Dawn,
I'm thrilled for you on your toms.
A while back I saw that you had on your favorites list Mortgage Lifter (vfn). I did not know they had hybridized them. And, I need to know where to buy.
Tx Bill Wilson
Anadarko, Ok

Bill,

I got my Mortgage Lifter VFN seed from Southern Exposure Seed Exchange several years ago. You'll note from reading the linked description that the fruit is red and not pink, and that it is not as large as the original ML. I think that I get more fruit per plant, too, although I am relying on memory since I don't keep written records of my yields.

I've linked SESE's description of it.

SESE is one of my favorite seed sources, probably because it was one of the first retailers from whom I purchased heirloom tomato seed long ago when I first started growing heirlooms.

Dawn

Here is a link that might be useful: SESE's Mortgage Lifter VFN

Dawn
Thank You for your SESE tip. I now have it on my favorites list. As most of those on the site are heirlooms, it brings up a question that I have to ask you. How do you get away with growing all those heirlooms? I have to use almost all hybrids. I have two things working against me (nematodes and 2-4-d). If I try to get an heirloom to grow here, the nematodes show their ugly heads, and I also get some springtime 2-4-d contamination from ranchers spraying their pastures. The hybrids survive the 2-4-d after some time passes, but the heirlooms almost always take a dive.
tks again
Bill

Bill,

You're welcome. I love SESE. Dr. Jeff McCormick, who has since sold SESE to someone else, brought a lot of heirlooms into the market that grow well in southern states, and I appreciate that because so many heirlooms seem to have come out of the northeastern states and often don't produce well in our heat.

Nematodes. Oh, no! You have my sympathy. For all that I whine about having heavy-as-a-brick red clay, at least I don't have nematodes since they prefer sandy soil. I do have one small band of sandy soil on the southwestern edge of the garden, but I use it for plants that like sandy soil....like sweet potatoes. I have a gardening friend who lives 2 miles away and he has finally given up on growing tomatoes because of the nematodes. (But that's OK. I grow extra tomatoes to share with him and his kids and grandkids.)

What do you do to control the nematodes? I have some ideas if you want to hear them.

Broadleaf weedkiller contamination is a horrible problem for us as well, since we are in a very rural area, but I have only had damage to my tomatoes from herbicide drift two different years. I like to plant a border of tall plants on all 4 sides of my garden. First of all, the garden has a fence. I grow annual vines on the fence....morning glories, black-eyed-susan vine, hyacinth bean vine, and sometimes gourds and mini-pumpkins as well. Secondly, I plant tall plants in the flower border and I plant them close together. I especially like using tall sunflowers, amaranths, lion's tail, hollyhocks, ornamental corn and broomcorn. Sometimes the border plants get hit by 2-4-d, but they usually stop the stuff before it gets to the tomatoes.

If one of my neighbors tells me in advance that he is going to have his pastures sprayed, I run out to the barn where I keep a roll of thick plastic and a bucket of clothespins. I pin the plastic to the garden's woven wire fencing in the hope it will stop any drift that the taller plants don't stop.

It is not a huge issue most years, because we have wooded areas on three sides of us. I have more trouble from the local electricity co-op spraying under the power lines than from neighboring ranches or farms....but the co-op always tells us ahead of time so I can cover stuff up.

I HAVE to have my heirlooms as I couldn't live without all their tasty and unique flavors. Actually, this year I am growing a LOT more hybrids than usual. Some years I have hardly any hybrids at all. I keep trying to find that perfect balance of heirlooms and hybrids.

Every year I say I will plant fewer plants and not as many varieties...but saying it is easy, doing it is hard.

Are you growing tomatoes for your own comsumption or to sell? I grow tomatoes for our family, and everyone we know, and everyone who is driving up the road and stops to say "Hey, nice garden!" (laughing) Oh, and I grow 'em for the turtles, birds, etc. who inhabit the land here with us.

One nice thing about homegrown tomatoes is that you never really have too many of them. If I am tired of canning, freezing or drying them, I just give them away. There aren't many people who turn down fresh tomatoes.

Dawn

Dawn,
Tks so much for your communications. You ask if I sell.
Yes, I do. We have a small Farmers MKT here in Anadarko, and the customers seem to really like it. It's been going on for about three years now. OSU helps with it. I produce mostly tomatoes and okra with some cukes and squash. It's half a day once a week.
Re the nematodes, The only way I fight them is that I use the hybrids with (N) behind their name. Also I've tried sugar and I think it has its merits. Another reason that I think thatmy nematode situation is getting better is because I use the (N) hybrids over and over. I've heard that this cleans up the ground some. I did pull up some okra roots that were clean after the season last year.
I like your idea of lining the garden fence with vines, and as I have plenty of hyacinth seeds will just put them to work this year on guard duty to try to ward off (2-4-d).
With trepidation, I am planting heirloom Cherokee Purple and Mexico this year. I read on the Forum how delicious the CP's are and as I haven't tasted them, I can hardly wait.
rgds Bill

Bill,

I love, love, love CP, but it wasn't easy for me. The first two years I grew it, I had all kinds of problems with it, and then they mysteriously went away and I haven't had trouble since. I still like the flavor of Black Krim more, but CP has a wonderful flavor too.

I am not as big of a fan of Mexico, but I grew it during a really wet year and that can kill the flavor. I need to try it again one of these years. It does produce big, beautiful tomatoes

Dawn