Highland Magic tomato seeds are a type of tomato seed that produces highly flavorful and nutritious tomatoes. These seeds are specially bred to thrive in highland environments, making them an ideal choice for gardeners who live in mountainous or cool regions. The tomatoes produced by these seeds are known for their rich taste and vibrant colors. One of the main advantages of Highland Magic tomato seeds is their ability to withstand colder temperatures. Unlike traditional tomato varieties, which may struggle or even die in low temperatures, Highland Magic tomatoes are more cold-tolerant. This makes them a great option for gardeners who live in regions with short summers or cool climates.
When the time comes to sow your tomato seeds, a few weeks before the last frost, think about a few things. First, what kind of tomatoes do you want to grow? Are you going to grow determinate tomatoes, which stay smaller, and are great for canning? Or do you want to grow indeterminate tomatoes that grow anywhere from 6 to 20 feet and require a trellis? Of course, you won’t need to trellis seedlings, but plan for that.
You ll need a lot of direct sun, and most people starting in winter need a grow light to supplement in a small sunny window on the south side of a home. Instead use generous amounts of well-rotted cow or horse manure or compost to boost plant vigor, and crushed eggshells or gypsum at the bottom of each hole for calcium.
This makes them a great option for gardeners who live in regions with short summers or cool climates. In addition to their cold tolerance, Highland Magic tomatoes also offer excellent disease resistance. They are less prone to common tomato diseases such as blight and leaf spots, allowing gardeners to have a higher chance of success.
Mountain Magic Small-Fruited Tomato
Lycopersicon esculentum
(69 days) F-1 hybrid. Compact Indeterminate. NC State University’s emeritus professor Randy Gardner would be at the top of any list of elite plant breeders. Gardner, who “retired” in 2008 after 32 years, is still adding to his impressive oeuvre of 22 superb tomato varieties, most bearing his signature prefix ‘Mountain.’ He was among the first to take up the heirloom challenge to breed flavor into his hybrids, and he is among the first to combat LB. Mountain Magic, with grape tomato in its parentage, does both. Even in CR’s unstaked unpruned overcrowded tomato jungles, his unblemished round crack-free two-bite red fruits stand long. Almost all were marketable, growing in clusters of 7 or 8, 10–11 to the pound. As for production: rousing. During a 15-day period beginning Aug. 31, 2012, he harvested 106 fruits—all but three perfect—from a single plant. Juicy with a rich sprightly flavor that greatly pleased and refreshed me. Bryan O’Hara sums it up: “Holy winner! Great vigor and disease resistance, high yields, great sweet flavor…you’ve got a great one.” Ultra-expensive seed sold by count. Resists LB, V, F1-3 with tolerance to EB. ~480 seeds/g. Seed may have an organically certifiable coating. ④
4225 Mountain Magic
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Additional Information
Hybrid Cherry, Grape & Salad Tomatoes
350–600 seeds/g unless otherwise noted.
Preventing Late Blight
- Where possible, use resistant varieties.
- Try to find tolerant cultivars—use anecdotal evidence and experiment.
- Grow your own tomato plants or buy locally grown seedlings. Avoid big-box seedlings. Know your farmer!
- Do not use saved potatoes as seed stock. Purchase only new certified disease-free seed potatoes. Click here for more potato-related late blight info.
- Plant in areas with full sun and few wind blocks. Avoid shade and moist environments. Facilitate air movement. Maintain high soil fertility.
- If you choose to spray, have a plan and materials on hand, so you can make quick and timely application(s) when conditions indicate. Order supplies from Organic Growers Supply
- Most market growers and many home gardeners now grow at least a portion of their tomatoes in high tunnels, which greatly reduces vulnerability though still requires vigilance.
Information Sources
- See vegetablemdonline.ppath.cornell.edu/ for excellent photos and info.
- University of Maine Cooperative Extension: Potato IPM bi-weekly tells where LB infections have been confirmed in Maine or the eastern United States, umaine.edu/potatoes, 1-888-USE-UMCE.
- Or use the forecast model uspest.org/risk/tom_pot_map to assess potential for spore germination and lesion formation in your area.
Tomatoes
- Days to maturity are from date of transplanting
- 9,000 seeds per oz, 0.1 gram pkt ~30 seeds, 0.2 gram pkt ~60 seeds, 0.5 gram pkt ~150 seeds.
