Tomatomania V: Off to the Races

June 4, 2022June 6, 2022 Mike Nowak Dwarf Tomato Project, Epic Tomatoes, gardening, Growing Epic Tomatoes, growing tomatoes, KC Tomato, Keith LeHoullier, Open Source Seed Initiative, Peggy Malecki, Seed to Kitchen Collaborative, The Mike Nowak Show

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(June 5, 2022) If it’s June, we’re off to the races. The tomato races, that is. Those of us who live in the northern Midwest know that June 1 is kind of a starting block. The cooler weather is (usually) past, and we can safely get our tomato babies in the ground. Or in a container. Or in a straw bale, as we’ll learn today. Because this is Tomatomania V with Craig LeHoullier and Keith Mueller (aka KC Tomato). And because it’s the fifth Tomatomania, I’m going to do as little writing as possible. I’m borrowing heavily from my previous Tomatomania posts.

KC Tomato

For instance, this information about Mueller’s background is lifted from Tomatomania III.

But he doesn’t grow and breed just tomatoes. His work breeding many kinds of plants stretches over 30 years. Currently, he works on several cooperative breeding projects. Mueller is helping to develop vegetable varieties for the Midwest specifically adapted to organic conditions. The project is funded through the USDA’s Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) and involves several universities like the University of Wisconsin, the Organic Seed Alliance and Seedlinked. He also works with Dr. Randy Gardner to develop plants with multiple disease resistant traits and heirloom qualities.

Mueller says there is an emphasis on selecting for flavor. Farmers, Chefs and Breeders are all involved in the process and lines developed will become part of the Open Source Seed Initiative. He notes that he will be in Madison, Wisconsin for an event with the Seed to Kitchen Collaborative and the Culinary Breeding Network. Varieties being developed in the program will be used by chefs and highlighted at a tasting Aug 21. It will be held at the Historic Garver Feed Mill in Madison.

NC Tomatoman

Here, I just lifted Craig LeHoullier’s own words from his website.

Through the years, I’ve been known as NC Tomatoman. Some know me as the fellow who named Cherokee Purple in 1990. To others, I am the author of the books Epic Tomatoes or Growing Vegetables in Straw Bales, the co-host of Tomatopalooza, a co-leader of the Dwarf Tomato Breeding Project, or just the odd person with a garden where the driveway used to be. I am the tomato nut with a website, a blog, a newsletter (on occasion), and a huge tomato and pepper and eggplant collection. Really, all I am is Craig LeHoullier – someone that heirloom tomatoes chose to help participate in their continued relevance.

LeHoullier says he scaled back dramatically this year. He’s growing less than half the tomatoes of past years. And he didn’t do a seedling sale this year. He’s still working with Joe Lamp’l on the Growing Epic Tomatoes course. He writes,

Tomatomania V - Craig LeHoullier's nasty shorts — **Craig LeHoullier with his daughter and his nasty shorts.**

Mostly…I want to start feeling more retired and do what I want, when I want! (meaning – lots of hiking!). My garden will be interesting – lots of R and D. The Dwarf [Tomato] project is still smoking – we are up to 145 varieties in total. So – still having fun!

Speaking of fun, check out LeHoullier on the right in his nasty shorts.

Join us today for Tomatomania V! I’ll make sure that Keith and Craig provide some great tomato tips. Grab your notebooks! And your tomatoes!