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Heidi
Aug 16, 2016 5:20:06 GMT -6
Post by macmex on Aug 16, 2016 5:20:06 GMT -6
For about four years I have been trialing a couple of plum tomatoes, with a view to finding something which would be really dependable and productive in our Oklahoma (extreme) summers. Two of the most promising varieties I've grown are Rio Grande and Heidi. Roma VF, an old stand by, of course, has always done pretty well for me, though, Roma is determinate and, after one big flush of fruit, is basically finished for the season. Rio Grande has worked alright. It, too, is determinate. It's fruit are nice, large and of highest quality. But, Heidi has truly stood out. Heidi has, what I would call "ump!" Heidi apparently carries some "weed genes," as it not only produces in our extreme conditions, it thrives and grows as if it had pig weed in its ancestry!
Heidi is indeterminate, meaning, it continues to fruit indefinitely. Though, the plants are not that rampant. This year I started my seed on February 12 and transplanted into the garden on April 24. In mid August, the plants are about 5' tall, in their cages. They have been ravaged by blister beetles. Yet, they keep cranking out fruit! We're getting our quota of tomato sauce canned, in large part, because of Heidi.
Heidi's fruit generally have three locules (hollow's with seed), occasionally two. They are pear shaped and of good quality. Flavor is notably better than Roma. Quality is very good. They also keep well on the shelf, at room temperature, meaning they don't spoil very quickly.
Heidi is a keeper. I plan on growing this one for my canner, from now on.
Notice how few leaves the beetles have left, yet from eight plants we are picking a LOT of tomatoes! We're canning about 4 quarts of sauce, twice a week. One can see from the top photo, that the majority of the tomatoes are plum/pear shaped. Those are Heidi. Round tomatoes are either Baker Family Heirloom or Souix.
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Heidi
Dec 27, 2016 12:05:53 GMT -6
Post by ecrard on Dec 27, 2016 12:05:53 GMT -6
I want to try the Heidi tomatoes. Where do you get the seed? I am southwest of Tulsa in Sand Springs.
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Heidi
Dec 28, 2016 7:28:26 GMT -6
Post by macmex on Dec 28, 2016 7:28:26 GMT -6
Message me, and we can exchange mailing addresses. I can send you some seed for the cost of postage packing materials (padded mailer). Here it is, almost 2017, and we're still enjoying Heidi tomatoes. They just keep ripening on the counter!
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hank
New Member
Posts: 34
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Heidi
Feb 3, 2017 13:12:42 GMT -6
Post by hank on Feb 3, 2017 13:12:42 GMT -6
I'm interested in trying Heidi Tomatoes. Do you have extra seeds? Thanks.
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Heidi
Feb 4, 2017 7:20:32 GMT -6
Post by macmex on Feb 4, 2017 7:20:32 GMT -6
Hank, I messaged you. Welcome to our group!
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Heidi
Apr 17, 2017 13:28:39 GMT -6
Post by ecrard on Apr 17, 2017 13:28:39 GMT -6
I was so excited about the Heidi tomatoes. I set them out 2 days ago and the storm last night wiped them out. I may have one plant left.
That's Oklahoma gardening for you.
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Heidi
May 25, 2017 10:38:22 GMT -6
Post by macmex on May 25, 2017 10:38:22 GMT -6
Ecrard, did you get any more started? I have a couple extra. But I'd need to move quickly to get them to you.
George
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Heidi
May 10, 2018 18:35:32 GMT -6
Post by ecrard on May 10, 2018 18:35:32 GMT -6
Ecrard, did you get any more started? I have a couple extra. But I'd need to move quickly to get them to you. George I can't believe I am just now seeing this. Thanks for the offer. That one plant gave me enough seeds to start some this year.
On April 30 last year I had an accident and sustained 6 fractures and an injured back. That is the reason I did not see your post sooner. I am now able to get out to the garden with help and tend 3 raised beds. Very frustrating to watch someone else have the fun in the garden.
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Heidi
May 11, 2018 8:11:22 GMT -6
Post by macmex on May 11, 2018 8:11:22 GMT -6
Oh wow! Hope you are doing lots better!
