This is an extremely early ripening tomato with some resemblance of an eating tomato but smaller. Many people have grown this tomato and like me were probably disappointed with the small yields. However the second batch of seed I got came 20 years later and someone had kind of reselected it for higher yields and slightly better taste. The dense flesh has a good flavor and its yields although still small make up for it in earliness in cool short season areas. The 'Plenty" strain is better than the original Subarctic for us. If you do not have a means or inclination for growing tomatoes in the far north, this selection is as close as you are going to get to a store tomato. The leaves of the plants are rather sparse which helps with light penetration throughout the small clusters of tomatoes. Over time, I appreciate this tomato more however there are other ones on the market now. But I apparently have grown fond of it enough to consider the value of its early production.
Seed germinates in cooler soil and can be direct seeded outside if need be. Lightly cover the soil and keep moist until emergence. Not resistant to frost.
Plant Specs |
Genus & Species |
Solanum lycopersicum |
Seed Source |
Michigan |
Ease of Cultivation |
Grow in greater density than other tomatoes to allow for higher yields than normal tomatoes. They do not to crack much. They really one the first to eat off the vine even though we are not hemmed in by winter compared to a zone 2 or 3 garden where this plant would be ideal. Yields are better with this selection that others with short season types. |