Cherokee Purple Tomatoes

An Intro to Cherokee Purple Tomatoes MY STATUS: Unsuccessful Cherokee Purple are a variety of indeterminate beefsteak tomato, producing large round fruit with a deep purple or black coloration. Supposedly, the cultivar originated with the Cherokee tribe and were commercialized in the 1990s.  They're a perfect tomato for eating raw in salads, on sandwiches, or just on their own with a rich flavor and lots of juice. Plants take 80-90 days...

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Supersweet 100VF Hybrid Cherry Tomatoes

An Intro to Supersweet 100VF Hybrid Cherry Tomatoes MY STATUS: Grown Successfully to Harvest   Supersweet 100VF Hybrid are a type of round cherry tomato with a resistance to verticillium and fusarium wilt.  Like all the tomato varieties I've tried to grow here, they are indeterminate, meaning that plants will continue to produce fruit as long as the weather is sufficiently warm--a good choice for Pohnpei's endless summer temperatures....

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Petite Marigolds

An Intro to Marigolds MY STATUS: Grown Successfully to Harvest   San Marzano are a type of plum tomato with an elongated body and firm flesh used primarily for making tomato paste for sauces.  They're similar to Roma tomatoes but are said to have a stronger, sweeter taste. Because they aren't as tender or juicy as the large beefsteak tomatoes, they aren't as desirable for salads and sandwiches. Like all the tomato varieties I've...

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San Marzano Tomatoes

An Intro to San Marzano Tomatoes MY STATUS: Grown Successfully to Harvest   San Marzano are a type of plum tomato with an elongated body and firm flesh used primarily for making tomato paste for sauces.  They're similar to Roma tomatoes but are said to have a stronger, sweeter taste. Because they aren't as tender or juicy as the large beefsteak tomatoes, they aren't as desirable for salads and sandwiches. Like all the tomato varieties...

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Lolla Rosa Lettuce

An Intro to Lolla Rosa MY STATUS: Grown Successfully to Harvest    Lolla Rosa is a variety of loose-leaf lettuce with a deep maroon coloration, a slight tendency to curl, and a mild flavor. It's frequently used in gourmet salads. SOIL The plant likes well-drained, fertile soil and regular fertilizer. HOW MUCH SUN? Lolla Rosa is sensitive to heat. On Pohnpei, give it early morning sun and then keep it in open shade for the rest...

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Arugula (Rocket)

An Intro to Arugula MY STATUS: Grown Successfully to Harvest    Arugula, also called rocket, is a leafy lettuce-like plant that is native to the Mediterranean and is eaten raw in salads or used as a topping on pizza. It has a sharp, peppery flavor. SOIL The plant grows well in relatively dry, loose soil. HOW MUCH SUN? Arugula likes cooler weather than Pohnpei has to offer. It can be grown here, but because it is sensitive to heat,...

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Red Romaine Lettuce

An Intro to Red Romaine MY STATUS: Grown Successfully to Harvest    Red Romaine is a variety of loose-leaf lettuce that is belongs in the Romaine familyand may have come from Romania (hence the name) . It's identical to Parris Island Cos, except that the leaves are deep red or magenta instead of light green. The plant can grow to be 10 inches tall. It's a great lettuce for mixed-green salads. SOIL The plant grows well in...

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Parris Island Cos Lettuce

An Intro to Parris Island Cos MY STATUS: Grown Successfully to Harvest    Parris Island Cos is a variety of loose-leaf lettuce that is belongs in the Romaine family and originated in the warm humid climate of South Caroline. It has light green elongated leaves with crunchy ribs and a slightly "spicy" flavor. The plant can grow to be 10 inches tall. It's a good type of lettuce for caesar salads. SOIL The plant grows well in well-drained,...

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What Can Happen If You Don't Stake Your Tomatoes Properly

Here's an example of the damage that can result if you don't stake your tomatoes properly or expose them to too much wind. This cherry tomato plant snapped off in the middle of the main stem, just above where the stake ended. Unfortunately, the plant was currently fruiting and had about 20 infant tomatoes on the top, so I lost a harvest. THE LESSON Stakes should be taller than the plant will ever grow. This plant outgrew the stake and I didn't...

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Recommended Tomato Short-List

Tomato Recommendations by Color I've created a short-list of indeterminate tomato cultivars that are good bets for growing on Pohnpei. With the exception of the last four, all of the varieties on this list are disease-resistant. I also selected types that tend to be small to medium, as larger tomatoes take longer to develop and are thus more prone to problems. RED Clermon (F1) Round medium-sized red tomato with resistance to Tobacco Mosaic Virus,...

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