Comments on: Big Projects 2010: Garden

By: Potato Seedlings | Bifurcated Carrots

Potato Seedlings | Bifurcated Carrots — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 10:57:32 +0000

[...] looks a lot different at this stage! When I transplanted them from the seed tray in the photo I made in this previous post, I buried the seedlings up to the cotyledons, which you can see pressed against the dirt in most of [...]

By: lieven

lieven — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 19:07:16 +0000

I got these TPS from Tom:
F-2 Diamond Toro
F-2 Pam Wagner
Their seedlings already show great variability: there are even some triploids. Are these special in any way?

I also got these Tuber lines
Skagit Valley Gold
Nordic October
Amey
Reiche Tom
“A” Cosima x Tom Kaighin
Mule Skinner Blues
I’ve planted & I’m waiting for the first taters…

By: Patrick

Patrick — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 16:32:24 +0000

Hi Tom,

Thanks for the comments! Yes of course, I’d be delighted if you linked here and mentioned it elsewhere.

By: Tom Wagner

Tom Wagner — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 16:00:57 +0000

Thanks, everybody, for some very kind words about my work. Patrick, you have made some very pertinent comments about my potato/tomato projects. I struggle to find the time to continue all of my research and working full time lately for the Census 2010 is taxing my energy and severely limiting my seeding work.

with you permission, I want to link your comments and photos on my TaterMater forum and on the sub folder of potatoes on Tomatoville.com.

Actually, I rather like it when folks steal my work…..I just have to figure out how folks can steal my current work!
Tom

By: Rhizowen

Rhizowen — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 22:24:51 +0000

@ Rebsie Fairholm – pea breeding is a proper job. Maybe one day our society will wake up to that fact. It’s intellectually stimulating and combines both academic knowledge and practical skills. Unlike many jobs, it actually benefits society. You can expect to measure your success by the intentional and unintentional theft of your varieties and their appearance in all sorts of unlikely places and catalogues. I suspect it was ever thus.

By: Rebsie Fairholm

Rebsie Fairholm — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 22:09:02 +0000

A really impassioned and well written piece here Patrick, and I completely agree with you. I was browsing a commercial seed catalogue the other day and spotted two or three of Tom’s tomatoes, for which he was neither credited nor, presumably, paid. It must be galling to see others profiting from your hard work without even acknowledging you … but at the same time Rhizowen is right, it is a massive achievement to produce not one but several varieties that are so valuable and desirable that seed companies want to exploit them, over and above varieties which the agro-corporations have spent a fortune developing.

My own plant breeding efforts, humble as they are, are only made possible by a spouse who keeps a roof over my head and doesn’t hassle me to get a proper job. I know I’m among the lucky ones.

By: Update: Big Projects 2010: Garden | Bifurcated Carrots

Update: Big Projects 2010: Garden | Bifurcated Carrots — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 09:37:04 +0000

[...] response to my post a few days ago I received an email from someone representing the Global Crop Diversity Trust, the seed bank in [...]

By: Leigh

Leigh — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 14:50:22 +0000

This is a very ambitious project, and addresses an issue that should be of great concern to anyone who wishes for a food future free of Monsanto et al. I wish all gardeners understood what treasures breeders like Tom Wagner and Tim Peters are, and I emphasize them beyond the masterpieces they have created because it takes so much dedication, skill, (and perspiration) to do what they have done, and to acquire the years of valuable experience that they have.
I look forward to hearing more!

By: Rhizowen

Rhizowen — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 21:48:17 +0000

Hi Patrick

I think people tend to forget that Tom has created many of the so-called heirloom tomatoes: any heritage veg catalogue is bound to include several. It’s a brilliant achievement.

I think you’ve summed up the situation pretty succinctly for most of the independent plant breeders that I know of. These people are definitely not in it for the money. I’d send a cheque, but am a bit short of cash at the moment.

Linux for plant breeders – intriguing idea, I look forward to hearing more.

Blight free potatoes and tomatoes – how I long to stare through the mist of a drizzly July day and not worry about the fate of my plants.