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Heidi
May 15, 2018 17:23:52 GMT -6
Post by ecrard on May 15, 2018 17:23:52 GMT -6
Thanks Macmex. I am much better than I was but will never be as fit as before the accident. It was definitely a life changing experience. It makes me wonder what they did 150 years ago when the home maker got injured and never the same again. I was able to can some asparagus last week which was very fulfilling. Last year I sat in the wheelchair and directed someone else doing the canning. Only one out of our six children share our love of self sufficiency. Scares me sometimes.
Back on topic, my Heidi tomatoes should be blooming soon. We only have a small backyard to garden and my husband planted Better Boys across the yard from my raised beds. He has blooms on one plant today.
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Post by glen on Oct 18, 2018 18:13:29 GMT -6
That's too bad that this thread fizzled out. I just found it. As all of you know, I live in Panama in Central America in the low-lands right at about sea-level. Probably the hottest place I could live. Not only is it hot, but we also have a short day length. We get 6 months of rain each year where I live. Then, 6 months of dry weather and high winds that come from the NE. Our nights are very warm and our days are hotter. Currently we are in the rainy season and this year we had a lot more rain than I am used to and a lot of over-cast sky's. What I am trying to say is that it is hard to grow tomato's. I did have a nice crop of cherry tomato's. I just don't really like cherry tomato's that much. George was kind enough to send me some Heidi italion style tomato's. About 2 weeks ago I planted some. They germinated quick and they are now about 4 inches tall and very fat. These seedings are planted in 2800 series nursery pots. There are 6 now. I mixed compost and some fertilizer and calcium with the back yard dirt in the pots. My soil is on the clay side and is not a well draining soil. I did mix a little sand in with the other stuff. Soon I will be looking around for material that I can use to make tomato cages. This is a late planting for you folks stateside. We garden year round here in Panama because this is a tropical climate here. We are not far from the equator. If this tomato does well, it will be important. We have all kinds of problems growing tomato's in my province. Temp's are just too hot. Especially nite time temps which cause issues with the bloom's. Plants do not set fruit. Blooms abort. Also, fruits don't even ripen red. They ripen pinkish. So, this trial is very important to me. Cherry tomato's just do not make the cut.
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Heidi
Oct 18, 2018 18:20:14 GMT -6
Post by glen on Oct 18, 2018 18:20:14 GMT -6
Our rainy season ends in December. I won't know which day until the rain actually stops. However, when the rain stops we are going to start with the blistering bright sun. I mean, it is so bright that you can literally get a sun burn is less than an hour in this bright sun. I am glad I planted in pots so I can drag these pots around. I need the plants in the open now so they can catch what little sun they can get. In December I am going to have to situate the pots so they get a little shade during the hottest parts of the day or I will kill the plants. Gardening here during the dry season is challenging to say the least. Everything needs to be shaded somewhat. Have you ever heard of the "majic circle"? That is where you plant a circle of larger plants like papaya and banana's. In the center of the circle you plant your sensitives. These plants benefit from the shade inside the circle. Well, I use the same concept in my plantings. I just plant in pots so I can move my plants around as needed. I also have 2 coconut palms and 4 Xmas palms on the side yard that provide some nice diffuse shade. You can't dig in that area because of the huge root systems thrown off by the palms. However, the area is perfect for me to move potted plants over to benefit from this shade. The plan is to move the plants over to that area in December, before the tomato plants get too large. Once the plants get too large it will be hard to move them even in pots.
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Heidi
Oct 18, 2018 18:22:12 GMT -6
Post by glen on Oct 18, 2018 18:22:12 GMT -6
If it looks like I am going to have some success with this trial I will post foto's here. Like always.
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Heidi
Oct 19, 2018 4:57:28 GMT -6
Post by macmex on Oct 19, 2018 4:57:28 GMT -6
Looking forward to it Glen. I skipped Heidi this year and missed it. Normally I have tomatoes ripening on the counter until Christmas. This year, I'll be out of tomatoes before Thanksgiving.
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Heidi
Oct 19, 2018 10:58:38 GMT -6
Post by glen on Oct 19, 2018 10:58:38 GMT -6
Well George, you got so much going on around your house that you can't grow everything every year. My grow list is much smaller.
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