Specialty Tomatoes
Paul Vossen is a Farm Advisor, Sonoma County Cooperative
Extension
Lycopersicon lycopersicum (esculentum) is a member of the nightshade
family.
The tomato plant is native to tropical America, but has been cultivated
in Europe and the United States for more than 200 years. There
are about 400 varieties available commercially today. Many older
varieties have been lost, but breeding programs continue to add
new varieties each year. Many of the varieties described here
are old varieties that are carried by only a few seed companies.
Market Information
Current production and yield
In 1990 fresh-market tomatoes were farmed on 38,000 acres
in California, producing almost 1 billion pounds. An average of
1,275 flats (about 20 pounds each) were produced per acre. The
average price per flat was $5.64.
Fresh-market tomato consumption in the United States in 1988 was
14.7 pounds per capita. High-volume tomato production and marketing
are significantly influenced by price, and competition is fierce.
Varieties are selected for yield, tolerance to shipping, fruit
size, fruit color, ripening date, and pest resistance.
Use
Consumers are most familiar with red tomatoes that are harvested
at a mature green stage and allowed to ripen off the vine. There
is a market opportunity for flavorful, vine-ripened fruit of many
colors as specialty items sold for their uniqueness. Out-of-season
tomatoes sold from November to May also command significantly
higher prices.
Culture
Climatic requirements
The tomato is a warm-season plant that produces fruit 4 to
5 months after seeding. It does not tolerate frost, and develops
leaf diseases under high humidity. Temperatures above 50°
F are required for proper fruit set. Optimum performance occurs
between 65° to 90° F.
Propagation and care
Specialty tomato varieties are seeded into flats 8 to 10 weeks
before the planned outdoor transplant date. Plants can be set
out when danger of frost has passed or they can be protected with
row covers. Space the plants 2 to 4 feet apart in rows 4 to 6
feet apart. Staking plants to reduce losses from ground-contact
disease is cost effective but labor intensive.
Tomatoes are best irrigated with either furrow or drip irrigation.
Overhead water can be applied up to first ripening if managed
properly. Drip irrigation greatly reduces weed growth.
Tomatoes have a moderate need for nitrogen fertilizer. Fruit set
is delayed by high nitrogen levels, but a deficiency reduces the
number of flowers. Too much moisture stress reduces yield and
fruit size, but a moderate amount can intensify flavor. Large
fluctuations in soil moisture contribute to blossom-end rot and
fruit cracking.
Harvest and post harvest practices
Fruits should be harvested every two to three days during
the peak of the season when the fruit is still firm and the final
color is not quite achieved. Ripe, delicate fruits should be packed
in single-layer flats, handled very carefully, and delivered within
a few hours to the ultimate consumer.
Pests and disease
Although many diseases and pests can cause severe damage to
the crop, tomatoes are routinely grown on a small scale without
pesticides. The growing area should be rotated away from Solanaceous
plants (peppers, potatoes, eggplant, tomatillas, and nightshade
weeds) for one to two years. Plant disease-resistant and locally
adapted varieties.
Varieties
Performance of a given tomato variety varies from year to year
and from one climatic region to another. Planting date, fertility,
irrigation, pest control, and staking can greatly effect performance.
A particular variety should not be dismissed based on one season's
experience. These are some of the more promising specialty tomato
varieties:
Big Rainbow: Large, yellow-orange colored fruit with red streaks
in flesh; excellent flavor.
Brandywine: Large, deep red-purple colored fruit, excellent flavor.
Bragger: Very large, red, mid-season variety with excellent flavor.
Currant Tomato: Pea-sized fruit are harvested in clusters. Requires
warm climate, and loses flavor if over irrigated.
Early Girl: Medium-sized, red, 5-ounce fruit; prolific, early,
and excellent flavor.
Evergreen: Small, 2-inch-plus fruit; low acid, green when ripe.
Garden Peach: Small-sized, orange-yellow colored fruit with fuzzy
skin.
Genovese (Costoluto): Very large, uniquely shaped, ribbed scarlet
fruit.
Gold Nugget: Cherry-sized, round, golden yellow fruit, medium
flavor.
Golden Boy: Large, mid-season variety; prolific, good flavor,
low acid, golden orange color.
Golden Jubilee: Large, mid-season variety; sweet fruit, prolific,
golden orange color.
Green Grape: Large cherry-sized, green-yellow fruit with excellent
flavor.
Green Zebra: Small 1-1/2 to 2-inch fruit with light green skin
turning orange, and overlaid by dark green stripes; very flavorful;
susceptible to verticillium wilt; early variety.
Ida Gold: Large cherry-sized tomato with golden orange fruit;
very early, prolific.
Lemon Boy: Medium-sized fruit, fair production; indeterminate
plant, bright yellow fruit.
Marvel Striped: Very large, orange-yellow solid-colored fruits
with red blossom end and red stripes through the flesh; sweet,
prolific, early maturing.
Nepal: Medium to large red fruit; excellent flavor.
Pineapple: Large, red-yellow fruit with red streaks in flesh.
Pink Girl: Medium to large dull-pink fruit; prolific.
Purple Calabash: Small, novelty, ruffled purple-pink fruit.
Roma: Small, elongated, oval-shaped fruit; paste-type flesh, good
flavor, very prolific.
Sundrop: Cherry-sized, deep orange, meaty fruit.
San Marzano: Small, red, rectangular-shaped paste tomato; excellent
flavor.
Sweet 100: Cherry-sized red fruit; grows in clusters, very flavorful,
very productive.
Tangerine: Large, orange, flavorful fruit.
Taxi: Small to medium-sized, bright yellow, attractive fruit;
small but very prolific plant.
Tigerella: Small, early maturing, red with orange stripes, prolific.
White Beauty: Small to medium-sized green fruit turns white at
maturity; soft, sweet, mild flavor; fruit ripens late.
Whopper: Medium to large red fruit with excellent flavor; good
producer.
Yellow Oxheart: Very large, late maturing, heart-shaped fruit;
excellent flavor, paste-type flesh.
Yellow Pear: Cherry-sized, pear-shaped, bright yellow fruit; excellent
flavor.
Seed Sources
The Cook's Garden, Box 65, Londonderry, VT 05148; (805) 824-3400
Harris Moran Seed Company, Eastern Operations (Western Operations):
1155 Harkins Rd., Salinas, CA 93901; (408) 757-3651
J.L. Hudson, Seedman, P.O. Box 1058, Redwood City, CA 94064
Johnny's Selected Seeds: 305 Foss Hill Rd., Albion, ME 04910
Nichols Garden Nursery, 1190 North Pacific Highway, Albany, OR
97321; (503) 928-9280
Redwood City Seed Co., P.O. Box 361, Redwood City, CA 94604; (415)
325-7333
Seeds Blum, Idaho City Stage, Boise, ID 83706
Shepherd's Garden Seeds, 7389 West Zayante Rd., Felton, CA 95018
Territorial Seed Co.: P.O. Box 27, Lorane, OR 97451
