2022 garden coming along! Sugar snap peas against the fence, with iris and daylilies in front

This group of tomatoes makes up for some of the less impressive recent ones. There are some treasures here, still significant parts of my recent gardens.

Tomato #161 - Azteca 10 - Acquired from SSE member IL BA E in 1989, I have no distinct impression of this tomato, which I grew in 1989. I remember that it seemed determinate, was medium sized and red, and beyond that, rather ordinary.

Tomato #162 - Lillian’s Large Red Kansas Paste - I was sent this variety by Robert Richardson of New York, a SSE member, in 1989. It is one of two tomatoes he received from Lillian Bruce of Tennessee. The plant is extremely wispy/straggly, but the production of red long plum shaped scarlet tomatoes was fine, and the flavor exceptional. This is far better and juicier than a typical sauce or plum tomato. In 1989, I harvested first tomatoes in 70 days. The 45 tomatoes averaged 7 ounces, so the plant produced nearly 20 pounds of tomatoes - and garnered a solid A in flavor.

Tomato #163 - Lillian’s Yellow Heirloom #1 - This is a gem - also sent to me by Robert Richardson in 1989. He was sent this tomato by Lillian Bruce of Tennessee - she was given this tomato by her sons, who attended state fairs and brought her specimens of produce exhibited there. This is simply a stellar variety, perhaps in my top three of all of the tomatoes I’ve grown. The vigorous potato leaf plants can be quite late, and yield large oblate clear pale yellow tomatoes with a pale pink blush on the bottom. The interiors are very meaty, but juicy and succulent, and each fruit produces but a few seeds. The flavor is superior, outstanding, balanced, and has it all. In 1989, first fruit didn’t come in until day 103 (yes, it was very late!) - I harvested 11 tomatoes that averaged over one pound, so picked nearly 12 pounds of tomatoes from the plant. I sent this to several seed companies, dropping the “#1” from the name.

Tomato #164 - Lillian’s Yellow Heirloom #2 - Robert Richardson sent this to me as well - it is a mix up, as the tomato that resulted, also growing it in 1989, was the same as Lillian’s Large Red Kansas Paste.

Tomato #165 - JSS 361 F1 hybrid - Sent to me to trial by Johnny’s Selected Seeds in 1989, this determinate red slicing hybrid really surprised me with its high quality. I harvested the first ripe fruit in 62 days. I harvested 22 tomatoes that averaged 6 ounces, so the plant gave me a bit over 8 pounds. I rated the flavor as A-, certainly as good as a determinate as I’ve ever had.

Tomato #166 - Jumbo Tom F1 hybrid - I purchased this variety from Thompson and Morgan seed company in 1989. Included in my hybrid vs heirloom contest, first ripe fruit was picked in 80 days I harvested 15 tomatoes that averaged an impressive 19.5 ounces - a bit over 18 pounds from the plant, with slightly oblate scarlet fruit that were really very good - A- in flavor.

Tomato #167 - Yellow Oxheart - This 1989 purchased tomato (from Southern Exposure Seed Exchange) was described in quite glowing terms in the catalog. I concur - this is one impressive tomato. It was originally released by the Livingston Seed Company in 1929. I found that the very weepy plant (grown in 1989 - typical for heart shaped varieties) first harvested fruit in 79 days. I picked 16 tomatoes at an average of 10.9 ounces - nearly 11 pounds of tomatoes from the plant. They were strongly heart shaped and pale orange, and the flavor was quite outstanding, rating an A. This is really one of my favorite varieties and I still grow it on occasion.

Tomato #168 - Djena Lee’s Golden Girl - I got this variety in 1989 from Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, but didn’t grow it until 1994. It is a family heirloom that dates as far back as the 1920s (perhaps further). It won first prize at a Chicago fair for 10 years in a row. For me, it was a late, large oblate orange tomato with very good flavor. I really should grow it again, as it is rare in being a truly excellently flavored orange fruited variety.

Tomato #169 - Yellow Bell - This 1989 purchased (from Southern Exposure Seed Exchange) variety is quite something. It is an old, rare, unique Tennessee heirloom that produces bright yellow Roma shaped fruit on an indeterminate plant. Grown in 1989, first fruit were harvested in 70 days. I picked an astounding 245 tomatoes at an average weight of 3 ounces, making this a 46 pound yield plant. I grew it last year and found similarly awesome yield. The flavor is really good for a paste type - I gave it an A-. This is a spectacular tomato for slow roasting or sauce.

Tomato #170 - Fritsche - This is a family heirloom that was sent to me by Rosie Trevallee of Wisconsin in 1989, and they maintained it from the 1940s. I grew it in 1989 and really liked it. I picked the first ripe fruit in 71 days, and harvested 56 tomatoes at an average weight of 5.8 ounces. The plant yield was a bit over 20 pounds. The pink tomatoes had a delightful sweet flavor that I ranked an A-.

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The two Lillian’s varieties (the red paste, and the yellow potato leaf), Yellow Oxheart, and Yellow Bell are superb varieties. I really liked Fritsche, JSS 361, and Djena Lee’s Golden Girl too, but never did grow them very often.