does ANYBODY like Ponderosa?

greggf · November 25, 2007

I've noticed that in 1965-1990 mainstream seed catalogs, often the only "heirloom" and sometimes the only open pollinated varieties available were Oxheart and Ponderosa. And that they were readily available everywhere.

Also, the only tomato variety that my father ever identified by name - and with a drool - was Ponderosa. I get the impression that he'd eaten one about 1935 and that it had tasted out-of-this-world.

But today, it's hardly mentioned.

Questions:

1) Does anyone here grow it and like it?

2) Was my father demented or just tomato-starved one summer?

3) If it has fallen out of favor because of lack of flavor compared to hipper heirlooms, why was it one of the few so widely available for so long? Why did it persist in the face of so many hybrids? How did it manage to remain available when better heirlooms were stuck in back yards or discontinued? Who made these decisions?

November 25, 2007	#1
greggf Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Boonville, NY Posts: 419	does ANYBODY like Ponderosa? I've noticed that in 1965-1990 mainstream seed catalogs, often the only "heirloom" and sometimes the only open pollinated varieties available were Oxheart and Ponderosa. And that they were readily available everywhere. Also, the only tomato variety that my father ever identified by name - and with a drool - was Ponderosa. I get the impression that he'd eaten one about 1935 and that it had tasted out-of-this-world. But today, it's hardly mentioned. Questions: 1) Does anyone here grow it and like it? 2) Was my father demented or just tomato-starved one summer? 3) If it has fallen out of favor because of lack of flavor compared to hipper heirlooms, why was it one of the few so widely available for so long? Why did it persist in the face of so many hybrids? How did it manage to remain available when better heirlooms were stuck in back yards or discontinued? Who made these decisions?