SPECIALTY TOMATO VARIETIES
Paul Vossen, Farm Advisor, Sonoma County
The tomato plant is native to tropical America but has been cultivated in Europe and the United States for over 200 years. There are about 400 varieties available commercially today. Many older varieties have been lost while breeding programs continue to add new varieties each year. Many of the varieties described here are old varieties that are carried by only a few seed companies.
MARKET
In 1990 California farmed fresh market tomatoes on 38,000 acres for a total production of almost 1 billion pounds, that's an average of 1,275 flats (@ 20 lbs each) per acre. The average price per flat was $5.64.
Per capita consumption of fresh market tomatoes in the USA in 1988 was 14.7 lbs. High volume tomato production and marketing is significantly influenced by price and competition is fierce. Varieties are selected for their yield, shipability, fruit size, fruit color, ripening dates, and pest resistance. Consumers are most familiar with red colored varieties that are harvested at a mature green stage and allowed to ripen off the vine.
A market opportunity exists for flavorful, vine ripened, fruit of many colors, as specialty items sold for their uniqueness. Out of season production, November - May also commands significantly higher prices. Ripe, delicate fruits should be packed in single layer flats, handled very carefully and delivered within a few hours to the ultimate consumer.
CULTURE
The tomato is a warm season plant that produces fruit 4 - 5 months after seeding. It does not tolerate frost and develops foliar diseases under high humidity conditions. Temperatures above 50_F are required for proper fruit set and optimum performance occurs between 65 - 90_F.
Specialty tomato varieties are normally seeded into flats 8 - 10 weeks prior to outdoor transplanting. Plants can be set out when danger of frost is past or protected with row covers. Space plants from 2 - 4 feet by 4 to 6 feet apart. Staking plants is cost effective by reducing ground contact disease losses, but is more labor intensive.
Tomatoes are best irrigated with either furrow or drip irrigation. Overhead water can be applied up to first ripening if managed properly. Drip irrigation greatly reduces weed growth.
Nitrogen fertilizer needs for tomatoes is only moderate. Fruit set is delayed by high nitrogen levels and a deficiency reduces flower numbers. Moisture stress reduces yield and fruit size but in moderation can intensify flavors. Avoid large fluctuations in soil moisture, however, to reduce blossom-end rot and fruit cracks.
Fruits should be harvested when still firm when their ultimate color is not quite fully achieved, about every 2 - 3 days during the peak of the season.
TOMATO PESTS
Many insects and diseases can attack tomatoes and cause severe damage, however, they are routinely grown on a small scale without pesticides. The growing area should be rotated away from Solanaceous plants (peppers, potato, eggplant, tomatilla, and nightshade weeds) for 1 - 2 years and disease resistent and locally adapted varieties should be planted.
TOMATO VARIETIES
Performance of tomato varieties varies greatly from year to year and from one climatic region to another. The influence of planting dates, fertility, irrigation, pest control, and staking can greatly effect a variety's performance. Don't dismiss or ignore a particular variety based on one season's experience.
BRAGGER: Very large, red, mid-season variety with excellent flaver.
CURRANT TOMATO: Pea sized fruit harvested in clusters. Requires warm climate and loses flavor if over-irrigated.
EARLY GIRL: Medium sized, red, 5 oz fruit, prolific, early, and excellent flavor.
EVERGREEN: Small 2"+ sized fruit, low acid, green when ripe.
GENOVESE: (Costoluto) Very large, unique shaped, ribbed, scarlet fruit.
GOLD NUGGET: Cherry sized, round, golden-yellow fruit, medium flavor.
GOLDEN BOY: Large, mid-season variety, prolific, good flavor, low acid, golden orange color.
GOLDEN JUBILEE: Large, mid-season, sweet fruit, prolific, golden-orange color.
GREEN GRAPE: Large, cherry sized, green-yellow fruit with excellent flavor.
GREEN ZEBRA: Small 1 1/2" to 2" size fruit with light green skin turning orange, overlayed by dark green stripes. Very flavorful. Susceptible to Verticillium wilt. Early.
IDA GOLD: Large, cherry sized tomato with golden orange fruit that is very early, prolific.
LEMON BOY: Medium sized fruit with fair production; indeterminate, bright yellow color.
MARVEL STRIPED: Very large, orange-yellow solid colored fruits with red blossom end and red stripes through the flesh. Sweet prolific, and early maturing.
NEPAL: Medium to large sized red fruit, excellent flavor.
PINK GIRL: Medium to large sized, dull-pink colored fruit, prolific.
PURPLE CALABASH: Small, novelty, ruffled purple-pink fruit.
ROMA: Small, elongated, pear-shaped fruit, with paste type flesh, and good flavor. Very prolific. Some individual selections exist.
SUNDROP: Cherry sized, deep orange, meaty fruit.
SUN MARGANO: Small, red, pear-shaped, paste tomato with excellent flavor.
SWEET 100: Cherry sized, red fruit, grows in clusters, very flavorful and productive.
