Introducing Beefsteak Plum Family Heirloom

[barkeater]

My Grandmother's nurse in SE Pennsylvania brought this tomato to her 2 years ago, but the nursing home wouldn't let her have it. So my mother took it home and told me it was the best tomato she'd had in years - AND, she saved me seeds to plant. Last year I grew it but the weather was so bad I only got one half-ripe which I saved seeds from, and tried again this year.

It is the best tasting tomato in my garden! The first few were well over a pound but has settled down to about 10-12 ounces. It is the best heart I ever tried. It has the creamy texture of Brandywine and the assertive tomato flavor of Ramapo.

The nurse told my mother the following week after my mother raved about the tomato that her granny crossed a beefsteak tomato with a plum tomato many, many years ago and came up with this fantastic heart variety (Is that how we got oxhearts?). She kept it in the family until she died. They just called it Granny's tomato. I have the nurses e-mail address and will try to find out more and if she wants to name it differently and if it is OK if I distribute seeds.