TOMATOES
Tomatoes are in the Solanaceae family and the genus Lycopersicon. With the exception of some of the currant tomatoes, which are of the species L. pimpinellifolium, the tomatoes we are familiar with are L. lycopersicum
CROSSING OF VARIETIES
Tomatoes are self-fertile and with the exception of potato leaf varieties, currant tomatoes of the species L. pimpinellifolium and a few others aren't expected to cross with one another. However there have been differing experiences with different varieties and different growers. Perhaps the book Seed to Seed by Suzanne Ashworth gives the best understanding of the situation.
Suzanne Ashworth quotes a previous author, Charlie Rick-
"The ancestral tomato species could not reproduce by self pollination... It had a long style, extending far beyond the anther tube, to facilitate cross-pollination by insects... As this ancestral species evolved into the wild predecessor of the cultivated tomato it developed the ability to self-pollinate... With this development, the style became shorter but still protruded beyond the anther tube..
As the tomato migrated northward, the style continued to shorten and in some species totally retracted inside the anther tube, precluding any possibility of insect crossing."
Perhaps the tomato is an example of a plant species that has been taken far away from its natural pollinators so it has evolved to be self-fertile. The experienced eye may be able to examine the flowers and work out which varieties may cross by noting how far the style is recessed into the anther tube. As we gain more info we hope to put a mark <C?> beside varieties that may cross with others that have a <C?> beside them.
'Beefsteak' and some other varieties that have double flowers may readily cross because of the exposure of the style. If a tomato variety produces some fruit with a tendency towards an 8 shape and some round fruit then exclude the 8 shaped fruit and select the round fruit for seed. Please accept that we are learning as we go and any feed back on varieties that have crossed would be very helpful.
SAVING SEED
Tomatoes may be best fully ripened on the plant, but not over-ripened. One way for seed to be saved is to squeeze it on to paper and leave it to dry. It can be kept on the paper till planting and this is an easy method for small amounts. It isn't necessarily the best way and may not be the best way for storage and distribution.
Perhaps the best way would be for fruit to be cut in half (across the middle, not through the blossom end and stem) and the pulp to be squeezed/scraped into a non-metallic container (glass jar is excellent) It should then be allowed to ferment until the seed comes clean from the pulp.
Various books recommend adding water, but if it is not necessary to add water then I don't add it. The fermenting brew should be stirred at least twice a day, or if in a jar with a lid then shaken. Observation and experience will determine when it is ready for cleaning (generally 2-4 days, depending on temp and variety).
Wash through a fine mesh kitchen strainer until only clean seed remains, then put the seed in a saucepan sized container with clean water and agitate it. The good seed will readily sink and the dodgy seed will remain suspended in the water or float. Separate dodgy seed by carefully tipping off water. Repeat process a few times.
Return clean seed to strainer and shake (or use centrifugal force) to get as much water out as you can. Then place on paper or similar to dry. Seed to Seed says never dry tomato seed in full sun, however, my experience has been that the cooler days of autumn have been suitable for drying seed in the sun. Break up lumps of seed that will stick together and prevent drying. If seed doesn't dry quickly then it may start to germinate.
SOURCES FOR STAKING-TYPE TOMATOES
Alma Small round red fruit on a tall bush. not good flavour. From Kay Baxter, Koanga Gardens, NZ.
American. SSN 678 Medium large red fruit.
Amish Paste Tall Red ox-heart shaped fruit, solid flesh with few seeds. Used in cooking, sauce, for drying or bottling or eaten fresh. {Eden}* {Diggers}, {Bay} {Greenpatch} SSN98--1
Anait Early variety, not real good flavour SSN 2525
Arbuckle Tall Maintained in the Arbuckle family, New Zealand, for about 80 years. Large pink pear shaped with firm flesh and few seeds. Late maturing.
Australian Red Medium-tall Medium large red, very productive tomato, that does well in cool seasons or in the cooler part of the growing season. Excellent pasta tomato or eaten fresh. {Eden} Developed in Melbourne(?)
Baby Red Pear Small red pear shaped fruit with incredible flavour, tall plants, very heavy crops. [NGS] SSN98--1
Banana Legs Probably best as a paste type with flavour not exceptional eaten fresh. Firm flesh makes it a good keeper. {Eden}
Beefsteak <C?> save only round fruit. Bright red flat ribbed fruit, solid juicy flesh, good for slicing. [Eden]* {Bay}
Betsy Bonn Small Medium sized round red fruit on a tall bush.
Big Beefsteak <C?> save only round fruit.
