g'day dan,

i get good ressults and a very tasty tom' form the ox heart others that i found good are:

beef steak
prudence purple
black russians
and last but not least the good old standby grosse lissie it you can get heritage seeds to grow from the F1 hybrids seedlings just don't cut it for me.

len

Hi Dan,Len & All,
I have been waiting for it to cool down abit I too am new at this gardening thing I went to BOGI annual fete a while ago and purchased some seedlings from a vendor's stall which were supposed to be the best thing to grow in BNE the variety was Summer Taste of which I have since found is a hybrid any how
they failed probably my fault but I saved the seed from one that looks like a small Roma shaped tom I managed to get 4 seeds propated and are now in pots awaiting some maturity for the next phase.
I also have some seed kindly sent to me by PP & the Grub (ta 2 u both) I will soon try to get them started too.I was thinking of trying determinate varities first.
Silvery Fir Tree
Russian Red
Padano
Ida Gold
Whipper Snapper
Auriga (orange)
Totem
I will also have a go at your recommended varieties Len.
Cheers good luck John :-)

John,
I think you should try Soldacki. Its a really vigorous potato leaf plant with heaps of yummy pink fruits. Can handle the heat. Have you got seeds? If not mail me and I'll send some.
Good growing, Grub.

Grub, is Soldacki a mid or a late season variety?

Ray,

It's mid-season by my reckoning. A good fruit setter, too.

How's the backyard going now? Much tomato action?

Cheers, Grub.

Yeah, I would call it mid season as well. It along with Zogoala and Brandywine are going to become my mainstays in the greenhouse next year.

Mmmm. I'd call Soldacki a bit later than mid-season, but then I'm a pedant. Mine were 80+ days.

So, my friends, are you suggesting Soldaki as the recommended variety for SW suburbs of Brisbane. Gosh it is hot and humid today! (At 6am I was weeding out back and had sweat pouring off me.) Len, I will also try Ox Heart.

Are these a heritage type? If so, do you folks get your initial seeds from places like Diggers or Eden?

I have just saved some seeds from last crop which went bad (I am reliably informed probably fruit fly got them). I rescued some very ripe types and gathered the seed.

Thanks for all opinions!

Daniel

Hi Grub (love to know the origin of that nickname),

I have tried to email you but the system tells me that an error occurs. I was wondering if you have some spare Soldaki seeds. Eden Seeds and Diggers do not list them. I am happy to send SAE etc. Could you please email me at gardendan@pobox.com. Thank you! Daniel

Soldacki does well in a Sydney summer, Daniel, so it should cope with your conditions. It's not available commercially in Oz. We got our seeds originally from Carolyn in the US. I brought some with me to Italy.

I've emailed you Dan. It's also thanks to Finbar that I got to try Soldacki. His extra seedlings were always welcome ;) Now my extras are just sitting there. But I'm thinking they might make it to about March for a transplant and experimental winter crop. No harm trying. Cheers, Grub, by name and nature.

Thank you Grub and Finbar. Much appreciated. Today I ordered a few other varieties from Eden seeds so I will be looking forward to their arrival and then growth! Best wishes, Daniel

Daniel,
Phoenix Seeds in Tasmania carries Soldacki, along with lots of other interesting stuff. They don't have a web site but you can phone 03 6267 9663 for a catalogue.

How would Kellogg's Breakfast do in Brisbane? I think finbar had pretty good results with that one.

It was definitely our favourite tomato last season. I hope it'll do well this season, too.

Yep, KB did a fine job in the Sydney summer. I have seeds with me here, too. Frankly, Sydney summers didn't bother anything I grew. Apart, of course, from B. Sudduth, which was only viable as an autumn cropper. The only real problem ever was the dreaded Early Blight and its various mates. The humidity was their friend.

I think you are exactly right finbar. That's the main point - the difference between Sydney and Brisbane summers. I would not have thought the difference was that significant. I grew up in Sydney and grew tomatoes successfully for several years. In the years of moving up and down the eastern seaboard with the Army I have only had trouble growing toms in Brisbane - further south is fine, well fine for me. Most things here seem to take a dive here over the summer period. I am now sowing for this season of tomato and other veges. I am not sufficiently a weather guru to specify the difference between Sydney and Brisbane - let's face it Sydney gets pretty hot and pretty humid.

So, the question is what is the best tomato to grow in Brisbane for flavour and general use in salads and sandwiches. Perhaps none will survive the heat, humidity and fruit fly.

daniel, I too am defeated by this woeful SE.Q heat for vegs especially tomatoes, and the drought situation isn't helping. Had no problem with growing tomatoes when living in Wollongong, but there it drizzled every few days and 30degreesC was very occasional. Also, when mention is made of seasons of 80 days-for tomatoes-, is that for fruit setting to commence? Capsicums too, have been totally knobbled by fruitfly and they are almost prohibitively expensive these days. Anyway,today I harvested 2 pineapple, my first(it took 3 years), and flushed with success, am looking to improve on that time.