Pests and diseases
Healthy plants are better able to cope with pests and diseases and produce good crops, so it is important to identify and control any problems. The first step is to use good cultivation techniques. Most modern F1 hybrid tomato plants are relatively disease resistant, as commercial plant breeders work to improve resistance to a number of fungal and other pathogens. Verticillium and fusarium wilts, for example, are soil-borne diseases that cause yellowing of the leaves, wilting, and premature...
Reisetomate
3 Heirloom, 65 days Also known as 'Pocketbook' and 'Voyage,' this variety may be from Austria, but is similar to tomatoes used by native peoples in Central America. Translates from German as travel tomato. Characteristics These bizarre fruits resemble bunches of cherry tomatoes stuck together. How to enjoy Traditionally said to have been eaten by travelers, one piece at a time. Multilobedfruits, may have many segments Multilobedfruits, may have many segments
Orange Pixie
1 Hybrid, 52 days An attractive bushy plant growing to around 20in 50cm in height only. It is an orange-fruited version of the red 'Pixie.' Characteristics These distinctive orange fruits are slightly elongated globes with firm flesh and an excellent flavor. How to enjoy Halve fruits and bake in the oven with a drizzle of olive oil. best known British tomatoes, whose early cropping and good disease resistance makes it an excellent choice for beginners. Produces fruits reliably over a long...
Roncardo
3 F1 hybrid, 75 days This plant from Holland produces large tomatoes in clusters of 4-6. Shows good disease resistance. Characteristics Large, red, sweet fruits usually in the range of 4-5oz 100-150g , but some fruits may be larger beefsteak types. How to enjoy Well-flavored fruits are perfect sliced in sandwiches or burgers. Large fruits not always as r lt as this 3 F1 hybrid, 75 days Consistently heavy-cropping plant from France with excellent disease resistance, even outdoors....
Where should I grow my tomatoes
Tomatoes are very adaptable plants and most will grow well in containers, in the ground, as well as under cover. Choose a site where you can appreciate the plants when they come into their full bloom. Growing tomatoes in pots means they are easy to transport, so you can position them where you like. They prefer a warm, sunny, sheltered position where they will have protection from excessive wind and rain. Large plants may become too top-heavy for the pot or exhaust the water and nutrient supply...
Cornue des Andes
3 0 Heirloom, 78 days Collected in the Andes by a French seed collector, other names for this variety include 'Des Andes,' 'Andine Cornue,' and 'Poivron des Andes.' Plants can be prone to mildew. Characteristics Elongated plum-, pimento-, or horn-shaped red fruits with pointed tips. How to enjoy Their strong flavor is excellent in chutneys and ketchups.
A tomato for every climate
Because tomatoes originated in the coastal highlands of South America, they are not well adapted to extremes of temperature. However, some plants are more suited to some climates than others. Choosing appropriate tomato plants for your environment will give you a better chance of a successful crop. No tomato plants are able to survive frost, but there are a large number that have been developed to be able to crop successfully in cooler climates. However, if you have your heart set on growing a...
MicroTom
1 Heirloom, 65 days Developed by Scott and Harbaugh at the University of Florida who have also released the yellow-fruited 'Micro-Gold.' Particularly tiny plants, ideal for planting in a pot on a windowsill. Characteristics Miniature, red fruits with a firm texture and sweet taste. How to enjoy Best eaten freshly picked from the plant. 2 F1 hybrid, 68 days These semi bush plants produce high yields of firm fruits and show good disease resistance and heat tolerance. Characteristics Traditional...
Index
'Ailsa Craig' 32, 82 'Aker's West Virginia' 62 'Alaskan Fancy' 13, 66, 80 'Alicante' 24 'Amana Orange' 57 'The Amateur' 27 'Amish Paste' 81 'Amoroso' 50 'Ananas Noir' 13, 55 angora leaves 12 'Apero' 73 Green' 53 'Aviro' 15, 66, 80 avocados avocado, tomato, and lime salad 180 bacterial leaf spot 117 baked beans 166 'Balconi Red' 44, 82 'Balconi Yellow' 44 basil and Parmesan stuffed tomatoes 162 beans, baked 166 beef ragu bolognese 163 slow-cooked beef cheeks with braised vegetables 167 beef...