Big Boy {Greenpatch}
Big Red SSN98--1
Black Krim Tall <C?> save only round fruit. Large, dark purplish, juicy fruit of excellent flavour. Hardy and possibly a cool season tomato (one of my top 10 tomatoes NB) . {Eden}* [NGS] {Diggers} {Bay}
Black Russian Tall Medium sized juicy fruit of excellent flavour. Superb cooking tomato where natural juices compliment the dish. Tendency for fruit to crack (moisture fluctuations?). Another good tomato for cool seasons. {Eden}* {Diggers} {Bay} SSN98--3
Brandywine Old Amish heirloom, deep red fruits, excellent flavour. Potato leaf type. [Eden]S {Phoenix} SSN98--1
Brandywine Pink This old American variety has long been regarded as having superior taste. It is a very vigorous "Potato Leaf" type with large pink/red flattened fruit of superb flavour. Late maturing. Voted best open pollinated variety in our 1998 Taste test [NGS]
Break O'Day Early variety, medium sized smooth round deep red fruit, thin skinned, excellent taste, dependable cropping quality under a wide range of conditions, old commercial Australian variety introduced in 1932. Similar to Grosse Lisse and earlier. Resistant to fusarium wilt. [Eden] {Phoenix} {Greenpatch}
Broad Ripple Yellow Currant Tall Very productive with grapelike bunches of sweet yellow fruit to 20mm diameter. {Eden}* {Diggers} SSN98--2
Bullock Heart SSN98--1
Burbank SSN98--1
Burnley Bounty Med-tall Round red fruit, developed in Australia. May produce well in cool seasons. [Eden]S
Burnley Surecrop Early maturing with resistance to Verticillum Wilt, this smooth skinned variety produces a shorter plant with a heavy crop of good tasting fruit. Matures 2 weeks earlier than Grosse Lisse. [NGS]
Burwood Prize Medium sized red fruit on a medium-tall sized plant. {Bay} {Greenpatch}
Castlemaine Roma SSN98--1
Cherokee Purple
Cherry Cocktail- Red Tall Small, sweet round red fruit. [Eden]* {Phoenix} SSN98--1
Cherry Cocktail- Yellow Tall Small, sweet round yellow fruit, low in acid. [Eden]*
Clark Aesley Small round red fruit [Eden]S {Greenpatch}
College Challenger Excellent, Good size tasty round red staking tomato. Best described as an early Grosse Lisse, but more prolific. Bred in 1950's at Hawkesbury Agricultural College. [Eden]* {Greenpatch} {Bay}
Conqueror SSN98--1
Costoluto di Marmande {Greenpatch} SSN98--1
Csikos Botermo SSN98--1
Czech {Bay}
Daydream Large smooth deep red fruit. Does well in hot areas of low humidity, 1954 commercial variety. [Eden]* {Phoenix} SSN98--2
Debarao {Phoenix}
Deutscher Fleiss SSN98--1
Don Camillo. SSN 424B Variable, needs some selection. Flat, round red fruit up to large size.
Dion Beuree (John Baer) Medium sized smooth round scarlet fruit, early producing. [Eden]
Donella's Superb {Greenpatch}
ES 58 Firm and tasty red fruit, large flattened, round to 80mm, reliable mid to late, heavy cropping, resistant cracking, sunburn and soil born wilt disease. [Eden]*
Eva's Purple Ball. Red-pink medium sized fruit on a tall plant.
Diggers Trials
Flora Lou {Greenpatch}
French Red SSN98--2
German Head
Golden Jubilee {Greenpatch} {Bay}
Golden Gourmet Filler Large 8-10cm , yellow fruit with thick outer flesh, ideal to be stuffed when seeds removed. [Eden]S
Golden Sunrise Med-tall. Sweet medium sized fruit to 50mm, round golden yellow. [Eden]* {Greenpatch}
Gold Sunrise SSN98--1
Graf Zeplin Excellent old variety, Fruit small to medium size, round and red. Borne in great numbers on vigorous plants. [NGS] {Bay} {Greenpatch} SSN98--1 {Eden} listed as a bush type
Grandma's Big Yellow SSN98--1
Grape Shaped Light red fruit to 30x20mm [Eden]S
Greek. Small red pointed fruit on a tall plant. Medium flavour. From Nancy Morgan.
Green Zebra Med-tall Unique striped colour and excellent flavour, one of Diggers great tomatoes. {Diggers} {Bay} SSN98--3
Grosse Lisse Tall Probably Australia’s most widely grown tomato, however perhaps not one of the best early tomatoes in cooler districts. Large round deep red smooth skinned fruit of good flavour. {Eden}* {Bay} {NGS} {Phoenix} {Greenpatch} SSN98--1
Harbinger {Bay} SSN98--1
Hardy Tom Small and sweet, lasts a long time on the bush. Keeps producing until first frost. [Eden] {Greenpatch} SSN98--1
Holgen SSN 3493. Medium sized red fruit on a tall plant.
Homestead Improved Prolific crops of tasty round 8cm fruit can be expected from the medium sized plants. Good foliar cover and resistant to fusarium wilt, performed well in our 1998 trials. [NGS]
Imur Prior Beta Medium sized sweet red fruit, selected from high mountain valleys in of Chile and developed in Norway, said to grow back after frost, slightly tough skin, quick growing. [Eden]
Indian Mayan Meaty red pear shaped fruit, 75mm long, bears strongly, good for drying and processing, compact bush. [Eden] SSN98--1
Indian River Med-tall Large round smooth red fruit to 10cm, thick firm flesh, good late variety, disease resistant. [Eden]
Italian Red Pear Clusters of sweet bright red 25x50mm fruit, flavourful salad tomato, good fresh or preserved [Eden]
Jubilee Med-tall Tall growing bush with solid golden fruit. Very few seeds. A really fine tomato. [NGS] {Eden}*
Kelstar Keeps on producing beautiful fruit even after weather cools down. Fruit still on bushes when growth finally ceases can be picked and will ripen to perfection in a warm room. [NGS]
Kokomo Med-tall Large smooth round red fruit. Resistant to fusarium wilt. [Eden]
Kotlas (once named Sprint) Extra early medium sized round tasty fruit, cold tolerant, long season due to blight resistance. cool season tomato [Eden]* {Greenpatch} {Phoenix} SSN98--2
Lampadina 2 SSN98--1
Lavitan {Bay}
Lazlo's Yellow Oxheart Tall Good flavoured large juicy oxheart shaped tomatoes. Seed from Andrew Cox.
Lutschist Zurich Medium sized very juicy and tasty red fruit, very productive. [Eden]S
Mama Lucie Prolific with good quality round yellow fruit to 40mm, good salad tomato. Good foliage cover and disease resistance. Came to Rockhampton in 1930's with Italian immigrants. [Eden]
Manapal Large deep red, smooth round fruit, thick walled, popular market garden variety in 1960's, used for winter glasshouse growing, resistant to wilt and other diseases. [Eden]*
Moneymaker Beautiful round scarlet fruit, thin skinned solid flesh and fine flavour, old glass house and market variety, listed in Australia in 1927. [Eden]* {NGS}
Mortgage Lifter Large pinkish fruit to 12cm, developed in the depression by unemployed "Radiator Charlie" who paid off his mortgage with these fruits. Plants are vigorous and maturity is midseason to late [NGS] [Eden]* {Diggers} {Bay}
Mortgage Buster SSN98--1
Mrs McKillops Very large fruit on a tall vigorous plant.
