Martin's Annual Tomato Seed Giveaway.

Tommyice · #1 12/26/12, 03:34 PM

Best thing about the day after Christmas is that I know Martins tomato seed giveaway is imminent. Went to the mailbox today, and had my first 2 catalogs(Henry Fields and Gurney's) and am just shaking with tomato fever!
I always love looking up every variety he offers and ranking them, in order to pick the ones I want. Then getting scared, what if my highest ranking ones get gone first?! Then making an order, only to find a whole lot more that I think I want, so making another order. The excitement is killing me!!!!

rockhound · #2 12/26/12, 04:05 PM

Yup, you've got the bug, alright. There's no cure known, just treat with tomato seeds. Before long you'll be getting seed starting mix etc. Have a good season dude!

copperhead46 · #3 12/26/12, 09:29 PM

Haaha, I was thinking the same thing today, it's 17 degrees here and I want to plant tomatoes!

Callieslamb · #4 12/27/12, 12:23 AM

I can think of a few other catalogs and online stores that would kill you of Gurneys does that to you.

Paquebot · #5 12/27/12, 12:49 AM

If I could find the cold frames, I could plant at least 60 varieties of tomatoes right now. Right now they are just snow mounds. The main one is all set up with 60 4-packs. As long as the Jiffy Mix is dry, doesn't matter when I plant them as long as they don't get wet.

Mention of my seed offer now coincides with when I normally start preparing for it. Brought in all of the beans from the shed today and they're sitting in front of various heat registers to dry after snow blew into the shed where they were stored to freeze. About 75 varieties of tomato seeds are within an arm's reach. Still need to order a case of #000 bubble envelopes. And also waiting for the Jung's trial packets which I want to include.

Last year, added a few other things but weren't all that popular for some reason. Going to try a couple of uncommon ones this year, Montreal melon cantaloupe and Peppadew pepper while again offering 7-Top and Eastham turnips plus yellow collards.

Martin

blu_redneck · #6 12/27/12, 02:35 AM

Oh, I can hardly wait!

Ifistav · #7 12/27/12, 01:38 PM

Martin, your generosity is greatly appreciated! I can't wait either. Since I'm still a newby, I'll have to go through my leftover and collected seeds to see what I need before I dive into the catalogs that I started getting!

Ifi

elmtree3 · #8 12/28/12, 07:12 PM

Hello Martin, I'm sure I've told you privately, but I'll announce it loudly here. Some of the tomatoes and beans I've gotten from you have become some of the favorite things I grow in my garden, and that is quite a few things. I've also been looking forward to your offer.

Jeff

Paquebot · #9 12/28/12, 08:00 PM

The beans haven't been any fun this year. Lost some varieties entirely with zero production. With some, it's been easier to pick out what looks viable instead of the odd bad one. Then some became grossly tangled in the field so 2 or 3 varieties were just bundled up as one and brought home to sort out later. That's why I never plant any 2 varieties very close if they are about the same color. When I finally get done sorting them all out and see what I have, there'll probably be at least 20 new varieties over last year.

Martin

PonderosaQ · #10 12/28/12, 09:01 PM

Just looking up info on all the varieties you offer is a job , but such a rewarding one as the gardening bug bites. As so many others tell you Martin we really appreciate all the effort you put into doing this each year.

Callieslamb · #11 12/28/12, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ifistav

................I'll have to go through my leftover and collected seeds to see what I need before I dive into the catalogs that I started getting!

it isn't about NEED! It's all about WANT.

Paquebot · #12 12/28/12, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Callieslamb

it isn't about NEED! It's all about WANT.

Is that ever true! Before the catalogs even arrived, I had a list of 4 tomatoes from Totally Tomatoes and 5 beans from Vermont Bean handed over to be faxed up to Randolph. I'd have them in my hands now if it weren't for last week's snow storm. Probably don't need them but better to be looking at them than looking for them.

