Dear Readers and Landreth Customers:
For those of you who came to see us at The Southeastern Flower Show, The New Jersey Flower Show, The Maymont Flower Show and/or The Philadelphia Flower Show, THANK YOU. It was so good to see so many of you. I am sorry that in many cases we did not have more time to chat. In a few short weeks we will begin the outdoor flower shows in Leesburg, VA, the National Arboretum, Maymont’s Herbs Galore and the Baltimore FlowerMart. We will finish the season with our own 3rd Annual Heirloom Plant Sale and the Baltimore Herb Festival. At all of these events we will be offering Heirloom Tomato Plants and other heirloom flower and vegetable plants for sale. I hope to see many of you at these events.
A Tomato Story
Of all the seeds we sell, of all the vegetables, flowers and herbs that we handle, the tomato stands alone as the seed which evokes the most happy memories, the greatest gardening tales and the most sumptuous dining experiences. We sell more beets and more lettuce, more peas, beans and corn, but nothing compares to the passion that is evidenced when people see our tomato seeds. Gardening as a pastime has dwindled significantly in the last 100 years and vegetable gardening has all but disappeared in the last 50 years, but people will still take the time and make the place to grow a few tomato plants. As we all know so well, there really is NOTHING like twisting a warm, firm juicy tomato from its vine and plopping it straight into your mouth.
Our customers love talking tomatoes, so we have enjoyed many lively conversations about these juicy fellows and we get many, many questions, but by far the most often posed question is, “What is your favorite tomato?”. For me, there is no quick and easy answer to that question and there is never enough time at flower shows to provide the kind of response to that question that I would like, so I have decided to dedicate this rather lengthy newsletter to a discussion about one of my favorite subjects, The Tomato.
History
Landreth offered the first tomato seed for sale in the United States in 1820, but Americans and Europeans had known of this fruit for centuries. Tomatoes are indigenous to the Andes regions of South America where even today some wild varieties can be found. In their native habitat, tomatoes are perennial, but outside of the tropics, they are grown as annuals. More than 2000 years ago tomatoes were brought to Mexico and Central America and it is there that the Spanish discovered them and brought them to Europe in the early 1500’s. From written discussions of the time, we believe that the early tomatoes introduced into Europe were yellow or reddish orange in color and deeply ribbed.
What the Old Fashioned Tomatoes Looked Like
The Italians were the first to embrace the tomato as a culinary treasure, but even in Italy the fruit was regarded with great suspicion. Tomatoes and their cousins, potatoes and eggplants, are all members of the Deadly Nightshade family and were thought to be poisonous or to cause cancer. It was not until the mid-1800’s that tomatoes began to be widely accepted.
In the 1860’s, Dr. T. J. Hand of Baltimore County, Maryland crossed a small, red, cherry-sized tomato with a large reddish, deeply ribbed tomato and developed a smooth-skinned red tomato which he named Trophy. Apparently, Americans loved the smooth skin and the red color and were much more trusting of these “normal-looking” tomatoes, because with the introduction of Trophy, America’s love affair with the tomato began. Trophy became one of the most popular tomato varieties grown in the 1800’s and many of the varieties introduced after Trophy were Trophy hybrids. By the turn of the 20th century, tomatoes were well on their way to becoming one of the most popular vegetable varieties ever grown.
Tomato Jargon
One of the most confusing references with tomatoes are the terms – determinant variety and indeterminant variety. These two terms refer to whether a tomato plant will become a vine, growing 6-8 feet or more, or will grow as a bush, to a height of 24-36 inches. I could never remember which term applied to which type until I developed this “donkey bridge” (a donkey bridge is a memory gimmick that you use to help you remember things that confuse you) to help me. A determinant tomato plant is one where the height has been determined, where it is unlikely to get any bigger than a bush. An indeterminant tomato plant is one where the height has not been determined, where it is likely to grow and grow and grow like a vine.
It is a common misconception that only determinant tomato plants can be grown in containers. THIS IS NOT TRUE!!! Indeterminant tomato plants grow equally well in containers, but they must be staked. What is true, though, and important to remember, is that determinant, bush-habit, tomato plants have a specifically determined fruiting period. This means that they will only produce for a short period of time, usually no more than 3 weeks. After this period, the plant may produce 1 or 2 additional fruit, but not many more. Indeterminant plants will produce throughout the season and do not have a specific fruiting period.