Nebraska Wedding. Quite large yelllow- orange fruit on a tall bush. A good tomatoes. Diggers trials
Nepal {Bay} SSN98--1
Orange Oxheart SSN98--1
Oxacan Pink SSN98--1
Oxheart Can be very large with thick flesh and few seeds, one old timers occasionally speak very fondly of. Suits cool seasons? {Eden}*
{NGS} {phoenix} {Bay} SSN98--2
Ozark Pink Medium sized, round pinkish red fruit on a tall plant.
Diggers trials
Paste SSN98--1
Pero Piccolo SSN98--1
Peach Name refers to skin texture, beautiful pinkish coloured, soft sweet fruit to 40mm., known in Australia 1927, does well in cool seasons. [Eden] {Bay}
Pear Tomato Small red and yellow light globe shape fruits [Bay]
Pederson’s Beefsteak
Persimmon Large globe shaped fruit to 10cm., solid meaty flesh and few seeds, strong distinctive flavour, susceptible to blossom-end rot. [Eden]S
Peruvian Cherry Delicious small round red cherry fruits, for salads and fresh eating. [Eden] SSN98--2
Pinky
Polish Above medium flattish-round red fruit on a tall plant. From a fellow about 5 years ago.
Ponderosa (Pink) Large flat fruit dark purplish-pink, sweet and mild, firm and meaty. Susceptible to blossom end rot. [Eden]* {NGS} {Greenpatch}
Ponderosa (Red) Luscious tasting soft, meaty slicing variety [Eden]* Late maturity [NGS]
Ponderosa (Yellow) {Greenpatch}
Potato Leaf <C?> Purplish red fruit for growing in heavy soils and hot climates, known since 1887. [Eden]S
Potato Leaf Small medium, very juicy red fruit on a very tall vine. Good flavour.
Potentate Tall Bright red fruit in bunches of 10-16, thick flesh, reportedly good in cool summers. [Eden]* SSN98--1
Principe Borghese Oval shaped red fruit 30x40mm., very meaty, early ripening and holds well on the bush, used for sun drying in Italy. [Eden]* {Diggers} {NGS} Listed as a bush type {Phoenix}
Purple Calabash Med-tall Medium small, flat, deeply ribbed fruit fruit with a purplish skin colour. {Eden} {Diggers}
Raspberry Med-tall Pale red, slightly flattened fruit, solid fleshy beefsteak type, used in salads and cooking, prolific crop and strong growing bush. [Eden]*
Red Cherry {Bay} SSN98--1
Red Cherry Cocktail {Greenpatch}
Red Cherry Currant {Greenpatch} SSN98--1
Red Cherry Pear SSN98--1
Red Chic SSN98--1
Red Cloud {Bay}
Red Peach Small-medium sized fruit one of my favourites for flavour (NB) SSN98--1
Red Pear {Greenpatch}
Red Siberian SSN98--1
Rhonda's SSN98--1
Rose {Phoenix}
Rouge de Marmande Med-tall Medium large, flat, ribbed fruit that may have better flavour than most when grown in cool seasons (worth trialing as an early variety). Disease resistant. Introduced 1927 {Eden}* {NGS} {Phoenix} {Diggers} {Greenpatch}
Salad Special Smooth medium globe shaped fruit to 6cm, late maturing. [Eden]* {Bay}
San Marzano Clusters of pear shaped deep red fruit to 10cm, stores well and crack resistant, good for paste, drying and puree due to high solids [Eden]* The best Sauce variety [NGS]
Scotland Yellow. Small to small medium yellow flattish round fruit on a tall bush. Diggers trials.
Shimmeig Creg A beautiful, meaty pink streaked yellow medium-sized fruit.{Diggers} SSN98--1
Scorpio Smooth red fruit 6-8cm., Australian bred for the tropics, wilt resistant. [Eden]
Sherry's Sweet Italian Very good flavour with interesting shape, a good firm fleshy tomato. {Diggers} SSN98--1
Siberian Red Oxheart Large sprawling plants. SSN98--1
Siberian Yellow Oxheart Similar to Red Oxheart. SSN98--1
Small Yellow SSN 1618 Productive, flat round yellow fruit on a tall bush
Strobel Medium to large, smooth round fruit. [Eden]
Stupice Med Very good tomato for cool seasons areas or growing in the cooler part of the season. One of the first that should be tried for an early season tomato. Third place in Your Garden taste test. Worth trialing for drought tolerance. {Eden}* {Phoenix} {Greenpatch} SSN98--3
Sunray (Golden Orange) Med Medium sized, smooth round light yellow-orange fruit to 70mm. Clusters of 4 to 5 fruit. Productive and hardy. [Eden]*
Super Italian Paste Med Very large paste variety, 15x5cm, tapered to a blunt point, solid meaty flesh used in cooking and sauces. [Eden]
Sweet Bite SSN98--1
Sweet Italian {Bay}
Sweetie Bright red cherry type , excellent taste, productive with multiple bunched clusters, does well in cool temperate climates. [Eden] SSN98--1
Tessaloniki
Thompson Green Grape SSN98--1
Tibet SSN98--1
Tigerella Med-tall A uniquely striped coloured tomato that's well worth growing for both its productivity and excellent flavour. Another of my favourite tomatoes (NB). {Diggers}
{NGS} {Eden}* {Greenpatch} SSN98--3
Tiffin Menonite
Tiny Giant SSN 448 Small round red fruit on a tall bush.
