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BY
Dr. Gary R. Bachman
PHOTOGRAPHY BY
Dr. Gary R. Bachman
Mississippi Medallion Tomatoes: Perfect for Your 2021 Home Gardens Left—Garden Gems are brand new Mississippi Medallion winners that produce plentiful fruit despite Mississippi heat and humidity.
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RU WKH ODVW IHZ ZHHNV ,·YH EHHQ encouraging home gardeners to be intentional with their garden and ODQGVFDSH DFWLYLWLHV WKLV \HDU /LNH PDQ\ RWKHUV ,·YH VSHQW WKHVH ODVW ZHHNV FRQVLGHULQJ ZKDW ,·P JRLQJ WR SODQW DQG JURZ LQ P\ RZQ ODQGVFDSH WKLV \HDU $PRQJ WKH SODQWV , ZLOO GHÀQLWHO\ JURZ DUH P\ IDYRULWH 0LVVLVVLSSL 0HGDOOLRQ winners. I promote these plants because RI WKHLU SHUIRUPDQFH LQ P\ JDUGHQ :KLOH WKHUH KDYH EHHQ VRPH WKDW KDYHQ·W OLYHG XS WR WKH K\SH WKHVH ORZ SHUIRUPHUV DUH YHU\ IHZ DQG YHU\ IDU EHWZHHQ 7KH TXDUDQWLQHV DQG VWD\ DW KRPH RUGHUV RI ³DQG , KRSH ZH ZRQ·W VHH DQ\WKLQJ OLNH WKDW LQ ³FUHDWHG a heightened interest in home vegetable gardens. I called these home gardens ´&29,' 9LFWRU\ *DUGHQV µ 7KHUH·V VRPHWKLQJ VDWLVI\LQJ DQG FRPIRUWLQJ DERXW JURZLQJ VRPH RI \RXU IRRG 6R ,·P JRLQJ WR VWDUW E\ VKDULQJ P\ favorite Mississippi Medallion vegetables. First up are tomatoes since I get the most questions about them. Garden Gem tomatoes were selected DV ZLQQHUV LQ DQG WKLV YDULHW\ KDV proven to be a great performing tomato. *DUGHQ *HPV KDYH D EXVK\ VHPL GHWHUPLQDWH JURZWK KDELW WKDW JURZV RQO\ to about 42 inches tall, which is perfect for P\ JDUGHQLQJ SUHIHUHQFHV
The fruits are about 2 inches in diameter and plentiful. I JUHZ *DUGHQ *HPV LQ ERWK P\ spring and fall tomato seasons. I was impressed with the YDULHW\·V WROHUDQFH IRU RXU KRW and humid environment, which SOD\V KDYRF ZLWK PDQ\ RWKHU tomato varieties. Tumbling Tom tomatoes were selected in 2014. This is D VPDOOHU WRPDWR SODQW WKDW ,·YH JURZQ LQ KDQJLQJ EDVNHWV IRU VHYHUDO \HDUV 7KH YDULHW\ LV DYDLODEOH ZLWK ERWK EULJKW UHG DQG D VXQQ\ \HOORZ IUXLW , ORYH LWV compact, trailing growth habit; and the clusters of fruit tumbling over the basket HGJH DUH YHU\ DWWUDFWLYH
,·YH ZULWWHQ LQ WKH SDVW DERXW KRZ , like to grow heirloom tomatoes and learn the stories behind the plants. One RI WKH ÀUVW KHLUORRPV WKDW , JUHZ LQ P\ garden after moving to Mississippi was Cherokee Purple. 2YHU WKH ODVW GR]HQ \HDUV WKLV KDV EHHQ D FRQVLVWHQW DQG HQMR\DEOH SXUSOLVK WRPDWR WKDW KDV D ULFK WDVWH $QG ER\ GRHV LW KDYH D IDVFLQDWLQJ VWRU\ ,W·V VDLG WKDW WKH YDULHW\ KDV EHHQ SDVVHG DORQJ IRU RYHU \HDUV DQG WKDW WKH VHHGV RULJLQDOO\ came from the Cherokee Indians. The fruit are nice and big and perfect for a GHOLFLRXV ´WRPDWR VDPPLFK µ This plant has to be trellised or caged; for it is a vigorous, indeterminate grower. 7KH IUXLW VWDUW PDWXULQJ LQ P\ 2FHDQ Springs garden around mid-June. Although WKLV LV ODWH \RXU SDWLHQFH ZLOO EH UHZDUGHG 6R OHW·V FRQWLQXH WR ZRUN RQ EHLQJ LQWHQWLRQDO JDUGHQHUV 7KHUH FDQ·W EH D better place to start than with tomatoes. , ZLOO VWDUW P\ WRPDWR VHHGV QH[W ZHHN DQG WKH JRRG WKLQJ LV WKHUH LV SOHQW\ RI WLPH IRU \RX WR JHW VHHGV WR VWDUW \RXU own plants, too. Columnist Dr. Gary R. Bachman is an assistant extension professor of horticulture at Mississippi State University’s Coastal Research and Extension Center in Biloxi, Mississippi.
Tumbling Tom tomatoes produce clusters of red or yellow fruit that are attractive growing over a basket edge. (Submitted photo/Bonnie Plants)
Page 12 { March / April 2021 { Bluffs & Bayous
Left—The Cherokee Purple heirloom tomato is a vigorous plant that produces fruit with a rich taste.
