Orange You Glad I Asked?

Two different stories of how the Amana Orange tomato got its name led me on a hunt for the true story. Here’s how I got to the root of the matter.

Launch Gallery

Black , green , majestic , violent , pinkish , yellow , white , and undress . I ’d grown heirloom Lycopersicon esculentum in just about every colour , but this summer was my first time to maturate an orange one . I was so felicitous with Amana Orange , I wanted to regain out more about it .

An cyberspace search led me to two chronicle for how this magnificent orange tomato acquire its name . One translation stated the tomato plant was named by someone who work for the Amana appliance company ; another story say it was named for the colonisation know as the Amana Colonies in Amana , Iowa .

To expose this tomato plant ’s real history , I tattle with the gentleman who identify it . As it turns out , the level is n’t as much about how the tomato got its name . It ’s how an ordinary nurseryman made an extraordinary breakthrough .

Trading Heirloom ejaculate

As an avid nurseryman and member of theSeed Savers Exchange , Gary Haley enjoyed thumbing through the yearly and take heirloom seeds to trade with other members .

“ I ’d look for a variety of ejaculate I require to grow and then get a sample of about 25 of those seeds , ” he say . “ Then I ’d grow them out , spare the seeds and have that multifariousness everlastingly . ”

During one trade with another member , he received a sample of tomato seeds , planted them , and was surprised at the results . One plant grew orange tomato plant .

“ It was so perfect , I think it had to be a variety that had been around a long clip , ” Gary says . “ I explore and look , but I could n’t find it . ”

Gary says he grow the orange tomato for three more season to ensure it develop true to type . “ It was so perfect , I could n’t get over it , ” he say .

He unloose the seeds to Seed Savers Exchange in 1984 .

“ It went dotty after that , ” he says .

court to Amana

Gary distinguish his new tomato ‘ Amana Orange ’ because he was work as a client service congressman for Amana Refrigeration in the eighties . In those day , customer serving reps traveled around their multi - state territory solve problems for distributors , which could let in repairing equipment . Gary live in Cincinnati at the metre , but several times a twelvemonth he go to the Amana readiness in Amana , Iowa , where the refrigerator and microwave oven were made .

During his visits he had the chance to get acquainted with the folks who lived in the group of small town called the Amana Colonies . The colonies were founded in 1855 as a self - sufficient religious community of interests .

“ I love my job and I loved the Amana Colonies so much that I diagnose the tomato ‘ Amana Orange ’ , ” Gary excuse .

Now gardeners everywhere can see the same tomato on the pages of many seed catalogs and websites . I received my Amana Orange seeds as a spare sample to trial in my garden fromLake Valley Seedin Boulder , Colo.

These heirloom Beefsteak - eccentric tomatoes grow on tall undetermined plants and take about 90 days to suppurate . The beautiful undimmed orange fruit is nicely flute and has a honeyed , yet tart taste .

Still Growing heirloom

Gary is in his early 70s now and does n’t grow Amana Orange in his garden anymore . His current favorite tomato is a pinkish heirloom call ‘ Caspian . ’ As a lifespan member of the Seed Savers Exchange , he continues to trade in seed and try new variety every year in his Florida garden .

Without any formal training in gardening , Gary inaugurate a wonderful heirloom tomato to the gardening world . Even though Amana Orange will connect him to gardeners for generations to come , he shrug off his contribution .

The Amana Orange is an heirloom Beefsteak tomato with beautiful color and a bright taste that’s equal parts sweet and tart.Photo/Illustration: John Pendleton

“ It was just something that fall out , ” he articulate .

Fine Gardening urge mathematical product

Razor - Back Potato / Refuse Hook

Fine Gardening find a commission for items buy through connection on this site , including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising program .

A.M. Leonard Deluxe Soil Knife & Leather Sheath Combo

Berry & Bird Rabbiting Spade , Trenching Shovel

Get our in style bakshish , how - to article , and instructional videos send off to your inbox .

Signing you up …

Container Tomato Yields Big Results

Roundup of the Top Tomatoes for 2014

Tomato Lovers Need This Catalog

‘Tomaccio’ Tomatoes Are All Dried Up

connect hunky-dory Gardening for a free engaging live webinar boast Dr. Janna Beckerman , a famous plant diagnostician as well as prof emerita at Purdue University and the ornamentals technical director …

When I espy a special sand dollar bill cactus ( Astrophytum asterias ) at the Philadelphia Flower Show a few month ago , I do it I was in trouble . With a delightful gloss rule …

When we only prioritise plants we desire over plant our landscape painting needs , each season is filled with a never - terminate list of chores : pruning , pinching , watering , treating , amending , and fertilizing , with …

Video

Touring an Eco-friendly, Shady Backyard Retreat

You must be careful when you move into the backyard of garden designer Jeff Epping — not because you ’re potential to trip on something , but because you might be dive - flunk by a pair …