Martin

copperhead46 · #13 12/28/12, 10:59 PM

Martin, you sent me a bonus pkt last year of "beaver dam" peppers, and they were great!! Real spicy but big enough to make stuffed peppers with, I love your specials,

Paquebot · #14 12/28/12, 11:50 PM

Yes, those Beaver Dams are really good but hard to come by. I was able to save some seed in 2011 but not much. This year, had to use that spot for another variety so I've only got enough for a few close friends. Do have a really nice one which defies normal growth. It's a sweet bell which points up instead of down. We only know it as Ukrainian pepper. About 2½" wide at the base and 3" long. Compact plants top out at just over 2'. Looks like it should be hot but isn't. I've got a lot of that one so I may include them.

Peppadew may be popular but don't expect them to be as sweet as when processed. Huge bushy plants with about 1½" fruit which are mildly hot if you don't eat the seeds. Thought that I was going to go blind after removing a lot of seeds for drying and rubbed my eyes! I think that they'd make a good chili powder. Going to try that when they get a bit dryer.

Martin

cnsranch · #15 12/29/12, 09:44 AM

I too am getting very excited, have been watching homesteading today on a daily basis to see anything about Martins tomato and bean offer.Martin i have so much fun growing what you send and the excitment for a ripe tomato is almost too much! Thank you so much for your offers!Sammi

Paquebot · #16 12/29/12, 10:43 AM

As far as tomatoes go, there will again be a wide selection of colors, shapes, and sizes from the 2012 growouts but roughly 400 are available to anyone taking the time to go through the lists. 2006 through 2011 can be found in one place on a Dutch site so one won't have to work too hard. Since I won't be describing each individual variety, best to research any which you don't know as there will be compact dwarfs to sprawling monsters. I'll only list the cherry types separately.

Martin

BobbyB · #17 12/29/12, 02:28 PM

Yellow Collards? Never heard of such, but my family loves greens of any type.

Do they taste the same as green?

Paquebot · #18 12/29/12, 02:59 PM

Everyone locally has switched from the normal green to yellow collards for several reasons. For one, much better flavor. For another, it will not bolt in one year. I've now grown it for 4 years and no matter how many leaves are removed, they have never bolted. I currently have 5 or 6 of the best 2012 plants in a pit storage so as to be able to grow them out for more seed. They are not true yellow and also not true green but a greenish-yellow. The seed is not available anywhere through mail order or Internet. It can only be purchased in person at The Collard Shack in Ayden, NC.

Martin

BobbyB · #19 12/29/12, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paquebot

Everyone locally has switched from the normal green to yellow collards for several reasons. For one, much better flavor. For another, it will not bolt in one year. I've now grown it for 4 years and no matter how many leaves are removed, they have never bolted. I currently have 5 or 6 of the best 2012 plants in a pit storage so as to be able to grow them out for more seed. They are not true yellow and also not true green but a greenish-yellow. The seed is not available anywhere through mail order or Internet. It can only be purchased in person at The Collard Shack in Ayden, NC.

Martin

Thanks Martin. I looked 'em up after I posted that and saw that they are a pale green.

My Grandmother used to keep 3-4 collard plants in a flower bed and was able to eat from them nearly year around and that was on the TX Gulf Coast.

They were about 4 feet tall and the stalk 4-6 inches. I have no idea how old they were or what variety. But she loved her greens and kept herself supplied with them.

Callieslamb · #20 12/29/12, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paquebot

Is that ever true! Before the catalogs even arrived, I had a list of 4 tomatoes from Totally Tomatoes and 5 beans from Vermont Bean handed over to be faxed up to Randolph. I'd have them in my hands now if it weren't for last week's snow storm. Probably don't need them but better to be looking at them than looking for them.

Martin

I dare not look at 45th parallel yet...I swore off more tomatoes. I really don't need more seeds. I really don't. So which ones are you offering this year. When are you going to start putting out a catalog?