For those of you who arent clear on the Story of the Stamper tomato, here it is. My immediate family...brothers and sisters...grew this tomato for years, but we did not name it. A lady to whom I sent seeds took care of that. We always just called it the big tomato. Following is a letter Gary Millwood (now deceased) of Louisville, Ky. sent to Golden Ferguson: It is late this night but I discovered your Stamper Project reunion pictures online. I was searching for Mr. James A. Stamper of Dwarf, Kentucky who he says his family grew an unknown tomato for as long as he can remember. I am growing this tomato which has been renamed in honor of the Stamper Family -- see description of this tomato variety below. I was wondering if he is still living and how I might contact him. One of the pictures showed a James A. Stamper in the background. Perhaps a family member might remember growing this tomato. A name,an e-mail, address and/or a phone number would be appreciated. I live in Louisville, Kentucky and have a special interest in preserving seed/plant varieties which were grown by our grandparents and even further back. I am particularly interested in preserving Kentucky varieties! I am retired with heart problems from the early 90s and I grow the heirloom tomatoes for my enjoyment and therapy. I look forward to hearing from you with anticipation! Gary Millwood Louisville, Kentucky 40245 In 2006 I tasted the Unknown Kentucky Heirloom aka Kentucky Pink Stamper at our CHOPTAG Tomato Tasting in Cincinnati. Carolyn Male shared a few seed with me labeled Unknown Kentucky Heirloom and I germinated some seed but the plants did not live to produce. Mary in PNW sent me a few seed and last year Earl shared a tomato left over from last years Tasting and I saved seed from it. Mary Klacson of Eugene, OR had received tomato seed called Unknown Kentucky Heirloom from James A. Stamper who resided in Dwarf, KY. He said his family had been growing this variety and a Kentucky White Pole Bean for as long as he could remember. Since the tomato had no name, Mary Klacsan, Eugene, OR, named it Kentucky Pink Stamper for and in honor of the Stamper family. Kentucky Pink Stamper: 90 days, indeterminate., potato leaf, good yield of 10-18 oz pink beefsteak fruit, very good flavor.The largest tomato so far this summer has been the KPS at 2 lbs 4 3/8 oz. So I personally had nothing to do with naming this tomato for the Stamper family; the lady in Oregon to whom I sent seeds did that part, and Im quite pleased and flattered that she chose to do so. So we have our own family tomato. Its a nice feeling. Now if we could only find a way to make some money from it.......kidding! I regret that some of you have lost your tomatoes to the predations of deer, but theres always next year. Look for more and more heirloom seed companies to begin listing seed of our tomato for sale. Its a good feeling.
Posted on: Sun, 20 Jul 2014 21:45:23 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015