Siletz Tomato: An Early, Prolific, Delicious Tomato For Cool Weather

[@vsberlina3712]

Absolutely stoked I came across this video 8 months ago. Managed to hunt down this variety in Australia, and I've fallen in love with it. It was part of my 2nd lot of transplants, but fruited first. Plant is 0.5m tall, and loaded with tomatoes. We've had a shocking Spring and Summer to end 2021 in Melbourne, but this thing was unphased. Have harvested 4lbs so far, and there's still 6lbs on it. I think it still has more to give given the healthy look of the plant. Average weight has so far been 6.5oz, but the big ones are yet to come. There's quite a few 10oz+. Flavour has been good, but none of the other varieties of tomatoes I've harvested are anywhere near their best taste. I have no doubt the flavour of the Siletz will get better if we get some sun. As for the 'acid bite' flavour, I'm usually not a fan of acidic tomatoes, but I really like the slight hint of acid this has.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Excellent news! I’m glad to hear you’ve found Siletz. Siletz is a truly “balanced” tomato. It doesn’t do well in the late summer heat, but it is easily one of the best early tomatoes and tomatoes for cooler climates. This is a must in the tomato garden. It is such a shame many gardeners avoid determinate types, because this one is a rockstar!

[@vsberlina3712]

@@TheMillennialGardener Thanks for the late Summer tip. I'll start them 2 months earlier next year then, and just put some polycarb around them to ensure there's no severe cold. Definitely a must have. My only dilemma is how many to plant. My MVP (or is that MVT?) for 2021/22 for sure.

[@lindapertusati7990]

I am also an Italian American from NJ. Born in Englewood and lived in Fairwiew as a child. Tomatoes have a prominent place in my garden every year. I am very picky when it comes to tomatoes and grow heriloom varieties. Glad to hear that the Siletz met your taste requirements. I may have to add that one to my garden for comparison.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

It is outstanding. It isn’t old enough to be considered an heirloom, but it is open pollinated and just as good as many heirlooms, and with better production than the overwhelming majority. It is a winner. So much easier to grow than most varieties. Thanks for watching!

[@alissaanderson6572]

Growing this variety for the first time in a windy, foggy, coastal Bay Area California climate and I'm STUNNED by how many tomatoes we're getting and how large they are! Definitely one to grow every year here.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

They're a fantastic tomato for your climate. Truly, it's a must-grow in the Bay Area and the PNW. We went from freezing to hot this year, so my Siletz didn't do well, but when we have more modest springs, they are fantastic. I've never seen tomatoes love 65 degree days and 40 degree nights as much as this tomato. I'll be growing this in my sunroom this winter. I think it'll be the perfect indoor winter tomato.

[@davidhalldurham]

What a nice video, Anthony! That tomato was gorgeous and your enthusiasm was infectious. My mouth was actually watering when you tasted it. Glad to see you're enjoying the doggy, too.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

It was very good, especially for such an early season variety. I recommend it, highly. Thanks for watching!

[@mr.blackhawk142]

@@TheMillennialGardener Nice touch with the pooch doing a taste test! I am an animal lover, and why I haven't eaten them in 34 years!

[@mr.blackhawk142]

I'm going to order some seeds as I grow INDOORS in winter with 3 HID lights. A few LEDs also for the Spring when it warms up inside. Did you THIN the leaves from that one plant bc I didn't see any? But what a harvest! You have a green thumb obviously!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

@@mr.blackhawk142 Dale is the best! Thanks for watching.

[@zw5509]

Great looking tomato! Love a sun warmed tomato. Mine are a while away, the very late frost killed or set mine back. They are worth the wait! Dale did a great job on the taste test too! My male dog is passionate about tomatoes.

[@CampfireKathy]

I'm so jealous right now and drooling 🤤!

[@juliegogola4647]

I have just now tried to order seed for this "Siletz" early tomato. And, I found it to be a real ordeal. But, I am not gonna just give up easily. Anyway, thanks for bringing attention to this really fancy schmancy variety of tomato. Give your pooch a big ole KISSY for me. Yeah, I know, you don't know me at all, BUT, I have seen your sweet pooch, and he surely would appreciate a BIG ole KISSY. I had been almost able to order seed and a plant of that "SILETZ" tomato, BUT, when I tried to "Check out", something had gone wrong. I will just have to try again in a few days. This "SILETZ" tomato is a SEEDLESS tomato, and it is an early fruiting variety.