Crop rotation
If you grow tomatoes as part of a larger vegetable plot, you might want to include them in a crop rotation plan, along with the other vegetable crops, to protect them from pests and diseases. Growing the same crops year after year in the same soil can lead to a build-up of soil-borne pests and diseases. If you rotate annual crops around the garden so that they are not grown in the same area again for at least three years, you should avoid such a build-up. Closely related vegetables from the...
Get grafting
Grafting is a way of joining two plants together so that they benefit from each other's strengths. It is fairly simple to carry out and is ideal if a particular tomato plant does not usually grow well for you. Grafting allows a tomato variety to take on advantageous qualities of another tomato plant, usually a more robust species or variety. By grafting your chosen variety onto a rootstock, it is possible to promote growth, increase fruit quality and yield, and confer other benefits such as...
Favorita
3 F1 hybrid, 65 days Vigorous disease-resistant plants, which will usually produce a good crop even in wet summers. Characteristics Rich red cherry tomatoes held on long trusses. They have tough skins and a fairly acidic taste, which becomes sweeter in hot summers. How to enjoy Cook in flans and quiches. 3 Heirloom, 80 days This popular tomato is produced in large quantities over a long season on tall, disease-resistant plants. Characteristics Large, red cherries weigh around lY-ioz 30g each...
Riesentraube
3 Heirloom, 80 days Roughly translated as bunch of grapes, this German variety, widely grown in Pennsylvania in the nineteenth century, was made popular by Curtis D. Choplin of South Carolina in the 1990s. Characteristics Huge bunches of red tomatoes with pointed ends. Excellent flavor. How to enjoy Usually eaten fresh in salads, but used traditionally to make tomato wine. 3 F1 hybrid, 78 days Registered in 2007 by the French seed company Gautier Semences, these sprawling plants are easily...
Black Zebra
3 Hybrid, 85 days A child of Tom Wagner's 'Green Zebra' above , stabilized by Jeff Dawson in California and first introduced in 2000. Characteristics An attractive novelty tomato with deep red-and-green-striped fruits, which, sadly, are not as tasty as they look. How to enjoy Aside from its decorative qualities, try 'Black Zebra' in soups and sauces.
Gardeners Delight
the best known of all tomatoes, 'Gardener's Delight,' or 'Sugar Lump,' is of German origin, bred by Paul Tellhelm, and introduced in 1950. The plant is a reliable producer. Characteristics Perfect red cherry tomatoes weighing around loz 25g with an excellent traditional tomato flavor. How to enjoy Eat handfuls as a healthy snack. 3 Hybrid, 75 days One of the Del series raised by Lewis Derby of the Glasshouse Crops Research Institute in England. Bred from 'Gardener's Delight' opposite , others...
Sungold
3 amp F1 hybrid, 60 days Bred in Japan by the Tokita Seed Company, 'Sungold' was released in Britain and America in 1992 and rapidly became the most popular cherry tomato. The plants are very productive and have good virus resistance. Characteristics Very sweet, golden-yellow, thin-skinned tomatoes. How to enjoy Irresistible straight off the vine. 3 F1 hybrid, 70 days A modern high-yielding and early fruiting plant raised in The Netherlands. Plants produce long trusses of approximately 20...
Mule Team
3 Heirloom, 80 days A reliable, old plant from the US that is high yielding and tolerant of many diseases. Characteristics The bright red globes often show a slight ribbing around the stalk. They have a sweet and tangy taste. How to enjoy Ideal for grilling or frying, and making delicious salsas. 3 Hybrid, 75 days Introduced in 1983 by Thomas P. Wagner of Tater Mater Seeds in the US. Characteristics Yellowish green with deep green stripes, these attractive tomatoes have a tangy flavor and are...