Every time we write about tomatoes, you write back and tell us to write
more. There seems to be some mystique about the tomato; its hold over
our readers is practically universal, and no conversation with a rabid
gardener is complete without asking, "What kinds of tomatoes are you
growing this year?"
Seed companies know how much you love tomatoes, too. So when we got an
early peek at the seed catalogs this year, we thought we'd show you some
new varieties.
One of the most unique varieties making its debut from Nichols Garden
Nursery isn't exactly new, but it might be new to you. The company is
importing the Momotaro tomato from Japan for sale in the U.S. "In my
travels, people would always ask me about the Momotaro," says Rose Marie
Nichols McGee of Nichols Garden. "I decided we had to bring it here."
She says the Momotaro is both crack resistant and heat tolerant. It
makes a 6- to 8-ounce fruit with pink skin and flesh. "It's juicy, sweet
and crisp," says McGee. The Momotaro is also known as Tough Boy, named
for a Japanese folk character.
Dan Croker at Seminis Garden describes their new tomato, the Tomande, as
"an Italian tomato with an heirloom look." The ribbed, oval-shaped fruit
grows to about 6 ounces with a 68-day maturity. Seminis also says this
indeterminate variety is resistant to Verticillium wilt, Fusarium wilt,
root-knot nematodes and tomato mosaic virus.
Stokes Seeds will introduce a new determinate variety, appropriately
called Debut. The large, smooth fruit matures in 63 days, and the plant
produces lots of foliage to protect from sun scald.
Chef's Garden in Alabama ships plants, not seeds, and owners George and
Cindy Martin make sure the plants get a good start. They'll be shipping
Black, also known as Black Prince, this year. The dark, purplish tomato
has extra acidity for a rich flavor and produces fruit a little bigger
than a golf ball.
"The fruit is smaller, but the plant makes a lot," says Cindy. They'll
have a Black Cherry tomato available with the same rich flavor.