Tommy Toe Produces small-medium sized round red of excellent flavour over an extended period. One of the best to grow and eat straight from the bush. {Diggers} Disease resistant and may be used as a rootstock. [Eden]* {Greenpatch} SSN98--4
Tommy Toe- Yellow. Similar size and shape with good flavour {Eden}
Tropic Round firm red fruit to 10cm, rich flavour, disease hardy, suited to warm humid areas. [Eden]*
Ukranian Persimmon SSN98--1
Verna Orange Med-tall A large oxheart shaped orange tomato of excellent flavour. Great garden variety. {Diggers} SSN98--1
Wallaville Large red fruit for salad, grills or frying, heavy foliage needs staking. [Eden]S
Wendy Yellow SSN98--1
Wonder Light {Phoenix}
Worlds Largest A heavy yielder of very large tomatoes {Diggers}
Worlds Smallest A very small tomato with a taste on its own, my (NB) favourite for taste. {Diggers}
Yellow SSN98--1
Yellow Currant SSN98--1
Yellow Delicious {Diggers}
Yellow Morgage Lifter
Yellow Pear Excellent flavour. Vigorous, heavy bearing throughout the season. Acid free. [Eden]* {Phoenix} {Greenpatch} SSN98--2
Yellow Cherry Cocktail {Greenpatch}
Yugoslav {Greenpatch} {Bay}
Yugoslavia SSN98--1
Yugoslavian Tall <C?> A lot of variation in the plants which suggests it may readily cross. The best of them were excellent. Needs growing on its own and selection.
Zebra SSN98--1
SOURCES FOR BUSH-TYPE TOMATOES
Abel SSN98--1
Acadia Red medium sized oblate fruit, 5-7 cm, good flavour, suitable for inland production, developed by Vic. Dept of Ag or fresh market with a firm skin for vine ripening in full sun. [Eden]*
Bellstar {Phoenix}
Budiah Sweet deep red rounded fruit, strong bush with some nematode resistance. [Eden]S
Burnley Gem This superb early bush type performs well in most areas. Smooth round fruit. Resistant to fusarium wilt. Good in a cool season {NGS)
Campbell 33 Round red, very early bearing on a short bush, also an excellent old commercial variety. [Eden]*
Earliest of All Earlier than most other tomato varieties and suits districts where others fail to ripen. Plants grow to about 35cm tall. A prolific cropper. Fruit small to medium size. [NGS] SSN98--1
Felders 36 Bred at Hawkesbury Agriculture College. [Eden]
Gold Dust {Phoenix}
KY1 (Scorsby Dwarf) An old favourite, red fruit with excellent flavour on a small bush. Resists fusarium wilt and has tolerance to verticillium wilt. {Eden}* {NGS}
Lecase di Apulla Plum shaped fruit to 50mm, Italian drying type, small plants. [Eden]
Marglobe Large smooth, bright red round fruit, with thick walls, ample foliage, specially bred for home use or transporting ripe. [Eden]S
Mr Stripey Medium sized red fruit with green stripes, heavy and long bearing. [Eden]* SSN98--1
Pacesetter Rich red pear shaped blocky fruit with thick flesh (Roma type), fruit for table use, also suitable for processing. [Eden]*
Prosperity Smallish red fruit, 60-80mm, borne in clusters, listed in Yates Garden Guide 1956. [Eden]*
Roma An old favourite with small-medium oval to pear shaped red fruit with firm flesh. With few seeds it's very good for cooking, drying, sauce, bottling and paste. Verticillium and fusarium wilt tolerant. {Eden}* {NGS} {Phoenix} {Greenpatch} SSN98--1
Roma- Red {Bay}
Roma Rosa Red SSN98--1
Roma Vesuvio {Bay}
Romano Burghanese Thick fleshed drying tomato. {Eden}
Scoresby Dwarf See KY1
Tatura Dwarf Good yields of round light fruit, once widely grown in Victoria and used for canning, excellent for sauce making. [Eden]*
Tiny Tim Dwarf Bush to 400mm, big crop of small round and solid fruit, suited for growing in pots. [Eden]* {Phoenix}
Walter Resistant to blossom end rot and Fusarium wilt. {Phoenix} Height unknown (Bush or staking?)
Burwood Prize SSN3135 CCF
Holgen SSN 3493 CCF
Le Case di Apulia SSN 2527B
Paste Tomato. CCF
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Want to graft your own tomatoes?
New Gippsland Seeds tomato grafting pack contains 20 seeds of Vivian Hybrid and 20 seeds of Hybrid rootstock plus 10 grafting clips. Not recommended for the casual gardener. {NGS}
Grafting clips in packets of 10 {NGS}
Rootstock seed suitable for tomatoes, capsicums or eggplants. Rootstock allows plants to resist verticilium and fusarium wilt as well as nematodes. Grafting instructions included. {NGS)
Packet of 5 seeds for Hybrid rootstock {Phoenix}
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Mail Order Suppliers of traditional open pollinated varieties
The Diggers Club
105 Latrobe Parade
Dromana 3936
03 5987 1877
[email protected]
Eden Seeds
MS 905
Lower Beachmont 4211
07 55331107
Phoenix Seeds
Box 207
Snug 7054
03 6267 9663
New Gippsland Seeds
P.O. Box 1
Silvan 3795
03 9737 9560
Bay Seeds
Box 1164
Busselton W.A. 6280
08 9752 2513
Greenpatch
Box 1285
Taree 2430
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Recently taken off catalogues.
Big Rainbow <C?> save only round fruit. {Diggers R$3.00 Club $2.50}
Green Belle Pepper Worth growing for display if you like something different and great stuffing tomato. {Diggers R$3.00 Club $2.50}
Yellow Peach {Diggers R$3.00 Club $2.50}
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Non-profit groups such as garden groups, organic groups, permaculture groups or similar are encouraged to make their own pamphlets to photocopy and sell for profits for their group. It is asked that anyone intending to use this information in commercially published form ask the permission of Neil Barraclough RMB 1477 Stratford 3862
Copyright 30/3/2002 16/7/1999 14/08/08
Tomatoes are in the Solanaceae family and the genus Lycopersicon. With the exception of some of the currant tomatoes, which are of the species L. pimpinellifolium, the tomatoes we are familiar with are L. lycopersicum
CROSSING OF VARIETIES
Tomatoes are self-fertile and with the exception of potato leaf varieties, currant tomatoes of the species L. pimpinellifolium and a few others aren't expected to cross with one another. However there have been differing experiences with different varieties and different growers. Perhaps the book Seed to Seed by Suzanne Ashworth gives the best understanding of the situation.
