2013 Tomatoes: Part Two

Even more of my tomato varieties for this year:

Brandywine

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A staple in many gardens, one that I knew I had to grow. I found mine at Green Fest from an awesome organic vendor Willow Herbal Delight Gardens. Willow is a folk herbalist, I also picked up a bunch of medicinal plants from her. According to Seed Savers: "The original Brandywine introduced by Johnson and Stokes in 1889 from seeds they received from a customer in Ohio. Named after Brandywine Creek in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Large vines produce deep red 8-12 ounce fruits. Excellent flavor. Very productive. Indeterminate, 80 days from transplant."

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Cherokee Purple

If ever there was a classic heirloom, this is it... I had to try it! I nabbed this one from the Sarasota Farmer's Market, but you can find it almost anywhere (Seed Savers, for example); according to Baker Creek: "80 days. An old Cherokee Indian heirloom, pre-1890 variety; beautiful deep dusky purple-pink color, superb sweet flavor, and very large sized fruit. Try this one for real old-time tomato flavor."

Dester

A lucky find at the Sarasota Market, this one from an organic grower that told me he used seed from Seed Savers Exchange. In fact, this variety won the SSE taste test in 2011 and was runner-up in 2012. According to the Seed Savers site: "Donated to SSE by Missouri farmer Larry Pierce, who received his seeds from an Amish woman in Seymour, Missouri. She originally got her seeds from a doctor she worked for whose family had brought the seeds with them from Germany. Luscious pink beefsteaks weighing up to one pound. Indeterminate, 70-80 days from transplant."

German Johnson

A random big box store purchase (sale!), can be found at Baker Creek. According to Monticello: "This popular “potato-leaf” variety, one of the four parent lines of the 1930s introduction, ‘Mortgage Lifter’ Tomato, originated in the southern United States. German Johnson produces large, meaty fruit with pink flesh and bright red skin streaked yellow at the top. The indeterminate vines grow up to 5 feet and mature within 80 days of planting. Sow seed indoors in pots and plant when soil warms in late spring; full sun."

Italian Heirloom

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Another from the organic vendor at the Sarasota Market, and another Seed Savers taste test winner (beating Dester in 2012). According to their site: "Outstanding heirloom from Italy. Plants are loaded with red fruits weighing over a pound. One of the most productive varieties we have grown at Heritage Farm. Excellent full tomato flavor. Ideal for slicing and canning—very little waste and easy to peel. Indeterminate, 70-80 days from transplant."

There's even more to come, you can find Part One here

Namaste