Fred
10-15 tomato seeds
£5.95
Out of stock
The Fred Tomato (10-15 seeds)
The 'Fred'' tomato is a fascinating variety that blurs the lines of history and is as rare as rocking horse poo!. It's sought after for its large bi-colour heart shaped fruits with excellent flavour.
Key Characteristics:
Origin/Breeder: This was an addition to Victory Gardeners heirloom rescue program. The tomato came from a farmer at the Columbia Farmers Market. It was his family’s heirloom tomato from the Glasgow area of Mid-Missouri. The Fred was named after the Missouri Extension Agent that developed the tomato in the 1950s, adapting it to Missouri.
Type: The Fred tomato is much larger than a normal plum tomato with large heart shaped fruits.
Appearance: This is a standout feature. The fruits are large, bi-colour heart shaped, and ripen to a beautiful base red colour with flourishes of orange and yellow.The flesh inside is typically red.
Size: Fruits are very large up to 12 cm in length weighing 300g-500g, this places them firmly in the large slicing or beefsteak category.
Flavour: This is where 'The Fred' truly shines. It's exceptionally sweet and fruity from really fleshy fruits.
Growth Habit: It is an indeterminate vining tomato. This means the plant will continue to grow, flower, and produce fruit throughout the entire growing season until frost. It can reach heights of 1.8 to 2.3 meters or more and can be quite vigorous and very productive. Fred is a weird plant with wispy foliage which is the case for most 'heart' shaped fruits.
Maturity: Considered a mid-late season tomato. 'The Fred' takes a while to get going and then gets really big, typically maturing in around 120-130 days from seed sowing.
Productivity: an abundance of very large fruits, yielding prolifically, with continuous production throughout the season.
Growing Tips:
Support: As an indeterminate vine with high production of large fruits, 'The Fred' will definitely require stringing, strong staking, caging, or trellising to support its vigorous growth and heavy fruit load.
Sunlight: Full sun is essential for best growth and to develop the optimal flavour and sweetness.
Watering: Consistent watering is important, especially when the plant is heavily laden with fruit.
The 'Fred' is a fantastic choice for gardeners looking for a highly productive, unusually coloured, and sweet large tomato variety. Its unique flavour profile and charming bi-colour appearance make it a favourite for canning and cooking as well as eating fresh.