For African growers, what varieties do you recommend?

ScottinAtlanta · November 8, 2014

I met a gentleman from the Cabinet Office in Zambia who wants to try some new tomatoes in his farm. I told him I would send some seeds when I had IDd some varieties that he might grow. What do you succeed with in similar climates of Africa?

He says that clients are very conservative, so he was not very positive about non-red tomatoes. They also don't like large beefsteaks there - since many houses do not have fridges, they like smaller tomatoes (salad, slicers) that they will use in a single meal.

I will probably send him some Jaunne Flamme just to test the market there.

Lusaka: 10 C to 30 C over the year.
Irrigated plot.

Fusion_power · November 8, 2014

Druzba, Lynnwood, Cherokee Purple, and Bloody Butcher

creister · November 8, 2014

Sioux, break o day, super Sioux, Matina, Morovsky Div, Kimberley, Clear Pink Early, VB Russian, Hanky Red. I have extra seeds for all of these except Break O Day. Most are older, between 5- 10 years. Super Sioux are saved from 2014. If you want any of the ones I have, pm me.

Curt

Redbaron · November 8, 2014

The miracle BPF

ScottinAtlanta · November 8, 2014

Folks, what are those recommendations based on?

creister · November 8, 2014

Color for all red, size requirements, taste, productive, and op so they can save seeds and grow the same type in successive years.

Redbaron · November 8, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottinAtlanta

Folks, what are those recommendations based on?

I recommended The miracle BPF because it is a small red productive determinate that can handle the heat and the cool without a lot of pampering, outside inputs, staking etc... It's a small plant that doesn't take a lot of nitrogen. With a small red fruit that has good old fashioned flavor. It is pretty early allowing both a spring and a fall crop, depending when to plant. Just put down a thick mulch and plant your seedlings in it. You are done till harvest.

In that climate you might even be able to get 3 crops. Hard to say. Would take some experimenting.

It wouldn't be good for shipping. It is too soft and juicy. But for what you described it should be ideal.

Now if he needs shipping qualities too, Rutgers is the standby. There is a reason it at one time was 70% of the commercial crop here in USA.

KarenO · November 8, 2014

Oh I see, I thought you meant for personal gardening, not as a commercial farming crop.
If so then I would say send seed for any shorter season tomato you think he'd like something, moravsky div or any of the other early inderterminates. For market. maybe determinates might be better though? If so, maybe hybrids would be a better bet for production. I looked at the climate and it would seem that there is a shorter (3 month) moderate temperature season between the rainy season and the hot/dry season so I would say shorter season determinate hybrid varieties might do better but I would depend a great deal on the gardener and where they are planted, access to water, soil type, fertilizer, insect pests etc. I would also think peppers might do very well in that climate.
I think it's cool that you meet so many people from all over the world.
KarenO

Redbaron · November 8, 2014

Karen,
I took it completely different. I thought he meant small farmers, similar to market farmers here. Maybe Scott should enlighten us a bit so we are all on the same page?

AlittleSalt · November 8, 2014

I'm thinking older established market tomatoes like Rutgers and Homestead.

Fusion_power · November 8, 2014

Quote:

Folks, what are those recommendations based on?

Size, Shape, Color, and history. I sent seed of about 30 varieties to South Africa a few years ago. 3 of the 4 named above were preferred varieties. I know South Africa is half a continent away from Zambia, but the climate is similar enough that they should work.

If you had asked for paste varieties, I would have suggested Heidi which originated in a similar climate.

Blk_Vegan · November 9, 2014

Based on the criteria you mentioned I would suggest the following:
Goose Creek
Homestead 24
Eva Purple Ball
Rutgers
Bradley
Druzba
Arkansas Traveler
Stupice
Neptune

Cole_Robbie · November 10, 2014

Here's the link to the Ag department of The University of Zambia:
http://www.unza.zm/schools/agricultu...-of-staff.html

There's several email addresses of the faculty. They might be able to help.

The next place I would have your friend look is his local farmer's market.

Search of Google images for Zambia tomatoes:

http://www.theeverydaymagic.com/wp-c...vegetables.jpg

http://s1.reutersmedia.net/resources...=AJOE82S0TIJ00

http://www.pedalingnowhere.com/wordp...-zambia-26.jpg

November 10, 2014

For the same reasons Scott (RedBaron) suggests miracle BPF, I suggest Moravsky Div. It doesn't have good taste, but it does have fantastic taste and great production. I have no idea how it will perform in the climate of Zambia. If the climate is hot and humid like Florida, I would also suggest Homestead which is proven to work in that climate. Rutgers is also good, but I tend to think of it as more of a New Jersey type tomato. I also think a surprisingly good smaller tomato is Black and Brown Boar. Again, I have no idea how it will perform in the climate of Zambia and it isn't the most productive variety in my garden, but each tomato is like finding a beautiful, small jewell in appearance and taste.

