Viewing comments posted by frankrichards16

It had good flavor and good size. I grew 5 dwarfs this year. There are around 125 dwarf tomatoes in the Dwarf Tomato Project. In his blog, Craig LeHoullier reviewed most of the dwarfs and selected his favorites. My selection of dwarfs is based on his favorites.

Chocolate Lightning
Uluru Ochre
Dwarf Caitydid Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum 'Dwarf Caitydid')
Rosella Purple
Summer Sweet Gold

I have not tried Chocolate Lightning or Summer Sweet Gold yet.

But the others were excellent.

Tomato 'Aker's West Virginia' 23W33 Tomato S1- (Aker, 1990) Red Tomato, Mature plant size: 90day, RED, USDA Hardiness Zone Veg, Michigan Bloom Month -, In Garden Bed S1 for 146 DAYS (Victory). Planted in 2023.

Victory Seeds: 90 days, indeterminate — The regular leaf vines of 'Aker's West Virginia' remain fairly compact, only reaching four to five feet in height, and with flower clusters a bit closer together that typical indeterminate varieties. They produce ample amounts of red colored, round to oblate shaped, six to twenty ounce fruit that are meaty and quite delicious with an "old fashioned" well balanced flavor. On our farm in Oregon, the plants continued producing beautiful, huge fruit, even after the fall rainy season began. The tomatoes are unusual in that they do not develop green shoulders as immature fruit like other reds.

We received or sample of 'Aker's West Virginia' from Craig LeHoullier. In 1996, Craig was given this variety from Pennsylvania tomato enthusiast, the late Carl Aker. Craig explained that he had met Carl at a Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Harvest Festival in 1990, and that throughout the 1990s, he and Carl had corresponded and shared many tomato varieties. One packet of seeds that Craig received from Carl was simply labeled, "West Virginia," so Craig added the "Aker's" designation to distinguish it from other tomatoes with that name.

Photo by F.D.Richards, SE Michigan.

#Michigan, #49236, #usdaZone6, #RegularLeaf, #Germ05days, #OP, #indeterminate, #Veg, #Fruit #tomato, #Seed, #A2023, #Red, #23W33

appears to be taller than 30 inches?

"Syringa 'Primrose', Yellow Lilac, , USDA Hardiness Zone 3, Creamy Yellow, Michigan Bloom Month 5.

Unusual yellow flowered lilac. Introduced in 1949, Primrose bears numerous graceful, yet dense panicles of pastel yellow flowers in mid-spring. Won a Royal Horticulture Society Award of Merit in 1950. Usually more cream or creamy-yellow. In some cases, it only appears unique when grown amidst white-flowered plants for contrast. Planted in 2013. No blooms in 2014 or 15. My guess is that this plant will be like my 'Claire de lune' peony, WHITE."

"Geranium x oxonianum 'Miss Heidi', Cranesbill, , USDA Hardiness Zone 4-7, violet pink petals, Michigan Bloom Month 6-7.

Veined, violet pink petals. Burgundy-splashed foliage. Long lived and drought tolerant once established. Full Sun to Half Sun/ Half Shade."

"Diervilla rivularis 'G2X885411' Kodiak® Red, Northern Bush Honeysuckle, (Michael Uchneat, 2017), USDA Hardiness Zone 4-7, common yellow flowers, distinctive red seed pods, red fall foliage, burgandy new growth, Michigan Bloom Month 6-7.

Flowering shrub that tolerates shade or full sun, problem soils and deer. Blooms in summer with clusters of yellow flowers and red-blushed foliage. Foliage turns vivid red in fall. Gets a little sparse as it matures. Can be cut back to the ground in early spring for a fresh start. Patented in 2017 by Michael Uchneat, Garden Genetics LLC (Bellefonte, PA, US) "

"Spiraea japonica 'SMNSJMFR' Double Play® Red, Japanese Spirea, (Wood, 2016), USDA Hardiness Zone 3-8, true red flowers, dark burgundy red foliage in the Spring, Michigan Bloom Month 6-7.

True red flowers. Burgundy spring foliage. Proven Winners® selection. Retains rounded bushy shape with no pruning. Double play series refers to good foliage plus colorful flowers. Patented in 2016 by Timothy Wood, Spring Meadow Nursery (MI, US)."

"Paeonia 'Sugar Plum Fairy', (3-SL-WH) Itoh Hybrid Peony, (Laning /Steininger, 2016), USDA Hardiness Zone 4, Medium height, single, white with purple hue, fades, red purple flares, pale yellow stamens, white-tipped carpels, no side-buds, midseason bloomer , Michigan Bloom Month -.

Color of flower varies. Red-purple hue on a light buff white. Red-purple fades. Stamens are pale, carpels green, stigma and sheath white. The sheath covers only half of the carpels."

"Yucca filamentosa 'Bright Edge', Variegated Adam's Needle, USDA Hardiness Zone 4-9, white bell-shaped flowers, Michigan Bloom Month 6c-.