Suzanne Ashworth quotes a previous author, Charlie Rick-
"The ancestral tomato species could not reproduce by self pollination... It had a long style, extending far beyond the anther tube, to facilitate cross-pollination by insects... As this ancestral species evolved into the wild predecessor of the cultivated tomato it developed the ability to self-pollinate... With this development, the style became shorter but still protruded beyond the anther tube..
As the tomato migrated northward, the style continued to shorten and in some species totally retracted inside the anther tube, precluding any possibility of insect crossing."
Perhaps the tomato is an example of a plant species that has been taken far away from its natural pollinators so it has evolved to be self-fertile. The experienced eye may be able to examine the flowers and work out which varieties may cross by noting how far the style is recessed into the anther tube. As we gain more info we hope to put a mark <C?> beside varieties that may cross with others that have a <C?> beside them.
'Beefsteak' and some other varieties that have double flowers may readily cross because of the exposure of the style. If a tomato variety produces some fruit with a tendency towards an 8 shape and some round fruit then exclude the 8 shaped fruit and select the round fruit for seed. Please accept that we are learning as we go and any feed back on varieties that have crossed would be very helpful.
SAVING SEED
Tomatoes may be best fully ripened on the plant, but not over-ripened. One way for seed to be saved is to squeeze it on to paper and leave it to dry. It can be kept on the paper till planting and this is an easy method for small amounts. It isn't necessarily the best way and may not be the best way for storage and distribution.
Perhaps the best way would be for fruit to be cut in half (across the middle, not through the blossom end and stem) and the pulp to be squeezed/scraped into a non-metallic container (glass jar is excellent) It should then be allowed to ferment until the seed comes clean from the pulp.
Various books recommend adding water, but if it is not necessary to add water then I don't add it. The fermenting brew should be stirred at least twice a day, or if in a jar with a lid then shaken. Observation and experience will determine when it is ready for cleaning (generally 2-4 days, depending on temp and variety).
Wash through a fine mesh kitchen strainer until only clean seed remains, then put the seed in a saucepan sized container with clean water and agitate it. The good seed will readily sink and the dodgy seed will remain suspended in the water or float. Separate dodgy seed by carefully tipping off water. Repeat process a few times.
Return clean seed to strainer and shake (or use centrifugal force) to get as much water out as you can. Then place on paper or similar to dry. Seed to Seed says never dry tomato seed in full sun, however, my experience has been that the cooler days of autumn have been suitable for drying seed in the sun. Break up lumps of seed that will stick together and prevent drying. If seed doesn't dry quickly then it may start to germinate.
SOURCES FOR STAKING-TYPE TOMATOES
Alma Small round red fruit on a tall bush. not good flavour. From Kay Baxter, Koanga Gardens, NZ.
American. SSN 678 Medium large red fruit.
Amish Paste Tall Red ox-heart shaped fruit, solid flesh with few seeds. Used in cooking, sauce, for drying or bottling or eaten fresh. {Eden}* {Diggers}, {Bay} {Greenpatch} SSN98--1
Anait Early variety, not real good flavour SSN 2525
Arbuckle Tall Maintained in the Arbuckle family, New Zealand, for about 80 years. Large pink pear shaped with firm flesh and few seeds. Late maturing.
Australian Red Medium-tall Medium large red, very productive tomato, that does well in cool seasons or in the cooler part of the growing season. Excellent pasta tomato or eaten fresh. {Eden} Developed in Melbourne(?)
Baby Red Pear Small red pear shaped fruit with incredible flavour, tall plants, very heavy crops. [NGS] SSN98--1
Banana Legs Probably best as a paste type with flavour not exceptional eaten fresh. Firm flesh makes it a good keeper. {Eden}
Beefsteak <C?> save only round fruit. Bright red flat ribbed fruit, solid juicy flesh, good for slicing. [Eden]* {Bay}
Betsy Bonn Small Medium sized round red fruit on a tall bush.
Big Beefsteak <C?> save only round fruit.
