Early Detroit Tomato
Botanical Name: Solanum lycopersicum
Description
74 days. Early Detroit is a medium sized, round, pink, slicing tomato with excellent flavor. We first learned of the Early Detroit tomato in 2011 and have been working diligently ever since to bring it back to Michigan! Early Detroit was released by D.M. Ferry seed company of Detroit, Michigan in 1909. It was very common in the Detroit area in the 1950’s and 60’s. Sweet and not overly acid with bold flavor. Mike (who is picky about his tomatoes) says “this is my favorite tomato yet!” Versatile, it is juicy, yet not overly watery and holds together well making it perfect for sandwiches and salads. Also great cooked and good for canning. Vigorous and good disease and crack resistance for an old-time tomato variety. Indeterminate.We obtained our seeds from the USDA’s GRIN seedbank (#PI355097). Grown by Nature and Nurture Seeds.
Growing
Growing Instructions (for USDA Zone 5b):
Start tomato seeds inside at least 6 weeks before last frost (around 4/1). Ideal temperature for germination is 85° (use a heating mat). Days to germination: 5-14. Once leaves appear, grow plants at 72°. Plant seedlings outside late May into fertile garden soil (with lots of compost or decomposed manure) at a spacing of 18” apart. Stake tomato plants. Tomatoes are susceptible to several fungal diseases (including Early and Late Blight and Verticillium Wilt). To prevent blight, keep foliage dry by 1) Pruning tomato plants to allow for good air circulation 2) Water with drip irrigation/soaker hoses. Crop rotation is also key to preventing tomato diseases. Ideally, plant tomato plants in a spot that has not had any Solanaceae crops (tomato, peppers, eggplant, potatoes) growing there for 4 years. Frequent watering will help to minimize cracking of tomatoes.
Harvest:
Harvest when fully red and fruit is somewhat soft when squeezed
Seed Saving Instructions (for gardeners):
Tomatoes are relatively easy seed-saving crops. They are primarily self-pollinated but may be crossed pollinated by insects when different tomatoes varieties are planted next to one another. You can just save seed and see what you get! Isolation distance of 10ft will minimize crossing while 150’ is necessary to eliminate it. Always harvest seed from the best plants. It is best, but not totally necessary, to collect seeds from a minimum of 6 plants. Collect ripe tomatoes, let them ripen for a week in a paper bag, then cut and squeeze out seeds. See instructions for fermenting seeds. Rinse and dry seeds on a screen.
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