Tomato time
Experiment station looks to develop new varieties of popular fruit
By Larry Meyer
Argus Observer
Thursday, May 21, 2009 10:16 AM PDT
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| Kelli McPeak (left), Steve Norberg (foreground, right) and Anna-Marie Chamberlain, all extension staff members, plant tomatoes Wednesday at the Malheur Experiment Station. Fifty-five different varieties were planted. |
ONTARIO — The Malheur Experiment Station may be more associated with the research it does for the agriculture industry, but every now and again it also turns its attention to the average gardener who may want to know what to plant.
In a new tomato variety trial now going on locally, Malheur County Extension staff members, under the direction of extension staff Chairman Lynn Jensen, are attempting to find out what varieties of tomato grow best in the Treasure Valley.
The project is not small. In fact, 55 different varieties of tomato are being planted by extension staff members. With two plants per variety and some extras, there are 120 to 130 total plants.
Among the plants there are well-known selections, heirloom varieties and assortments developed locally. Heirloom tomatoes have been around for a long time, which people plant year after year, Jensen said.
“There is a lot of interest in heirloom. People don’t like hybrids,” he said.
Jensen said the research is being done with an eye on the local gardeners who may be questioning what to buy. Helping Jensen with his project Wednesday afternoon were Steve Norberg, extension office field crops and watershed specialist; Kelli McPeak, 4-H assistant; Anna-Marie Chamberlain, livestock and range specialist, and Donna Culley, office manager.
“We think it is a good idea,” Chamberlain said.
Two of the varieties are connected to familiar names. “Treasure Valley” was developed by Clint Shock, superintendent of the experiment station.
“I grow it every year,” Shock said.
There is also a “Big Red” variety that was developed by Hugh Kennington, well-known Lincoln Heights farmer.
Jensen went around and bought plants wherever local gardeners would have picked them up.
The Extension Office gets a fair amount of people coming in with questions about gardening, most of them having to do with some insect or disease problem, he said. Tomatoes are the most asked about, he said.
People are welcome at the experiment station anytime to look at the plants, Jensen said, but there will be special events where the public will be invited to visit the center to learn about the project.