A smaller Yucca. Leaves edged in creamy white to yellow. Evergreen and deer resistant. Excellent drought tolerance and longevity. Also good in containers. Late spring spikes of white bell-shaped flowers."

"Sambucus racemosa 'Lemony Lace®', Cut Leaf Elderberry, , USDA Hardiness Zone 3, white flowers, yellow foliage edged in red, Michigan Bloom Month 7a-.

Fine textured foliage starts out a dark red changing to glowing yellow green. Ages to chartreuse. White flowers in spring with clusters of red fruit in the fall for the birds. Sambucus tends to sucker."

"Chrysanthemum 'Starlet', Hardy Garden Mum #chrysanthemum , (MED) #Perennial (Faribault, 1968), USDA Hardiness Zone 5, Medium sized plant with Apricot spoon Flowers, Michigan Bloom Month 8c.

Chrysanthemum 'Starlet' Family Asteraceae (ass-ter-AY-see-ee). Apricot shades infuse the spoon shaped petals. Spooned and quilled petals. Small Spoon, bronze, 9a-c, Faribault, 1968."

"Chrysanthemum 'Joanette', Hardy Garden Mum #chrysanthemum , (MED) #Perennial (Origin Unknown), USDA Hardiness Zone 5, Medium size plant with butter yellow fading to antique white spoon, Michigan Bloom Month 8c.

Family Asteraceae (ass-ter-AY-see-ee). Central quills of Mum Joanette are butter yellow changing to antique white. Flower shapes are both spooned and quilled."

"Chrysanthemum 'Jewel Box', Hardy Garden Mum #chrysanthemum , (LOW) #Perennial (Origin Unknown), USDA Hardiness Zone 5, Lavender Pink Cushion Flower, Michigan Bloom Month 8c.

Family Asteraceae (ass-ter-AY-see-ee). Lavender-pink tones. Sometimes called a ""bushel-basket"" Mum. Low growing mound. Small Decorative, pink. Origin not known."

"Chrysanthemum 'Grandeur', Hardy Garden Mum #chrysanthemum , (MED-TALL) #Perennial (Origin Unknown), USDA Hardiness Zone 5, Medium to tall plant with Golden Cushion Flowers, rust center, Michigan Bloom Month 8c.

Family Asteraceae (ass-ter-AY-see-ee). Soft gold petals with a rust center, aka bronze. Dense branching clusters of double yellow bronze flowers. Small Decorative, bronze. Origin not known."

"Chrysanthemum 'Golden Regards', Hardy Garden Mum #chrysanthemum , (TALL) #Perennial (Ontario, 1950), USDA Hardiness Zone 4, Golden yellow Cushion Flower, Michigan Bloom Month 8c.

Family Asteraceae (ass-ter-AY-see-ee). The REGARDS mum series comes from a nursery north of Lake Ontario, Canada. Circa1950. I am aware of Best Regards, High Regards, Deep Regards and Golden Regards. High regards is a rich coppery-red sport of 'Best Regards'."

"Paeonia 'Top Brass', (3-DB-WH) lactiflora cultivar Peony, (C. G. Klehm, 1968), USDA Hardiness Zone 4, Medium height, double bomb, white guard petals, yellow staminodes, light pink petaloids (center), slight fragrance, good cut, midseason bloomer, Michigan Bloom Month 5.

Cross of Charley's White x Own seedling. In some photos, it looks more like an anemone type flower. However, in other photos, it looks like a full double bomb. Green foliage divided into oval to lance-shaped segments."

"Paeonia 'Rosy Prospects', (3-SD-WH) Itoh Hybrid Peony, (Anderson /Kornder, 2008), USDA Hardiness Zone 4, Medium height, single to semi-double, 8 inch irregular white petals, red flares, midseason bloomer, Michigan Bloom Month 5b.

An intersectional hybrid previously known as Raggady Ann (for it's raggady petals) but renamed in 2013."

"Paeonia 'Mother's Choice', (3-DB-WH) lactiflora cultivar Peony, (Glasscock, 1950), USDA Hardiness Zone 2, Medium height, large double, white petals, occasional red edge, side-buds, strong stems, midseason bloomer, Michigan Bloom Month 5-6.

Seedling of Polar Star. APS Gold Metal 1994. No buds in 2015. Flowers quite large and requires support. Had red edging on the center petals in 2017."

"Paeonia 'Soshi', (3-JAP-RD) lactiflora cultivar Peony, (Millet), USDA Hardiness Zone 4, Medium Height, Japanese type flower, Crimson red, Golden yellow center, sturdy stems, midseason bloomer, Michigan Bloom Month 5c.

An heirloom. Not much info available on this plant."

"Paeonia 'Allan Rogers', (3-DB-WH) lactiflora cultivar Peony, (Seidl /Wierstra, 2011), USDA Hardiness Zone 4, Medium Height, large double, pure white whorled petals, fragrant, midseason bloomer, Michigan Bloom Month 5c.

Sturdy plant that can withstand some rain."