anyone recognize this tomato?

tjg911 · April 12, 2007

A fellow gardener/co worker was telling me about a tomato that he grew or had that was really good, years ago. I don't have much to go on but maybe this will ring a bell.
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The tomato is an odd color, red but dark. So right off the bat I said like a purple or black tomato and he said yes, he's seen these from my garden over the years.
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The tomato is lobed or has ridges like a green bell pepper but not stocky like a bell pepper. The size is 3" wide and from the top to bottom about 6-7" long. It retains the lobes from top to bottom and is blunt/rounded at the bottom like a bell pepper.
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He said it made excellent sauce but did not say whether it was good for eating. He said it did not have many seeds in it.
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The source was an old man who came here from Italy so it seems reasonable that the seeds were brought here by him from Italy. Of course the man died and no one was able to find his seeds and no one has been able to grow this tomato again.
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I think the width/length ratio is unusual, the fact that it is lobed from the top to the bottom like a bell pepper is unusual and it's a purple or brown or black variety may all add up to an identification. Of course I realize there's several thousand varieties but maybe someone will recognize this tomato and be able to identify it and a source for the seeds. It may be possible to start seeds if I can find them say in no more than 2-3 weeks and of course there's always next year too. We all gotta figure there's someone out there, here or in Italy, growing these.
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Thanks,
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Tom

April 12, 2007	#1
tjg911 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: zone 5b northwest connecticut Posts: 2,570	anyone recognize this tomato? A fellow gardener/co worker was telling me about a tomato that he grew or had that was really good, years ago. I don't have much to go on but maybe this will ring a bell. . The tomato is an odd color, red but dark. So right off the bat I said like a purple or black tomato and he said yes, he's seen these from my garden over the years. . The tomato is lobed or has ridges like a green bell pepper but not stocky like a bell pepper. The size is 3" wide and from the top to bottom about 6-7" long. It retains the lobes from top to bottom and is blunt/rounded at the bottom like a bell pepper. . He said it made excellent sauce but did not say whether it was good for eating. He said it did not have many seeds in it. . The source was an old man who came here from Italy so it seems reasonable that the seeds were brought here by him from Italy. Of course the man died and no one was able to find his seeds and no one has been able to grow this tomato again. . I think the width/length ratio is unusual, the fact that it is lobed from the top to the bottom like a bell pepper is unusual and it's a purple or brown or black variety may all add up to an identification. Of course I realize there's several thousand varieties but maybe someone will recognize this tomato and be able to identify it and a source for the seeds. It may be possible to start seeds if I can find them say in no more than 2-3 weeks and of course there's always next year too. We all gotta figure there's someone out there, here or in Italy, growing these. . Thanks, . Tom