Ted

JLJ_ · November 11, 2014

Noticing two Marglobe children, Rutgers and Break O Day, in the list above, I have to put in a word for Marglobe itself. It proved itself as a hardy, productive, open pollinated, medium size red tomato, dominating the commercial market from shortly after its introduction in the 1920's into the 1930's, when commercial tomatoes were required to taste good, as well as to be good shipping and canning tomatoes, and was successful in varied climates throughout the US.

Marglobe was developed by Fred J. Pritchard of the United States Dept. of Agriculture by selection from a cross between the French derived tomato, Marvel, and Livingstone's Globe.

Among my notes about Marglobe: "1932 Burpee Co. seed catalog says 'No other tomato introduced recently has become known as quickly as Marglobe. It will withstand long periods of wet and unfavorable weather, yet produce a maximum crop of large, well rounded, bright scarlet-red tomatoes. It is resistant to Nail Head Rust and Fusarium Wilt. Within a very short time growers along the east coast, all the way down to Florida have quickly accepted the new tomato because of its many outstanding features . . . Very solid flesh with excellent eating qualities.' "

From 1931 proceedings of the New Jersey State Horticultural Society: "Fifteen years ago there arose a tremendous demand from all parts of the country for a tomato that would be wilt-resistant. At that time Dr. Fred J. Pritchard started to work on the problem. . . . After a few years' work he gave us the Marglobe, which was a cross between Marvel and the old Livingston Globe. The Marglobe became popular at once. Many of you no doubt remember attending a meeting here of the Horticultural Society when Dr. Pritchard himself was present and read glowing reports to us from all parts of the country. At this time it is needless for me to say what the Marglobe is like. We are all familiar with it. Since the introduction of Marglobe, thousands of acres of wilt-infested land have been producing good crops of tomatoes. Florida and other southern states have found it very superior for their purposes. Northern growers who used it were able to produce a better market tomato than formerly and it has been grown in a big way for canning purposes."

Marglobe has performed better for me than any of its children . . . or than the "improved," "supreme," or other such versions of itself. It is also a proven parent. The children of Marglobe mentioned above were only two of many Marglobe children that earned a niche for themselves among the ranks of successful tomato varieties.

And a more important reference, my grandmother grew Marglobe from the 1920s to the 1980s in central, western and southern Illinois, and preferred it to all other varieties for home use, as she found it a tough, productive, good tasting tomato, good for eating, good for cooking, good for sauce, good for canning. In her view, Marglobe is the one tomato that wins in every category. And of course the views of wise old gardening ancestors are the most dependable of all.

November 8, 2014	#1
ScottinAtlanta Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 2,593	For African growers, what varieties do you recommend? I met a gentleman from the Cabinet Office in Zambia who wants to try some new tomatoes in his farm. I told him I would send some seeds when I had IDd some varieties that he might grow. What do you succeed with in similar climates of Africa? He says that clients are very conservative, so he was not very positive about non-red tomatoes. They also don't like large beefsteaks there - since many houses do not have fridges, they like smaller tomatoes (salad, slicers) that they will use in a single meal. I will probably send him some Jaunne Flamme just to test the market there. Lusaka: 10 C to 30 C over the year. Irrigated plot.

November 8, 2014	#3
creister Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Abilene, TX zone 7 Posts: 1,478	Sioux, break o day, super Sioux, Matina, Morovsky Div, Kimberley, Clear Pink Early, VB Russian, Hanky Red. I have extra seeds for all of these except Break O Day. Most are older, between 5- 10 years. Super Sioux are saved from 2014. If you want any of the ones I have, pm me. Curt Last edited by creister; November 8, 2014 at 12:27 PM. Reason: Add text

November 8, 2014	#4
Redbaron Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 4,488	The miracle BPF __________________ Scott AKA The Redbaron "Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted & thoughtful observation rather than protracted & thoughtless labour; & of looking at plants & animals in all their functions, rather than treating any area as a single-product system." Bill Mollison co-founder of permaculture

November 8, 2014	#8
KarenO Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Island Posts: 5,927	Oh I see, I thought you meant for personal gardening, not as a commercial farming crop. If so then I would say send seed for any shorter season tomato you think he'd like something, moravsky div or any of the other early inderterminates. For market. maybe determinates might be better though? If so, maybe hybrids would be a better bet for production. I looked at the climate and it would seem that there is a shorter (3 month) moderate temperature season between the rainy season and the hot/dry season so I would say shorter season determinate hybrid varieties might do better but I would depend a great deal on the gardener and where they are planted, access to water, soil type, fertilizer, insect pests etc. I would also think peppers might do very well in that climate. I think it's cool that you meet so many people from all over the world. KarenO Last edited by KarenO; November 8, 2014 at 01:39 PM.

