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Grittyville, WA

About crossing those varieties...Just wondering whats up with my 8.22 its my best plant even though it was a neglected runt for a long time. But it looks similar to the 4.80 Strickler big zacs that Anna planted. Are the plants you are crossing different from each other? Wish I had another as healthy as the 8.22 from a different background... I would want to make a cross. I lost the big mega on the 8.22 it might still have couple doubles or triples. I dig what you are doing rebel. What are the traits you want to put together? Why would my domingo look like a big zac?!

7/20/2018 4:15:03 AM

Eastern Shore of VA

You have pictures?

7/20/2018 8:12:58 AM

Grittyville, WA

yep i will try to post a tomato update this evening.

7/20/2018 12:13:31 PM

Wixom MI.

A big zac tomato is more dence and solid than a Domingo tomato but the domingo tomato plant is a larger and more agressive plant. So you hope that your new cross picks up the best traits of both verieties like my Megazac did !!!

7/20/2018 12:42:44 PM

Grittyville, WA

Right now I'll settle for a plant that is healtiy and has a megablossom... 8.22 and the 4.80 are the ones that have been impressive so far. Thanks!

7/20/2018 4:20:25 PM

Lebanon, Oregon

The Domingo's I have seen, and their offspring (Magazacs and Megamutts) for me have been the largest and strongest, and more importantly disease resistance. This is from what I see. The 8.22 is the best tomato I have ever seen. The 7.10 Foss has great genetics and has produced some of the best. To get to the next level, like over 10 lbs, we need to get out of the selfing genetic sespool and cross strong varieties. We will see.
I pollinated the 7.10 Foss against today with two more 8.22's. I should know something soon.

7/20/2018 5:02:40 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

I am watching closely the two varieties of giants that haven't been crossed yet...the Brutus Magnum and the Delicious. My observation of the Brutus Magnum is the plant size grows faster than Big Zac, Delicious or Domingo. The leaves are much smaller in diameter than the other three. Two of the plants have tossed triple or better first truss. One of my breeders will come from these two. Delicious, I have grown for about 3 years. Trying to decide on which quality would match well with the BM. I don't have a chosen one yet. Crossing is one of the ways we will get to the next level. Much harder to cross than pumpkins...even harder to cross in the summer. 20 years from now....I predict that very few growers are planting a pure variety from todays standards.

7/20/2018 6:44:54 PM

Eastern Shore of VA

Rebel I think your spot on.
Controlled cross pollinations are big amongst the pumpkin and watermelon growers.
I know that I have a stockpile of melon seeds I am saving to cross pollinate with each other.
Good genetics x good genetics = great genetics.
Wouldn’t you still have to self it repeatedly to stabilize it ?

7/20/2018 11:21:57 PM

Grittyville, WA

Correction: the 4.80 Strickler says its a domingo, also. Well now I get why the 8.22 looks the same... Good luck with your crosses!

7/21/2018 2:05:30 AM

Grittyville, WA

Correction: the 4.80 Strickler says its a domingo, also. Well now I get why the 8.22 looks the same... Good luck to all with your crosses...

7/21/2018 2:08:33 AM

Eastern Shore of VA

I tried to cross the 5.61 MegaDom with the 6.23 konieczny this past winter.
Unfortunately,the blossom never set.
What giant tomatoes show greater disease resistance?

7/21/2018 9:53:24 AM

Central NY

The ones grown in really good soil....with all the goodies...

7/22/2018 11:01:28 AM

Grittyville, WA

I'm sure some would perform better than others because of different climates or soil. Under bad virus conditions the two domingo lines I mentioned are performing ok the other plants wouldnt set. We lost one to stem rot... it was one of the domingos. If you want to add a whole bunch of disease resistance you would have to make a carefully selected hybrid cross... And maybe bring in some genetics from the commercial/university varieties. Sorry I don't have a better answer about the heirloom varieties... U can try them and see for yourself.

7/22/2018 11:58:05 AM

Gone With The Win

Could u graft a plant with good disease restistance

7/22/2018 9:04:21 PM

Wisconsin

I get confused easy, i am lost

7/23/2018 12:19:53 AM

Grittyville, WA

Rebel posted in his diary about a cross he is making.

7/23/2018 2:24:36 AM