Big Boy {Greenpatch}
Big Red SSN98--1
Black Krim Tall <C?> save only round fruit. Large, dark purplish, juicy fruit of excellent flavour. Hardy and possibly a cool season tomato (one of my top 10 tomatoes NB) . {Eden}* [NGS] {Diggers} {Bay}
Black Russian Tall Medium sized juicy fruit of excellent flavour. Superb cooking tomato where natural juices compliment the dish. Tendency for fruit to crack (moisture fluctuations?). Another good tomato for cool seasons. {Eden}* {Diggers} {Bay} SSN98--3
Brandywine Old Amish heirloom, deep red fruits, excellent flavour. Potato leaf type. [Eden]S {Phoenix} SSN98--1
Brandywine Pink This old American variety has long been regarded as having superior taste. It is a very vigorous "Potato Leaf" type with large pink/red flattened fruit of superb flavour. Late maturing. Voted best open pollinated variety in our 1998 Taste test [NGS]
Break O'Day Early variety, medium sized smooth round deep red fruit, thin skinned, excellent taste, dependable cropping quality under a wide range of conditions, old commercial Australian variety introduced in 1932. Similar to Grosse Lisse and earlier. Resistant to fusarium wilt. [Eden] {Phoenix} {Greenpatch}
Broad Ripple Yellow Currant Tall Very productive with grapelike bunches of sweet yellow fruit to 20mm diameter. {Eden}* {Diggers} SSN98--2
Bullock Heart SSN98--1
Burbank SSN98--1
Burnley Bounty Med-tall Round red fruit, developed in Australia. May produce well in cool seasons. [Eden]S
Burnley Surecrop Early maturing with resistance to Verticillum Wilt, this smooth skinned variety produces a shorter plant with a heavy crop of good tasting fruit. Matures 2 weeks earlier than Grosse Lisse. [NGS]
Burwood Prize Medium sized red fruit on a medium-tall sized plant. {Bay} {Greenpatch}
Castlemaine Roma SSN98--1
Cherokee Purple
Cherry Cocktail- Red Tall Small, sweet round red fruit. [Eden]* {Phoenix} SSN98--1
Cherry Cocktail- Yellow Tall Small, sweet round yellow fruit, low in acid. [Eden]*
Clark Aesley Small round red fruit [Eden]S {Greenpatch}
College Challenger Excellent, Good size tasty round red staking tomato. Best described as an early Grosse Lisse, but more prolific. Bred in 1950's at Hawkesbury Agricultural College. [Eden]* {Greenpatch} {Bay}
Conqueror SSN98--1
Costoluto di Marmande {Greenpatch} SSN98--1
Csikos Botermo SSN98--1
Czech {Bay}
Daydream Large smooth deep red fruit. Does well in hot areas of low humidity, 1954 commercial variety. [Eden]* {Phoenix} SSN98--2
Debarao {Phoenix}
Deutscher Fleiss SSN98--1
Don Camillo. SSN 424B Variable, needs some selection. Flat, round red fruit up to large size.
Dion Beuree (John Baer) Medium sized smooth round scarlet fruit, early producing. [Eden]
Donella's Superb {Greenpatch}
ES 58 Firm and tasty red fruit, large flattened, round to 80mm, reliable mid to late, heavy cropping, resistant cracking, sunburn and soil born wilt disease. [Eden]*
Eva's Purple Ball. Red-pink medium sized fruit on a tall plant.
Diggers Trials
Flora Lou {Greenpatch}
French Red SSN98--2
German Head
Golden Jubilee {Greenpatch} {Bay}
Golden Gourmet Filler Large 8-10cm , yellow fruit with thick outer flesh, ideal to be stuffed when seeds removed. [Eden]S
Golden Sunrise Med-tall. Sweet medium sized fruit to 50mm, round golden yellow. [Eden]* {Greenpatch}
Gold Sunrise SSN98--1
Graf Zeplin Excellent old variety, Fruit small to medium size, round and red. Borne in great numbers on vigorous plants. [NGS] {Bay} {Greenpatch} SSN98--1 {Eden} listed as a bush type
Grandma's Big Yellow SSN98--1
Grape Shaped Light red fruit to 30x20mm [Eden]S
Greek. Small red pointed fruit on a tall plant. Medium flavour. From Nancy Morgan.
Green Zebra Med-tall Unique striped colour and excellent flavour, one of Diggers great tomatoes. {Diggers} {Bay} SSN98--3
Grosse Lisse Tall Probably Australia’s most widely grown tomato, however perhaps not one of the best early tomatoes in cooler districts. Large round deep red smooth skinned fruit of good flavour. {Eden}* {Bay} {NGS} {Phoenix} {Greenpatch} SSN98--1
Harbinger {Bay} SSN98--1
Hardy Tom Small and sweet, lasts a long time on the bush. Keeps producing until first frost. [Eden] {Greenpatch} SSN98--1
Holgen SSN 3493. Medium sized red fruit on a tall plant.
Homestead Improved Prolific crops of tasty round 8cm fruit can be expected from the medium sized plants. Good foliar cover and resistant to fusarium wilt, performed well in our 1998 trials. [NGS]
Imur Prior Beta Medium sized sweet red fruit, selected from high mountain valleys in of Chile and developed in Norway, said to grow back after frost, slightly tough skin, quick growing. [Eden]
Indian Mayan Meaty red pear shaped fruit, 75mm long, bears strongly, good for drying and processing, compact bush. [Eden] SSN98--1
Indian River Med-tall Large round smooth red fruit to 10cm, thick firm flesh, good late variety, disease resistant. [Eden]
Italian Red Pear Clusters of sweet bright red 25x50mm fruit, flavourful salad tomato, good fresh or preserved [Eden]
Jubilee Med-tall Tall growing bush with solid golden fruit. Very few seeds. A really fine tomato. [NGS] {Eden}*
Kelstar Keeps on producing beautiful fruit even after weather cools down. Fruit still on bushes when growth finally ceases can be picked and will ripen to perfection in a warm room. [NGS]
Kokomo Med-tall Large smooth round red fruit. Resistant to fusarium wilt. [Eden]
Kotlas (once named Sprint) Extra early medium sized round tasty fruit, cold tolerant, long season due to blight resistance. cool season tomato [Eden]* {Greenpatch} {Phoenix} SSN98--2
Lampadina 2 SSN98--1
Lavitan {Bay}
Lazlo's Yellow Oxheart Tall Good flavoured large juicy oxheart shaped tomatoes. Seed from Andrew Cox.
Lutschist Zurich Medium sized very juicy and tasty red fruit, very productive. [Eden]S
Mama Lucie Prolific with good quality round yellow fruit to 40mm, good salad tomato. Good foliage cover and disease resistance. Came to Rockhampton in 1930's with Italian immigrants. [Eden]
Manapal Large deep red, smooth round fruit, thick walled, popular market garden variety in 1960's, used for winter glasshouse growing, resistant to wilt and other diseases. [Eden]*
Moneymaker Beautiful round scarlet fruit, thin skinned solid flesh and fine flavour, old glass house and market variety, listed in Australia in 1927. [Eden]* {NGS}
Mortgage Lifter Large pinkish fruit to 12cm, developed in the depression by unemployed "Radiator Charlie" who paid off his mortgage with these fruits. Plants are vigorous and maturity is midseason to late [NGS] [Eden]* {Diggers} {Bay}
Mortgage Buster SSN98--1
Mrs McKillops Very large fruit on a tall vigorous plant.
