TOMATOES 

Tomatoes

We specialize in heirloom vegetable, flower, and herb seeds. Look here for vegetables bred in a day when taste was the primary selecting criteria. This is the place to go if you want to grow the best tomatoes you ever tasted!

Select the type of tomato you wish to view. BI-COLORED TOMATOES CANNING TOMATOES PINK TOMATOES PURPLE TOMATOES RED TOMATOES SMALL FRUITED TOMATOES STORAGE TOMATOES (Often holding quality until New Years Day) WHITE TOMATOES YELLOW/GOLD TOMATOES CURRANT TOMATOES (Lycopersicon pimpinellifolium) Currant tomatoes are essentially wild tomatoes, little changed by domestication. Vines are long indeterminate with an open growth habit and generally good disease resistance. Fruits are the size of a berry, 1/2" to 3/4" in diameter. Flavor is intense, sweet and piquant. They are specially suited as salad accents and for the specialty restaurant trade. Seeds are small. PACKET: 0.05 g to 0.09 g depending on variety. HUSK TOMATOES (Physalis species) CLASSIFICATION AND HISTORICAL NOTES: Husk tomatoes are distinguished from tomatoes by the light-brown, papery husk (calyx) which enlarges and covers the maturing berries. There are a number of cultivated species, the two most common are the ground cherry (Physalis pruinosa) and the tomatillo (Physalis ixocarpa). Both have been cultivated in Central and South America for centuries, even before tomatoes. Ground cherries are so named because the cherry-sized berries are borne near the ground. The leaves of ground cherries are hairy or fuzzy and the plants grow 1 to 2' tall with lateral spreading growth. Ground cherries self-sow readily. Tomatillos are larger-fruited, typically 1 to 2" diameter and the plants grow 1 to 3' tall with smooth leaves. Some varieties may grow 8' or more with a ground-skinning growth habit. The Spanish name tomatillo is derived from the Indian name "tomatl". CULTURE: Culture of husk tomatoes is similar to tomatoes. (See Tomato section.) HARVEST: Husk tomatoes usually do not ripen fully until after falling from the plant. Ground cherries ripen from green to yellow-gold. Tomatillos ripen from green to yellow-green to pale yellow. FRUIT SET: Most cultivars of ground cherry set fruit in all areas of the U.S. Tomatillos are more sensitive to heat and day length: some cultivars may not set fruit until late summer, or may not set fruit in northern states. FLAVOR: The fruit of ground cherries and tomatillos vary considerably in flavor, color, size, firmness, ripening time, and keeping quality, depending on the cultivar. PREPARATION AND USES: Ground cherries are eaten out-of-hand, or are used in desserts, sauces, preserves, fruit toppings, pies and salads. Tomatillos are usually cooked to bring out full flavor: simmer for 5 to 10 minutes in a pot of water; then use in chili rellenos, salsa verde, guacamole, or other sauces or dips. SEED SAVERS: Isolate varieties by 150' for pure seed. PACKET: 0.06 to 0.1 g (90 to 140 seeds). Husk Tomatoes include GROUND CHERRIES and TOMATILLOS (Common tomato: Lycopersicon lycopersicum) (Currant tomato: Lycopersicon pimpinellifolium) 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 75-85 deg. F (24-29 deg. C) 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, 50-60 deg.F (10-13 deg.C), to promote earlier flowering in some varieties. Day temperatures should rise to 75-85 deg. F (24-29 deg. C) 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 (16-18 deg. C). SPACING: Staked plants should be spaced about 18 to 24" apart. Caged plants should be spaced about 24 to 36" apart. DISEASES: Early determinate varieties generally have poor disease resistance; however, disease is not usually a problem until mid-season. 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: Tomato hornworms can be controlled by Dipel. Hornworms with the white egg cases of parasitic wasps should not be destroyed because the wasps will hatch out and destroy other hornworms in your garden. 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 50 deg. F (10 deg. C). ACIDITY: Yellow and white tomatoes are not necessarily low acid. They tend to have a high sugar content that masks the acidity. 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.