My start to the year

I started this year with a broken wrist. It is not healing as it should and I haven't been able to get much work done. I work as a horticulturist and do lots of gardening and landscaping but this has been quite a set back.

Ouch!

I have started my tomato seeds. It took awhile to sow those seeds with this wrist (I am very methodical and careful in my work). I sowed about 35 various lines and 40 new hybrids (provided they all come up). It's the 6th day from sowing and almost all are up. I may take pictures later and will try to update this page as things progress.

Also I am looking for interested people with land to help me grow out lines. If you have extra space contact me! I need help with two things - one to see how a cross "segregates" (what differences come out of a cross) and two to isolate a particular line to keep it "true".

I breed tomatoes. I have released several lines now that are being sold by Sandhill Preservation Center (Gary O'Sena and Dora) and Gourmet Seed. These are lines developed from heirloom varieties and selected almost solely for flavor. I also work with two growers who sell plants of my lines and the proceedes go to autism charities.
http://www.selectedplants.com/
http://www.heirloomtomatoplants.com/

I studied at North Carolina State University with the tomato breeder there named Dr Randy Gardner. He developed around 50 different lines before retiring last summer. One might recognize his lines this spring in garden centers as the "Mountain" Series (Mt Fresh, Mt Spring, Mt Pride, Mt Gold). I was very fortunate to have Dr Gardner provide me with some special lines that should help me with my work. Next year a new line of his will be released called "Mountain Magic". If we have a plant exchange I may have one or two later to give away.

I also keep a sizable garden and flower beds. I am wondering how I will keep up this year with this wrist. I might have to give up on them to focus the use of my wrist on things that provide an income.

I live in KC now and grew up very close to where the Marsh's now live. I saw that Mark Bartlow was mentioned in their blog. I have known Mark since he worked at Santa Fe Gardens in old downtown Overland Park. We also went to school together at K-State. If you need tree work/help Mark is the man.