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TOMATOES
(Lycopersicon lycopersicum) This crop, native to the Americas, has become the most popular garden crop over the last 200 years. We offer an amazing selection of many of the finest old varieties in lots of delicious colors! Minimum 25 seeds.
Volumes have been written about tomato culture, but tomatoes can be grown simply enough by the backyard grower. This Queen of the Summer Garden is usually started from seed indoors 4-8 weeks prior to the last frost of spring. Seeds are surface-sown or covered only slightly to allow light which sometimes assists germination. Do not allow the soil to dry out. Containers are held in warm conditions until sprouts appear, which may take anywhere from 3-10 days, depending on temperature, moisture, etc. Move sprouting plantings immediately to bright light conditions, such as a south-facing window or under a grow-light setup. Inadequate light is a frequent cause of failure of young seedlings.
At about the time of last frost, set out seedlings into rich, moist soil, well amended with compost, manure, or other good organic soil amendment. Set the plants more deeply than they grew in their pots, removing any leaves that would then be below soil level. Most indoor seedlings are too leggy despite best efforts, and the extra stem becomes an active part of the root system. Mulch to keep water from splashing from the soil onto the leaves, which is thought to spread blight. Most heirloom tomato plants get pretty large under good conditions, and should be staked to avoid sprawling over the mulch. Fruit laying on the surface is apt to rot, even on a well-draining mulch like coarse straw. Mulch also keeps soil temperature and moisture conditions more constant. Judging ripeness is largely a matter of watching for a color change, or a softening of the fruit.
A few heirloom varieties don't get quite so large. Called "determinate" varieties, these get to a certain size and then set all their fruit more or less at once. Determinates may be a better choice where tomatoes are grown in a very small garden, or in containers, or where a large crop is desired all at once, like for canning.
Tomato seed may be easily saved and grown another year. Most tomatoes (so-called "regular leaf" types) are self pollinating, and it is very difficult for the flower to be pollinated by any other flower. These types need only be separated by 10-15 feet to breed true in most conditions. The major exception is the "potato leaf" varieties such as the Brandywines. Due to differences in flower structure, these are more prone to crossing by insects; isolation of 50 to 500 feet is recommended.
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Al-Kuffa Tomato
New!
This little tomato is early, and produces 3-4 ounce fruit on compact, dwarf vines that yielded till frost. We received this mild-tasting
Iraqi variety from our friend Aziz Nail, who said, "Delicious one, useful for any purpose, strong bush plant cultivated
in the south of Iraq in cool greenhouses for late spring or early summer markets. Also it is [grown] in the middle and north
Iraq without greenhouse."
Item Code: TM190
Out of Stock
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Amish Paste
80 days. Many seeds savers believe this is the ultimate paste tomato. Giant, blocky Roma-type tomatoes have delicious red flesh that is perfect for paste and canning. World class flavor and comes from an Amish community in Wisconsin.
Item Code: TM126
Out of Stock
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Atkinson
75 days. Bred for Southern conditions, this medium-height variety produces 8-oz red globes even through hot, dry summers. A tomato with considerable merit, which was no longer being offered commercially.
Item Code: TM172
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Aunt Anna
An heirloom collected from an elderly Amish gardener from Holmes County, Ohio. It is known to produce huge red fruit that can attain a massive
size! Fair-yielding vines produce these very flavorful beauties that are perfect slicers.
Item Code: TM176
Out of Stock
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Beefsteak
85 days. A popular old standard variety, deep red and very large, fine flavor, rich old time tomato taste.
Item Code: TM111
Bulk Quantities
1 OZ. - $7.00
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Big Month
We received this from an Amish market grower, it produces 4-oz oblong roma-type fruit, good firm texture, tasty and sweet, good fresh or canned. The plants have some drought tolerance and produce a heavy yield that tends to ripen all at once; it will be a big month for canning once these start to ripen!
Item Code: TM161
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Bloody Butcher
60 days. A small 3-4 oz ‘cluster’ tomato. Fruit are deep red in color and have a nice tomato flavor. Production is really good, but where this open-pollinated
tomato really shines is its earliness. It ripens in only about 60 days, making it ripen about the same time as Early Girl, but this tomato is much tastier.
