Hello from the Arkansas Ozarks!

[ozarklady]

Hi folks!
After searching the web for information on tomato breeding, and you tube videos, I found this forum... In a thread that I know I had read!

Okay, here I am... ready and willing to learn!

I watched internet videos over and over... and still don't have a clear handle on breeding tomatoes.

I sure hope you have a rookie class! ha ha

Enough about me... I came here to learn... shut my mouth and listen! ha

[darthslater]

Wecome Ozarklady, you came to the right place! We have the best here and from all over the world also. Make sure to check out the tomato show, to see some of the great work in breeding.
There are actual crosses done by our memebers posted there.

Darth

[stratcat]

Hi, Ozarklady! Welcome to The Tomato Garden.

There's a link in this thread to a tutorial on crossing tomatoes-thetomatogarden.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=breeding&action=display&thread=35

[jcm05]

No shutting your mouth here! Jump in.

Welcome.

[Penny]

Hi there and Welcome.

[ozarklady]

Thanks for the great welcome. I have already spent a few hours looking over the beginning breeder's links, thanks.
And I remember that some of you, in another forum, advised me to try some tomato seeds, that I saved wrong... on paper towels... well, I got 100% germination on them...
They are ugly little things, but they do grow.
I know, not cleaned of disease etc. But, the plants showed no visible disease. I will simply isolate them, to be safe. Perhaps raise them in containers?
I have seedlings up, everywhere in this house, and today is... move the ones with true leaves to a larger, cooler, more humid, and better lit growing area, with the fan on them.

I am new to seed saving, so definitely new to plant breeding. I am still learning to isolate plants with little bags over the blooms for keeping line pure.
I need to get familiiar with the lines, before I can decide what I want to cross to develop a personal signature plant of my own.
I have approximately 30 varieties of tomatoes to grow this year... not a bad beginning.
With logs and photos, next winter, I can look over the year and decide what I need to adjust through selective breeding.
In the meantime, my job is to: Grow some fine tomatoes, and document them... and learn about breeding, and set goals.
Looking at your projects, and learning from you, will help me to determine my own goals..
I already know: heat tolerant (probably potato leaf type), flavor, heavy production, and disease resistance... That is alot to ask of one tomato.

[bluelacedredhead]

Hey Ozarklady, I have to agree with you about the friendliness of the folks here. Add the Knowledge on here and I think it's a Winning Combination.

[ozarklady]

I like forums where I feel welcome. And not made fun of for not knowing something.
I am not a complete idiot, but I have alot to learn in many areas. And I am teachable.
Some forums, jump you for not being up to their level of expertise before you even join. Or they talk over your head, so much that you are bored stiff.

Or they jump on your case for having a different opinion or experience...
I am in 7-8 maybe 9 forums, and I have my favorite, with lots of posts there, and I think this forum just might, give that forum a run for it...
Some forums I post occasionally, and some I post many times a day... if I feel welcome. And some I seldom even visit.

Why do we join forums? To feel welcome, part of something, share with like-minded individuals, and even debate opinions... not to be ignored, insulted or ridiculed.

I can disagree with someone in one area and still learn from them in other areas!

[jcm05]

Nobody is un-welcome here oz. We are all here to learn.

[grapenut]

Ozarklady, I think you found a new home here, lots of great people and lots of great advice, where the only dumb question is the one not asked... any hoo, I use to live in your neck of the woods, in between Leslie and Mt View, really loved it there.

[ozarklady]

You are right, grapenut. And when these folks get way over my head on discussions, I feel comfortable asking for clarification, or breaking it down some for us newbies.

I would like to see this forum more active, but it will grow... Like Field of Dreams... if you build it they will come.

I suspect that many folks are like me... tired from jumping into spring... and it is only going to get busier here. Every one of my seeds that I had in germinating, popped today... I will refill the germinators, but then, I will have to pot up lots of seedlings. I am out of room, again, and going to town for more lights... again! This weekend we are building a hoop house... to make more room... that will keep me busy, until I fill it up too!

I have spring fever so bad... that my forum page skin is GREEN! HA HA

[peppereater]

hello fellow arkie! Well, I've lived most of my life in Oklahoma, but I was born in Siloam Springs, and spent my early years attending school in Watts, Oklahoma. So of course I'm very familiar with the Fayetteville, Rogers, Bentonville region, and in Oklahoma, Stillwell, Tahlequah, etc.
So we'll put on our Razorback hats and party together...
and, take turns defending the fact that we're arkies! Then we'll sit down and talk serious tomato growing. I'm looking forward to it.

[ozarklady]

What is to defend about being an Arkie?
Arkansas is the only state mentioned in the Bible and proud of it.
Noah looked out of the Ark an saw.... See!
And I do wear shoes, occasionally! ha ha

[bluelacedredhead]

One of my husband's favourite tees is a Razorbacks shirt, cuz we used to raise hogs, lol