[@SimplerGarden]

Looking very tasty, thanks for sharing. Seems like that extra Phosphate mid grow paid off.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I think so. I always get intense flowering after properly timed bloom booster application. Thanks for watching!

[@SimplerGarden]

@@TheMillennialGardener I am very new to this, very educational and always pleasure to watch. Thanks for sharing.

[@mr.blackhawk142]

@@TheMillennialGardener I grow mostly tomatoes indoors, all winter with HID lights. How do I know when to add nutrients to my water can?

[@SciaticaDrums]

I just ordered some seeds. Looking forward to tomatoes in May!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thank you for watching! Looking forward to spring!

[@ihopeugrow]

Those are some beautiful and really early tomatoes! Thanks for this video! If u get a chance, can u teach us how to lay down the weed fabric for watermelon, etc to sprawl on please? Thanks again & more power!!!! And thanks for featuring Dale!!!! ❤️

[@alexloz5746]

I just recently found your channel and have orders several of the plants you recommend. I'm in Guilford county NC and I have been looking for good recommendations and have ordered several based on your videos. Going to try the Siletz for a fall planting. If they are still green by frost My fife will make them into pickled green tomatoes. I love them that way. Thanks for the good info.

[@kimthames2531]

Well I started an experiment and I'm going eight different varieties of tomatoes this year only one I've grown before. Siletz is one of them. It's been really hot and humid and the beefsteaks are just tanking and not producing fruit. As hot as it is siletz is producing. I did use the electric toothbrush. A couple of beefsteaks have started to catch up. But I am impressed with silhouettes because well it's rare to be able to get an heirloom determinant. They're not beefsteak. Is there performing pretty well in this hideous weather and it's a cool weather tomato. Its july 3rd. My hope is on siletz and another smaller type of variety tomato which is I guess a cocktail type and it's doing really well too. It's called karma multiflora purple. It's an heirloom that's part of a tomato breeding program from Canada. One participant is a woman from Canada The other woman from United States. So I'm impressed with that one as well. In fact that was the first one to Bear any fruit at all without using electric toothbrush. Also I tried Siletz. I located it from a couple of sources. I sure hope it tastes good.

[@misbehavens]

I also grew a Siletz this year. It was off to a rough start, but it’s bouncing back and starting to grow some fruit! I’m not sure how you got so much fruit on that one plant. I wonder if I just need to wait a while longer. I’m looking forward to trying it.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I got crazy fruit set by: 1. Heavy fertilizing. 2. Vibrating flowers with a toothbrush. This WILL make you set crazy fruit on all your tomatoes, as long as your daytime temps are under 90F and nighttime temps under 70F. Give this a shot and be ready to be amazed. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rmPdoKKom9WNa5I

[@jovanny253]

wow so many tomatoes. all of mine died last week during the drastic drop in temperatures I even had lots of hail. all of this while it was sunny out. seeded new ones and had to buy some at home depot.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Oh man! That's rough. I hate hearing that. We were one county south of the frost advisories and just dodged it. This has been a truly terrible spring. It started out well, but it turned into a ridiculously cold, stormy, wet mess. It won't stop raining. It's terrible this year. Last year, we had drought and it was fantastic. Sometimes I wish I moved to a drier climate.

[@johnpurser2798]

I'll look for them. Having some May tomatoes next year would be nice. You used a 7 gallon grow bag? I heard 20 gallons were the recommended size. Yours were obviously not limiting your crop size! Do you have a video covering overall grow bag size selection?

[@actsoftheapostles4013]

You have h red deer red f freelo made of

[@deborahsimmons2414]

Save those seeds!!!!