TAXI: Small to medium sized, bright yellow, attractive fruit; very prolific small plant.
TIGERELLA: Small, early maturing fruit, prolific red fruit, with orange stripes.
WHITE BEAUTY: Small to medium sized green fruit turning white at maturity. soft, sweet, mild flavored fruit ripens late.
WHOPPER: Medium to large sized red fruit with excellent flavor, good producer.
YELLOW OXHEART: Very large, late maturing, heart shaped fruit, excellent flavor, paste type flesh.
YELLOW PEAR: Cherry sized, pear shaped, bright yellow fruits with excellent flavor.
Some Sources of Seed
ABNUDANT LIFE SEED FOUNDATION, P.O. Box 772, Port Townsend, Wa 98368
ALLEN, STERLING AND LOTHROP, 191 U.S. Route 1, Falmouth, ME 04105, (207) 781-4142, (207) 781-4143
ARCHIAS' SEED STORE, P.O. Box 109, Sedalia, MO 65301, (816) 836-1330
BURGESS SEED AND PLANT CO., Dept. 89, 905 Four Seasons Road, Bloomington, IL 61701
BURPEE, W. ATLEE, CO., 300 Park Avenue, Warminster PA 18991-0001, (215) 674-4915
COMSTOCK, FERRE & CO., P.O. Box 125, Wethersfield, CT 06109, DE GIORGI CO., INC., 1411 Third Street, Council Bluffs, IA 51502, (712) 323-2372
EARL MAY SEED & NURSERY, L.P., Shenandoah, IA 51603, (800) 432-5858, (800) 831-4193
EARLY'S FARM & GARDEN CENTER, INC., P.O. Box 3024, Saskatoon, SASK, Canada S7K 359, (800) 667-1159
FISHER'S GARDEN STORE, P.O. Box 236, Belgrade, MT 59714, (406) 388-6052
GLECKER'S SEEDMEN, Metamora, OH 43540
GRACE'S GARDENS, 10 Bay Street, Westport, CT 06880, (303) 454-1919
GURNEY SEED AND NURSERY COMPANY, Yankton, SD 57079, (605) 665-1930, (606) 665-1671
HENRY FIELD'S SEED & NURSERY COMPANY, Shenandoah, IA 51602, (605) 665-9391, (605) 665-4491
ED HUME SEEDS, P.O. Box 1450, Kent, WA 98032
JOHNNY'S SELECTED SEEDS, 305 Foss Hill Road, Albion, ME 04910, (207) 437-4301, (207) 437-9294
JUNG SEEDS & NURSERY, 335 S. High Street, Randolph, WI 53957-0001, (414) 326-3121
LAGOMARSINO SEEDS, INC, 5675-A Power Inn Road, Sacramento CA 95824
LETHERMAN SEEDS COMPANY, 1221 Tuscarawas Street, E., Canton, OH 44707, (800) 362-0487, (216) 452-5704
THE MEYER SEED COMPANY, 600 S. Caroline Street, Baltimore, MD 21231, (301) 342-4224
MIDWEST SEED GROWERS, 505 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO 64106, (816) 842-1493
NICHOLS GARDEN NURSERY, 1190 North Pacific Highway, Albany, OR 97321, (503) 928-9280
PARK SEED COMPANY, Cokesbury Road, Greenwood, S.C. 29647-0001, (803) 223-7333
Peace Seeds, 2385 SE Thompson St., Corvallis, OR 97333
PIEDMONT PLANT CO., P.O. Box 424, Albany, GA 31703, (912) 883-7029
PINETREE GARDEN SEEDS, New Gloucester, ME 04260
PORTER & SON, SEEDSMEN, P.O. Box 104, Stephenville, TX 76401-0104
REDWOOD CITY SEED CO., INC., P.O. Box 361, Redwood City, CA 94064, (415) 325-7333
RISPENS, MARTIN, & SONS, 3332 Ridge Road, Lansing, IL 60438, (312) 474-0241, Seeds Blum, Idaho City Stage, Boise, ID 83706
SOUTHERN EXPOSURE SEED EXCHANGE, P.O. Box 158, North Garden, VA 22959
STOKES SEEDS, INC., P.O. Box 548, Buffalo, NY 14240, (416) 688-4300
TERRITORIAL SEED, P.O. Box 27, Lorane, OR 97451, Thompson & Morgan, P.O. Box 1308, Jackson, NJ 08527
TILLINGSHAST SEED CO., P.O. Box 738, La Conner, WA 98257, (206) 466-3329
TWILLEY SEEDS, P.O. Box 65, Trevose, PA 19047, (800) 232-7333, (800) 622-7333
VERMONT BEAN SEED CO., Garden Lane, Fair Haven, VT 05743-0250, (802) 265-4212
WETSEL SEED CO., INC., P.O. Box 791, Harrisonburg, VA 22801-0791, (703) 434-6753
WILLHITE SEED COMPANY, P.O. Box 23, Poolville, TX 76076, (817) 599-8656