Question about Hillbilly tomatoes...

[stevenkh1]

This is my first year growing Hillybilly tomatoes and I purchased seeds from SSE. It interested me because long ago, my WV grandmother (b. 1888) used to grow a yellow/orangy tomato like this. I planted seeds in mid-March then put the 16"+ tall plants in the ground April 30th. It is now August 30th. I've had HUMUNGUS (wider than sandwich bread) green Hillbilly tomatoes hanging on the vine for many weeks but they aren't turning color. Not even a hint of yellow. I've been picking MANY Amish Paste, Brandywines, and German Johnson tomatoes for weeks...still no Hillbillys. Is this normal for them to be this late??? Thanks in advance, Steve Mt Clemens, MI

[JCBigBlue]

Hmm; I'm not too far away in Westland. I planted my seedlings ( about a foot tall) around the 3rd week of May, and harvested my first Hillbilly on July 28th. I have had over 20 ripe ones picked and still have some on the plant that are not yet ripe.

I started mine from seed purchased from Tomatofest.com. As far as I can tell, they appear to be true to type.

[carolyn137]

Is this normal for them to be this late??? Thanks in advance, Steve Mt Clemens, MI

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I checked some of the DTM's that various folks noted in their SSE listings and all were greater than 80 days, so for sure it's a late season variety, as it always has been for me in my zone 4b/5a.

On top of that I don't know what your weather has been like, but here it's been so COLD and Rainy that I doubt that I'll get fruits from ANY of my varieties unless September is warm and sunny and right now it doesn't look like that's what's ahead.

[mjc]

Yes, Hillbilly is a late tomato...in fact I'm just starting to see them showing up in the farmer's/garden markets here. And most folks who grow them around here don't know the name of them...they just always grown this big yellow/red tomato. And yes, I know of some folks who have been growing a bicolor that resembles Hillbilly for their entire lives...it seems to be one of those varieties that just 'is'...almost indigenous.

[Wi-sunflower]

I have Hillbilly and several others in my field and yes it's late. But so are almost ALL my heat loving things this year. We've been way cooler than normal. For my tasting yesterday the only bi-color I found was a few Pineapple, and several of them didn't seem to have the red blush. I don't know if that gets stronger with heat or what.

Carol

[stevenkh1]

Originally Posted by mjc

Yes, Hillbilly is a late tomato...in fact I'm just starting to see them showing up in the farmer's/garden markets here. And most folks who grow them around here don't know the name of them...they just always grown this big yellow/red tomato. And yes, I know of some folks who have been growing a bicolor that resembles Hillbilly for their entire lives...it seems to be one of those varieties that just 'is'...almost indigenous.

That is so true. As well as half runners and ramps. No particular nomenclature - that's just what they've always been called.

Speaking of ramps...I have to find a source for seed. My Detroit city wife is clueless of what they are. I tell her "ramps are kinda like an onion, but kinda like garlic...they are a bird all to their own and ya have to fix a mess to get an accurate description of what they are. (heh heh...she has NO IDEA of the stank which awaits...!!!)

Thanks to Carolyn, Carol & JC who also kindly responded to my Hillbilly tomatoes dilemma; I've never had tomatoes not be ripe at 120+ days (and counting), but then again, this is my first year not buying Burpee hybrids.

[mjc]

Originally Posted by stevenkh1

Speaking of ramps...I have to find a source for seed. My Detroit city wife is clueless of what they are. I tell her "ramps are kinda like an onion, but kinda like garlic...they are a bird all to their own and ya have to fix a mess to get an accurate description of what they are. (heh heh...she has NO IDEA of the stank which awaits...!!!)

Don't bother...just pick some up next spring and instead of eating them, plant them. As for varieties...I don't think anyone has made and grown out any selections, they basically use barely tamed, local wild strains. If you need some, give me a shout around March/April and I can send you a few.

And weather-wise...this year has been pretty bad for 'maters...north of the Mason-Dixon line (actually a bit south of it, too).

[stevenkh1]

Originally Posted by mjc

Don't bother...just pick some up next spring and instead of eating them, plant them. As for varieties...I don't think anyone has made and grown out any selections, they basically use barely tamed, local wild strains. If you need some, give me a shout around March/April and I can send you a few.

And weather-wise...this year has been pretty bad for 'maters...north of the Mason-Dixon line (actually a bit south of it, too).

Well, I'd love to be able to pick them, but there ain't any up here in Detroit, Michigan! I have half runners (best green beans in the world) but no ramps. *sigh*

[mjc]

Well, you can transplant them in the fall, too...I'll go out and see if there are a few I can dig up...PM me the details and maybe we can work out a trade or something.