Big Pink Tomato

Big Pink originated in our heirloom tomato patch at Tobacco Road Farm about twenty years ago. We were growing several varieties of large pink tomatoes that year and we saved the seeds of the biggest, pinkest tomatoes. Since then we have continuously saved the seed from the tomatoes of the healthiest vines. At this point, it is by far the most disease resistant heirloom tomato that we grow. Big Pink is a potato leaved variety which means its parentage is probably from Brandywine, Tiffen Mennonite, or German Johnson. Thin skinned, excellent flavor, better than average disease resistance. It is our main market tomato. A serious customer favorite. The variety has also been selected for earliness.

Photo by Willimantic Food Co-op.

Days to maturity: 75-80

Seeds per pack: 25

Germination rate: 79.75% on 03/08/2024

Planting / harvesting notes

Start seeds 6-8 weeks before the last frost and transplant into garden well after the danger of frost. We recommend you prune the suckers that form in the crotches of the branches by the main stem. Water tomatoes at the soil level, keeping the leaves dry.

Seed keeping notes

Tomatoes are generally self-pollinating, though we isolate different varieties by 35-50 feet, in hopes that flying insects will not cross pollinate them unexpectedly. Tomato seeds are ripe when the fruits are ready to eat! Cut the fruit at the equator and squeeze or scrape out seeds from each of the cavities. In a cup or bucket, add a little water (1/2" is probably plenty) to your seeds and pulp to keep them from drying out, and allow them to ferment away from direct sunlight. Ideally, you will stir the concoction every day for 3-5 days. In the end, add more water to fill the vessel, stir one final time, and allow to settle. Pour off the floating material and then strain the seeds through a strainer. Sometimes, you will need to add more water and pour off the floating material several times until the water is clear and you can see the seeds sunken at the bottom. Squeeze dry the strained seeds in a towel, and then lay out to dry on a labeled screen or paper product in a ventilated place away from direct sunlight for a week or two.