I'm excited to write about three new tomato varieties that I plan to grow this season. I ordered these seeds from
Southern Exposure Seed Exchange and purposely picked seeds that were suited to the mid-Atlantic.
Mortgage Lifter VFN -
(Indeterminate) An improved version of 'Radiator Charlie's Mortgage LifterTM' which has added disease resistance, more uniform fruit, ripening to red rather than pink-red. Fruit is large, 10-14 oz, not as large as the original 'Mortgage Lifter', but much more productive.
As you know, I have limited space and grow almost all my vegetables in containers. I don't always plant determinate varieties though. I plan to get a nice deep container for this tomato and if I get fruit that is the size of my hand, I may just die of shock and happiness.
Marglobe -
(Determinate) [A select strain of the old favorite 'Marglobe' originally released by the USDA in 1925. 'Marglobe' was first developed in 1917 from a cross between 'Marvel' and 'Globe'.] Fruits are red, medium-sized, 5 to 8 oz. with firm walls and good flavor.
I chose this variety because it is determinate and will hopefully do well in containers. I was also intrigued by how old this variety is.
Ground cherries - [Cossack Pineapple ground cherry, to be precise] -
Bite-sized berries are so tasty that they may never make it into the kitchen, especially if you have children. Excellent for preserves, hot dessert toppings, salads or mock pineapple yogurt. Plants are short (12"-18") but with bushy spreading lateral branches which choke out weeds. Fruits ripen to a pineapple yellow.
I am most excited about the ground cherries. When we were in
Iceland I had the most delicious Nutella crepe topped with cream and a ground cherry. I think the ground cherry was just for garnish, but I ate it anyway, and it was so sweet and unusual that I knew I had to try to grow them.
I plan to grow other tomato varieties too, but haven't quite decided which ones yet. I can't wait til seed starting time! {all pictures via
SESE website}
Have any new seeds arrived for you? Are you trying anything new this year?
I received my Southern Exposure order on Thursday. I chose them for the same reason, and only ordered varieties that do will in the Mid Atlantic. The only tomato I ordered from them was Amy's Apricot. I'll be very interested to see how yours do. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI am much farther north so my seed order does not need to be in for a little bit, but I am itching to get it in. I am trying parsnips, popcorn, rutabagas, celery, and some new types of tomatoes. I love getting my seed order especially on a cold winter day, reminds me of what is ahead.
ReplyDelete@Ed--Thanks! I like SESE because of their mid-Atlantic location.
ReplyDelete@cohoctonriverrock--Sounds like you have an interesting mix of crops for the season. looking forward to seeing how they grow!
I'LL be watching and waiting! Aaah the sights and sounds of summer days! Can't wait for it to began.
ReplyDeleteGround cherries (or Cape gooseberries) I know. They are a common fruit in Rwanda. Cut them in half (or not), toss with sugar and butter, put them in a buttered dish, covered with some pie crust -- cobbler!
ReplyDeleteI've really got to get some tomato seeds ordered.
I've heard of ground cherries but didn't think they were an actual fruit. I thought their name was a misnomer and that they were actually a vegetable. Now I want some!!! The carrots and marguerites were in pots next to each other. The marguerites are Anthemis 'Susanna Mitchell' that I bought from High Country Gardens. Finding them locally is hit or miss. Mostly miss!
ReplyDeleteDo you start your tomato seeds inside? Do you have Gro Lights?
Ground cherries just made the must have list!
ReplyDeleteHi there! Great post - gets me motivated to start figuring out what tomatoes to grow this year. Ground cherries...I grew one last year but was told it was gooseberry. I didn't really know if they were edible cause when I saw it I thought of it as an ornamental plant. At the end of the season when all the little tomatoes had fallen out of the "wrappers" I took some to our local coop and they told me they were edible and a type of fruit! Now I know they are called ground cherries too. I think I'll try them again since I now know what they are!
ReplyDelete@Vetsy--I can't wait either. I know I have a few months to go before I can even start seeds, but this is helping me get through the cold winter.
ReplyDelete@Casa Mariposa--I do start my tomato seeds inside but I don't have grow lights. We keep the flats of seeds in a spare room near a window that gets lots of morning light.
@GWGT--yeah, do it!!
@igardendsaily--I think they're called gooseberries also, so I've read/been told. If you try them again, I want to see how they grow for you.
yumm, ground cherries! i had great luck with those last year. i don't think i'm going to order any new seeds this year--i already have seeds for about 300 varieties and i want to try out most of them before i get any more. of course i say that now, but come march...who knows.
ReplyDeleteMy seeds have not come yet and I am so anxious!!! I ordered Mortgage Lifter, too! Thought it was a fun name, and a fun story behind it.
ReplyDeleteI also ordered groundcherries from the Seed Exchange! I ordered some flower seeds, purple carrots, and sweet potato slips. The tomato I wanted I can buy locally. I have a friend with a little greenhouse in her classroom so I'll try the groundcherry seeds there. Thanks for the posting or I never would have known much about them!
ReplyDeletemmmm...Nutella crepe!! I have never heard of ground cherries, they sound great, I will be adding this to my list of yummy grows this year. Hopefully my fussy eaters will like them too. I haven't even started thinking about what I am growing this year, thanks for the timely reminder, seeding time soooon!! But no doubt I will be growing "early girls" and some variety of pear tomatoes, they are my faves!!
ReplyDeleteI ordered some asparagus crowns. We love it but have never tried to grow it. It's now $5 per lb. at the local grocery store. Good luck with your tomatoes. I'm giving up on seed this year. In May I'll go buy the biggest plants I can find and maybe get a good crop before we freeze. Glad you like my kitties!
ReplyDeleteHum, seeds for vegetables: that is a 'brave new world' for me. Mind if I watch over the fence to see how it goes?!
ReplyDelete