Tomato, Fakel (Organic)
Solanum lycopersicum. Red Paste. 70-75 days. Det.
Deep red, 2 ½” slightly oval, 2-3 oz fruit with exceptional sweet flavor on vigorous plants that are extremely prolific, even in cool conditions. Juicy and thick walled, these paste-type fruit are good for processing and also fresh eating. Fruit detaches without calyx, which makes for fast picking for processing. Russian variety, first brought from Moscow to Oregon by Kate Gessert, who was a leader of horticultural tours in the former Soviet Union and author of The Beautiful Food Garden. It then found its way to the Heritage Seed Library in England and we again brought it back to Oregon from there. The name Fakel (Факел) means torch or flame in Russian and was bred in the Soviet Union as a Moldovan commercial variety in 1970. Developed by Pridnestrovian Agricultural Research Institute, which is located in what is now the breakaway state of Transnistria. The tense situation in Transnistria is sadly another example of how antagonistic politics and war can threaten gene banks and agricultural research.
Sow indoors in flats with good potting soil as early as February, but no later than April. Keep warm and well-watered. Up pot seedlings into 4” pots once they have two true leaves. Transplant into the garden once danger of frost has passed.
Seed Saving
Collect seeds from ripe fruit by squeezing into a jar and add 25% more water. Wait a few days for mold to form. When seeds sink and gel-sac is gone, stir, add water, then decant and rinse to clean. Dry thoroughly. Tomatoes are mostly self-pollinating; isolation is not usually needed for seeds to be true to type.
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