April 2009 Archives

The following heirloom tomato plants can be purchased in store at  Coleman Florist Inc 4008 E. Genesee St. DeWitt, NY

The price on all varieties is $3.49 each plant

Start planning your vegetable garden today! 

You may purchase by phone for pick up with a credit card.  315-446-0862

STG= Spears Tennessee Green 80 days to maturity, 8-10 ounce size fruit, named for the Spear family of Tenesee, being grown since the 50's.

RZ=Red Zebra 85-95 day to maturity, bright red with vibrant yellow strips, this fruit is sweet and flavorful and should be great in home and speciaty gardens.

TC=Tomato Copia 80-90 days. Unique and beautiful large, striped tomato,  fine stripes of glowing gold and neon red. A Flavorful must have for the heirloom gardener.

SC=Stripped Cavern 80-100 days, vibrant red with yellow stripes, lobed shaped fruit with thick walls good for stuffing, with a fine flavor. 

GRS=German Red Strawberry 85 days, Wow! large (1lb) red fruit with very little seeds, very sweet and great for sandwiches and canning.

TBC=Tomato Black Cherry 75 days, Beautiful cherries tomato, look like large, purple grapes,with a rich flavor that makes black tomatoes famous. Unique and delicious with  large vines that yield very well.   

WO=White Oxheart 85 days, Introduce from Germany,heart-shaped tomato with a creamy color, exceptionally sweet. Good yield. 

BW=Brandy Wine 80 days, beautiful pink fruit, 1 -11/2 lbs each. A favorite of the heirlooms with a superb flavor.

OX =Red Oxheart 75-80 days,vibrant red, 12ounce fruit, strawberry in shape,high yield,rich flavor.

GZ=Green Zebra 75 days-Stunning chartreuse with deep lime-green stripes, very attractive. Flesh is bright green and very rich tasting, sweet with a sharp bite to it.  High class chefs, home gardeners and specialty gardeners, love this tomato. Yield is very high, a real beauty.  3 ounces each.  

BL=Believe It or Not This varieties produces fruit 1-2lbs each, wonderful for slicing, and has a prolific yield

We are excited to announce the arrival of our homegrown heirloom tomato starter plants, for sale in our greenhouse at Coleman Florist.  We have many varieties to choose from to get you started on your way to enjoying some of the most tasty varieties we have experienced.

If you have never heard of heirloom tomato plants you are missing out on gem but, you are in for an experience.

Home gardens are growing in popularity, some out of necessity during our weakened economic times, some from the satisfaction and love of tending, growing and reaping the rewards of a garden and some from the quest to grow a plant that produces a unique look and flavor not found in the local supermarkets. 

What is a heirloom tomato?

Two of the industry tomato experts, Carolyn Male and Craig Lehoullier, break heirlooms down into 4 categories as follows:

 

The Commercial Heirloom Tomato. Introduced by seed companies before 1960,commercial heirlooms are open pollinated tomato varieties more than 40 years old.                              

 

The Family Heirloom Tomato.  Favorite tomato varieties whose seeds have been  saved and passed down from generation to generation. One variety is Aunt Ruby's German Green, and we have these available.

 

The Created Heirloom Tomato.  A tomato that's been crossed deliberately using two heirlooms, or an heirloom and a hybrid, to have certain characteristics.  Initially a hybrid, it becomes dehybridized through saving and replanting the seeds for about 5 seasons, until it grows consistently true to what the grower has intended. 

 

The Mystery Heirloom Tomato.  A tomato which arises accidentally from natural cross-pollination or mutation in the garden. This is the way most heirloom varieties originated.  

We will be posting the varieties available in a few short days, so stay tuned for much more to come, along with tips for planting, growing and enjoying your tomatoes.

Just wanted to take a moment to extend a very Happy Passover to our friends, customers, and employees. May you have a wonder holiday in celebration with your family and friends.

Joan

Coleman Florist Inc.

If you are cleaning out the closets,cupboards,attic,garage, and basement, and you don't know what to do with all the glass vases and bowls you have collected over the years, call Joan @ 315-446-0862 and make an appointment to exchange your glassware for flowers.

How it works 

Stop by or call for an appointment with your glass vases and we will determine a dollar value. This dollar value can be exchanged for flowers,applied to your flower order, or placed on our glass recycling account, in your name, for future puchases.

We extend an invitation to recycle your glass floral containers.