Federele paste tomato

Don't remember where the original reference to growing the federele paste tomato came from, but I'm here to tell 'ye: that there federele is a real winner in our western Oregon garden this year. Not only is it meaty with very few seeds, but it is very good tasting. My only regret is in not planting more than two plants. This will definitely be my main paste tomato next year. Those of us who are growing this variety this year: What are your results? Inquiring minds want to know. Nonna

I wont to know too

do paste tomato make good spaghetti sauce?.....next year i want to grow more tomatoes for that reason....yesterday we canned 30 lbs of roma's that we bought from our local produce guy

hugs

rose

Rose, that's a resounding YES! paste tomatoes were developed to make superior spaghetti sauce (more "meat," less seeds, less juice--a thicker sauce). Some paste tomatoes I've grown in the past didn't have the real tomato-ey flavor, or they were small, which means lots more peeling. The Federeles are big (some up to 7" long) and don't set many seeds at all. They make a delicious marinara sauce. I bought the seed this past spring from Seed Savers Exchange. Be warned, though, here in Western Oregon, they did take longer to get ripe than indicated on the package. Nonna

I was at SSE today enjoying the rain here by spending 3 hours shopping their store. Bought some Federele seeds for next season. After some in here talked about them I went there during August to look at them growing in their garden and was sold on them then. SSE is only a half hour north of me and it is such a relaxing treat to walk the gardens, fields, orchards and store talking to the workers and managers. I take pictures of what I like then find someone to discuss them with before I buy seeds. Today I also picked up 5 additional kinds of garlic. It was nice being able to hand pick my bulbs and their garlic is some what larger than what others have to sell this fall but getting low in supply.

Thank you, Westie, I'm quite envious of your ability to visit SSE. Hope you find Federle as successful as I have. Though I expect your weather will give you an even better harvest next year, unless we have an El Nino summer instead of the past two years' La Nina cool, wet summer. Thanks for the info. Nonna

Cool - I'll try those for my spring planting.

I've only bought from Baker Creek. What are a few other great buys from Seed Savers Exchange that I can't get elsewhere? Any suggestions? I'm open to any vegetable or fruit.

Well Malabar spinach comes to mind It is from India and thrives in a wide variety of climates. Josh had great luck in Southern Illinois, It grows beautifully here and says it loves warm climates too. It is a climbing vine that I love to grow and pass by my slender growing tower frequently to grab a few leaves to munch on because the crunchy raw texture and taste are pleasing. Although not quite a nutritional knockout punch it has a wide variety and decent levels of nutritional goodness.There are several years of seeds in the package and being open pollinated you can quickly collect enough seeds for a community. From the SSE website www.seedsavers.org you can browse the online catalog or order a printed one delivered to you. Otherwise it just depends on your climate, needs and likes. In garlic for example it is often stated by growers that it takes about 3 years for a variety to acclimate itself to your locality so buying locally possibly does have it’s perks. I think seeds may operate that way too. After all if you and I traded localities it would take that long for us each to acclimate to temps, humidity or altitude too. SSE is different in that it’s primary mission is to act as a seed repository to retain genetic purity and to make them widely available. That is how we can prevent GMO seeds being forced on us unknowingly or otherwise. They have a program to make seeds available to needy situations. I am not currently a member of SSE but know I should be besides as much as I have bought there this year with the member discount the membership would have been free. I love going there even on a rainy day like today was. The book section alone has to have over 300-400 good titles plus a lot of nice gift, practical and feel good items. They will help you in any way they can with growing problems or seed selections to fill needs. Although there is plenty there to buy selling you something does not seem be a priority. One day I counted over 70 cars in the employee parking lot and there was lots of workers in the fields tending crops, it was mid summer and they appeared to be college kids probably from the nearby Luther College in Decorah. Today I also bought Bees Friend, Garden Huckleberry, Sunberry, Strawberry Spinach, a couple more local mellons and Pattison Panche or PattiPan squash. All to increase my eating enjoyment, health and intake variety.