Nebraska Wedding. Quite large yelllow- orange fruit on a tall bush. A good tomatoes. Diggers trials
Nepal {Bay} SSN98--1
Orange Oxheart SSN98--1
Oxacan Pink SSN98--1
Oxheart Can be very large with thick flesh and few seeds, one old timers occasionally speak very fondly of. Suits cool seasons? {Eden}*
{NGS} {phoenix} {Bay} SSN98--2
Ozark Pink Medium sized, round pinkish red fruit on a tall plant.
Diggers trials
Paste SSN98--1
Pero Piccolo SSN98--1
Peach Name refers to skin texture, beautiful pinkish coloured, soft sweet fruit to 40mm., known in Australia 1927, does well in cool seasons. [Eden] {Bay}
Pear Tomato Small red and yellow light globe shape fruits [Bay]
Pederson’s Beefsteak
Persimmon Large globe shaped fruit to 10cm., solid meaty flesh and few seeds, strong distinctive flavour, susceptible to blossom-end rot. [Eden]S
Peruvian Cherry Delicious small round red cherry fruits, for salads and fresh eating. [Eden] SSN98--2
Pinky
Polish Above medium flattish-round red fruit on a tall plant. From a fellow about 5 years ago.
Ponderosa (Pink) Large flat fruit dark purplish-pink, sweet and mild, firm and meaty. Susceptible to blossom end rot. [Eden]* {NGS} {Greenpatch}
Ponderosa (Red) Luscious tasting soft, meaty slicing variety [Eden]* Late maturity [NGS]
Ponderosa (Yellow) {Greenpatch}
Potato Leaf <C?> Purplish red fruit for growing in heavy soils and hot climates, known since 1887. [Eden]S
Potato Leaf Small medium, very juicy red fruit on a very tall vine. Good flavour.
Potentate Tall Bright red fruit in bunches of 10-16, thick flesh, reportedly good in cool summers. [Eden]* SSN98--1
Principe Borghese Oval shaped red fruit 30x40mm., very meaty, early ripening and holds well on the bush, used for sun drying in Italy. [Eden]* {Diggers} {NGS} Listed as a bush type {Phoenix}
Purple Calabash Med-tall Medium small, flat, deeply ribbed fruit fruit with a purplish skin colour. {Eden} {Diggers}
Raspberry Med-tall Pale red, slightly flattened fruit, solid fleshy beefsteak type, used in salads and cooking, prolific crop and strong growing bush. [Eden]*
Red Cherry {Bay} SSN98--1
Red Cherry Cocktail {Greenpatch}
Red Cherry Currant {Greenpatch} SSN98--1
Red Cherry Pear SSN98--1
Red Chic SSN98--1
Red Cloud {Bay}
Red Peach Small-medium sized fruit one of my favourites for flavour (NB) SSN98--1
Red Pear {Greenpatch}
Red Siberian SSN98--1
Rhonda's SSN98--1
Rose {Phoenix}
Rouge de Marmande Med-tall Medium large, flat, ribbed fruit that may have better flavour than most when grown in cool seasons (worth trialing as an early variety). Disease resistant. Introduced 1927 {Eden}* {NGS} {Phoenix} {Diggers} {Greenpatch}
Salad Special Smooth medium globe shaped fruit to 6cm, late maturing. [Eden]* {Bay}
San Marzano Clusters of pear shaped deep red fruit to 10cm, stores well and crack resistant, good for paste, drying and puree due to high solids [Eden]* The best Sauce variety [NGS]
Scotland Yellow. Small to small medium yellow flattish round fruit on a tall bush. Diggers trials.
Shimmeig Creg A beautiful, meaty pink streaked yellow medium-sized fruit.{Diggers} SSN98--1
Scorpio Smooth red fruit 6-8cm., Australian bred for the tropics, wilt resistant. [Eden]
Sherry's Sweet Italian Very good flavour with interesting shape, a good firm fleshy tomato. {Diggers} SSN98--1
Siberian Red Oxheart Large sprawling plants. SSN98--1
Siberian Yellow Oxheart Similar to Red Oxheart. SSN98--1
Small Yellow SSN 1618 Productive, flat round yellow fruit on a tall bush
Strobel Medium to large, smooth round fruit. [Eden]
Stupice Med Very good tomato for cool seasons areas or growing in the cooler part of the season. One of the first that should be tried for an early season tomato. Third place in Your Garden taste test. Worth trialing for drought tolerance. {Eden}* {Phoenix} {Greenpatch} SSN98--3
Sunray (Golden Orange) Med Medium sized, smooth round light yellow-orange fruit to 70mm. Clusters of 4 to 5 fruit. Productive and hardy. [Eden]*
Super Italian Paste Med Very large paste variety, 15x5cm, tapered to a blunt point, solid meaty flesh used in cooking and sauces. [Eden]
Sweet Bite SSN98--1
Sweet Italian {Bay}
Sweetie Bright red cherry type , excellent taste, productive with multiple bunched clusters, does well in cool temperate climates. [Eden] SSN98--1
Tessaloniki
Thompson Green Grape SSN98--1
Tibet SSN98--1
Tigerella Med-tall A uniquely striped coloured tomato that's well worth growing for both its productivity and excellent flavour. Another of my favourite tomatoes (NB). {Diggers}
{NGS} {Eden}* {Greenpatch} SSN98--3
Tiffin Menonite
Tiny Giant SSN 448 Small round red fruit on a tall bush.
