming contest. This Fall I will have lots of seed for all that wants some. Until then try to get some of Minnie's "Big Zac" seeds and start learning how to grow monster maters.

I've also uploaded a new copy of Giant Tomato Growing, as the geocity site had a lot of broken links, also as you read the site take it with a grain of salt as some info is out dated or just wrong (3%) as I wasn't paying attention when I wrote it a few years ago and some info has changed. any questions post them, We really should move this to other gardening forum, any one care to start this thread there.

TTYL
Ernie
Giant Veggies

Ps. the site is at my old haunt.
http://www.members.shaw.ca/giantveggies/index.html

1/5/2004 11:39:49 PM

porterville, calif.

Codger, Just to let you know I recieved your bubble pk. I couldn,t get your emai; to work. Also i have some Delious tomatoe seeds if you want them.. Just click on Sequoia you will get my email address.

1/6/2004 3:48:42 PM

French River,P.E.Island, Canada

Ernie I saved seeds out of the thunder creek you sent last year , will they produce this year??

.............Peter

1/6/2004 6:40:26 PM

Sask, Canada

Peter:

Yes the Thunder Creek are OP and will produce true to type.

I would be very interested in getting some of these seeds.

e-mail me

TTYL
Ernie
Giant Veggies

1/6/2004 9:03:54 PM

GatewaytoH...

Sequoia, I e-mailed you. I would love some tomato seeds. Thank you a lot.
My computer decided to stop working so I am on a 1995 computer and I don't have any of the information on this computer that I did on the other computer.
I hope to have my computer back up within a couple of weeks depending on when the part arrives in the mail.
Thanks again for the seeds,

1/7/2004 12:38:55 AM