I think you might have misunderstood me.

I like trying new varities. (Which seemed to be what you meant by being “adventurous”.) The problem is that I have limited time and space, and so I need help choosing what to try. That’s why I find detailed descriptions so helpful.

Also, I didn’t call their prodcut descriptions blunt, I called their political quotes blunt. The politics seemed to be a just a little too in-your-face for my tastes.

I don’t really care who writes the descriptions. I don’t hold anything against Jere (or anyone else) who writes all the descriptions. I just don’t, personally, find them very helpful.

The fact that I find his political views a little too “in-my-face” would not stop me from buying from him, and I don’t know why people keep implying that’s the case. All it does is make my personal perusal of the catalog a little less pleasant than it could be.

And I’m very happy that you enjoy your catlogs. My review was never intended to tell people they shouldn’t (or wouldn’t) enjoy his catalog–just that I, personally, find some aspects of it to be less enjoyable than others aspects of it.

One thing I have said, and will say again, is that it is an awe-inspiring picture book on the diversity of vegetable varieties, and for that reason alone it is well worth a look through, even if you aren’t in the market for unusual plants.

I started ordering from BC when I was a newbie and liked the rather blunt descriptions regarding the varieties. What I have found annoying in other catalogs is the descriptions that sound like they are reviewing wine: “Smoky with a hint of sweetness, “and “Sweet with citrus undertones” I have never had problem with that kind of hyperbole in the BC catalog.

Jere Gettle has never hidden the fact that these descriptions are his own. One watermelon received a description that included, “I (Jere Gettle) personally prefer a stronger taste, but still good.”

I don’t know why people have a problem with his political views. I have received catalogs from companies that had an open religious bias that I did not agree with but I still ordered from those companies.

I find his catalogs refreshing, informative, and very straightforward.

Deanna Nowlin

However, there are truly some outstanding “green-when-ripe” and “purple” tomatoes … Cherokee Green and Cherokee Purple being among the very best in the taste category.

My pet peeve is not with over glamorizing run of the mill tomatoes … rather its outright lying about their “heirloomity,” their true origin, and in particular not giving credit to the persons or companies who actually developed the particular tomato in the first place.

I suspect many companies do not include the correct information about where a particular variety comes from because either they are too lazy to investigate the matter or have obtained the variety by other than ligitimate means and simply rename it to avoid paying the breeder for his or her labor and proprietary rights.

This last comment is not made directly in reference to any of the companies whose catalogs are reviewed in the original article and I find all of them valuable with regard to preserving and making available cultivars that the “mainstream” seedsmen just don’t bother to make available to us heritage gardeners.

Thank you Bakers Creek, Johnny’s, Fedco, and several others (Victory Seeds, Tomato Growers Supply, Totally Tomatoes, Mariseed, Seed Savers Exchange, Sandhill Preservation, et al) for your dedicated efforts and yes … for your catalogs and even for your sometimes flowery embellishments of truth.

Bill

Everyone’s tastes are different; it’s good to hear another point of view.

Fridom–

I think you said it quite neatly when you said “His cagalog is really great for diversity and rare seeds, but it helps if you are already well versed in open pollinated crops.”

I don’t (personally) find the catalog enjoyable to read, but it wouldn’t stop me from ordering them. I would just find it necesary to research my varities some where else.

Jeffery

Thank you for the catalog, for selling such a wide variety of plants, and the great photographs!

I like to write as honestly as possible when talking about catalogs (even if it inculdes talking about nit-picky stuff), because purely positive fluff, well, it get’s under my skin. (Does that surprise you?! I haven’t found a good brand of skin thickener, I guess. )

However, I remain entirely unrepentant about green tomatoes. I’ve never worried about being in the “in” crowd, and I’m not worried about anyone’s taste test except mine. Though taste tests can be valuable when trying to choose a new variety, once I’ve grown the variety myself, my opinion (and anyone I’m trying to feed my tomatoes to)is all that decides whether I buy it again. Everyone’s tastes are different, and a flavor one person likes can be unpleasant to someone else. That’s why descriptions that describe the taste are so helpful. “Tasty” means it tastes good to you. “Fruity”, “Sweet”, and “less acidic” can describe a tomato that is tasty to you, but doesn’t suit my purposes. With a more detailed description, I know what I’m getting into, and I’m more likely to find something I’m happy with.

“Aunt Ruby’s German Green
One of the largest green beefsteak. Can grow to over 1 pound and are just delicious. They have brilliant, neon-green flesh with a strong, sweet and fruity flavor, much tastier than most red tomatoes. This family heirloom from Germany is beautiful.”

-Talitha says- “This description gets under my skin for several reasons.

USE A GOOD SKIN THICKENER

First if all, it’s a very poor description–

YEP, BECAUSE i WROTE IT!

what, exactly does “tasty” mean?

YUMMY, DELICIOUS, SUPERBLY FLAVORFUL, SWEET AND FRUITY, JUST PLAIN THE MOST BEST YUMMIEST, TOMATOEST TOMATO THOU CAN’EST GROW!
(OR YOU COULD DO A GOOGLE SEARCH FOR “TASTY”)

Secondly, they seem very biased in the favor of green tomatoes.

YUP I KNOW THEIR NOT REPUBLICAN, THOUGH… AND THEY REMIND ME OF RALPH NADER:)

okaY all kidding aside, I do this thing for fun, It is my life’s hobby and yes I have grown hundreds of varieties of tomatoes and Aunt Ruby’s just happens to be a winner and a favorite of hundreds, you need to go to some tomato taste tests, green varieties ARE ranking very high!

You need to get out more, green tomatoes are everywhere in the “in” crowd.

Did you see our “spear’s tennessee green” tomato being listed as one of the best and a “house favorite” in -Organic Gardening Magazine- ?

What you said about Baker Creek Seeds is Cool, just please stop picking on poor helpless green tomatoes.

Thanks for the review!

Jere

Some seed companies, like Sand Hill Preservation Center, don’t even offer descriptions of their tomatoes, because with so many tomatoes it’s just too hard to adequetly explain their differences. Also, in different climates and growing conditions, you are likely to experience different results anyway. I personally find tomatoes I like by trial and error and discussing the matter with others.