Most Popular Varieties of the 1960's?

TomatoDon · April 22, 2018

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 · April 22, 2018

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 · April 22, 2018

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

MissS · April 22, 2018

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 · April 22, 2018

Jubilee.

Worth

AlittleSalt · April 22, 2018

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 · April 22, 2018

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 · April 22, 2018

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 · April 22, 2018

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 · April 23, 2018

Big Boy and Rutgers.

zipcode · April 23, 2018

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

clkeiper · April 23, 2018

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

clkeiper · April 23, 2018

Quote:

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 · April 23, 2018

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 · April 23, 2018

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.

April 22, 2018	#1
TomatoDon Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MS Posts: 1,523	Most Popular Varieties of the 1960's? 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 __________________ Zone 7B, N. MS

April 22, 2018	#2
PaulF Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brownville, Ne Posts: 3,296	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. __________________ there's two things money can't buy; true love and home grown tomatoes.

April 22, 2018	#3
TomatoDon Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MS Posts: 1,523	I've heard that Marglobe and Marion were two more of the favorites in the 1960s. __________________ Zone 7B, N. MS

April 22, 2018	#4
MissS Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 3,150	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. __________________ ~ Patti ~

April 22, 2018	#8
TomatoDon Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MS Posts: 1,523	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. __________________ Zone 7B, N. MS

April 22, 2018	#5
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Jubilee. Worth

April 22, 2018	#6
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	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.

April 22, 2018	#7
KarenO Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Island Posts: 5,931	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

April 22, 2018	#9
fonseca Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 205	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.

April 23, 2018	#10
seymour_man Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 48	Big Boy and Rutgers.

April 23, 2018	#11
zipcode Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Romania/Germany , z 4-6 Posts: 1,582	Are the girls and boys so old? I though they're from the 90s or newer... They seem to be still so popular.

April 23, 2018	#12
clkeiper Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: ohio Posts: 4,350	Marglobe is the oldtimers go-to for my customers. they all want a acidic tomato. for eating and canning. __________________ carolyn k

April 23, 2018	#14
brownrexx Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Southeastern PA Posts: 1,420	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.

April 23, 2018	#15
Chapinz8 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Chapin, SC Posts: 143	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.