Tomatoes also come in basically two flavors: sweet and (what I call) rich tomatoey (tomatoey is definitely not a word because I keep getting these nasty red squiggles when I type it out). The sweet tomatoes may have an additional layer of complexity which I call fruitiness which further enriches the sweet flavor. The lighter colored tomatoes, like the cream or white and yellow ones usually have a sweeter flavor. The red, purple/black, orange and green tomatoes usually are the ones with rich tomatoey flavors. However, the small tomatoes that are the size of cherries or grapes are almost always sweet with only a few exceptions.
Green Zebra
An Excellent Rich Tomato Flavor
Another common misconception is that the sweet tomatoes have little or no acidity and are therefore easier to digest. This is not true. The sweet tomatoes have a higher sugar content which masks their acidity. Sweet tomatoes often have the same acidity levels as other tomatoes. Perhaps the higher sugar levels make the tomatoes easier to digest.
Great White
Incredibly Sweet Flavor
Tomato Types
Tomatoes now come in many different shapes, colors and sizes. I have a very unscientific method for organizing tomatoes. I organize them by use and so the categories that we are going to discuss here are: Sandwich Tomatoes, Salad Tomatoes, Paste Tomatoes and Salsa Tomatoes.
Sandwich Tomato
Arkansas Marvel
Sandwich Tomatoes are medium to large size (3-4 oz. and larger), red, yellow, cream, beige, orange, green or black/purple (really a deep deep red) fruit. Sliced in ¼ to ½ inch thick slices and placed on bread with mayonnaise, lettuce, salt and pepper, they make heavenly sandwiches. Sandwich tomatoes can be round or ovoid in shape, smooth-skinned or deeply ribbed. Some sandwich tomatoes are sweet and some have a rich tomatoey flavor. There are indeterminant and determinant varieties.
Salad Tomato
Red Cherry Large
Salad Tomatoes are the small or not so small cherry or grape sized tomatoes. This does not mean that any of the other types of tomatoes will not be delicious in salads. Salad tomatoes also come in a variety of colors: red, yellow, cream, beige, orange, green, and black/purple. Salad tomatoes are either round or grape shaped, and all are smooth-skinned. Most varieties are sweet, but some varieties have a rich tomatoey flavor. The salad tomato varieties are the sweetest of all the tomato varieties. Many salad tomato varieties are indeterminant, but a few are determinant.
Paste Tomato
Yellow Plum
Paste Tomatoes are the oblong or banana shaped tomatoes that grow from approximately 2 oz. to 6 oz. These tomatoes are always smooth-skinned and always elongated. They have fewer seeds and often their flesh has a grainy, less watery, texture which produces a thicker paste. Paste tomatoes make superb sundried tomatoes. They come in the same color varieties as the other tomatoes. Most paste tomatoes have rich tomatoey flavors, but a few of the lighter colored varieties are sweet. The paste tomatoes are indeterminant.
Salsa Tomato
Striped Roman
Salsa Tomatoes are actually paste tomatoes, but their flesh is very hard. When diced the flesh tends to retain its shape and not get mushy. These tomatoes have very, very few seeds. These tomatoes also make superb sundried tomatoes. They come in red, yellow, green and cream. The salsa tomatoes are indeterminant.
How To Grow Tomatoes
I like to start tomatoes, no more than 6 weeks before the last frost date, in peat pods using the little Jiffy-7 or Jiffy-25 plastic greenhouses. I plant 2-3 seeds per pod. With bottom heat, most of the seeds will germinate in 7 days, but some of the more difficult varieties will take 14-21 days. Never place the greenhouses in direct sunlight until after the plastic tops have been removed (when the seedlings are pressing against the top).
Once the plastic greenhouse tops have been removed, the seedlings need to be in a south facing window. Before transplanting, harden the plants off by setting them outside, in partial shade, during the day. Bring the plants in at night. Harden off for at least 5 days before transplanting.
