Thread by @nickykylegarden

A world record-breaking 261 tomato cultivars were exhibited at @NBGGlasnevin #TTTomFest19! The human race eats ½ its weight in #tomatoes annually. An important crop economically - preserving their valuable #genetic #diversity & #seed #democracy is vital to #future #foodsecurity🍅

https://twitter.com/nickykylegarden/status/1103945208671154176

1.This thread is about cordon or upright #tomato cultivars. The stunning colour of 'Indigo Rose' gave me the inspiration for the 1st #TotallyTerrificTomatoFestival in 2012. The first naturally-bred, high-anthocyanin tomato, #seed only became available to #gardeners in early 2012>

2.Rosada. The most delicious, disease-resistant, easy and productive variety of cherry/plum I've ever grown. Often bears 70 fruits on long trusses. No longer available as delisted by the politically powerful and greedy #Big4 #seed corporations when they couldn't buy the #patent!>

3. Apero - a delicious cherry/plum alternative but without Rosada's exceptional tart/sweet balanced flavour. Not as productive or disease-resistant as my benchmark Rosada, due to more compact, less airy habit. Quite a tough skin but dense meaty texture which cooks & freezes well>

4.Blush. Stunning cherry/plum. Delicious balanced sweet/tart flavour, very productive but makes too much foliage which needs reducing to promote air circulation and avoid disease. Dehydrates very well. Open-pollinated so you can save your own #seeds. Perfect for home #gardeners>

5. Sungold. Deliciously mouthwatering! Easy and productive but drops from plant and splits easily when ripe - so better for home #gardeners. Too much acidity to dehydrate well. Great for kids who won't eat #veg - one former customer's children called them tomato sweeties!🍅>

6. Green Envy. Unusual olive green, teardrop-shape, cherry-plum. Hard to assess ripeness due to green colour - but when ripe is olive/yellowish & gives slightly when gently squeezed. Sweet and juicy - a favourite here. Sets skin early, so careful watering needed or fruit splits!>

7. Now for classic medium round. John Baer - sumptuous flavour and flesh texture like top Italian beefsteak - but much easier, very productive, disease-resistant and very early. One I wouldn't be without. Open -pollinated so you can save your own #seed. A must for tomato lovers!>

8. Dr Carolyn's Pink. Another open-pollinated medium/classic type. Lipstick pink, productive, large-fruited, mouthwatering taste of #summer - with utterly fascinating #history! Irish Times gardening correspondent Fionnuala Fallon wrote about it in 2012: irishtimes.com/life-and-style…>

9. Moonglow. Medium/classic type with lovely fruity/sweet flavour - luscious, almost apricot texture. Bears large beefsteak to medium-sized fruits on same plant. Stunning, vigorous, disease-resistant old heritage variety. Open-pollinated. Very productive - can tend to over-crop.>

10.Can't leave out Indigo Rose which inspired the #TotallyTerrificTomatoFestival! Bred from a wild tomato with high levels of #cancer-fighting anthocyanins, so higher in these than any other tomato. Easy and disease-resistant. OP. Makes a great contrast in salads with White Queen