Tomatoes

This page is an open source resource guide for tomatoes. It is for growing and maintaining the most bio-diverse, delicious, and broadly applicable tomato selection possible. It contains cultural considerations, planting guidelines, descriptions, and the best places we’ve found for purchasing the species we’ve listed. As part of the One Community Highest Good food component of global transformation, this page will continue to evolve indefinitely to contain maintenance and care tips, accessioning and plant breeding and sharing information as part of the One Community open source botanical garden model, and even recipe’s, preparations, and preservation methods used on the property.

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Click these links to be taken directly to the relevant sections on this page:

• Tomato Overview
• Cultural Considerations
• Planting Guidelines
• Specific Varieties
• Plant Material/Seed Providers
• Other Tomato Resources
• Tomatoes as Part of the Botanical Garden Model
• Tomato Preparation, Preservation, and Recipes
• Links to Other Edible Plant Pages

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TOMATOES

(Click here for tomato purchase details)

Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum- formerly Lycopersicon esculentum)

Tomatoes are heat-loving plants with two main growth habits; determinate (bush form) and indeterminate (sprawling ground-hugging branches). This versatile fruit (which is typically used as a vegetable) is eaten fresh when ripe, or cooked, stewed, sauced dried or pureed, and partially dehydrated to paste. Tomatoes are a highly nutritious source of vitamins C and E, and contain immune-boosting polysaccharides, lycopene and other carotenoids.

CULTURAL CONSIDERATIONS

• Excess nitrogen causes reduced fruit crop
• Tomatoes like warm temperatures and rich soil
• Plants like steady moisture, mulch is very beneficial
• Tomatoes are subject to several insect pests and diseases
• If planted too early plants will not grow until weather warms

PLANTING GUIDELINES

Tomatoes are generally planted as transplants, which are started indoors in late winter or early spring. Soil should be amended in advance with compost or well rotted animal manure. In areas with nematode populations, inoculating the soil with beneficial nematodes may be advisable. Transplant out in full sun after last frost and when soil temperatures have warmed sufficiently. The sprawling forms are usually staked to keep the fruit off the ground. The most frequent pest is the tomato hornworm and these can be hand picked, but should not be entirely destroyed as the adult moth is an important pollinator. They can be moved to other solanaceous species to live out their life cycle – ground cherries (Physalis spp.) are a good trap crop.