Item Code: TM170
Out of Stock
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Bonny Best
80 days. The famous old canning tomato that was introduced in 1908 by Bonnie Plant Farm in Union Spring, Alabama. It became one of the most respected
canning varieties in America in the first half of the twentieth century. Medium-sized fruit are round, red, meaty and loaded with flavor. A good
producer that makes a fine slicer too. Becoming hard to find due to modern, flavorless hybrids.
Item Code: TM181
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Break O' Day
70 days. A high producing heirloom that was introduced in 1931. Flame-red, smooth, globe-shaped fruit are very uniform and beautiful, perfect for marketing. Heirloom tomato expert, Dr. Carolyn Male, calls it "A workhorse of a tomato." The flavor is rich and tangy, great for canning.
Item Code: TM149
Out of Stock
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Buckbee's New Fifty Day
70-75 days. A pre-1930 variety introduced by H.W. Buckbee, Rockford, Illinois. Their 1930 catalog states, "The largest fruited, the smoothest, the finest in quality of all early scarlet tomatoes." Not as early as 50 days, but this is indeed a good producer that has an old-fashioned tomato taste, is red and medium-sized.
Item Code: TM141
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Burpee Long Keeper
78 days. Here is the tomato for gardeners wanting tomatoes for an extra couple of months! Pick fruit a little before they are ripe and keep them cool and dark. Ripe fruit turn reddish-orange. Developed by Burpee's in 1979.
Item Code: TM175
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Chadwick Cherry
80 days. Delicious, sweet flavor makes this 1-ounce cherry popular with home gardeners. Large vines set huge yields and are disease resistant. Developed
by the late horticultural expert Alan Chadwick. He sure had a winner with this one!
Item Code: TM179
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Cosmonaut Volkov
75 days. A smooth and attractive, medium-large red tomato that has a full, rich flavor. The productive vines yield well even in hot weather, perfect for canning or slicing. This variety is from Dniepropetrousk, Ukraine, and was named after the first Russian Cosmonaut. In response to many requests, we are pleased to add this variety to the catalog.
Item Code: TM131
Out of Stock
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Cuor di Bue
70 days. This Oxheart type Italian heirloom has been a favorite in Italy for many years. Beautiful 12 oz. fruit have a delicious sweet taste, similar to the shape of a heart, great for fresh eating or cooking. Large vigorous vines. Hard to find.
Item Code: TM121
Bulk Quantities
1/8 oz - $8.50
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Delicious
90 days. This tomato was developed many years ago by Burpee's from "Beefsteak" tomato, after 13 years of selection for smoother fruit. This really big tomato
produces huge 1-to 3-lb fruit that are fairly smooth for a giant tomato, and, as the name implies, these are delicious! In 1986 it set the world record for weight, with a giant 7 lb 12 oz fruit!
Item Code: TM164
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Dr. Walter
New!
Globular 6-8 oz red fruit with good flavor, a terrific producer
that is a popular market tomato in New Zealand. A great mid-season
tomato to grow commercially, as it has some disease resistance.
Vines need staking. Smooth and attractive.
Item Code: TM183
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Egg Tomato
75-80 days. This heirloom is another of the varieties sold by Glecklers Seedmen in the 1950's, the fruit is the shape and size of a medium sized egg, with thick, blood-red flesh that is rich and perfect for preserving or eating fresh. The smooth fruit keep very well; very delicious and good for specialty markets.
Item Code: TM114
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Fireworks
6-70 days. One of the earlier main crop type tomatoes offered in America. Flavorful fruit are medium sized and have real tomato flavor, unlike many of the early hybrids on the market. The plants produce well even in the North. A beautiful red tomato that is perfect for gardeners who love early fruit.
Item Code: TM174
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Floradade
Determinate, 78 days. Right from Dade County, Florida, comes a winning tomato for the humid South, developed by the University of Florida to be resistant to the particular problems that affect tomatoes in southern states. Nice-sized 5-7-oz. fruit are round and smooth; determinate plants are quite productive.
