We have discovered an epic error in tomato identification during our tomato taste-off….
Back in the early Spring when little hands were seeding they were very careful to label each seed tray (even if she did plant faaaaaaar too many seeds).
These little hands wrote out over 100 little tags so each tomato seedling would have a name under the lights.
Each little tag got placed very carefully next to the plants for whom they had been so carefully made.
Yet SOMEHOW during our Taste-off, we misidentified one of our favourites. The second place finalist to be specific. Each plant in the garden bearing this fruit had the same tag on it leading us to believe that either the seed tray had been tagged in error (that could not have possibly happened with a seven year old running the show, could it?!) OR the seed packet had the wrong type of seed in it. That had to be it, surely…
We realized the mistake just the other day when we researching whether “Mennonite” tomatoes were open pollinated so that we could save some seed from it. It turns out that “Mennonite” is actually called “Mennonite Orange”. OOPS. We dug through the old packets and sure enough, the envelope and Incredible Seeds website clearly states, “The Mennonite Orange Heirloom Tomato is most certainly one of the top slicer tomatoes! This large, bright orange tomato is very pretty inside & out with even colour through the skin & flesh. Mennonite Orange is very juicy, very flavourful & so sweet its almost fruity. Super! Another fave! 4-5’ plants require support.” I bet it is….but I wouldn’t know!
Our “Mennonite” tomatoes are not orange. At all. So in fairness and open honesty – our second place winner in the 2015 Tomato Taste Off goes to….NOT A CLUE!!!
Does anyone know what type of tomato this may be? We are going to save some seeds and keep our fingers crossed, because whatever it is, it is Yummy!!
“If confusion is the first step towards knowledge, I must be a genius!” ~ Larry Leissner
I’m no expert at all (and terrible with labeling my plants!) but perhaps it is a mennonite tomato, simply not THAT mennonite tomato?
http://www.amishlandseeds.com/red_tomatoes.htm
I’m sure many tomatoes receive the same common name as one another, and we don’t always know it.
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I have found a red mennonite, but sadly it looks nothing like the one we grew 😦
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😦 I hope your saved seeds hold true. Then you can pick the name!
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Me too! I have saved a few seeds from some that may need hold true, but the kids want to see the effects of genetics! Fun with tomato science!!
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No idea, it is egg shaped some type of Italian tomato/roma tomato? I remember when you were sowing I wasn’t familiar with any of the names of yours, different names in different counties I guess.
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It would be neat to see if seeds from your continent grew well in ours!
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I can send you some?
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I wish! I think there is import laws on seed….
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I have ordered some from the US i will see what happens
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Hopefully it goes well! I would expect that companies have customs agreements in place. Our freeze dried camping food was confiscated when we went to NZ and Australia, but we got to keep the Canadian coffee we were bringing to our friends!
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