Jardín del Gotch

[Whwoz]

That Orange Accordion sure is a beautiful fruit!

Striking! Any TJers, other than yers truly, who would plant a Tomato based on its shape?

The Gotch

That Orange Accordion is one I have taken a liking to its shape as well @Cornelius_Gotchberg. Always worth having something a bit different as a point of interest/discussion if trying to get other interested.

[bower]

That Orange Accordion sure is a beautiful fruit!

Striking! Any TJers, other than yers truly, who would plant a Tomato based on its shape?

The Gotch

I know I would! If you hadn't mentioned it was "late". Even the 'midseason's are a tad late for me.

[Cornelius_Gotchberg]

That Orange Accordion is one I have taken a liking to its shape as well @Cornelius_Gotchberg. Always worth having something a bit different as a point of interest/discussion if trying to get other interested.

I was immediately and at once smitten when I turned the page on my The Heirloom Tomato Addict 2024 calendar from February to March to behold that month's featured Tomato, the Orange Accordion. After exhaustive research (READ: Googling Orange Accordion images/reviews/videos https://www.google.com/search?q=orange+ ... nt=gws-wiz) I ordered seed two (2) days later.

The Gotch

[Cornelius_Gotchberg]

I know I would! If you hadn't mentioned it was "late". Even the 'midseason's are a tad late for me.

Late may be misleading, it seems late because the season's on the Back Nine: I've already taken down some vines and we're back from our last Iron County Hurrah of the summer. I planted April 2nd, transplanted outside the 2nd week in May, and harvested the 1st fruit in the middle of August.

The Gotch

[Cornelius_Gotchberg]

2024 Gotchberg Taste Test Challenge commenced last night, participants (from bottom up): Bacon Lettuce and This (H/T @Tormato), Big Bubba, Big Lou, Cherokee Carbon, Dester, Elgin Pink, Green Giant, Hillbilly, Inzhir Rozovyi, Kellogg's Breakfast, Lemonboy Plus F1, Old German, Orange Accordion

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Asked to prematurely reveal the participants' identities, resident Grand Poobah (The Gotch) demonstrates a vow of silence:

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Noticeably missing were last year's winner Pink Magic and perennial champ Mountain Magic:

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Results:
3rd Place: Tie-Lemonboy Plus F1 and Old German
2nd Place: Tie-BLT, Big Lou, and Cherokee Carbon
1st Place: Elgin Pink

What's left will be pressed into a multi-color salsa by the lovely and long suffering Mrs. Gotch:

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The Gotch

[MissS]

Elgin Pink is one of my favorites. I grow it frequently.

[rdback]

...and now Elgin Pink is on my 2025 grow list. Thanks, Gotch!

[Cornelius_Gotchberg]

Elgin Pink is one of my favorites. I grow it frequently.

I grew it because of the...um...11th Hour delivery of an envelope filled with packages of seeds from a Pewaukee, WI address
(viewtopic.php?p=117404#p117404)

A finer example of serendipity you may not find...and thank you!

The Gotch

[Cornelius_Gotchberg]

...and now Elgin Pink is on my 2025 grow list. Thanks, Gotch!

Great thinking about the future...I mean...that's where you's plan to spend the rest of yer life, am I right?

The Gotch

[MissS]

Some say that my Elgin Pink seeds may be crossed and that they are too sweet for the type. It is possible. It is also the parent of the Elbonian's when it threw out a dark tomato. I have never had a black from it. I have had both RL and PL but that is normal for this variety. I don't know if my seed is 'too sweet' but I really like my Elgin Pinks and until I know that they are untrue, they will remain being called Elgin Pink.

[Cornelius_Gotchberg]

I don't know if my seed is 'too sweet' but I really like my Elgin Pinks and until I know that they are untrue, they will remain being called Elgin Pink.

Glass half full?

You's have two (2) converts...at least. Heck, that's enough to hang one's hat on; from where I'm sittin', leastways!

The Gotch

[Vanman]

Elgin Pink is better than Cherokee Carbon? I might be sending a SASE to WI with a plea for some seeds.

[MissS]

@Vanman I haven't had Cherokee Carbon, my guess is that it can't beat it. It's time to get down on your knees and do some begging.

[Vanman]

I thought you bought Cherokee Carbon seeds last year?

[JayneR13]

Planting tomatoes by cool shape? Absolutely! I’m also a sucker for a cool variety name. I’m planning the Mountain Magic and Defiant seeds for next year but would fit some Orange Accordian, even some Elgin Pink, if I but had the seed—maybe I should put those on my wish list if a direct trade isn’t available.

[MissS]

I thought you bought Cherokee Carbon seeds last year?

Buying and planting are two separte things.

[Cornelius_Gotchberg]

Nice 20 oz +/567 gram + Old German specimen:

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The Gotch

[Cornelius_Gotchberg]

Planting tomatoes by cool shape? Absolutely! I’m also a sucker for a cool variety name. I’m planning the Mountain Magic and Defiant seeds for next year but would fit some Orange Accordian, even some Elgin Pink, if I but had the seed—maybe I should put those on my wish list if a direct trade isn’t available.

We've been very happy with Mountain Magic, winner of our garden's (unofficial) Taste Test five (5) years in a row; good producer to boot!

The Gotch

[Homegrwoninillinois]

Here I am on the 30th page scribbling more names into my must find list. That thing sure is growing! That being said…I grew orange accordion and wasn’t a fan. It ripened in sections and by the time the last bit was ripe the first portion was fermenting :/

-Sam

[Cornelius_Gotchberg]

Here I am on the 30th page scribbling more names into my must find list. That thing sure is growing! That being said…I grew orange accordion and wasn’t a fan. It ripened in sections and by the time the last bit was ripe the first portion was fermenting

Interval ripening hasn't been a problem; when I first indicated I was going to trial Orange Accordion, there were claims it wouldn't score high in the taste department, which has been confirmed.

Still, with minimal gel/seeds, it's the (IMO) perfect Tomato Samitch selection because it won't soggy up yer bread; it's a good producer, the individual fruits ripen in a pleasantly, and timely, staggered manner, and damn...whatta LOOKER! I'll grow it again.

The Gotch