Fun With Tomatoes

Many people who have “retire” from gardening still plant a patch of tomatoes every spring. Tomatoes don’t ask for a lot of care. There is nothing better than a thick slice of tomato with a burger or tuna salad sandwich.

Every region across the U.S. has their favorite varieties. The gardener’s favorite appears to be a meaty medium-sized (6 to 8 ounces) red globe type that oozes with flavor and is not tough skinned.

Determinate (D) varieties like Celebrity and Mountain Pride have a strong following because harvest time comes at one time and plants are highly disease resistant. Indeterminate (I) varieties, many called heirloom types, include Better Boy, Brandywine, Cherokee Purple, and Mortgage Lifter.

Leafing through spring seed catalogs, here are some popular varieties along with a brief description:

• Better Boy—VFN hybrid; 8- to 12- ounce red fruit; 72 days; I.
• Big Beef—large-fruited beefsteak with good disease resistance; I; AAS* 1994.
• Brandywine  ­- popular heirloom variety; great flavor red fruit; disease susceptible; I.
• Celebrity—VFNT hybrid; 7- to 8-ounce red globe; firm, flavorful fruit; D; 72 days; AAS* 1984.
• Cherokee Purple– popular heirloom variety; up to 1 lb. flavorful beefsteak with dark shoulders; I; 80 days
• Cherry Grande—VF hybrid; large cluster of 1 1⁄2-inch firm, round, red fruit; D; 60 days.
• Early Girl – VF hybrid; early ripening; 4 – 6 oz. round red fruit; I; 57 days
• Floramerica  –  VF hybrid; 8 -12 oz. red fruit; 76 days; D; AAS* 1978.
• Mortgage Lifter – old-fashioned huge variety, large fruits, few seeds & meaty.
• Mountain Pride – VFFA hybrid; mid-season; 7 oz.; crack resistant; D.
• Mountain  Spring – VF hybrid; early; resistance to cracking; D.
• Park’s Whopper – VFNT hybrid; 14 oz. fruit; 70 days; I.
• Super San Marzano – small sweet paste & sauce type; highly disease resistant; D.
• Super Fantastic – VF hybrid; 8-ounce red fruit; 70 days; I.
• Sweet 100  – hybrid; large clusters of 1-inch, round, red fruit; I; 65  days.
• Tommy Toe – heirloom cherry; ½ – 1 inch round red fruit; 70 days.