Item Code: TM135
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Fox Cherry
80 days. Delicious large, red heirloom cherry tomatoes that seem to be one of the best-tasting large cherries around. The vining plants are very reliable; even in years when the wilt kills about everything else these seem to do great. The fruit weigh about 1 oz each and are perfect for salads.
Item Code: TM160
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German Red Strawberry
85 days. Big, flavorful 1-lb fruit are shaped like a giant, red strawberry. These beautiful tomatoes are loaded with a rich, sweet flavor. With only a small amount of seeds and juice, they are great for canning and sandwiches. This superior tasting tomato is a family heirloom from Germany.
Item Code: TM128
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Hazelfield Farm
75 days. This variety started as a volunteer, and out-performed all the other tomatoes in the owner's garden! These medium-sized plants produce loads of 8-oz, fl at, red fruit and are fairly early, too; our grower planted his out at the end of April and had his first fruit the latter half of July. Performs well even during hot, dry summers. A favorite at the Lexington, Kentucky Farmers' Market.
Item Code: TM165
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Henderson's Crimson Cushion
80 days. "The Crimson Scarlet Brother of Ponderosa" huge size and delicious rich flesh. Said to be introduced in 1892 by Peter Henderson, the flesh is very thick and of great quality. This is probably the tomato that made red "Beefsteak" type tomatoes famous.
Item Code: TM113
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Homestead
Semi-determinate, 80-83 days. Developed in the 1950’s for growers in the Florida and the southern states, this tomato is wilt resistant and productive. At one time this was a very popular shipping variety. Firm, tasty flesh.
Item Code: TM115
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Illini Star
65-70 days. The "star" in any garden, this winner was developed by our friends, Merlyn & Mary Ann Neidens. This variety sets heavy crops of 6 oz round, red fruit with superior flavor for an early type. For quick and steady production, this one is hard to beat. The vines need little staking.
Item Code: TM129
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Illinois Beauty
80 days. An excellent home and market garden variety with great flavor. A heavy producer of 4-to 6-oz fruits which are usually free of any blemishes or cracks. This disease-resistant type sets fruit in hot, dry summers and produces prolifically all season—6 plants yielded 9 gallons of tomatoes the first picking and 6 gallons the second picking! A lucky, accidental cross with some of the best qualities you can ask for in a tomato.
Item Code: TM168
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Ingegnoli Gigante Liscio
75 days. Giant fruit grow up to 2 lbs or more. Bright red, quite sweet and rich tasting, excellent for home gardeners who want old-fashioned flavor. Developed in Italy around 1900 from a cross of the old varieties "Ponderosa" and "Saint Louis." Hard to find now!
Item Code: TM162
Out of Stock
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Joe Thienemann's Australian Heart
New!
75-80 days.This Oxheart type produces vibrantly red, 12 oz fruit
that are the pointed strawberry shape and is of a very high quality,
with few seeds and rich taste! This has became a local favorite
in Louisville Kentucky, thanks to the Thienemann family who
has preserved it. Here is its history, according to seed collector
Gary Millwood: "Joe was first of all a farmer and then established
a small nursery later in life. He acquired his seed from Bud Singler,
who acquired them from a service man who spent time
in Australia before coming home to Kentucky after serving in
WWII."
Item Code: TM184
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Koralik
New!
65-70 days
Determinate. Just 55 days from transplanting, this early 1" cherry
tomato is bright red and borne on heavy trusses of 6-8 fruit,
which are sweet and flavorful. This Russian variety is enormously
productive for a determinate type. Great for small gardens.
Item Code: TM188
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Lady Lucy
New!
An heirloom that is sometimes seen being sold along the road
in rural Northern Georgia, in the Nantahala Forest region. This
is a medium-large tomato that is sweet and sharp, with a good
amount of acid, making this a great canning tomato. Productive,
very vigorous potato leaf-type plants that are almost unheard
of outside Georgia. Pkt $2.00
Item Code: TM185
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Large Red
82 days. This pre-1830 variety was documented as being grown in Hancock, Mass., by the Shakers in the 1830's. In 1865 Fearing Burr stated, "from the time of introduction...the large red was almost the only kind cultivated, or even commonly known." Unique, 12-oz. fruit are deeply fluted and have a sweet, rich tomato flavor. A rare treasure for historic gardeners.
