Originally Published In The Deseret News -- Thursday, February 5, 1998
Larry Sagers Is A Horticulturist With The Utah State University Extension Service.
Every year dozens of new varieties are introduced to the gardening public. Some have gone through rigorous testing through the All-American Selections screening or other organizations. Others come amid publicity that makes them sound like the greatest thing since sliced bread or red tomatoes.
The following are not ones that I have tested or even recommend, but they are some that have caught my eye as I have screened publicity this season. Try them if they appeal to you. They come without guarantees but some sound so intriguing that they are interesting to read about even if you never plant them. Since most are new or in limited supply, I have included a source in case you cannot find them at your local nursery. The number following the name refers to the companies listed at the end of the article.
It is always interesting to see the new tomato varieties. Tomato "Aunt Ruby's German Green" is an heirloom variety that is harvested for green tomatoes. Russian tomatoes are featured from several different sources and include many different varieties. "Cosmonaut Volkov Red" is a large red tomato that has an interdeterminate growth habit. "Amber-colored" is another Russian variety that has a vine that only grows to be one foot tall yet produces yellow fruit.
If you like to keep tomatoes for a long time and have grown the "Long-keeper" here are several new kinds to try. Tomato "Daniella" produces long-storing red fruit that averages six ounces in size. Tomato "Keepsake Hybrid" produces 7-8 ounce fruits that are bright red and keep well. Tomato "Red October" is not a Russian variety but produces eight-ounce fruits that will store well. "Winter Red Hybrid" claims to store for three months with a richer flavor and has a redder color than the "Long-keeper."
Tomatoes of different colors are also in the news. In addition to the previously mentioned yellow or green tomatoes, tomato "Marizol Purple" produces giant one- to two-pound purple fruits. Tomato "Purple Brandy" has pink-purple fruits that weigh up to 16 ounces. Pink fruited varieties include tomato "Clear Pink Early" 95) or tomato "Brandywine"
Colored peppers are not new but one variety has something for every preference. Pepper "Carnival Mix" has gold, red, orange, ivory and green sweet bell peppers in the same package. Pepper "Aruba Hybrid" is a Cubanelle-type that produces eight-inch fruits that turn chocolate colored at maturity. Pepper "Fat and Sassy Hybrid" produces four-inch fruits on disease-tolerant plants. Pepper "Mucho Nacho Hybrid" is a jumbo-sized jalapeno that is fatter and heavier than standard varieties. It is widely available from many different sources.
Unusual colors also extend to other vegetables. Carrot "Sweet Sunshine" is a yellow and green carrot that has an unusual appearance. It is sweet, with a luscious flavor and texture. It promises that it will change forever how you think about carrots. Carrot "A No. 1" produces 12-inch long carrots that are high in vitamin A.
Additional nutrients are available from broccoli "Nutri-Bud" This variety is unusually high in glutamine and matures in 60 to 80 days. Another member of the cabbage family that intrigues me is a new variety of brussels sprouts. Brussels sprouts' "Trafalgar" promises medium-sized, very sweet sprouts. At 160 days, it takes a long season to produce edible sprouts so don't expect much before next fall. Kale "Red Ursa" has red and purple leaves and will tolerate temperatures down to minus 10 degrees F. It is also very nutritious.
Several salad crops offer interesting possibilities. Spinach "Razzle Dazzle" is very early and matures in only 30 days. Spinach "Malabar" from Japan is heat tolerant and can be trained on fences or trellises. Lettuce "Spring Mescalun" mix is a mixture of seven different tangy and sweet lettuces. Lettuce "Mescalun Bon Vivant" mix contains oakleaf and red varieties.
I do not claim to be an authority on okra and am not even recommending it for most Utah gardeners. But with all the "Redneck" humor, this particular variety caught my eye. Okra "Baby Bubba" grows to one-half the height of other standard okra varieties.
The last variety is gourd "Bowl" These round gourds have flattened tops and bottoms. Each fruit is six- to eight-inches wide and four- to five-feet tall.
This list is by no means exhaustive nor does it include all the varieties that are new this year. As you make your selections, remember that most of these are untried under our conditions, so do not forget to leave some room for the old "tried and true" varieties in the garden.
1. J.W. Jung Seed Co.
335 S. High St.
Randolph, WI 53957
Phone: 1-800-247-5864
2. Seed Savers Exchange
3076 N. Winn Road
Decorah, IA 52101
Phone: 1-319-382-5990
3. W. Atlee Burpee Co.
300 Park Ave.
Warminster, PA 18991
Phone: 1-800-333-5808
4. Johnny's Selected Seeds
Foss Hill Road
Albion, ME 04910
5. Tomato Growers Supply Co.
P.O. Box 2237
Ft. Myers, FL 33902
Phone: 1-941-768-1119
6. Seeds of Change
P.O. Box 15700
Santa Fe, NM 87506
7. Thompson and Morgan
P.O. Box 1308
Jackson, NJ 08527
Phone: 1-800-274-7333
8. Gourmet Gardener
8650 College Blvd.
Overland Park, KA 66210
Phone: 1-913-345-0490
© 1998 Deseret News Publishing Co.