The
first fruits for this seaon's trials are ripe! Time to think about
filing reports, so future growers can know what tastes and grows
good! Gang members who need report forms will find them at the ITG
Potting Shed.
Welcome back!
A year of keeping everybody's name,
address, etc. in various database and spreadsheet formats has left things less
than Martha Stewart orderly. So, rather than compound the errors and omissions
that have crept into the master database, we've been advised to start fresh and
ask everyone to enter his or her name, address, and other information online. It
means a bit of work for all of us, but hopefully will pay off in fewer
bounced e-mails and lost gang members.
Please provide as much information as you
can; it will be very useful in picking out seeds for you to trial this Spring.
Be sure to speak up about varietal preferences, likes and dislikes, unusual
growing conditions. That's the kind of information that drastically increases
your odds of getting some really exceptional varieties.
One final detail: if the computer spits your
application back marked "REJECTED", go directly to the Compost Heap and see if you are
listed as a Bad Seed. If you find your name on the list, send a note of
appeal to Helper and ask for penance.
Reminder:
Because the trials are
non-commercial and self-funding, returning ITG members who were not able
to a) turn in reports (forms #1 and #2) OR b) make a contribution of
either seed or cash donation to one of the four listed eligible
seed-saving organizations are asked to pay $6.00 to
cover the actual costs of seeds, postage (within the United States),
seed envelopes, and packing materials for next trial in which they
participate.
*Last Name
*First Name
*Street address
Address (cont.)
*City
*State/Province
*Zip/Postal code
*Country
*Home Phone
Work Phone
FAX
*E-mail
URL
What's
your ITG status?:
I am an ITG
member-in-good-standing (turned in completed forms).
I'm an official Hot
Tomato (turned in completed forms, saved seeds, and/or made contribution
to seed saving organization).
I am a returning grower but was not
able to complete a
previous Trial.
I'm a Bad Seed. I found my name
posted on the Compost Heap.
How would you describe your
ITT
experience?:
I never got any seeds last
year. Either I signed up after the deadline or the mailbox gremlins got my
seeds before I did.
The seeds arrived but never got
planted.
I planted my seeds but lost them
all before getting them transplanted to the garden.
I was able to enjoy tomatoes from
more than 50% of my ITT varieties.
At least one and up to 50% of my
ITT varieties produced tomatoes.
I had a killer season with all (or
just about all of my ITT 'maters). There wasn't a dud in the bunch.
Did
you grow any tomatoes in addition to your ITT varieties?
I grew both ITT and non-ITT varieties. Compared with the non-ITT
varieties, the ITT tomatoes performed:
As well as the non-ITT tomatoes
Better than the non-ITT tomatoes
Worse than the non-ITT tomatoes
Where will you plant your ITT tomatoes?:
In pots. I don't have any dirt!
In pots and in the ground.
In raised beds using the Square Foot method of
intensive gardening.
I use the Square Foot
method but do not plant in raised beds.
In raised beds using conventional plant
spacing.
I plant my garden using rows and field spacing.
For whom do you grow tomatoes?
Me. Myself. and I. (I never did learn to
work and play well with other children.)
My family, friends, neighbors (if there are
more than 10 members in your immediate family, classify yourself as a market gardener!
My family and almost anybody else who is
willing to pay me! (I'm a market gardener.)
What's your zone?
Growing zones are somewhat arbitrary. They do not reflect the
characteristics of individual gardens such as microclimates and gardening
practices. Still, zone classification provides a guidepost for us in
selecting varieties likely to thrive in your area. So, let us know in which
zone you garden, according to one or more of the following zones.
USDA Hardiness Zone
Sunset Zone (primarily for Western
USA)
American Horticulture Society Heat
Index
What's your garden's most troublesome feature?
Nobody gardens in Eden, and I've yet to meet anyone who thinks he or she
has "ideal garden soil". (I confess that I probably wouldn't much like anyone
who had reached this Holy Gardening Grail.) In a single sentence, describe
the worst challenge you face when it comes to growing tomatoes. It might be
your soil. Or the shade of trees have matured along with your garden beds.
Boggy Swamp may be an apt descriptor of your garden area. Salt Flats might
sum it up, too. Whatever it is, confess: it will help us select seeds
capable of jumping tall buildings and garden migraines in a single sprint.
My garden's #1 challenge:
Veterans
get to pick! What do YOU want to grow this time?
Growing "mystery" 'maters is fun, but some of us want to be
able to specify to some degree what we want to grow. Or, we have a burning
interest in trialing a half-dozen bi-colors in quest of the ultimate example
of this category of tomato. Or, the idea of growing nothing but Brandywines,
each strain claiming to be "the best", intrigues. Or we want to
plant all our tomatoes in pots next season. While you can't be 100% certain
of getting the selections of your dreams (specialty trials will
be limited in number of participants), you stand the best chance if you register quickly. Take a minute to create your ITT
Wish List. We can't promise to grant them, but we will definitely ask the
resident Froggy to plunk his magic twanger on your behalf.
On my honor
The trials are a non-commercial venture. There's no big company footing
the bill for seeds, postage, web space, etc. Just a starving writer who has delusions
of being Joanna Tomatoseed and who thinks the Internet beats walking
cross-country (cross-globe, actually!) on foot to distribute seed. (If Johnny
Appleseed had the Internet available you can be sure he would have jumped on
it!).
My pledge to you is to do my best to make the trials fun and informative
for everyone. What I ask you to carefully consider before you sign up is simple:
"Can I commit to making a serious commitment to grow out and report on the
seeds I receive? Will I give my word to send in reports on a timely
basis--even if the news isn't good? Will I support seed-saving
efforts, either by saving seed myself or making a small contribution to a
number of recognized non-profit seed-saver organizations? Will I respect the
privacy of my fellow "gang" members and not attempt to collect
information about them with the intent of using it to market/sell/promote garden-related
products and services in which I have a business interest. If you are in agreement, type
"Yes" into the box below to acknowledge your understanding and
acceptance.
You have
my word. I recognize that I am assuming real and on-going
responsibilities to the Trials and my fellow growers by registering.
Privacy
Policy: The information you provide in filling out this form--including name and
address--will not be sold, traded or otherwise distributed.
The
first fruits for this seaon's trials are ripe! Time to think about
filing reports, so future growers can know what tastes and grows
good! Gang members who need report forms will find them at the ITG
Potting Shed. 
Reminder:
Because the trials are
non-commercial and self-funding, returning ITG members who were not able
to a) turn in reports (forms #1 and #2) OR b) make a contribution of
either seed or cash donation to one of the four listed eligible
seed-saving organizations are asked to pay $6.00 to
cover the actual costs of seeds, postage (within the United States),
seed envelopes, and packing materials for next trial in which they
participate. 
What's
your ITG status?:
Did
you grow any tomatoes in addition to your ITT varieties? 
