Estler's Mortgage Lifter

[Ginger2778]

@EdieJ 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.
EML3.jpeg

Edie, looks like you're going to be just fine.☺

[EdieJ]

[mention]pondgardner[/mention] How wonderful!! I can't begin to tell you how happy I am. Enjoy those BLT's!!

[Sue_CT]

Well, between work and my Mother being in the hospital it had been 3 days since I had picked all the ripe tomatoes and watered, so I went out at 10 pm tonight to water. What did I find? My first ripe EML from Edie's 2011 seeds!

Fro Edies’s 2011 Esther’s Mortgage Lifter seeds 8-09-2020 by Susan Albetski, on Flickr


Over a pound. 1 lb 2 1/4 ounces to be exact. Except it SHOULD have been even bigger! This is the other side of it! AND why I pick at first blush!

Fro Edies’s 2011 Esther’s Mortgage Lifter seeds 8-09-2020 by Susan Albetski, on Flickr

It was hanging on the plant, just like that. Now I wonder what did it? That certainly doesn't look like a bird! I bet it would have been almost a pound and a half!

I am going to save the seeds, but now I have a question.

Who would cut that side off and eat it and who would toss it after taking out the seeds, lol?

[MissS]

I have a chipmunk doing just that to my tomatoes too. The only one that it doesn't seem to like is Big Beef.

[Sue_CT]

Can't say Big Beef is one of my favorites, either. But it seemed like a lot gone for a little chipmunk, although I do have them.

[Ginger2778]

Can't say Big Beef is one of my favorites, either. But it seemed like a lot gone for a little chipmunk, although I do have them.

I've gotten damage like that from rats and possums (nocturnal). My husband got a cheap infrared camera that is wireless. We saw the culprit.

[loulac]

I have a chipmunk doing just that to my tomatoes too. The only one that it doesn't seem to like is Big Beef.

I’ve always heard chipmunks were smart creatures. They know the difference between an industrial hybrid and an heirloom. I must say seeing a hybrid appearing in a thread whose purpose is to bring back an unfairly half forgotten variety in our gardens made me uncomfortable !

[EdieJ]

Oh no, [mention]Sue_CT[/mention] that's awful. If it's ripe enough to eat I would cut it from about 1/2" the other side of the stem if there are no teeth marks on that side. Doggone all these nasty critters anyway! But I am thrilled that at least you will get some seeds. Yay for that!

[Sue_CT]

Here we are. This photo includes partially ripe EML tomatoes from my own seeds I saved in 2015 from EML seed sent to me by Carolyn Male, and tomatoes I grew from 2011 seed sent to me by Edie. I cannot tell the difference. If you look closely you can see the year of the seed they came from marked on the tomatoes. I would say the seed Carolyn sent me and the growouts I have done from those seeds are very likely to be true.


EML tomatoes 2011 and my 2015 seeds by Susan Albetski, on Flickr

[EdieJ]

[mention]Sue_CT[/mention] That is awesome. They do all look identical!
I have a little exciting news ... My Aunt was contacted by a guy from WV State University that is interested in doing DNA testing on EML vs Radiator Charlie. She dug through her freezer and down in the bottom found seeds from the mid-60's!! We hope they will be usable for the DNA tests. If so, they will also test newer seeds to see if any changes have occurred over the years. I hope this happens this fall! I'll keep y'all posted.

[JRinPA]

I have a chipmunk doing just that to my tomatoes too. The only one that it doesn't seem to like is Big Beef.

I’ve always heard chipmunks were smart creatures. They know the difference between an industrial hybrid and an heirloom. I must say seeing a hybrid appearing in a thread whose purpose is to bring back an unfairly half forgotten variety in our gardens made me uncomfortable !

Yes, chipsmunks are smart. Beside being capable musicians, they know which tomatoes they have to bite today, since they may be rotted on the morrow.

[bjbebs]

Edie
Have been picking for about 10 days. All fruit are around 1 lb. Plant is loading up. Looks like another 6 weeks left.
Plenty of seed has been saved.[attachment=1]20200821_104857.jpg[/attachment]

[attachment=0]20200826_135351.jpg[/attachment]

[JRinPA]

Beautiful. Do you thin them to 1 tomato per truss?

[mention]bjbebs[/mention]

[bjbebs]

No thinning or pruning. Plants do as they please. This variety doesn't bunch up, does it's own thinning.

[bjbebs]

The largest EML in the picture came in at 1.75 lbs. This is a very good all purpose tomato. Balanced flavor for fresh eating. Tops for processing, no waste other than a bit of green shoulder. Solid interior with no hard core is perfect for sauce and salsa.
I'll send in seed to Tormato's swap and get plenty out to you, Edie.

20200831_175323.jpg

[Ginger2778]

The largest EML in the picture came in at 1.75 lbs. This is a very good all purpose tomato. Balanced flavor for fresh eating. Tops for processing, no waste other than a bit of green shoulder. Solid interior with no hard core is perfect for sauce and salsa.
I'll send in seed to Tormato's swap and get plenty out to you, Edie.20200831_175323.jpg

Those are so beautiful.

[Ginger2778]

Several of my seeds from Edie's original seeds donation are up and looking quite strong. Yay!

[Whwoz]

Love those tomatoes. One to add to the wish list me thinks..

[EdieJ]

[mention]bjbebs[/mention] Those are beautiful! I am so happy for you and very glad you like them!
[mention]Ginger2778[/mention] I am so glad to hear that yours are doing well also.
None of mine are as big as those but I think it's my fault ... I grew the plants in tubs this year and now I can guarantee they are root-bound. Won't do that again! But I am still saving seeds from the best ones. I have been putting up bags of tomatoes in the freezer. Yay!

[JRinPA]

They look spectacular, and the plant pic above, I can't see any leaf spots or anything. And I have been looking...and looking. Tomatoes plants here don't look like that after the end of June usually. That pic was end of August? Great job