Item Code: TM139
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Lumpy Red
80 days. Austin Isaacs collected this red variety in the early 1990s from an elderly woman in Corbin, Kentucky, who said this dates to the early 1900s and
was grown in Clay City, Kentucky by her grandmother. Named for its fruit which are rather "lumpy" in appearance, being ribbed and ruffled. These are popular for their strong, old-fashioned flavor and large size, making them a great tomato for any homestead. Rare.
Item Code: TM180
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Mama Leone
75 days. A real old-time Italian paste tomato, this variety produces 5-6 oz full-flavored red fruit that are supreme in sauces and paste. The vines set high
yields. This heirloom that was brought from Italy many years ago to New York state.
Item Code: TM166
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Marglobe Supreme
Determinate, 73-77 days. Medium size red fruit make excellent canning tomatoes. Good size and uniform deep scarlet color. Great for humid climates.
Item Code: TM104
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Marmande
Semi-determinate, 70 days. Popular old French variety developed by the Vilmorin Seed Co. Scarlet, lightly ribbed fruit, have the full rich flavor that is so enjoyed in Europe. Medium-large size fruit are produced even in cool weather. Productive market variety. Imported European seed.
Item Code: TM119
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Moneymaker
75-80 days. An old English heirloom; greenhouse variety; produces 4-6 oz globes that are intensely red, smooth and of very high quality. This variety grows well in hot humid climates and greenhouses, sets in most any weather. Flavorful and becoming rare.
Item Code: TM116
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Mountain Princess
New!
45-50 days
This determinate, early tomato is well-suited to short, mountain
climates. It is a heavy producer of small to medium-sized,
red fruit that has a nice mild flavor. This tomato comes from
the Mountain regions of West Virginia, and has been grown by
generations of rugged farmers for its earliness and production.
Item Code: TM186
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Mule Team
75-80 days. Medium sized plants produce perfect 8 oz red globes that have very little cracking, making this a good choice for market growers. The fruit have a sweet but acid flavor; a good all-around standard red variety. Good resistance to heat and disease, and the vines bear heavily over a long season. An heirloom variety from Joe Bratka.
Item Code: TM153
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Nineveh Tomato
New!
A very acid, almost sour-tasting tomato that is best for cooking uses. This tomato comes from Mosul (formerly Nineveh) Iraq,
but is now said to be lost to cultivation due to the long on-going war and promotion of hybrid and gene-altered seeds. Bush
plants set bright red, small to medium sized fruit. From Aziz Nail, an Iraqi friend that supplied us with a few seeds.
Item Code: TM191
Out of Stock
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Old Virginia
80 days. Commonly grown in Virginia during the early 1900s, this tomato may be a good choice for global-warming-era gardening. Highly productive and persistent, it sets lots of 6-oz fruit during long, hot summers and has good, old-time tomato flavor.
Item Code: TM169
Out of Stock
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Pantano Romanesco
70-80 days. A Roman heirloom that was sent to us by Signor Barbetti, from Italy. The fruit are large and are deep red, with almost a purple tint. The flesh is very rich, flavorful & juicy. An excellent tomato for home and market gardeners, very rare and delicious.
Item Code: TM127
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Pearson
Determinate, 80-90 days. This tomato was one of the most popular varieties in California in the 1950’s. Excellent yielder in hot, semiarid areas; produces large red, globular fruits that are very solid and perfect for canning!
Item Code: TM118
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Principe Borghese
Determinate, 70-75 days. The Italian heirloom that is famous for sun drying. Small 1-2 oz. grape-shaped fruit are very dry and have few seeds. They have a rich tomato taste that is wonderful for sauces. Determinate vines yield clusters of fruit in abundance, perfect for selling in fresh markets and making specialty products. We offer pure Italian seed.
