I came across a GREAT tomato book the other day at the library - I'm not sure if any of you have heard of it but I thought I'd pass it along just in case you hadn't:

100 Heirloom Tomatoes for the American Garden by Carolyn J. Male

I know I'm not the only tomato fanatic on this forum. And I can imagine that some of you may *not* appreciate me fueling your tomato addictions. WARNING: Coupling this book with a copy of Tomato Growers Supply Co. seed catalog may be an excersice in fiduciary irresponsibility! :-)

Anyway, I'm thinking of trying three (only three, will wonders never cease?!) varieties listed in Carolyn's book:

Box Car Willie
(An outstanding, robust, old-fashioned tomato taste, and the fruits are extremely juicy. Yield is considered high, size is in the 1-pound range.)

Dr. Lyle
(A sizeable plant that loads up with large, deep pink beefsteaks. Yield is considered high and the fruits range in the 1 to 2-pound range, growing in clusters of 2 or 3.)

Martino's Roma
(A determinate variety with overwhelming yields of pear-shaped, 2 oz paste tomatoes, growing in clusters of 4 to 6. Highly tolerant of early blight and resists blossom end rot.)

BTW, each variety listed in the book has a great color photograph of the plant, whole fruits, and a cross-sectioned photo of one of the fruits so you can see in great detail what each variety looks like.

Happy tomato growing!

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2002

Answers

Thank You!!!! Fuel my addiction any time.

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2002

Carolyn posts over at gardenweb.com on the tomato forum.

I do not want this book. I DO NOT want this book!! I SAID, I DO NOT WANT THIS BOOK!!

Convince any of the rest of you? Sure didn't convince myself. Let us know how the Boxcar Willie's work out.

(No, Polly; you can not grow just one more tomato. You know that you're addicted. Just say no. No, no, no. No more tomatoes....)

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2002

I am NOT addicted......I just enjoy growing MANY different varieties. Does it really matter that I don't need them or that I become their slave??

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2002

I will not plant more than 20 varieties ....I wiil not plant more than 20 varieties.I will not plant more than 20 varieties ....I will not plant more than 20 varieties ....I will not plant more than 20 varieties ....

Carolyn is a wealth of information. When we lived in WI I did have several email interactions with her. From what I have seen her book is phenomenal.....I will not plant more than 20 varieties ....I will not plant more than 20 varieties ....I will not plant more than 20 varieties ....

Kim

-- Anonymous, January 21, 2002

I haven't found the perfect tomato yet...I think I'll have a look!

-- Anonymous, January 21, 2002

So Polly, you're one of those over on the Tomato board too? I guess I don't post often enough (and it IS the off-season now for most of us anyway) to have tripped over you there, I guess. Soil & Compost is my favourite board there tho, what a fun bunch! Who would imagine anyone could have that much entertainment talking about ceiling tile, dead crows, Starbucks trash, and manure?

Boxcar Willie gets lots of good reviews on the Tomato board. I don't think that it made the top 5, or maybe even the top 10, but it consistantly gets mentioned by the hardcore folks. I was unhappy to find out that the majority of listed varieties are not something I can grow up here in the cold cold north. So far, Fourth of July, Sweet Million, Sun Gold, and one grape variety have been the best for me here -- fortunately, they have all been tasty and prolific too. I'd like to try Siberia, if I could find it. Not very heirloom (darn it. The only heirloom I DID grow was mega-disappointing. Carolyn even answered my question pertaining to that one.).

-- Anonymous, January 23, 2002

julie, I grew the Siberian and was disappointed in taste and texture, but I grew it in the house under lights so maybe it would be better outside. "Totally Tomatoes", an off-shoot of Vermont, Bean and Seed Co. has seed for them, at least last year they did. I will dig out the catalog and check to be sure they still do.

-- Anonymous, January 23, 2002

Yes, I just found the catalog and it is still listed.

Siberia-48 days. Could be the earliest tomato ever - only 7 weeks from transplant to fruits? A Russian traveler supposedly smuggled out this seed in 1975 and gave it to a greenhouse operator in Canada. Siberia is capable of setting fruit at 38 degrees F. on sturdy, dark green plants, althought is is not frost-hardy. The fruits are bright red, 3 to 5 oz. and bunch in clusters of 30 or more on small, bushy plants. Most popular variety today in Alaska. Determinate. Pkt. (30) seeds $1.75

-- Anonymous, January 23, 2002

Yeah, Julie - I like the tomato board, and the vegetable gardening and organic gardening boards. I think I saw you on one of them, maybe the size of your garden question on the veggie board? I drop in on garden party and farm life too; as well as some cooking boards that I got to from a link on the gardenweb home page - same format and lots and lots of topics! I'll have to check out the soil board - any other recommendations?!

Called in the seed orders on Monday. I am now up to 22 types of tomatoes. I need a keeper!! (NOT a type of tomato; someone to lock me up away from the seed catalogs!!)

-- Anonymous, January 23, 2002

I also visit the Organic Gardening sections, Organic Roses, Vegetable Gardening, Wildlife, and sometimes Fruits, Daylilies, Container Growing (too many city gardeners. I don't begrudge them that, but it doesn't usually apply to me so much. I'm just there on behalf of my potted lemon and fig trees.) too.

There's currently a hot composting debate going on that is up to 69 posts. Really thoughtful and brainy people there as well as talking about ethics questions vs. applicability. And after the knock-down- drag-outs seen over on Countryside, the worst I've ever seen is sort of a "Who are you calling names?!" tiff of the most minor sort. Kind of relaxing. The only longer thread I recall finding over there was the one pertaining to what constituted the perfect tomato sandwich. I couldn't read that one without having tomato and bread at the ready every day.

-- Anonymous, January 24, 2002

So many types of tomatoes...and so little time!!! I need a bigger garden!

-- Anonymous, January 24, 2002

Hmmm...I'm going the other direction... been sorting out what does good and tossing out the ones that haven't passed muster. So I'll actually be growing less than 18 varieties this year.

But, don't talk to me abt. beans. I'm really going over the top on beans. I don't even like green beans either. The seeds are so colorful, I can't resist.

Haven't grown any of those.I've pretty much found the ones that suit me and my area.Jim, might want to try some southern varieties in a later planting to help production in the hot months. Homestead is O.P. determinate and will set in hot, has good flavor and is productive for me. Had good luck with Arkansas Traveler, but only grew it one year so jury is out. It's indeterminant. Hillbilly good ,but pineapple type, and some people don't like the milder flavor. Those are three that I'll be growing again,for my humid hot climate.

Hadn't seen the book.I'm certain my library doesn't have it, and probably can't get it. Oh well.

-- Anonymous, January 24, 2002

Hmmmm...beans AND tomatoes! Yup, I definitely need a MUCH bigger garden :-)!!!!

-- Anonymous, January 24, 2002