VIDEO COMING: Planting tutorial followed by timelapse growth videos

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Wikipedia ” Tomatoes

GT#1 :: Amish Paste Tomato Amish Paste tomatoes originate from the Amish near Lancaster, Pennsylvania. They have delicious and juicy flesh that is great for sauce or eating fresh from the vine. Its bright red fruits mature in about eighty-five days and grow to about twelve ounces and vary in shape from oxheart to round.   GT#2 :: Black Krim Tomato (AKA Black Crimea) In 1990 the Black Krim was found in Krim Russia. It produces full-flavored beefsteak fruits that are a combination of violet-brown and purple-red in color, becoming almost black with sufficient sunlight and heat. It is an indeterminate type that matures in around 90 days from transplanting. GT#3 :: Currant, Sweet Pea Tomato The Currant Sweet Pea tomato produces hundreds of fruit per plant that are borne in trusses of 10-12 with a spreading habit. It has an excellent flavor with a hint of wine and is mainly used as a garnish. This tomato matures in about eighty days from transplanting and is an indeterminate type. GT#4 :: Gold Medal Tomato This tomato was originally introduced as Ruby Gold by John Lewis Childs in 1921 and then later renamed Gold Medal by Ben Quisenberry in his 1976 catalog. It is an attractive and sweet tasting tomato that grows yellow with streaks of red and is a gourmet’s joy when sliced. It matures in 75-90 days from transplanting. GT#5 :: Mortgage Lifter (Halladay’s) Tomato Halladay’s Mortgage Lifter is a Kentucky family heirloom grown since the 1930s by three generations of James Halladay’s family. In a trial of 25 Mortgage Lifter types, Halladay’s produced the best crops of up to 2 pounds of pink beefsteak fruits. Meaty and typically crack-free, this tomato has been described as having “an old-fashioned tomato flavor.” It matures in around ninety days and is an indeterminate type.   GT#6 :: Principe Borghese Tomato Principe Borghese is an Italian heirloom tomato that is the traditional variety for sun-dried tomatoes because it retains its color and flavor when dehydrated. They are also favorites for eating fresh and their ability to withstand high heat makes them especially good for sauce making. The bushier of these plum-shaped red plants will need support when the yield gets near 1-2 ounces. It matures in seventy to seventy-five days and is of a determinate type. GT#7 :: Redfield Beauty Tomato Redfield Beauty was selected from Livingston’s Beauty in 1885. Plants are an indeterminate type and vigorously productive with dark green foliage and pink 3-4 inch flattened fruits that mature in eighty days from transplanting and drop from the plant when ripe. The fruit is a full-flavored juicy-pink heirloom tomato with a hint of tartness, low acid, thin skin, and great for slicing and fresh eating. GT#8 :: Dester Tomato Dester tomato seeds were originally introduced from Germany by way of an Amish women in Seymour Missouri. It is a indeterminate type that matures in seventy to eighty days after transplanting to produce a luscious one-pound pink beefsteak tomato with a rich, sweet flavor. They are smooth to the touch, crack resistant, and great for slicing and raw eating. GT#9 :: Dr. Wyche’s Yellow Tomato Dr. Wyche’s Yellow tomato are open pollinated and produce heavy yields of one pound tomatoes that, despite the name, are almost orange in color. They have a plump meatiness about them, extra juicy insides that look more like a pomegranate than a tomato because of the many holes, and a silky texture and rich flavor. These tomatoes are low acid, great for dehydrating, stews and eating fresh or with sandwiches despite their non-uniform shape. They mature in seventy-five to eighty-five days from transplanting and are an indeterminate type. GT#10 :: Cherokee Purple Tomato Cherokee Purple tomato was introduced by a North Carolina seed saver member, Craig LeHoullier, in 1991, from seed obtained from J. D. Green of Tennessee. It produces large vines that can yield fruit up to 5 inches across and 3 ½ inches deep. These fruits have a unique brick-red color, can weigh up to twelve ounces, provide a sweet flesh and a rich and full flavor. It matures in seventy-five to ninety days and is an indeterminate type.

 We will also be growing the following additional tomatoes:

Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum:: GT#11 -GT#25

11. Amarillo de Benlloch 12. Aranyalma 13. Blue Streak 14. Burracker’s Favorite 15. Gajo de Melon 16. Joya de Oaxaca 17. Babushkin’s Secret 18. Beefsteak, Watermelon 19. Mexican Giant 20. Market at Huachinango Puebla Mexico 21. Purple Calabash 22. Zapotec Pleated 23. Abe Lincoln 24. Bison 25. Burbank

Tomato Plant Material/Seed Providers:

• SSE = Seed Savers Exchange http://www.seedsavers.org

Tomato Purchase Details

OTHER TOMATO RESOURCES

We are seeking awesome tomato resources. If you know of one, please click here to share it with us so we can make this page better.

• What is New and Beneficial About Tomatoes
• How to Use Fresh Tomatoes 
• Tomatoes: A Growing Guide
• Tomato Soup: Benefits and Uses
• How to Dice Tomatoes
• Tomato History and Varieties
• Tomato Basics: Diseases and Types
• 100 Ways to Use a Tomato
• 32 Amazing Benefits of Tomatoes for Skin, Hair and Health
• Tomato Powder: How to Make and Use

TOMATOES AS PART OF THE BOTANICAL GARDEN MODEL

This section will evolve to include accessioning and plant breeding and sharing information as part of the One Community open source botanical garden model.

TOMATO PREPARATION, PRESERVATION, AND RECIPES

This section will evolve to include testimonials, recipe’s, preparations, and preservation methods used on the property first, and then later with additional information from other Highest Good collaborators and teacher/demonstration hubs.

• Green Tomato Recipes
• Texas Toast Tomato Sandwiches
• Couscous Tabbouleh with Tomato and Cucumber
• Baked Eggs in Tomatoes
• No Mayo Easy Pasta Salad
• Tomato, Olive and Mozzarella Salad with Basil Vinaigrette
• Preserving and Storing Tomatoes

Garlic Grilled Tomatoes

Recipe courtesy of: Grilled Recipe Blogspot

15-Minute Creamy Tomato Soup (Vegan)

Recipe courtesy of: Serious Eats

Caprese Salad Bites

Recipe courtesy of: Doctorate Housewife

LINKS TO OTHER EDIBLE PLANT PAGES