Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: DeanyB1970 on August 02, 2019, 21:21

Title: Tomato Varieties grown in the 1930's
Post by: DeanyB1970 on August 02, 2019, 21:21

Hi, can anyone advise me on the varieties of tomato that might have been grown in the uk during the 1930's Please?

Title: Re: Tomato Varieties grown in the 1930's
Post by: Snowpea on August 03, 2019, 09:04

Hi Deany,
What about asking on some seed saver sites or sites that sell heirloom seeds or checking out old seed catalogues that might be held in libraries. I'm sure the British Library must have some. You could also try the RHS.  :)

Title: Re: Tomato Varieties grown in the 1930's
Post by: Mr Dog on August 03, 2019, 10:51

Not a list of varieties grown but an interesting (?) article of how tomato taste was changed in the 30s. https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2012/06/28/155917345/how-the-taste-of-tomatoes-went-bad-and-kept-on-going (https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2012/06/28/155917345/how-the-taste-of-tomatoes-went-bad-and-kept-on-going)

Title: Re: Tomato Varieties grown in the 1930's
Post by: Gardener and Rabbit on August 03, 2019, 11:11

Hi Deany,

I think in the UK during the 1930''s they'd all have been indoor types, grown in greenhouses.

A few years ago there was a revival of a variety called the "Blaby Special" , which was popular up until WW2, so that would fit your criteria.

A variety like "Moneymaker" would also have been grown in the 30's, since it was introduced earlier than that. 

G&R

Title: Re: Tomato Varieties grown in the 1930's
Post by: Mr Dog on August 03, 2019, 12:13

From 1929-30 https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/244890#page/9/mode/1up (https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/244890#page/9/mode/1up)
and a 1930 price list https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/248527#page/15/mode/1up (https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/248527#page/15/mode/1up)

Suspect lots more stuff of the same ilk from this source

Title: Re: Tomato Varieties grown in the 1930's
Post by: Snowpea on August 05, 2019, 05:32

Hi Deany
I looked in some of my old gardening books and while none of them are from the 1930s, I thought I might mention the varieties listed anyway. A bit of tomato growing history if nothing else. :)
The Amateur Gardener by Mrs Loudon, 1880 mentions The Conqueror and Hathaway's Excelsior
The Lazy Gardener by F. C. Connelly, 1945 mentions Market King and Outdoor
Dig on for Victory by C. H. Middleton, 1945 mentions Ailsa Craig, Market King, Stonor's M.P and Best of All
I also have an Australian book Notes on Gardening and Elementary Agriculture by John Halstead, 1910 that mentions Duke of York and Giant
Interestingly it mentions that Giant was a light yellow tomato and well flavoured.

Title: Re: Tomato Varieties grown in the 1930's
Post by: WeavingGryphon on August 08, 2019, 12:29

The real seed company sells heritage varieties.
Each seed has the history and provenance described in their online catalogue so you might find some information there. As well as be able to buy the seeds.You could email them also as they grow seeds that aren't listed and sold to the wider public.

Buy quality Vegetable Seeds - The Real Seed Catalogue UK. (http://www.realseeds.co.uk/)