German Johnson PL

[JBinKC]

(Edited Title since there are several GJ's out there)

Anyone know the history of this tomato, It is a very pretty plant, it has some HUGE leaves. (Better Target for the birds unfortunately)

What is your opinion of the taste?

[nctomatoman]

German Johnson was (is) originally a regular leaf variety. A few years ago, a potato leaf variety tagged with the name German Johnson appeared - it is likely impossible to know what variety it actually is. I've only grown the authentic (reg leaf) strain (it is a North Carolina heirloom, and is the only heirloom variety regularly available at Farmers markets). It is a large mild flavored pink.

I don't know how the potato leaf imposter compares, but suspect it will also be a large fruited pink. Tomato Growers Supply now carries something they call potato leaf German Johnson - I wish it would have been called something else, since it is really a different variety.

[JBinKC]

That is good to know, the seed was givin to me by someone I met, he had grown it out for 6 or 7 years and it was true every year and that is what he was told the tomato was.
He also gave me another Variety called Dick's Tomato he has grown it out 5 years and it has been true as well.

They may not be what they are but I'm definately interested in seeing what they will be )

I believe he said he picked them up around an Amana community in Iowa on a couple of different trips to visit family.

I'll let ya know what I think of it when I get fruit! I can't compare it but It will still have seeds if you want to compare it next year.

[nctomatoman]

Thanks - I will be watching your results with interest. I've never really found any reliable documentation of the history of German Johnson. If it is indeed a discrete variety, I have a feeling it has been passed around quite a lot over the years and has developed quite a bit of variability. Just like with all white corn being labeled Silver Queen in the northeast, all pink tomatoes in NC tend to be called German Johnson - I've purchased a few fruit over the years and grown them out and have seen variability in fruit shape and leaf shape. Oh well - that's one of the things that makes this so interesting - the aspect of the mystery! I am growing a German Johnson out this year from a really good flavored fruit purchased a few years ago at the Raleigh Farmers Market - it is regular leaf...we shall see how it comes out!

[cecilsgarden1958]

It is definetly a very very mild pink beefsteak. It just doesn't have the "Oh my, I love heirlooms" flavor. I once thought it was one of my favorites, but I have not since been able to get the flavor of my original German Johnon plants. I have come to the conclusion that the ones I first tried, were not German Johnson. I bought a 6 pack from a nursery and it had 3 RL & 3 PL plants. The tag said German Johnson. The PL tomatoes were superb. I went back and checked since as to what other PL varieties they grow (they grow the same ones every year). The only PL variety they sell is Brandywine.
I have tried German Johnson from several sources including TGS's PL and they just aren't that good of flavor. The plants are very nice though, especially the PL ones.

CECIL

[JBinKC]

I'm having a blast watching all of them grow, last year I wasn't quite organized, I'm doing better with that this year. I will be bagging new clusters soon.

(I think my husband is a tad worried my driveway might look like Craigs next year.... MUhahahaha)

Going to try and save lots of seeds this year, of course it mostly depends on how many fruit produced, but will save as many as i can from all.

Thank you all, will let ya know when i got ripe fruit )

[matermama]

I saw a GJ at my nursery, glad i read this post before getting one. They had Purple Prince , i saw, I htink that was the name? I saw a thread on it here ,but i can't find it now. Sometimes i don't think they really know what they are getting from ther're suppliers ??
sue