WILD TOMATOES
The tiniest "tomatoes" in the world, "currant" type tomatoes are actually another nightshade species called Solanum pimpinellifolium. Most so-called currant tomatoes are actually currant crosses, classified as Solanum lycopersicon var. cerasiforme. Measuring as small as 1/4", some currants are reported to contain 40 times more lycopene (ounce for ounce) than large tomatoes! They have incredibly rich tomato flavor, and are usually super sweet. They're also the first tomatoes to ripen in your garden. Did we mention that currants and wild cherries are extremely dry heat tolerant? Enjoy these wild and semi-cultivated Mexican heirlooms:
Coyote - IVORY
Currant, 1/2". Translucent ivory to pale tawny yellow, ripens to darker yellow on the shoulders. Yellow flesh, characteristic of the first tomatoes cultivated in Europe. Earthy, fruity, outrageous flavor. Translucent thin skin. Best for fresh eating (they split when picked, thus are not good keepers) or dried. Leave on the vine after ripening to dry! Indeterminate, regular leaf, very prolific. Early to mid-season crop. Heirloom, renamed from "Amarillo Silvestre Coyote" ("Wild Yellow Coyote"), originally from a wild Mexican tomato called "Coyote Tiny Yellow." First offered by Aravaipa Heirlooms in 2010.
Matt’s Wild Cherry - RED
Currant-cherry, 1/2". deep red. Deliciously sweet, with small seeds. Great off the vine, doesn't pull clean from the vine so generally is not a great keeper or market tomato. Indeterminate, tall and sprawling, regular leaf plant. Tomatoes borne in clusters. Early to mid-season crop (60-70 days). Blight-resistant. May have some frost resistance. Genetically linked to wild tomatoes from Hidalgo, Mexico. First offered by Aravaipa Heirlooms in 2011.
Orange Mexico Midget - ORANGE
Extremely rare version of the Mexico Midget. Currant-cherry, 1/2"-3/4" round to oblong fruits. Orange. Intensely flavorful. Plants produce throughout the entire growing season. Indeterminate, early to mid-season crop (60-70 days). Very prolific. First offered by Aravaipa Heirlooms in 2011.
Tomatito de Jalapa - RED
Currant-cherry, 3/4" round. Red. Sweet and tart. Indeterminate, bushy, regular leaf, mid-season crop (75-80 days). Produces clusters of 5-7 fruits. Extremely prolific. Very blight resistant, perhaps more so than any other tomato. First offered by Aravaipa Heirlooms in 2011.
Veracruz Currant - RED
A.k.a. Veracruzano. Oblong currant-cherry, up to 3/4". Red. Tangy yet super sweet. Very seedy. Indeterminate, regular leaf, vigorous with 4' branches. Early to mid-season crop (62-70 days). From Teziutlán, Puebla, Mexico. Not yet fully classified as to species. Very rare variety, one commercial seed supplier. Our favorite wild cherry! First offered by Aravaipa Heirlooms in 2011.