[@C3Voyage]

Did you notice the big one was seedless? If you've been paying attention to the seeds, can you tell me how many were seedless?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I did check, and they were not seedless. I didn't meticulously check each tomato, but I did check the first few and they all did have some seeds. I am guessing it is because of one of two things: 1. I did not grow this variety in isolation, so there is a chance it cross-pollinated with the other varieties I was growing right next to them. That could have created seeds, or created additional seeds. 2. It is possible that the fruits did form without pollination, but the seeds were sterile, which is typical with parthenocarpic fruit. All of my figs are parthenocarpic and form without pollination, but they still have seeds, so parthenocarpic doesn't necessarily mean it'll be seedless. I can say, though, that when figs do get pollinated, the seed count increases dramatically.

[@C3Voyage]

@@TheMillennialGardener I get seedless from time to time with Sweet Seedless, but the little specs (empty seed casing) are tiny and soft. I believe it's because it wasn't pollinated or aborted after pollinating. Either way, they're not viable. That's what I thought your tomato in this video did. I'd read where Siletz was supposed to be seedless most of the time. Disappointing. If you know of any, let me know and thanks so much. :O)

[@TheMillennialGardener]

@@C3Voyage it's entirely possible I am mistaken. Or, it is just an issue with cross-pollination. Believe me when I tell you that Siletz is a FANTASTIC tomato. It's by far the best tasting determinate I've ever grown, and it's the only one of the early determinates that I'll be growing again next season. It's definitely worth trying.

[@danielweinzapfel2895]

Your storefront doesn't have the Siletz tomato, where dop you get them?

[@idaholewis265]

Is the Siletz an Heirloom? Can you save the Seed and will they come back true to type?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Siletz is not an heirloom. Heirloom tomatoes are open pollinated seeds that have been preserved for >50 years. Siletz was developed in the 1990's, so it won't be considered an heirloom until the 2040's (it's over halfway there). It is open pollinated, so you can save the seed and it will grow true to type as long as it wasn't cross-pollinated by bees.

[@idaholewis265]

@@TheMillennialGardener Thank you for the Reply, I need to learn what an Heirloom is, Open Pollinated Etc. I should know, but i don’t. I do know indeterminant and Determinant differences. Have you ever tried Whipper Snapper? They are a Cherry type Tomato, they are INCREDIBLE Producers, They are the most Reliable, and Heavy producer i have ever seen, If you have never tried them i HIGHLY recommend you try a Few of them. My Dad has Grown Whipper Snappers here in North Idaho for well over 20 Years, Dad saves the seed and They come back true year after year, even if they are touching other plants

[@prioritymaleman]

Hi MG from north FL. It's too late to start that down here now, but it looks like this Christmas I'll be asking for a packet of these seeds in my stocking! BTW, where did you get these seeds? I don't think you said. Jim

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Jim L these are from Victory Seed. They are an excellent company. I’ve ordered from them at least 3-4 times and every time has been a pleasure.

[@ACR4008]

I found this variety from your other video a bit too late up in Connecticut, but I still want to check it out. Where did you get the seeds?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I go over all the seed sourcing details here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpDSgIODYq-GfKM

[@edj2745]

Hi Anthony, I would like to taste the Siletz tomato. Do you have any Siletz tomato seeds for sale? I don't have a big garden, just want to grow a few plants.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I do not sell seed. I recommend checking out sites like Victory Seed and Tomato Growers.

[@m.nazifyilmaz3835]

Dont think these are available in UK

[@Moonlight76876]

Hi Millennial, would you have some Siletz tomato seeds for sale or share ?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I do not sell seed. I go over where I buy seeds here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpDSgIODYq-GfKM This is where I got my seeds.

[@edj2745]

What is your favorite early season indeterminate tomato variety?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I have never grown an early season indeterminate variety. The early season varieties I grow are determinate and dwarf varieties. I've had Cherokee Purple and Brandy Boy ripen to be one of the earliest in my garden, though. They're usually only 1-2 weeks behind the true early season determinates, and they're both excellent. If you want two excellent, delicious early tomatoes, I recommend the Siletz determinate and Rosella Purple dwarf.

[@rajbasenoo8648]

Please send me a few seeds if possible.Let me know I pray you.Thanks in advance.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Raj Basenoo check out Victory Seed. That is where I got mine. They have an excellent selection.