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Cornucopia - Australia

Graf Zeppelin Tomatoes

21 years ago

Has anyone grown Graf Zeppelin variety of tomatoes and are they a good choice for the home garden?

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Comments (8)

The_Grub
21 years ago
Hi Dan,
I haven't grown GZ but I have grown a few good ones. What are you looking for in a tomato?
Cheers, Grub.
finbar
21 years ago
Hi Danny. I noticed you posted the question on the American forum and didn't get an answer over there. It surprises me. Everybody over there seems to have grown most of the commercial varieties at some stage or other. I'd never heard of GZ till you mentioned it. From Googling, it sounds like a nice, small to medium red. The photo on the Eden Seeds website suggests it's almost a large cherry variety.
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Raymondo
21 years ago
Sorry Danny, can't help you there. But there are a few I've grown and liked - Green Zebra, College Challenger, Fritsche, Jaune FlammÃ©e ... and others have grown many more varieties and I'm sure would be willing to suggest a few.

And many have spare seeds to share around, so don't hesitate to ask.
Dancub
Original Author
21 years ago
Thanks very much for your help...I like to try new varieties each year and this one sounded great for a change..just want a good all round variety for salads and cooking and one that is pretty hardy against disease in a subtropical area..yes no reply from usa forum...maybe its nto so popular over there..anyway thanks for your replies and help
Raymondo
21 years ago
If you want a give a few varieties that are said to well in the tropics a go, try

Cherokee Purple - said to do well under most conditions
Heatwave - bred for the tropics in the US
Tropic - ditto
Scorpio - ditto, but bred in Australia

I have seeds for these, and maybe a few others in my bag of tricks, so if you'd like to give 'em a try, just email me with your address. There are no guarantees of course.

Foliage disease is almost par for the course in humid environments. Best you can do is give 'em plenty of space for good ventilation, water the roots only and if you're that way inclined, dose 'em up with some anti-fungal spray. If you prefer a non-chemical appraoch, you could try milk:yoghurt:water (1:1:10) sprayed fortnightly as a preventative.
mudlark
21 years ago
I bought a plant of this variety at the local market recently, when it fruits I will let you know what its like, but it will be a long time off, I bought it to try and get some fruit mid-autumn.

Since I've learn't so much from you good folk this year about seed saving I'll be sure to save some in case its a good one.

cheers, mudlark *off to buy some cheesecloth in anticipation*.
The_Grub
21 years ago
Dan,
Very humid season in Sydney and Burwoods Prize, a golf-ball-sized red borne in clusters of up to six on a tall plant with potato leaves, was unrelenting and stood-up to disease very well. It wasn't dynamic but a really nice one with a good sweet tomato taste. Without a thin skin, it travels and keeps well. I am going to grow it again. It was a no-brainer. Cheers, Grub. Seeds from me or Eden Seeds. Also plant is productive enough that you will get a harvest for salads and sauces with just a couple of plants.
Dancub
Original Author
21 years ago
Thanks very much..I have grown Burwood Prize and love them and they did well up here as well but like to experiment with new varieties. They also stood up to fruit fly attack and tomato grub so agree with you on that...I am in a sub-tropical area but in the mountains 2000ft high so can grow cooler varieties as well. Thanks for your offers of seeds and help..much appreciated..and can return the favour of course.

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