The start to my 2022 garden - first flat of eggplant, pepper, tomato and flower seedlings getting some filtered sun - day 8 from seeding!

Well, that went by quickly - covering the first one hundred varieties of tomatoes in my way-too-large, out of control collection was really fun, and quite nostalgic. It is amazing how, when describing each variety that I grew, I could picture the garden, the plant, my joy of discovery. I found it fascinating to see what varieties ended up in my collection at the outset of my tomato obsession.

From the first 100, a few varieties really have established themselves as regulars in my garden, even after more than 30 years of first growing them. This is the list of tomatoes that made really huge impressions. 9 varieties of that first 100 - 9 percent - are among the my very favorite varieties to this day.

I do wonder if there is a factor of “discovery” that is responsible. When a hobby is new, when experiences are fresh and exciting, it could be that some of the first superstars remain so, and are hard to displace. Of the list below, a few do have a bit of a romantic element, a love of the story involved, or the letter sent with the seeds - this is the case with Tiger Tom, Mortgage Lifter, and Bisignano #2. In the case of Winsall, my love of the variety is certainly colored by the visit of the elderly man to the Raleigh Farmers Market so many years ago and his joy at being reunited with a beloved variety he thought was gone forever. For the rest, it is all about consistent excellence and flavor. Brandywine and Polish are simply among the best tomatoes I’ve ever tasted.

This is the cream of the crop, the best of the best, the highlight of the first 100.

Brandywine - in years it is happy, it could be the BEST tomato I’ve eaten
Mortgage Lifter - great story, great tomato
Sun Gold F1 hybrid - often the only hybrid I allow in my garden
Nepal - a favorite in 1986, a favorite in my 2021 garden.
Tiger Tom - for those who like them tart!
Bisignano #2 - Great story, not flashy, but always solid (pun intended!)
Winsall - gave me my favorite tomato story, reconnecting someone with their past
Polish - to tell the truth, the equal of Brandywine, but more consistent
Hugh’s - this tomato is simply so impressive in so many ways.
With this significant milestone now elapsed, it is time to dig in to the next 200!