Tomato of the Week - Siletz

[tucsontomato]

Since I could not post a new thread on the tomato of the week area, I would like to make a proposal for tomato-of-the-week. If any of the moderators could move this to the TOW page I would appreciate it!

This is the Siletz tomato. I’m sure any one of you could find the history of this variety online. I believe that there is no one-size-fits-all tomato cultivar but there are both benefits and drawbacks to each variety. The picture I have here is nothing extraordinary for size, but it is a medium to large size for Tucson, where the advertised 1 pound fruit bearing vine usually turns up 3 oz baby tomatoes. Here is what I have for Siletz:

Plus:
-Taste is good (IMO) In the heat mine turned out really sweet.
-Vigor
-Disease Resistance and healthy foliage
-Fruit Size and amount
-Outshines other varieties during periods of extreme temperature
-Plant’s ability to set fruit without need for pollination.
-Semi-determinate (Determinate in size, but not in fruit production)
-My biggest producer in volume of open-pollinated tomatoes this year

Minus:
-How do you get seed from this variety? I have tried hand pollinating early with minimal success.
-Susceptible to Blossom End Rot (BER)
-Some vertical splitting.
-Higher than average deformed fruits (especially on the bottom end of the fruit).

If any of you have anything to add about this variety I'd appreciate it!

-Jay

Attachments:

[jcm05]

OK fixed. I've never grown this one. Looks interesting however.

[paulf]

I am growing Siletz this year for the first time. This variety would satisfy those who think tomatoes should be round, red, 8 ounces and pretty to look at. Mine have been on the smallish side for a beefsteak and larger than a salad size. They have been prolific enough I can take the extras to the local restaurant where they love them. The flavor is not unpleasing but nothing special. Siletz for me is like having Celebrity or Jet Star in the garden. It is a really nice tomato but just too average for me.

[tucsontomato]

As the temperature cooled down the Siletz plants began producing seeds. For some of us extreme temperature Gardeners who rarely experience 12 straight hours between 65 and 85 degrees (the temperature tomatoes prefer) the goal of more than a couple tomatoes per plant can be elusive. Factors inhibiting fruit production include blossom drop, lack of pollination, disease caused by plants being exposed to extreme conditions, or the plants freezing. The parthenocarpic nature of this variety solves many issues dealing with pollination. Couple this with decent production and Siletz has become my garden's new open-pollinated standard to beat. For perspective I usually plant 6-8 varieties each year that are touted as being heat and/or disease resistant. I keep the winner from the previous year and continue eliminating unsuitable varieties as I go. I was fortunate this year to not have any noticeable diseases skew my observations, though I did forcefully remove a Roma VFN for excessive BER. Cruel - I know.

The picture below is my harvest right before it froze. Also, for those of you who are very visually aware I did mis-spell Siletz in the picture. To keep from repeating myself too many times I posted some more pictures and info about my experience with this variety here: scientificgardener.blogspot.com/2011/12/my-current-winning-tomato-variety.html

[jcm05]

Looks good Jay.