Item Code: TM122
Bulk Quantities
1/4 oz. - $10.00
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Red Fig or Pear-Shaped
75 days. Small, 1 1/2", red fruit are pear-shaped. This heirloom dates back to the 1700's. It was offered by many seedsmen and was very popular for making "Tomato Figs", the fruit is sweet and tasty.
Item Code: TM106
Bulk Quantities
1/4 oz. - $6.50
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Red Grape
New!
69-80 days
This tomato type caught on a few years ago, and now everyone
loves them. This non-hybrid strain produces lots of these
crisp, super-sweet, grape-shaped tomatoes, glowing red in
color. The small size makes this tomato perfect for snacking
and salads.
Item Code: TM189
Out of Stock
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Rev. Morrow's Long Keeper
New!
78 days
A tall, determinate variety with 6-10 oz, globular fruit that ripens
orange-red with pinkish flesh. The amazing thing about this tomato
is its keeping qualities; these have kept until January! Selected
for longest storage time possible, by Merl Neidens. Plant
late for storage use, and keep cool in storage. These come from
Northern Illinois and produce well.
Item Code: TM187
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Riesentraube
76-85 days. This old German heirloom was offered in Philadelphia by the mid-1800's. The sweet red 1 oz fruit grow in large clusters and the name means "Giant Bunch of Grapes" in German. It is probably the most popular small tomato with seed collectors as many enjoy the rich, full tomato flavor that is missing in today's cherry types. Large plants produce massive yields.
Item Code: TM132
Bulk Quantities
1/4 OZ. - $15.00
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Roma
76 days. A quality paste variety, very thick flesh. A popular old favorite, good yields.
Item Code: TM110
Bulk Quantities
1 OZ. - $6.00
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Roma Rio Grande
Vigorous plants produce many 4"-long, pear-shaped fruit with dry flesh, perfect for fresh use and sauces. Productive during hot, dry summers.
Item Code: TM178
Out of Stock
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Rouge D' Irak
Medium-sized fruit are finely flavored; good yields, too. This variety is endangered even in its own country, where saving seeds has became difficult under the "Colonial Powers" that now control much of what happens in this grand old country.
Item Code: TM145
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Royal Chico
Determinate, 80 days. Very productive Roma type, vigorous plant yields bright red pear-shaped fruit that are uniform, and are perfect for paste or canning. Very resistant to disease, perfect for the home garden or market. This variety is becoming rare.
Item Code: TM103
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Rutgers
Determinate, 60-100 days. Good for canning, also good fresh, large red 8 oz. globes. Good yields and flavor, large vines. A fine New Jersey heirloom.
Item Code: TM102
Bulk Quantities
1 OZ - $7.00
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Seattle Best of All
80 days. A mild tasting tomato that is a good all purpose, medium sized red. The vines are high yielding and the plant has good foliage. This variety was developed by a Seattle market gardener out of the greenhouse variety called 'Best-of-All' for his Seattle market garden. It was listed by the famous Gill Brothers Catalog in the 1960s.
Item Code: TM157
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Siletz
Determinate, 52-75 days. Here is one of the best early tomatoes I have ever seen. Dwarf, determinate plants produce unbelievable yields of perfectly shaped, 8 oz. fruit that are loaded with old-time tomato flavor and are very sweet. This variety is perfect for the home or market grower. Developed by Dr. James Baggett, OSU.
Item Code: TM133
Out of Stock
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Sioux
70-80 days. One of the best-known historic tomatoes, the medium-sized fruit are early. Productive plants and great flavor made this one of the most popular Midwestern tomatoes in the late 1940's. In 1947, Oscar H. Will & Co. stated, "It out-yielded all other varieties in South Dakota trials." Per Henderson & Co., in 1951, "Two weeks earlier than Marglobe or Rutgers." This tomato was one of our most requested, as people love the smooth, beautiful fruit and heavy yields. Introduced in 1944 by the University of Nebraska.
Item Code: TM143
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St. Pierre
78 days. A beautiful French heirloom. The tender fruits have a full, rich tomato flavor and are large in size, great for canning or fresh eating. They are deep red and excellent producers, even in bad conditions. Popular in Europe.
