Winter Storage Tomatoes

	Long Keeper TOMATO, WINTER STORAGE .16g seed, USDA Certified Organic Code: 49125 Price:$2.65 Quantity in Basket: none
78 days. (Semi-determinate) Due to the slow ripening characteristic of this variety, fruits become ripe 1-1/2 to 3 months after harvest, ensuring a supply of fresh tomatoes into the winter. Some customers report storing Long Keeper 4 to 6 months. Though the quality doesn’t match that of a fresh garden tomato, flavor and texture is superior to most winter supermarket tomatoes. Unblemished tomatoes are harvested before frost and allowed to ripen at room temperature. Store at room temperature so fruits are not touching and check for ripeness and rotting weekly. Used apple boxes with their fruit seperators are convienient for this. Fruits are mature for harvest when they have a pale, pink blush. The 4 to 7 oz. fruits ripen in storage to a satiny, red-orange color. Flesh ripens to medium-red. Best planted in late spring or early summer for fall harvest, start seeds in early May. Long Keeper is often grown as a supplement to the main crop. Pkt.
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	Reverend Morrows Long Keeper TOMATO, WINTER STORAGE .16g seed Code: 49231 Price:$2.50 Quantity in Basket: none
[Louisiana heirloom] Determinate plants produces lots of 6-10 oz reddish-orange fruit with reddish-pink flesh. This tomato’s excellent storage quality earned it a place in our garden. Stake the plants for the highest quality fruit. Pkt
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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.