Transplant after all danger of frost is gone and the soil has warmed. Leave the top 2-3 leaves on the plant and bury it in a hole up to those leaves. Determinate varieties should be 18 inches apart and indeterminate should be 24 inches apart. Indeterminate and some determinate varieties will need to be staked.
Tomatoes require soil rich in phosphorus and potassium, but not nitrogen. Nitrogen rich soil will cause the plant to grow vigorously, but not produce fruit. Tomatoes need steady, consistent watering and full sun. To prevent blossom end rot, a condition common with heirloom tomatoes, place a circle of bone meal around the stem of the tomato plant after transplanting.
Some Favorites For All Gardeners and For Containers
I have said this before, but it is worth saying again. I believe that certain plants almost prefer container living to garden living today. Eggplants, peppers and tomatoes, I find, do as well or better in containers than in the ground. The four tomatoes I have selected will do as well in containers as in the garden. To answer the question posed at the beginning of this article, I do not have A favorite tomato; I have lots and lots of favorite tomatoes. Here are four of my favorites:
Tomato, Pineapple
Tomato, Pineapple
Pineapple is a large (8 oz.-20 oz.) sandwich tomato. The yellow shoulders become deeper and deeper red near the tomato’s bottom. The flesh is bicolor – yellow and red. When cut into chunks, this tomato is very striking, but its looks pale when compared to its taste. This is a sweet tomato with an intense fruity aftertaste. This is one of those tomatoes that can be picked from the vine and eaten. It needs no accompaniment. The vines are indeterminant.
Tomato, Principe Borghese
Tomato, Principe Borghese
Principe Borghese is a salad tomato. The large grape-shaped, red tomatoes grow in clusters. These grape tomatoes are so large (1oz.-2oz.) that they are used for sundrying in Italy. The fruits have a rich tomatoey flavor and are not as sweet as many salad tomatoes. The vines are determinant.
Tomato, San Marzano
Tomato, San Marzano
San Marzano is almost a legendary paste tomato. The small (2 oz.-3 oz.), oblong, red fruits can be processed into a rich, thick paste or sauce with unforgettable flavor. San Marzano is also an excellent tomato for sundrying. The vines are indeterminant.
Tomato, Green Sausage
Tomato, Green Sausage
Green Sausage is a striking green, banana-shaped salsa tomato with sometimes brilliant yellow streaks. When ripe, the flesh of this tomato has few seeds and is very, very hard. It holds its shape very well when diced. The flavor is rich tomato. This is not a sweet tomato. The vines are indeterminant.
Some Favorites for Children
Growing tomatoes should be part of every childhood. No child should be deprived of this wonderful summertime ritual. The easiest and most rewarding tomato plants for children to grow are the cherry tomatoes. Cherry tomatoes are usually very sweet, something that children love. They are prolific, so if the child picks the vine clean, it is OK. There will be plenty more in a few days. Cherry tomatoes are also just the right size for little hands.
Tomato, Sweet 100
Tomato, Sweet 100
This is the ultimate child’s tomato. The vines produce huge clusters (sometimes 20-30 fruit to a cluster) of tiny deep red fruit. The fruit is the sweetest red tomato fruit that I know of. The vines are indeterminant and can reach a height of 8-10 feet but are usually in the 6-8 foot range.
One Final Thought
Tomato, Red Pear
I love listening to the musings of people as they peruse our collection of tomato seeds. Their comments are often entertaining and almost always heartwarming. Last year, at the New Jersey Flower Show, during a time when the crowds had thinned out, I watched a lady and her friend stroll by our booth and then stop. She was a very fair skinned brunette so, even from a distance, it was easy to see the flush come to her cheeks. She plucked a packet of red pear tomatoes from our collection and stared at it for what seemed like the longest time. When she turned to her friend, I noticed the glistening in her eyes. In a hesitant voice she said, “My Dad and I, every year, would plant these red pear tomatoes. We loved eating them warm off the vine. They were so incredibly sweet. I haven’t seen these in years. I didn’t know you could still find them.”
The growing of tomatoes makes great memories – some of them last a lifetime, but most of those memories, more importantly, become the fabric of a life.
NEXT NEWSLETTER: The Zinnia: A Flower for All Gardens
Friday, April 6, 2007
A Tomato Story
Tomatoes on Vine
