Waterfall at Pearson’s Falls in Saluda NC, taken on a late March wildflower ramble

The journey continues. The last 10 was not particularly stellar. This set has a few notable varieties.

Tomato #131 - Una Hartsock’s Beefsteak - Obtained from Iowa SSE member IA EA S in 1989, I grew it in 1990. I recall it being a large oblate pink tomato that was a bit too firm and dry for my liking - it was also one of those pink beefsteak type tomatoes that were not only too mild, but had a bit of an off putting flavor characteristic I think of as “musky”.

Tomato #132 - German Johnson - from SSE member OH CA L in 1989, I never grew this particular batch, though did get around to trying it several times much later on. It is actually thought to be one of the very few authentic North Carolina heirlooms. I will provide a full report when I reach the seed of this variety that I did grow out.

Tomato #133 - Magellan Burgess Purple - I got this variety from Ben Beloit, Maryland, 1989, and grew it in both 1990 and 1991. I recall little about it except that the plant was particularly prone to “crud” as a young seedling. The fruit were large pink beefsteak types that shared the someone unpleasant texture and flavor of Una Hartsock, described above.

Tomato #134 - Sochulak - obtained from ME LA L in 1989, I finally tried it in 1994. It produced medium sized long, rounded plum type pink tomatoes that were mid-late season, on a plant with wispy foliage. I rated the flavor B+, and it was on the sweet side. It is quite unusual in being a pink plum type tomato.

Tomato #135 - Stump of the World - this interestingly named tomato came to me from SSE member Jim Donovan of California in 1989. It has become a real favorite. There is some confusion of whether this is the same as “Big Ben”, and whether it should be potato or regular leaf. All I know is that it is superb, providing lots of large oblate pink tomatoes on a potato leaf plant. It is very similar in flavor to Brandywine. It yields a bit more consistently season to season, and the fruit shape is a bit more oblate. I just love this tomato!

Tomato #136 - Orange Beefsteak - I was sent this by SSE member WV CO B in 1989. I grew it in 1990 and found that it has crossed. It ended up producing a red saladette tomato with a nice sweet flavor. I named it Caitlin’s Favorite, but if it was indeed a hybrid, it would have been very variable. I clearly wasn’t as disciplined or knowledgeable at this stage of my gardening endeavors.

Tomato #137 - Yellow Beefsteak - This also was from WV CO B, in 1989, and I grew it in 1991. It produced pale yellow oblate beefsteak fruit, some with a pale pink blush, that were very bland.

Tomato #138 - Brown’s Yellow Giant - This came from SSE member Don Sparks of Kentucky, in 1989, and I never did get to try it. I assume it to be a large, oblate, golden yellow beefsteak type.

Tomato #139 - Ester Hess Yellow Cherry - received from SSE member Glenn Drowns, also owner of Sandhill Seeds, in 1989, and grew it in 1989. What a tomato machine this was. Starting at 67 days after transplant, I harvested 739 tomatoes at an average weight of .6 ounces - the plant produced over 27 pounds of cherry tomatoes! The fruit were bright yellow - alas, I rated the flavor a B - very mild, not unpleasant, but nothing to write home about. I’ve not grown it since. There is little historical info available aside from it being an Iowa heirloom.

Tomato #140 - Magellan Burgess Yellow - This was also sent to me by Ben Beloit of Maryland, SSE member, in 1989, and grown in 1990. The plant produced large gold colored tomatoes that were very mild in flavor.

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This was a curious set of tomatoes. I was obviously moving into different colored varieties, focusing on listings in the SSE yearbook. German Johnson is probably the most famous, and for me, Stump of the World is the most beloved, a tomato that I grow often in my garden. It is a special variety.