Tomato season for 2015 is just around the corner and I’m always on the lookout for some exciting new varieties for our Hays County gardens.
This year we’re proud to present a cherry tomato hybrid that’s exclusive to our Manchaca nursery. Cherokee Ranch is a new cross between a wild grape tomato collected in Ecuador, and a tasty heirloom called Cherokee Purple.
Kevin Callaway, a tomato specialist from Hondo (near San Antonio) created Cherokee Purple, and we’re expecting to enjoy the wonderful color and flavor of the hybrid, but in a cherry size. (Kevin will be speaking at the nursery at 2 p.m. on Feb 15.)
In other big news, there’s the 2015 Rodeo tomato. Each year with great fanfare this new tomato variety is released at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, with all funds from sales going into the coffers of the Junior Master Gardener program.
The 2015 Rodeo tomato is called Bobcat. From past years, the Rodeo selections have proved to be some of the best tomatoes. Some of my favorites include BHN 602, BHN 444, Tycoon, Tigress, and Valley Cat.
We plan to plant all of the above tomatoes along with Celebrity, a favorite hybrid performer since 1975.
Now is the time to get those beds ready to plant. The most successful tomato growers try to get their tomatoes in the ground early so that fruit set can happen before those dog days of summer.
Happy gardening everyone!
If you have a gardening question, send it to me via email: iathyme@yahoo.com. (Please put ‘Ask Chris Winslow’ in the subject line.) Or mail your letter or postcard to: Ask Chris Winslow. It’s About Thyme: 11726 Manchaca Road, Austin, TX 78748