November 8, 2014	#9
Redbaron Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 4,488	Karen, I took it completely different. I thought he meant small farmers, similar to market farmers here. Maybe Scott should enlighten us a bit so we are all on the same page? __________________ Scott AKA The Redbaron "Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted & thoughtful observation rather than protracted & thoughtless labour; & of looking at plants & animals in all their functions, rather than treating any area as a single-product system." Bill Mollison co-founder of permaculture

November 8, 2014	#2
Fusion_power Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,250	Druzba, Lynnwood, Cherokee Purple, and Bloody Butcher

November 8, 2014	#10
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	I'm thinking older established market tomatoes like Rutgers and Homestead.

November 9, 2014	#12
Blk_Vegan Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 131	Based on the criteria you mentioned I would suggest the following: Goose Creek Homestead 24 Eva Purple Ball Rutgers Bradley Druzba Arkansas Traveler Stupice Neptune __________________ Success in life is not guaranteed but a life with no purpose is guaranteed to fail.

November 10, 2014	#13
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	Here's the link to the Ag department of The University of Zambia: http://www.unza.zm/schools/agricultu...-of-staff.html There's several email addresses of the faculty. They might be able to help. The next place I would have your friend look is his local farmer's market. Search of Google images for Zambia tomatoes: http://www.theeverydaymagic.com/wp-c...vegetables.jpg http://s1.reutersmedia.net/resources...=AJOE82S0TIJ00 http://www.pedalingnowhere.com/wordp...-zambia-26.jpg

November 10, 2014	#14
tedln Guest Posts: n/a	For the same reasons Scott (RedBaron) suggests miracle BPF, I suggest Moravsky Div. It doesn't have good taste, but it does have fantastic taste and great production. I have no idea how it will perform in the climate of Zambia. If the climate is hot and humid like Florida, I would also suggest Homestead which is proven to work in that climate. Rutgers is also good, but I tend to think of it as more of a New Jersey type tomato. I also think a surprisingly good smaller tomato is Black and Brown Boar. Again, I have no idea how it will perform in the climate of Zambia and it isn't the most productive variety in my garden, but each tomato is like finding a beautiful, small jewell in appearance and taste. Ted

November 11, 2014	#15
JLJ_ Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Wyoming Posts: 759	Noticing two Marglobe children, Rutgers and Break O Day, in the list above, I have to put in a word for Marglobe itself. It proved itself as a hardy, productive, open pollinated, medium size red tomato, dominating the commercial market from shortly after its introduction in the 1920's into the 1930's, when commercial tomatoes were required to taste good, as well as to be good shipping and canning tomatoes, and was successful in varied climates throughout the US. Marglobe was developed by Fred J. Pritchard of the United States Dept. of Agriculture by selection from a cross between the French derived tomato, Marvel, and Livingstone's Globe. Among my notes about Marglobe: "1932 Burpee Co. seed catalog says 'No other tomato introduced recently has become known as quickly as Marglobe. It will withstand long periods of wet and unfavorable weather, yet produce a maximum crop of large, well rounded, bright scarlet-red tomatoes. It is resistant to Nail Head Rust and Fusarium Wilt. Within a very short time growers along the east coast, all the way down to Florida have quickly accepted the new tomato because of its many outstanding features . . . Very solid flesh with excellent eating qualities.' " From 1931 proceedings of the New Jersey State Horticultural Society: "Fifteen years ago there arose a tremendous demand from all parts of the country for a tomato that would be wilt-resistant. At that time Dr. Fred J. Pritchard started to work on the problem. . . . After a few years' work he gave us the Marglobe, which was a cross between Marvel and the old Livingston Globe. The Marglobe became popular at once. Many of you no doubt remember attending a meeting here of the Horticultural Society when Dr. Pritchard himself was present and read glowing reports to us from all parts of the country. At this time it is needless for me to say what the Marglobe is like. We are all familiar with it. Since the introduction of Marglobe, thousands of acres of wilt-infested land have been producing good crops of tomatoes. Florida and other southern states have found it very superior for their purposes. Northern growers who used it were able to produce a better market tomato than formerly and it has been grown in a big way for canning purposes." Marglobe has performed better for me than any of its children . . . or than the "improved," "supreme," or other such versions of itself. It is also a proven parent. The children of Marglobe mentioned above were only two of many Marglobe children that earned a niche for themselves among the ranks of successful tomato varieties. And a more important reference, my grandmother grew Marglobe from the 1920s to the 1980s in central, western and southern Illinois, and preferred it to all other varieties for home use, as she found it a tough, productive, good tasting tomato, good for eating, good for cooking, good for sauce, good for canning. In her view, Marglobe is the one tomato that wins in every category. And of course the views of wise old gardening ancestors are the most dependable of all.