Henderson's Pink Ponderosa

[ContainerTed]

Got my seed from Sandhill, under the above name. Tatianna's Tomatobase lists it as "Henderson's Ponderosa" - sans "pink". What beautiful, oblate, beefsteak shaped fruits it bears. My 3 plants are loaded up with exact replicas of the ones in the pictures.

Growing up I was used to the idea that the word "Ponderosa" referred to either the TV show or the cadillac of tomatoes. Even today, my brother refers to his beefsteak tomatoes as either red or yellow "Ponderosa's". It is still a family standard. I've looked around for this one for years. My search is over. I'll be growing this one every year from now on.

These fruits are amazing to look at. The three together in the pictures consist of two from one plant and one from another. The lone tomato is from the third plant and weighed in just a fraction short of a pound. I have about two dozen more green fruit among the three plants that are already full sized. There are dozens of smaller green fruit and the plants are still growing and throwing lots of blooms.

The first taste was like a step back to the early 1950's and my Dad's love of this variety. Smooth thin skin, full flavor like Brandywine but "different" in a good way, old fashioned zing in the finish, sweet and smooth going down, and covers the bread in one slice.

Enjoy the eye candy.

[carolyn137]

If you liked Ponderosa Pink you should definitely move up to the variety Winsall, aka Wins All, IMO, which was a selection from Ponderosa Pink and I think much better than Ponderosa Pink.

Both introductions from the Henderson Seed CO.

http://t.tatianastomatobase.com:88/wiki/Wins_All

Carolyn

[pauldavid]

Nice pics Ted! Everytime I hear the name, I think "Bonanza" which is not a bad thing. I am glad you found your lost tomato.

[ContainerTed]

Yeah, Carolyn, I have already grown WinsAll. I'm sure the taste is excellent. But I'm going to stay with this one. You might call me a traditionalist or wanting to honor my Dad's (and my) memory. I may try WinsAll at sometime in the coming seasons, but I have found my treasure and I'll be here for a long time.

This tomato looks so good that it's the kind you take to work or wherever and "Brag" about how one's garden is producting "perfect" fruit. It'll take at least two years to wipe the smile off my face.

[macbettz]

I grew a pink tomato labeled as "Hendersons Pink" that I got gratis from Baker Creek and the shoulders were more ribbed like a brandywine type tomato and not like these "slicers". Must not be the same but the taste was great as well.

[MrBig46]

In 1901 in our cultivated tomato Giant Ponderosa. Could it be Henderson Pink Ponderosa?
Vladimír

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by MrBig46

In 1901 in our cultivated tomato Giant Ponderosa. Could it be Henderson Pink Ponderosa?
Vladimír

Pink Ponderosa was intorduced in 1891 so it could be Pink Ponderosa, but I've never heard of it being referred to as Giant Ponderosa.

http://t.tatianastomatobase.com:88/w...%27s_Ponderosa

Carolyn

[MrBig46]

The same contribution

Vladimír

[MrBig46]

Ponderosa is historically interesting tomato for me and even to it is the beautiful and delicious. I want it cultivate in 2016 as well as Mikado. I want cultivate anything that has in the name of Ponderosa and Mikado.
Again, I examined information from tender lists of tomato seeds in the Czech Republic:
Suchý (1901)- Big Red (Large red), Non plus ultra (????) ,Pendorosa (Henderson
Ponderosa Pink) Mikado
Bílý (1923)- Trophy, Ficarazzi, Mikado, King Humbert
These are my favorites for the year 2016.

Giant Ponderosa appeared in 1940
Vaněk 1940- Giant Ponderosa

Vladimír

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by MrBig46

Ponderosa is historically interesting tomato for me and even to it is the beautiful and delicious. I want it cultivate in 2016 as well as Mikado. I want cultivate anything that has in the name of Ponderosa and Mikado.
Again, I examined information from tender lists of tomato seeds in the Czech Republic:
Suchý (1901)- Big Red (Large red), Non plus ultra (????) ,Pendorosa (Henderson
Ponderosa Pink) Mikado
Bílý (1923)- Trophy, Ficarazzi, Mikado, King Humbert
These are my favorites for the year 2016.

Giant Ponderosa appeared in 1940
Vaněk 1940- Giant Ponderosa

Vladimír

Vadimir, I just wrote a very long post about Mikado, which is a mess, as well as the various Ponderosas, hit a wrong key and lost the post including the links I gave for you, so I'll be back to try and recreate it.

I can find no evidence that there ever was a variety called Giant Ponderosa although many referred to the pink as being giant in size.

Carolyn

[MrBig46]

Carolyn,
Giant Ponderosa not so intersted me, it's up the year 1940.
I want to grow and learn about the old varieties- Ponderosa, Mikado, Ficarazzi etc .
Another very interesting tomato for me Re Umberto, a supplement to the Principe Borghese and Pienollo del Vesuvio which I am already growing.
Vladimír
PS.:
From the Italian encyclopedia:
The main varieties that are grown for canning :
Ficarazzi
Red-ripe or tomato Ficarazzi , also called tomato Palermo , plant very vigorous and fertile.
Big Red
The Big Red (also known by the name of Nostrale)
Trophy
The Big Red smooth or Trophy (plant of great development with large fruits)

[chancethegardener]

The reason Peter Henderson's company came up with the name Ponderosa is because they held a competition among their customers to find a name for the tomato (originally New Tomato No. 400). Five people offered the name Ponderosa and the company sent $50 each. Picture below belongs to 1891 catalog:

[justplainmike]

those look wonderful .
jpm