Rogers, P. (1998, Jan 15). Inside scoop on tomatoes // catalog delves deep into differences of 421 varieties.

Telegram & Gazette. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/268697919?accountid=31533 It is to your advantage to study - not just read - catalogs. Take for example, the free tomato catalog, Totally Tomatoes, PO Box 1626, Augusta, GA 30903-1626. Write for it and enjoy learning something about 421 varieties of tomatoes. In addition, 112 different kinds of peppers are featured. If you were not aware that so many varieties of tomatoes and peppers existed, you are not alone. Did you know that the fruit of tomatoes can be round, oval, deeply lobed, shaped like a banana, or a pingpong ball? Fruit can weigh only a few ounces or more than a pound. How about the color of fruit? If you did not know that the fruit of tomatoes is available in white, pink and purple as well as red, you should read this catalog. Learn about a variety called Green Grape, which produces clusters of fully-ripe green cherry tomatoes. Green Grape tomato makes green ketchup! Is the world ready for green ketchup? You judge. WHY SO MANY? Look for old-fashioned tomatoes that have leaves like a potato plant or other varieties with finelydivided foliage almost like a silvery fern. Why do so many varieties of tomatoes exist? There are many reasons, including the vast popularity of tomatoes as a crop in every vegetable garden. In addition, this catalog will introduce you to significant differences that exist among the many types of tomatoes. The catalog introduces us to the idea that the world of tomatoes is subdivided into those that reach a certain height and stop growing, regardless of the length of the growing season and in spite of our cultural practices. These bush varieties are refered to as "determinate," and will usually produce fruit sooner than other types of tomatoes. Varieties exist that will continue to make vines throughout the entire growing season. Called "indeterminate," these plants divide their energies during the season between foliage growth and fruit production. As you would expect, these plants have some flowers, some unripe fruit and some ripe fruit on the plant at all times once they have begun bearing. STAKING

Most of the cherry tomatoes have an indeterminate growth habit. A new minor cross-division called "indeterminate short internode" has the controlled growth of determinate types with the long-season production of the indeterminate kinds. Why should you be interested in these divisions? Many of the determinate types can be grown without staking, produce fruit earlier and in greater quantity at one time than the indeterminate types. Under good growing conditions, the indeterminate varieties will produce throughout the season and provide you with plenty of green tomatoes for harvest at frost time. Do you know which varieties of tomatoes are resistant to verticillium and fusarium wilt? How about those that are susceptible to tobacco mosaic virus, alternaria stem canker, and gray leaf spot? HOW MUCH SEED? How much seed do you need to purchase? This catalog will tell you that there are 500 to 750 seeds in 1||16 of an ounce, depending on the size of the mature fruit. Smaller fruit have more seeds in each ounce. How many transplantable plants will be grown from 1||16 of an ounce? The number and quality of usable seedlings will depend on the expertise of the grower, but one rule of the thumb is to plan on developing one-half as many plants as seeds sown. Is the Totally Tomatoes catalog unique? Yes, it is in its focus on only tomatoes and peppers, but a hundred other catalogs are available for your further study. You had better start now!