An interesting insight into how even tomatoes are subject to the whims of fashion. 12 varieties are listed – of those, 3 are still readily avaliable (Ailsa Craig, Harbinger and The Amateur).
Ailsa Craig. Has been in cultivation many years and has stood the test of time. It is a strong, dependable variety and more disease-resisting than most.
Sunrise. A good variety for inside or outdoors. Its fruits are round and not too thick-skinned. Its flesh is firm and it carries few seeds. It has the advantage of being a good “setter”.
Market King. Is very popular in some parts of the country where it is grown in quantity. The fruit colours well and is fleshy with few seeds and pulp.
Bide’s Recruit. A variety with an unusually strong root system so that it can be grown successfully on worn-out or less-good soil than most other sorts. It colours well but the fruits are inclined to be a trifle small.
Kondine Red. A short-jointed variety and a heavy cropper. One of the best-known and most popular types.
Potentate. Medium-sized fruits of good colour borne on large, strong trusses.
Best of All and Radio are two more spendid red varieties.
*Harbinger. A very early variety when grown outdoors. Also excellent under glass.
*Pride of the Garden. A particularly robust type which sets freely and produces large trusses of medium-sized fruits of good colour and texture.
*Essex Wonder. Somewhat similar to the above and very popular in some districts, especially East Anglia and the south.
*The Amateur. Probably the best of the bush types that have come on the market during the last few years. The plants are sturdy, compact, and about 1ft. high. Each plant should produce 4 lb. upwards of medium-sized good-flavoured fruits. It is a good variety for the small grower who has little time to attend to plants which must be grown on orthodox lines.
* Varieties particularly suitable for outdoor cultivation.
The comments on The Amateur are interesting in that they seem to imply that the bush/indeterminate varieties of tomatoes were avaliable only from the fifties onwards. And although there are many more bush varieties avaliable now – given that they don’t require the same amount of time and attention that indeterminate varieties do – it’s interesting that they are still very much a minority of the tomatoes people choose to grow. ( I say this in the context of Shrove Tuesday and reports of the increase in sales of both ready-made pancakes and ready-mix pancake kits!)
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That’s an interesting list, and an old familiar name there. My suspected ‘Market King’ seedling has shot up whilst I’ve been away, so it’ll be interesting to see what that brings forth. I’ve heard of ‘Essex Wonder’ too, so that’s still around somewhere. ‘Radio’ would be fun, perhaps we could get it to play ‘Gardeners’ Question Time’ to the other plants…
I haven’t decided on my varieties this year; I think I’ll just use up my older seeds and be content. How about you?
Welcome back! When I saw “Market King” listed I immediately thought of you and your “vintage” seeds! Forget “heritage” or “heirloom” – the real skill lies in finding life in those forgotten treasures!
Funnily enough I was just doing a bit of counting forward today and thinking I really must decide on my final line-up for this year so that I can order them and get sowing! After such a long drawn out winter it’s suddenly time to get down to preparation for the summer – and it seems to have just snuck up on me! I have some seeds left to use up and then I am going to add some new varieties into the mix.
Thanks for your thought and welcome; I’ve been to a place where tiny cherry tomato plants grow by the roadside, and they were most delicious too.
I’ll be interested to see which varieties you choose for your line-up. I have some ‘Sunstream’ seeds to test, courtesy of Tesco, and a possible ‘dark’ variant of ‘Lettuce Leaf’ that I kept from last year that I found had a rich, smoky flavour. I’d like a yellow standard, and if I’m feeling ambitious I might try making my own cross. And if ‘Market King’ comes good, I’ll put you some fresh seeds aside so you can see whether Mr C. was right.
Enjoy your planning and anticipating. Viva Summertime
Now you will have all of us scratching our heads as to where on earth (literally and the other!) would have roadside cherry tomatoes just ripe for the eating!
I like the sound of your line-up – it look me all of last year to get used to a tomato called “Lettuce Leaf” so am glad to see its return. “Sunstream” sounds like a floating gin-palace of a tomato so perfect for lazy summer days… and “Market King”… I love the idea of bring it back into circulation so fingers crossed for a “Lazarus” tomato moment!
I’m trying to find somewhere I can purchase Market King or Ware Cross from… I’ts a variety my grandad use to grow in greenhouses and I’d love to give my parents the oppourtunity to grow it once again. Can anyone help?