Oh boy, our grafted tomatoes are looking great and are ready to go! If you've never tried planting grafted tomatoes, you just don't know what you're missing. These grafted veggies are fabulous for their flavor and strength- heirloom plants (incomprable in taste, but traditionally weak plants) are joined to a stronger, more durable rootstock. This marriage combines the best of both worlds: the fabulous fruit of heirlooms and the vigor, disease-resistance, and all-around strength of non-heirloom plants. Who could ask for more?
**The key to planting these grafted tomatoes is to keep the graft ABOVE the soil level. The point of the graft is to offer a superior root system. If you bury the graft, you will allow both plants to take root, which defeats the purpose of a separate rootstock plant.**
We've got some great grafted tomato and pepper varieties in the greenhouse this season. Read on!
GRAFTED TOMATOES
Grafted Early Girl
Bright red, 4-6 oz. round slicers. Early, dependable, and flavorful fruits in almost any climate!
Grafted Big Beef
Red, globe-shaped, 1 lb. fruits with a perfect balance of sweetness and acidity. Abundant firm, crack-resistant tomatoes produced over a long period.
Grafted Bumble Bee Pink
New, striped cherry tomato in glowing rose and gold combines standout visual appeal and superb flavor! Round, 1 1/2" fruits are gorgeous and tasty in fresh salads.
Grafted Brandywine
The famous heirloom produces 1-2 lb., scarlet-pink beefsteaks with high acid and sugar content. Considered one of the world's best-tasting tomatoes!
Grafted San Marzano
Famous Italian heirloom yields bright red, tapered 3" fruits. Meaty and flavorful-- ideal for canning or sauce.
Grafted Sun Sugar
Abundant candy-sweet orange cherry tomatoes with high levels of sugar and vitamin A. Possibly the world's sweetest tomato!
Grafted Amish Paste
Heirloom paste tomato produces tons of meaty 6-8 oz. red fruits--one of the best for sauces and canning. Thrives in short summer areas.
Grafted Cherokee Purple
Dusky rose, 8-12 oz. round fruits with complex, old-time flavor. 19th century heirloom. Perfect for slicing and sandwiches.
Grafted Mortgage Lifter
Dark pink, 1-2 lb. fruits are meaty with good old-time flavor. Heirloom known for it's productivity.
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GRAFTED PEPPERS
Grafted Big Bertha
Extra large, thick-walled bell peppers can reach 7" long, ripening from bright green to shiny red, with crisp sweet flesh and few seeds-- perfect for fresh eating.
Grafted Red Bell
This pepper is hard to beat for its earliness and large size. Big, blocky 4 1/2" bells have thick, meaty walls with sweet flavor and crunch. Sets well even in heat.
Delicious! So which ones will you be trying?!
-Anna Mary