I was jusy looking out at my snow-covered garden…and dreaming of spring! Anyway, I received my first seed catalog…and I am pleased to see that i can now buy many old strains of vegetables that have been rescued from extinction!
Has anyone tried planting some of the older tomato varieties? Do they taste better than the modern hybrids?
Also, a gardener told me once about an exotic variety (Turkish?) of eggplant…this type has round, REd fruits…anybody know where I can obtain these seeds?
Gosh…I can’t wait to start turning the soild and setting plants!
I’m right there with ya, Ralph.
Perusing the seed catalogs, and dreaming about spring.
This will be my first year growing heirloom tomatoes, but I ate a few (purchased from Whole Paycheck–I mean Whole Foods) the past couple of summers. The ones I tried were huge,streaky beauties, bursting with flavor.
But I can’t remember what they were called! Ah well, Colorado has a short growing season, so I am looking at trying a 58 day variety called Matina, as well as a 72 day type called Garden Peach, which won a taste test on the Today Show.
The heirlooms often do taste better, but make sure you get the real thing. Some of the major seed sellers sell heirlooms that aren’t what they claim to be. You can find out more at the tomato forum at www.gardenweb.com. (I’ll be starting seedlings in my basement in about 30 days.)
The variety to look for is Brandywine.
They are beyond ambrosia.
Yes…
I do not like what some seed companies do. Love the heirloom seeds. Here in FL we have a long growing season. Usually start my spring garden around Valentine’s day.
Heirloom seeds. Start planting and saving them now- if Monsanto gets their way, heirlooms will be extinct very soon. Brandywine is very much the yummiest- but if you check out the selection at Totally Tomatoes you will find the most unusual colors and shapes you have ever seen. Each year I plant tons of “Snowball” for my older friends who need low acid tomatoes because of sensitive stomachs-
If enough people show interest, I share and trade my seeds through snail mail each year with other organic gardeners- would be happy to send you a handful to get you started.
Agree, but there are at least 3 very different breeds of tomato called Brandywine. Beware of mainline seed companies like Burpee if you want real heirlooms. You want the pink version of Brandywine, preferably the Sudduth/Quisenberry strain. The purple heirlooms (Cherokee and Prudens) are also good. I’ll be ordering seeds this weekend, probably from Johnny’s. http://www.johnnyseeds.com/catalog/heirloom.html?type=Heirloom%20Seeds&ct=hg
Psalex, agreed Monsanto is the deebil. I love tomatoes but my belly can’t take too much acid. What catalog do you get the “Snowball” tomatoes from? I haven’t heard of them before…
Awww… fudge… :smack: you even said in your post you get them from Totally Tomatoes. Please forgive. But as I’m having a bit o’ a rough night and I could badly use a robin of spring to pop up about now I’m going to leave the post.
I haven’t saved seeds, but I have driven by seedsavers near Decorah, IA.
Brian