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Growing Tomatoes

Black Zebra driving me nuts

16 years ago

Isn't this a hybrid? Aren't they bred to be "better" in most comparison points? Guess I'm just frustrated because my seven other plants (two Stupice, a Brandywine, a Black Krim, a Green Zebra, an Early Girl, and a Sun Gold Cherry) have all set fruit over the past 2-3 weeks, while the Black Zebra has had blossoms galore, but then they just shrivel up and fall off. Anyone ther who can share their experience growing Black Zebras? Thanks in advance!

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Comments (5)

carolyn137
16 years ago
Isn't this a hybrid?

****

No, it's not a hybrid.

It's the result of a natural cross between Green Zebra and an unknown black that was dehybridized to the OP state by Jeff Dawson in CA.

I haven't grown it and won't be doing so but I don't find it all that surprising that it or any other variety shows more blossom drop than other varieties b/c one of the major causes of blossom drop ( see the article about this in the FAQ section, link at the top of this first page) is temperature related as well as humidity related and different varieties do react differently to those variables.

Maddening? For sure. ( smile)

Carolyn
wenderina
Original Author
16 years ago
thanks for the input Carolyn. good to know. still nothing from those BZ blossoms, but am keeping it all in perspective!
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Lynnie, is that you? I haven't checked in on this forum in ages. I changed my GW name at some point (and I may very well go back to Ms. Ann Thorpe). I think when I said the black tomatoes did better for me in cool conditions, I think I meant that when I was just growing tomatoes in my backyard, which is very near Lake Michigan (days and nights about the same chilly temperature seemingly until high summer), the black tomatoes seemed for some reason more willing to give me more fruit than the other colors I tried. Now that I grow my tomatoes in a community plot a couple miles west, I get more daytime heat and richer soil--and everything is more productive and better-tasting. I haven't grown Black Bear, but it sounds good. I'm not nuts about the taste of Black Zebra, but one of the years I grew it, it was insanely productive. And it is pretty. So pretty, it's a shame it usually goes into sauce.
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bill-inpnw
16 years ago
have you tried gently shaking the plant or lightly flicking the blossoms to see if you can get them to set? That seems to help sometimes.

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wenderina
Original Author
16 years ago
when I first posted this, I was having trouble with the black zebra, and it's still not looking great, though it does have two fruits on it. Anyway, the whole entire plant looks wilted, limp and lifeless. Instead of having perky green leaves like most of the rest of my tomato plants, almost all the leaves on this one look dull and hand straight down. Now my green zebra is acting similar, but only with certain branches (in other words, part a branch facing this way is perky and green while the one right underneath it and facing the same way is dull and wilted. Are the "zebras" more susceptible to some pests or diseases more than others? Might be grasping here but I just can't figure it out!
elkwc
16 years ago
It is funny the difference in the way tomatoes produce in different areas and gardens. Black Zebra is setting fruit for me so far. I have several that isn't but Black Zebra is. Jay

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