Most Popular Varieties of the 1960's?

[TomatoDon]

Everyone wants a tomato that tasted like the ones "grand-pa" or "dad" or the uncle or neighbor grew back in the day. Since the specific variety is the most important factor for those flavors, I'm trying to make a list of the popular varieties on the 1960's. I'm aware of the lists on the internet, but I wanted to see what the Tomatoville enthusiasts remember as their childhood favorites. Oh...and who developed the Better Boy and Bigger Boy and when were they introduced.

I've asked this here a couple of times before and the ones who say they know and will answer later never do, so I thought I'd try it again.

Thanks to those who remember the taste of the 60's, the varieties, and those who reply!

Don

[PaulF]

My Dad began growing tomatoes in the 50s and you named the ones he was partial to: Better Boy and Bigger Boy and then he did the Girls, too. No wonder none of the kids liked tomatoes much.

Now my brothers and sisters (the kids) love tomatoes since being introduced to my "strange" tomatoes that do not include Boy, Girls, Biggers or Betters.

We always thought that Western Auto grew all tomatoes because that was where Dad went to get his plants.

[TomatoDon]

I've heard that Marglobe and Marion were two more of the favorites in the 1960s.

[MissS]

My grandfather grew Ponderosa and then switched to the new hybrids, Better Boy, Big Boy, Whopper and anything that sounded BIG. Of course all of the grand kids complained about the taste when he started growing hybrids, but he was so happy growing Large tomatoes that he paid us no mind. He would have been a great competition grower for large fruits and vegetables. He just loved growing those 15-20 lb zucchini that nobody cared to eat.

[Worth1]

Jubilee.

Worth

[AlittleSalt]

Well, Worth beat me to it, but Golden Jubilee was popular around here for the longest time. I barely remember the late 60s because I was born in 65.

[KarenO]

I think it was very localized in those days.
Canadians either grew Canadian tomatoes in the 1960's or something from seed saved of heritage tomatoes
from their motherland, wherever that may have been. Italy, Ukraine, Poland, Belgium, etc.
KarenO

[TomatoDon]

Right Karen. I didn't state the obvious. I'm referring generally to the warmer climes in the US, and more specifically in the mid-South where I'm from. We had a close family friend who grew over 200 a year and gave them away, but that generation is now gone and I can't find anyone who remembered the varieties they grew.

I especially wish I knew the variety my mother sliced up in piles when the preachers came to eat during revival in the 1960's.

[fonseca]

I'm growing Marglobe and Rutgers for my late-80s grandmother this year. These are the two varieties they canned for decades on their farm in central VA, until they got electricity and a freezer. Then they stopped canning and started freezing them whole with the skin on. Rinse them under hot water while frozen and the skin comes right off, and they are ready for sauce or juice.

Other varieties they grew were Better Boy and Beefmaster. But Marglobe and Rutgers made the best tomato juice.

[seymour_man]

Big Boy and Rutgers.

[zipcode]

Are the girls and boys so old? I though they're from the 90s or newer... They seem to be still so popular.

[clkeiper]

Marglobe is the oldtimers go-to for my customers. they all want a acidic tomato. for eating and canning.

[clkeiper]

Originally Posted by zipcode

Are the girls and boys so old? I though they're from the 90s or newer... They seem to be still so popular.

no.. some are old. I have a customer in her 70's who has asked me for better boy for years because that is what her mom always grew. I finally got her moved on to a different variety or two since she had a crop failure with those a few years ago.

[brownrexx]

Rutgers.

Rutgers 250 is supposed to mimic that old time taste of "Jersey tomatoes" and I grew it last year but we were not impressed and I did not grow it again.

[Chapinz8]

My Dad grew Marion, Rutgers and Marglobe. I don't remember him growing any others. He planted seed in a big tin bucket and sat it in the shade up against the barn. When ready, he went out, picked a handful and planted them. My Mom tore old tee shirts up and he used the strips to tie to cedar and locust stakes. Growing tomatoes was easier back then.