Tommy Toe Produces small-medium sized round red of excellent flavour over an extended period. One of the best to grow and eat straight from the bush. {Diggers} Disease resistant and may be used as a rootstock. [Eden]* {Greenpatch} SSN98--4
Tommy Toe- Yellow. Similar size and shape with good flavour {Eden}
Tropic Round firm red fruit to 10cm, rich flavour, disease hardy, suited to warm humid areas. [Eden]*
Ukranian Persimmon SSN98--1
Verna Orange Med-tall A large oxheart shaped orange tomato of excellent flavour. Great garden variety. {Diggers} SSN98--1
Wallaville Large red fruit for salad, grills or frying, heavy foliage needs staking. [Eden]S
Wendy Yellow SSN98--1
Wonder Light {Phoenix}
Worlds Largest A heavy yielder of very large tomatoes {Diggers}
Worlds Smallest A very small tomato with a taste on its own, my (NB) favourite for taste. {Diggers}
Yellow SSN98--1
Yellow Currant SSN98--1
Yellow Delicious {Diggers}
Yellow Morgage Lifter
Yellow Pear Excellent flavour. Vigorous, heavy bearing throughout the season. Acid free. [Eden]* {Phoenix} {Greenpatch} SSN98--2
Yellow Cherry Cocktail {Greenpatch}
Yugoslav {Greenpatch} {Bay}
Yugoslavia SSN98--1
Yugoslavian Tall <C?> A lot of variation in the plants which suggests it may readily cross. The best of them were excellent. Needs growing on its own and selection.
Zebra SSN98--1
SOURCES FOR BUSH-TYPE TOMATOES
Abel SSN98--1
Acadia Red medium sized oblate fruit, 5-7 cm, good flavour, suitable for inland production, developed by Vic. Dept of Ag or fresh market with a firm skin for vine ripening in full sun. [Eden]*
Bellstar {Phoenix}
Budiah Sweet deep red rounded fruit, strong bush with some nematode resistance. [Eden]S
Burnley Gem This superb early bush type performs well in most areas. Smooth round fruit. Resistant to fusarium wilt. Good in a cool season {NGS)
Campbell 33 Round red, very early bearing on a short bush, also an excellent old commercial variety. [Eden]*
Earliest of All Earlier than most other tomato varieties and suits districts where others fail to ripen. Plants grow to about 35cm tall. A prolific cropper. Fruit small to medium size. [NGS] SSN98--1
Felders 36 Bred at Hawkesbury Agriculture College. [Eden]
Gold Dust {Phoenix}
KY1 (Scorsby Dwarf) An old favourite, red fruit with excellent flavour on a small bush. Resists fusarium wilt and has tolerance to verticillium wilt. {Eden}* {NGS}
Lecase di Apulla Plum shaped fruit to 50mm, Italian drying type, small plants. [Eden]
Marglobe Large smooth, bright red round fruit, with thick walls, ample foliage, specially bred for home use or transporting ripe. [Eden]S
Mr Stripey Medium sized red fruit with green stripes, heavy and long bearing. [Eden]* SSN98--1
Pacesetter Rich red pear shaped blocky fruit with thick flesh (Roma type), fruit for table use, also suitable for processing. [Eden]*
Prosperity Smallish red fruit, 60-80mm, borne in clusters, listed in Yates Garden Guide 1956. [Eden]*
Roma An old favourite with small-medium oval to pear shaped red fruit with firm flesh. With few seeds it's very good for cooking, drying, sauce, bottling and paste. Verticillium and fusarium wilt tolerant. {Eden}* {NGS} {Phoenix} {Greenpatch} SSN98--1
Roma- Red {Bay}
Roma Rosa Red SSN98--1
Roma Vesuvio {Bay}
Romano Burghanese Thick fleshed drying tomato. {Eden}
Scoresby Dwarf See KY1
Tatura Dwarf Good yields of round light fruit, once widely grown in Victoria and used for canning, excellent for sauce making. [Eden]*
Tiny Tim Dwarf Bush to 400mm, big crop of small round and solid fruit, suited for growing in pots. [Eden]* {Phoenix}
Walter Resistant to blossom end rot and Fusarium wilt. {Phoenix} Height unknown (Bush or staking?)
Burwood Prize SSN3135 CCF
Holgen SSN 3493 CCF
Le Case di Apulia SSN 2527B
Paste Tomato. CCF
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Want to graft your own tomatoes?
New Gippsland Seeds tomato grafting pack contains 20 seeds of Vivian Hybrid and 20 seeds of Hybrid rootstock plus 10 grafting clips. Not recommended for the casual gardener. {NGS}
Grafting clips in packets of 10 {NGS}
Rootstock seed suitable for tomatoes, capsicums or eggplants. Rootstock allows plants to resist verticilium and fusarium wilt as well as nematodes. Grafting instructions included. {NGS)
Packet of 5 seeds for Hybrid rootstock {Phoenix}
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Mail Order Suppliers of traditional open pollinated varieties
The Diggers Club
105 Latrobe Parade
Dromana 3936
03 5987 1877
[email protected]
Eden Seeds
MS 905
Lower Beachmont 4211
07 55331107
Phoenix Seeds
Box 207
Snug 7054
03 6267 9663
New Gippsland Seeds
P.O. Box 1
Silvan 3795
03 9737 9560
Bay Seeds
Box 1164
Busselton W.A. 6280
08 9752 2513
Greenpatch
Box 1285
Taree 2430
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Recently taken off catalogues.
Big Rainbow <C?> save only round fruit. {Diggers R$3.00 Club $2.50}
Green Belle Pepper Worth growing for display if you like something different and great stuffing tomato. {Diggers R$3.00 Club $2.50}
Yellow Peach {Diggers R$3.00 Club $2.50}
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Non-profit groups such as garden groups, organic groups, permaculture groups or similar are encouraged to make their own pamphlets to photocopy and sell for profits for their group. It is asked that anyone intending to use this information in commercially published form ask the permission of Neil Barraclough RMB 1477 Stratford 3862
Copyright 30/3/2002 16/7/1999 14/08/08