Tomato Garden
2008
Norwich, NY
We are trying
four new tomatoes this year from seeds from Seed Savers Exchange.
The small photos and descriptions are from their catalog. Seed Savers Exchange is saving the world’s diverse, but endangered, garden heritage for
future generations by building a network of people committed to
collecting, conserving and sharing heirloom seeds and plants, while educating people about the value of genetic and cultural diversity.
Moonglow
Medium-sized bright orange fruits. Solid orange meat, few seeds and
wonderful flavor. One of our favorites since we first grew it in 1996.
Indeterminate, 80 days from transplant. CERTIFIED ORGANIC
Cherokee Purple Tomato
Introduced to other SSE members by North Carolina member Craig
LeHoullier in 1991, seed obtained from J. D. Green. Unique dusty rose
color. Flavor rivals Brandywine, extremely sweet. Productive plants
produce large crops of 12 oz. fruits. Indeterminate, 80 days from
transplant.
Brandywine (Sudduth's Strain)
(Sudduth's Strain)
Brandywine first appeared in the 1889 catalog of Johnson & Stokes
of Philadelphia and by 1902 was also offered by four additional seed
companies, but soon disappeared from all commercial catalogs. Our best
selling tomato and one of the best tasting tomatoes available to
gardeners today. The seed of this strain was obtained by tomato
collector Ben Quisenberry of Big Tomato Gardens in 1980 from Dorris
Sudduth Hill whose family grew them for 80 years. Large pink beefsteak
fruits to 2 pounds. Incredibly rich, delightfully intense tomato
flavor. Indeterminate, 90 days from transplant.
Riesentraube
European heirloom variety grown by Pennsylvania Dutch as early as 1856.
Name translates as "giant bunches of grapes." Produces tasty fruits in
clusters of 20-40 and each distinctly pointed. To say that this variety
is productive is an understatement. Round 1" fruit has a distinct
nipple on the blossom end. In the past this variety was used to make
tomato wine. Indeterminate, 80 days from transplant.
We will also be growing repeats from last year including
Dorothy's Green
Dorothy's Green really is green!! (August 12, 2007).
Dorothy's Green #5400 (30 seeds) $2.30
Large,
smoothly shaped tomatoes are chartreuse green when fully ripe. Vigorous
plants set loads of mostly 1/2 lb. fruit. The excellent flavor is a
combination of sweetness and tartness with spicy overtones that tomato
connoisseurs have come to praise. Heirloom variety. Indeterminate. 80
days.
Golden Queen
We picked the first Queen today, August 3, 2007. It is quite sour, which we
like. The texture is the right amount of firm and slippery. 
Golden Queen, USDA Strain #5614 (30 seeds) $2.30
Distinctly
different from other Golden Queens commonly sold, this is from a strain
obtained from the USDA seed bank, and is the original Golden Queen
described by the seedsman Livingston in 1882. Tomatoes are 8 to 12 ozs.
and yellow with a pronounced pink blush on the blossom end extending up
towards the stem end. What makes this one better than the common solid
yellow Golden Queen is its superior flavor. It is delicious, with a
full tomato taste that is also sweet and most pleasant. Indeterminate.
75 days.
White Beauty
On August 12, 2007, the first White Beauty was picked. It's a lovely yellow color.
White Beauty #5190 (30 seeds) $2.20
Creamy white
color inside and outside make White Beauty a rarity. Extremely mild and
sweet because of a high sugar content. Fruits average 8 ounces and are
quite meaty with few seeds. Indeterminate. 85 days.
Dr. Wyche's Yellow
August 12,2007 was the first pick of Dr. Wyche's Yellow
Dr.
Wyche's Yellow #5744 (30 seeds) $2.30
This
is undoubtedly one of the best tasting yellow tomatoes to be found,
combining luscious sweetness with plenty of tangy tomato flavor.
Golden-yellow fruit is beautiful, unblemished and smooth, and varies
from 10 ozs. to 1 lb. The shape is that of a typical beefsteak with
very meaty interiors. Huge, vigorous plants produce well, but it is the
rich, excellent flavor and large fruit size that really set this one
apart. Indeterminate. 80 days.
Marianna's Peace
This was picked July 28, 2007. It weighed 13 1/4 ounces.
Slightly sweet.
Marianna's Peace #3722 (30 seeds) $2.55
This large,
potato-leaved dark pink tomato is fast becoming a favorite of gardeners
across the country. The large, 1 to 2 pound pink-red beefsteak fruits
have luscious, full tomato flavor that features a good balance of
acidity and sweetness. Vigorous vines are very productive, which is
special for a potato-leaved plant. Indeterminate. 80 days.
Crncovic
The first one was picked July 27, 2007. It weighed 13.5
ounces. It was delicious!! Very tart and juicy.
...
Superb,
sweet flavor in 1 lb. pink beefsteaks that are capable of becoming
huge. This is a prolific bearer with outstandingly good taste.
Indeterminate. 80 to 85 days.
San Marzano Redorta
San Marzano Redorta #5808 (30 seeds) $2.35
Huge
plum tomato is an heirloom variety from Tuscany, and named for a
mountain in Bergamo. Used for cooking, but flavorful enough to eat fresh
2008 onions
2007 garden links:
Garden - heirloom
tomatoes
Garden in June
We made Dill Pickles
And we picked blueberries and made blueberry buckle and cobbler.
We love the minimalist (NY Times) no-knead bread.
In July the daylilies are blooming
Published 4/1/08
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