Question
A friend served me the best tomatoes I ever tasted last year. They were big ugly bumpy things, but the slices were the size of a saucer.
At my request she gave me some plants this year and I'm hoping to have some of these great tomatoes for preserving. I was told they were a plant that had been in the family for generations with the seed being saved from year to year. The plant itself is a leggy stringy thing and I would like to know if vintage plants tend to be that way or what I can fertilize it with to help it be a little stronger. Otherwise I don't know how it will support tomatoes the size of the ones I saw!

If it would help to see a picture of the plant I can send a picture if you will tell me where to send it. I don't see a way to attach a photo to this message.

If you know of another place to contact on identifying the plant, I'd like to know it.
Thanks, Barbara

Answer
a lot of the older varieties were grown on the ground w/out the aid of cages. you may want to let them sprawl out on the ground. HGTV had a segment on Gardening by the Yard about old tomato types. look on their web site(www.hgtv.com) to see when/if it will be aired again. the retired guy who grew them had a listing of old tomato types. unfortunately most were common names(big red, oscar's favorite, dad's best, etc.). w/out a latin binomial name it would be hard to match yours to one they list. use miracle grow water soluable when you water. i like granular types(espoma brand gardentone, etc.) that allows the rain to distribute it to the dirt. visit your local garden center/nursery to see what they recommend. see if you can buy a book on old tomato types(border's book store, etc.-ortho, sunset, etc.). newer varieties(big boy, giant girl, beefmaster, etc.) are all bred to give nicer plants and better fruit. more than likely your variety is a leggy type by nature. i'm assuming they are planted in a full sun area where they will do best.
good luck
rick