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Oak Grove, Mn

As the end of my pollination season winds down I have seen a variety of different shapes of the small set tomatoes. The majority of mine are fused in a straight line. I have a few that fused in a circular pattern and a few that are in a horse shoe shape. I am wondering what shape of fused blossoms the growers have had the most success with?

8/3/2017 7:55:05 PM

Ely Mn

The caterpillar blossom here.

8/3/2017 8:26:30 PM

Ely Mn

I think what I call caterpillar is what you are calling a fused round tomato.

8/3/2017 8:27:33 PM

Lebanon, Oregon

I have seen a couple of 7 lb+ that were a simple triangle shape 3 way. Jack LaRue's 7.19 from last year and Porkchops 7.05 from a few years back in the following link.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=242774
You have 3 tomato's with enough room and the perfect angle to grow to their individual full size, yet fused, to grow one big tomato.
Dan McCoy's 2014 diary with his 6.88 and 8.41 is always fun to refer back to for shapes. Now just historical photo's of a legendary grower. He's been there, done that, will he ever be back?
You know, the 6.23 MegaZac and 5.55 White were straight lines for me and doing well. For me, my two biggest at 4.69 each, was a square of 4 fused. The biggest have been all different. The magic is in the luck of everything aligning together at once to get 7 lbs+.

8/3/2017 8:37:33 PM

Walla Walla Wa.

Bnot,the circular paternity is a solid round with all fused side to side with no hole in the center, is that correct?

8/3/2017 9:03:18 PM

Walla Walla Wa.

Pattern,not paternity, crazy phone!

8/4/2017 12:33:08 AM

Oak Grove, Mn

yes dan, that diary entry is what i was calling the circular pattern. I have two like this and two that are similar but have a small hole in the center where some sepals were coming out. I probably would call them both circular maybe we should come up with special names for the various shapes.

8/4/2017 6:41:41 AM

On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

In the past, those in a chain, usually three fused blossoms have been referred to as a horseshoe tomato. Those in a bunch have been called conglomerate. The first seven pounder this year, would be called a conglomerate.

8/4/2017 8:34:31 AM

Oak Grove, Mn

I have probably been using wrong terminology. The blossoms in a chain that I have are perfectly straight, zig-zag and curved around to almost meet the opposite side of the chain but not quite. I was referring to those as straight, zig-zag and horseshoe. The bunch that marv refers to as conglomerate, i have both open center and closed center. I might call them circular and donut. For my second round of crosses this winter, I might think about crossing the best 1st truss mega blossoms..that is the reason for my question. What shape do you think is the most favorable.

8/4/2017 8:54:11 AM

Oak Grove, Mn

As I have been taking notes on the various plants, my description of best 1st truss blossoms looks something like this... 4 zig-zag, 5 horseshoe, 5 circular etc. The number refers to the number of fused section I think it is combined with shape. Keeping notes on 70 plants is more work than taking care of the plants.

8/4/2017 9:05:03 AM

Walla Walla Wa.

The first 7 lber was not what we're talking about as a circular blossom, but it was a conglomeration of blossoms. I had a really nice one on an 8.61,butane or earwigs got to it and it didn't make it.

8/4/2017 10:41:23 AM

Oak Grove, Mn

Unless I hear something to change my mind it looks like I should start crossing for the goal of conglomerate ribbon. How cool would it be to have plants that toss 5 inch conglomerates connected to 2 inch fused ribbbons. We can do it.

8/4/2017 11:00:10 AM

Central NY

Butane ?.... Did you just give away one of yer secrets?...what's the butane for?

8/4/2017 12:35:18 PM

Walla Walla Wa.

Lol,but the ants !

8/4/2017 1:07:01 PM

Eastern Shore of VA

Butane ?
That does it.
I'm going to refer to bnot as Dr.bnot from now on.
He's like the mad scientist of tomato growing.

8/4/2017 7:01:38 PM

Eastern Shore of VA

Hope I didn't offend you bnot.
I meant it as a compliment really.
You are very meticulous and thorough with your plants.
I have really enjoyed your diary this year.
I hope all the hard work you have put into it will pay off.
I hope I get the chance to grow one of the seeds produced from all your efforts.

8/4/2017 11:40:21 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

I wasn't offended. I thought it was amusing. I think there are a few growers here that put much effort into their plants. Eventually I expect my efforts to pay dividends. It might not be this year, my soil hasn't been fine tuned for tomatoes yet. Maybe next year will be better. The important thing is I am having fun doing what I am doing.

8/5/2017 3:31:08 AM

Eastern Shore of VA

You are correct.
I have learned a lot from the various growers here.
I am only in my second year growing these giants.
I do know that it has been a whole lot of fun !

8/5/2017 12:34:10 PM

Hamilton Nj

my best ones were triple blossoms just under 3 pounds but i ike the bouydo tomatos that just turn into a circle lol

8/5/2017 4:16:35 PM