Estler's Mortgage Lifter

[Sue_CT]

No color yet, but it shouldn't be too long. I had one ML ripen but I didn't save seeds because it was from a plant grown from my own seeds. This picture was right before I watered on a 95 degree day, so they are looking a little stressed.

Garden 7-25-20 by Susan Albetski, on Flickr

[EdieJ]

[mention]Sue_CT[/mention] Your plants are looking great! Thank you for the update!!

[Sue_CT]

I don't know what the curling leaves are about. For some bizare reason the ML plants are having the most issues this year and I have no idea why. Just because I wanted them to do the best I guess, and it's Murphy's Law, lol.

[EdieJ]

[mention]Sue_CT[/mention] You got that right!

[KathyDC]

Just popping in to say hello! I am really fascinated by the provenance/history of seed varieties and I wanted to say how exciting it is to have you here [mention]EdieJ[/mention] with your direct connection. I would love to grow this tomato especially understanding so much about how it came to be. Looking forward to participating in any seed offer where it might be included, on down the road. Have a good day!

[EdieJ]

[mention]KathyDC[/mention] I hope that I get a ripe tomato or 2 for seed. I had to pull one golf-ball size the other day and one this morning due to caterpillars. You'd think between Surround and Monterey Garden Spray that the stupid things would die!! But if I get seeds I have you on my list.

[Ginger2778]

Spray BT. They'll die in a day. (Is that what Monterey is?)

[EdieJ]

I've not been able to find bT this year. I waited too late since I thought I had some already

[MissS]

Try using a spray of Hartz Flea and Tick Shampoo for Dogs. I use 2 T per gallon. It's safe and effective. You can leave it on or wait 15 minutes and wash it off. Best used in low light conditions to prevent sunburning your plants.

[Ginger2778]

I've not been able to find bT this year. I waited too late since I thought I had some already

Here you go. Good price, and free shipping.https://www.domyown.com/natural-guard-c ... -1566.html

[EdieJ]

[mention]Ginger2778[/mention] Thank you! I will get some ordered today.

[EdieJ]

When did they change the name of Thuricide? No wonder I couldn't find it!

[Ginger2778]

When did they change the name of Thuricide? No wonder I couldn't find it!

Thurcide isn't the only one. It's just a brand name from one company. Dipel is another name. There are lots of brands of BT. If you Google "buy BT", lots of choices come up, makes it easy to compare prices and amounts.

[pondgardener]

@EdieJ, I got a couple of EML plants just starting to show some color on some tomatoes. Plants are over six feet tall and still setting fruit, even with the hot weather and no rain. But they get regular water from the ponds, so are not lacking there. I will definitely include a picture or two in the next week or so. I hope you are having good results as well.

[mention]EdieJ[/mention], picked my first tomato today, fired up the grill and a thick slice was placed on a toasted bun along with a cooked burger covered in melted cheese. My wife loved it...great texture, taste and color. I've got a few more to pick tomorrow before I start saving seeds to return to you. Definitely a winner! Tomato weighed a little over 11 ounces and the plate in the picture is a little over 7" wide.

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[EdieJ]

[mention]pondgardner[/mention] Oh how wonderful! I'm glad you like them. They are truly one of our favorite varieties, not just because of heritage, but the flavor! Thank you for the update!
I have 3 tiny ones coming on one of the plants from the 2011 seeds from my Uncle Bob. I am thrilled and holding my breath that they grow big and ripen well for seeds.

[Sue_CT]

I have a couple of large ones not yet ripe on the second plant I planted from your 2011 seed. I am so concerned about all the issues with ML this year, that I hope I remember to squeeze out the seeds of the very first one and then use the tomato itself for salsa or something. I will feel much more relaxed about the plants and using the tomatoes just for eating when I have some saved seed. I hope I don't get too excited and just gobble it down in a tomato sandwich, lol. I would also love to place one from my seed and one from your seed side by side and take pictures for comparison and then taste them both too.

[pondgardener]

[mention]Sue_CT[/mention] When I sliced that first tomato, I spooned out as many seeds as I could before I served it up. My wife was even saying that I didn't need to go through all that trouble, not knowing what my intentions were. I also plan to collect seeds from a number of tomatoes from my 4 plants, to get a wider selection of saved seeds. I think Carolyn had recommended doing that a few times on other boards.

[MissS]

Yes Carolyn did recommend saving seed from a few different tomatoes just in case one may be crossed. She also suggested that we collect from the earliest fruit because the number of bees flying was less then thus less chance of cross pollination from them.

[loulac]

I read in several places that we shouldn’t keep the seeds of the first row as they often are defective but wait for tomatoes on higher rows. To play safe I suggest protecting some flowers with a tulle bag or equivalent, not the whole bunch, as some are likely to abort. When I see bumblebees visiting my tomatoes I understand why my seeds are not always true to type.

[pondgardener]

[mention]EdieJ[/mention] I picked another 6 or 7 today, with the weight ranging from 13 to 18 ounces, so good size for BLT's and other sandwiches. Besides the first tomato, I will be collecting seeds from these as well.

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