Tomato Varieties of the 1950s

The emphasis for tomatoes in the 1950s was on hybrids.

The 1950s was a pivotal decade in the development of tomato varieties. During the decade, university agriculture departments and commercial growers alike looked to jump on the hybrid bandwagon.

History

The W. Atlee Burpee & Co. field trials of hybrid tomatoes paid off with the 1949 introduction of Big Boy, still a widely grown tomato given its resistance to disease and its sturdiness. Hybrids, the cross of two different parents, took center stage from open-pollinated tomatoes, which grow true to the parent plant.

Types

In 1951, the Urbana variety, which won an All-American selection that year, and Rutgers 8828 came to market, followed in 1955 by Early Giant, Big Early and Mammoth Wonder. A year later, Golden Marglobe and Roma 54SM11 were released.

Significance

Heirloom tomatoes went into eclipse as hybrids took over from the 1950s until 1970s. The 1980s foodie trend and the sustainable agriculture movement of the 1990s allowed for a renaissance of pre-World War II heirlooms. In addition, the introductions of the 1950s were superseded by later hybrids, including Early Girl, Better Boy and Celebrity, which now top most extension service lists of recommended hybrids.

References

• University of Arkansas: Big Boy Tomato Hybrid
• All-American Suggestions: AAS Winners 1933 to Present
• NC State: Vegetable Cultivar Descriptions for North America, Tomato, A-I
• NC State: Vegetable Cultivar Descriptions for North America, Tomato, J-R
• Burpee: What Is An Heirloom