This mix contains over 80 varieties that have been grown together and potentially cross-pollinating for 4 years. Some of the varieties were heirlooms noted for their short days to maturity, some came from USDA’s GRIN, some were bred by William Schlegel and Joseph Lofthouse, some were traded for and arrived with no name.
What all these seeds have in common is they descend from plants that were direct-seeded and thrived in conditions of neglect (never watered, never trellised, never treated for pests).
The fruits range from currant to beefsteak; the majority are cherry size. The colors include various shades of red, orange, yellow, and a touch of purple.
Characteristics such as days to maturity vary between individual plants. Here at the Mad Garden in NJ, direct-seeding this mix in May yields some tomatoes in July and an abundant harvest in August.
Germination Aug 14 2025: 90%