Bicolor Tomatoes

	Big Rainbow TOMATO .16g seed Code: 49103 Price:$2.25 Quantity in Basket: none
90 days. (ab, asc) (Indeterminate) [Introduced in 1990 by SESE Heirloom from Polk Co., Minn.] This is the most visually spectacular tomato we have grown. As fruits ripen they resemble a rainbow: green on the shoulder, yellow in the middle, and red on the blossom end. When fully ripe, the fruits are gold on the stem end and red on the blossom end. Early fruits weigh over 2 lbs. with little catfacing or deformities. 'Big Rainbow' has very good resistance to foliar disease and continues to bear until frost. Pkt.
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	Green Zebra TOMATO .16g seed, USDA Certified Organic Code: 49119 Price:$2.50 Quantity in Basket: none
(Indeterminate) 86 days. [Developed in 1985 by heirloom tomato breeder Tom Wagner of Tater Mater Seeds.] 'Green Zebra' is an unusual and exquisite tomato chosen by Alice Waters for the famous California restaurant, Chez Panisse. Fruits ripen to yellow-gold with alternating dark-green zebra-like stripes. Flesh is an emerald color and of good flavor. A choice tomato for colorful salads or as a slicing tomato. Vines are well branched, provide good foliage cover, and have some resistance to septoria leaf spot. Fruits are slightly elongated globes, some slightly ridged at the shoulder and average approximately 3 oz. Pkt.
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	Old German TOMATO .16g seed, USDA Certified Organic Code: 49131 Price:$2.95 Quantity in Basket: none
(Indeterminate) [Introduced in 1985 by SESE. Mennonite family heirloom from the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.] 'Old German' is a large, very attractive and tasty tomato. Fruit color is yellow with a red center visible on the surface and throughout the core. Best color of several strains of this heirloom. 'Old German' is not a heavy producer, nor does it tolerate drought, but its flavor and color are outstanding. An attractive addition to salads. Fruits often weigh over a pound. Should be staked or caged. Pkt.
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	Williams Striped TOMATO .16g seed Code: 49209 Price:$2.50 Quantity in Basket: none
75 days, Kentucky Family Heirloom -- seeds saved by an elderly gardener in Glensdale, Kentucky. 1-lb fruits have beautiful red and yellow stripes inside and out. Another Fall Festival taste test winner from 2005.
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	Striped Roman TOMATO .16g seed Code: 49211 Price:$2.55 Quantity in Basket: none
80 days (Indeterminate) [Developed by Seed Savers Exchange member John Swenson.] Highly popular variety -- orange and red stripes run the length of this long, pointy-ended Roma type. 7-oz fruits, thick flesh, great flavor.
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CULTURE: Sow seeds 6 weeks before the last frost date for your area. Plant seed 1/4 inch deep in shallow flats and maintain soil temperature in the range of 75-85oF (24-29oC) for good germination. When the seedlings have produced several leaves, transplant to 3” pots to promote root growth. After transplanting, keep seedlings at a lower temperature at night, 50-60oF (10-13oC), to promote earlier flowering in some varieties. Day temperatures should rise to 75-85oF (24-29oC) to promote rapid growth. Expose plants to light and air currents to harden the plants and to encourage stockiness. Water sparingly, but do not allow the growth to become checked. Fertilize with complete, soluble fertilizer or fish emulsion if leaves become yellow and/or purple. Keep phosphorous levels high. Too much nitrogen will delay fruiting. For transplanting to the garden, average soil temperature should be 60-65oF (16-18oC). SPACING: Staked plants should be spaced about 18 to 24” apart. Caged plants should be spaced about 24 to 36” apart. DISEASES: Plant disease-resistant varieties for a sustained harvest. Leaf blight diseases such as early blight and alternaria begin to appear about mid-July, and plants are more susceptible once fruit production begins. To reduce disease problems, use resistant or tolerant varieties and rotate tomatoes to different parts of the garden each year, using a three-year rotation. Fusarium wilt (race 1), a disease caused by a soil fungus, is common in the Mid-Atlantic region during mid- to late-season. Fusarium races 1 and 2 are present in southern regions. Where fusarium wilt is present a six-year rotation or use of resistant varieties is recommended. Do not plant eggplants, peppers, or potatoes in wilt-infested soil during the rotation period. Avoid planting tomatoes near walnut trees to avoid “walnut wilt”. Early blight and anthracnose are common in the Mid-Atlantic region, and are favored by hot, humid conditions. Late blight is more common in inland regions at higher elevations, especially during the spring and fall. Blossom-end rot is prevented by ensuring an adequate level of soil calcium, and steady moisture. PESTS: Tomatoes planted in healthy soil will generally have few severe pest problems. FLAVOR: Type of fertilizer used has an effect on flavor. Highly flavored tomatoes are sometimes subject to “off flavors” under certain growing conditions. Avoid placing freshly harvested tomatoes in the refrigerator because refrigeration will destroy much of the delicate flavor. Tomatoes are best stored at a temperature above 50oF (10oC). SEED SAVERS: Isolate varieties of L. lycopersicon by a minimum of 35’ for home use and 75’ to 150’ for pure seed. Isolate varieties of L. pimpinellifolium species from all other tomato species by a minimum of 150’. MATURATION DATES: Days to maturity are the number of days after transplanting. PACKET: Seed size varies considerably, 0.08 to 0.16 g (about 40 to 83 seeds, depending on variety, average 64 seeds) sows 100’. SEEDS/OZ: 7000 to 15,000 seeds/oz. (average 11,500) sows 3/4 to 1-1/2 acre of transplants at 18” spacing in rows 4’ apart.

DETERMINATE AND INDETERMINATE VARIETIES: Determinate varieties are short-vined plants that seldom need staking. Blossoms and fruit develop about the same time. Indeterminate varieties are long-vined plants that bear fruit continuously. These varieties should be caged or staked. Some varieties are semi- determinate. MULCHING: Too much mulch on the soil in the spring may delay growth by preventing soil temperature from rising enough to support active root growth. Starting at the end of June, apply a deep mulch around plants to conserve moisture and increase yield. YIELD: Too much nitrogen after transplanting will delay flowering. High levels of phosphorus are necessary to produce good yields. Pruning and staking increases earliness to fruiting at the expense of yield. Indeterminate varieties may be pruned if necessary. Pruning of determinate varieties should be kept to a minimum. For largest yields, cages 2’ wide by 5’ tall are recommended for indeterminate varieties.