Item Code: TM107
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Sub-Arctic Plenty or World's Earliest
49-59 days. One of the very earliest tomatoes, the compact plants produce lots of 2 oz red fruit. It one of the best for cool conditions and will set fruit in lower temperatures than most. It has even been grown in the Southern Yukon. Developed by Dr. Harris, Beaverlodge Research Station, Alberta, Canada.
Item Code: TM130
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Super Choice
80-85 days. A wonderful old Kentucky heirloom that produces good yields of big, beautiful 1-lb fruit. It is loaded with lots of old-time tomato flavor. This variety was preserved by Hobart Pearson of Berea, Kentucky, who was given seed from an Amish family of Liberty, Kentucky, and they had been growing it for over 100 years. A very rare tomato that should be in more gardens.
Item Code: TM158
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Tappy's Heritage
85 days. Beautiful, smooth, large red fruit are globe shaped. Superb for market growers, with good disease resistance, great yields, perfect shape and wonderful flavor. This variety was developed by Merlyn and Mary Ann Neidens, long time seed growers in Illinois. Bred from heirloom varieties has fantastic taste.
Item Code: TM112
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Tatar of Mongolistan
70-85 days. We were sent this rare tomato in the late 1970's by Iraqi seed collector, Aziz Nail, who was living in France. Medium-sized fruit are very flavorful, red, and flattened in shape. These have become popular with seed savers since we introduced it about 5 years ago. We are glad to have this tasty type back. Great fresh or dried.
Item Code: TM137
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Tess's Land Race Currant
55-68 days. Deliciously flavored currant tomato that originated from Maryland's southern shore. The tiny fruit of this variety vary in color; most are deep red but some are also rose, gold and yellow. The flavorful fruit are popular with chefs and home gardeners. The sprawling vines produce clusters of these intense tasting miniatures.
Item Code: TM156
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Thai Red Turtle Egg
Tropical tomato variety that we have imported from Thailand, small red egg- sized fruit have a fine flavor and are great fresh or cooked. This is a very popular variety in the Orient, great for hot climates and wet conditions.
Item Code: TM123
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The Pritchard or Scarlet Topper
75 days. Large-sized, bright red fruit with excellent flavor, this old (and now rare) variety was introduced around 1930 by the USDA in an effort to produce the most wilt, disease, and rust-resistant tomato possible. In Peter Henderson's 1932 catalog he said "...for disease-resistant qualities, it supersedes all others." This early main season tomato is excellent for the homestead; great fresh or canned.
Item Code: TM136
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Thessaloniki
60-80 days. The Greek tomato that was introduced to the USA in the 1950’s by Glecklers Seedsmen, of Ohio. It is a popular large, red uniform fruit with excellent flavor, high yields and disease resistance. An early variety perfect for home or market, keeps well.
Item Code: TM101
Bulk Quantities
1/4 oz. - $10.00
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Tonadose Des Conores
69-80 days. An endangered heirloom cherry tomato from France, the very red fruit have an orange tinge inside and a long, lingering flavor. Productive vines produce loads of these tiny jewels that seem to melt in your mouth.
Item Code: TM144
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Uncle Mark Bagby
75 days. Brought to western Kentucky from Germany in 1919 by Mark Bagby and grown today by one of his grandnieces, this tall and vigorous potato-leafed
variety produces 8-to 12-oz pink fruit, and some say it out-performs Brandywine in warmer climates.
Item Code: TM163
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Valiant
70 days. Very smooth, large red globes, good color and mild sweet flavor. Spreading vines put on heavy yields and fruit tends to ripen all at once. Introduced in 1937, at one time this was a highly popular tomato for canning, juicing and for fresh shipping, but now it is only in the hands of seed savers.
Item Code: TM154
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Weeping Charley
80-85 days. An excellent-tasting, almost paste tomato, this variety produces big, fat Roma-shaped tomatoes, but these are sweeter and juicier than standard paste varieties, with good strong, real tomato flavor and heavy production. A rare heirloom that was given to one of our employees.
Item Code: TM159
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