Culture: Usually started indoors Feb–April. Minimum germination soil temperature 60°, optimal range 75–90°. Transplant after frost danger has passed. Avoid using fresh manure as it causes lush foliage with few ripe fruits. Instead use generous amounts of well-rotted cow or horse manure or compost to boost plant vigor, and crushed eggshells or gypsum at the bottom of each hole for calcium. Heavy phosphorus needs. Responds well to foliar sprays.
- Determinate (Det.) bush varieties may be staked, should not be pruned.
- Indeterminate (Ind.) climbing varieties are customarily staked and pruned. Tomato experts Carolyn Male and Kokopelli’s Dominique Guillet both oppose pruning, arguing more abundant foliage provides more photosynthesis.
Organically and sustainably grown seed was rinsed with a sodium hypochlorite solution to reduce risk of seed-borne disease. This treatment poses no health risks.
Saving Seed: Saving tomato seed is easy! Remove stem-end and crush the fully ripe fruit into a container. Ferment uncovered for a few days until the slurry forms a moldy cap. Rinse in a fine strainer and dry seeds on a coffee filter. To ensure true-to-type seed, grow open-pollinated varieties and separate by 50 feet.
Diseases:
- ASC: Alternaria Stem Canker
- EB: Early Blight
- F: Fusarium
- GLS: Grey Leaf Spot
- LB: Late Blight
- N: Nematodes
- SEPT: Septoria Leaf Spot
- TSWV: Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus
- TMV: Tobacco Mosaic Virus
- V: Verticillium
Pests and Disease Remedies for Tomatoes
Early Blight shows up as drying and dying leaves at the bottom of the plant. EB can be managed culturally; should not result in significant crop loss. Mulching deters EB by reducing rain splash on foliage. Do not compost affected plants as EB can overwinter even on dead tissue.
Cultural controls: Rotation, avoid stressing plants, staking, minimize leaf wetness, mulching, indeterminate varieties are more resistant/tolerant, disinfect stakes & cages.
Material controls: Regalia, Cease.
Late Blight usually starts on the foliage of the plant. Early in the season, late blight infection shows as roundish lesions on leaves that uniquely will cross the center vein of the leaf. Later, blotches appear on stems. Still later, hard crusty lesions form on fruits. LB on tomatoes is not seed-borne and does not survive on dead tissue. Letting plants freeze on soil surface kills LB spores.
Cultural controls: Destroy cull potatoes & potato volunteers, avoid overhead irrigation.
Material controls: Regalia, Copper, Cease.
Septoria Leaf Spot can appear almost overnight. It is characterized by yellowing and small circular spots on older leaves. It can eventually spread to the entire plant in conditions of high humidity and temperatures. It can be spread by wind or carried on clothing and tools. Septoria can live over the winter on live tissue, so don't compost affected plants.
Cultural controls: Space plants for good air circulation.
Material controls: Regalia, Copper, MilStop.
Anthracnose
Cultural controls: Rotation, mulching, minimize plant wetness, staking, use compost.
Material controls: MilStop, Copper, Regalia, Cease
Tomato Hornworm
Cultural controls: Look for frass (droppings) and handpick. Eeeuww! Use a blacklight to find them. See if you can get the chickens to eat them.
Material controls: Bacillus thuringiensis subsp.kurstaki, Monterey Garden Insect Spray, Entrust.
Tarnished Plant Bug
Cultural controls: Floating row covers, good weed control.
Material Controls: Pyrethrin.
Bacterial Canker, Spec and Spot
Cultural controls: Disinfect greenhouse materials & cages, farming tools & gloves, avoid overhead irrigation, don’t work crop when wet, rotate crops, use compost.
Material controls: Copper.
Germination Testing
For the latest results of our germination tests, please see the germination page.
This disease resistance feature not only reduces the need for chemical pesticides but also contributes to a healthier and more productive garden. Growing Highland Magic tomatoes is relatively easy and straightforward. Like all tomatoes, they require well-drained soil, ample sunlight, and regular watering. While they can be grown in containers, they tend to thrive when planted in the ground in garden beds. The plants should be spaced adequately to allow for proper air circulation and prevent overcrowding. When it comes to harvesting, Highland Magic tomatoes should be picked when they are fully ripe but still firm. This ensures that they reach their peak flavor and nutritional value. These tomatoes can be used in a variety of dishes, from fresh salads to homemade sauces and salsas. In conclusion, Highland Magic tomato seeds are a fantastic choice for gardeners looking to grow flavorful and nutritious tomatoes in highland environments. Their cold tolerance and disease resistance make them an ideal option for gardeners who live in cool or mountainous regions. With proper care and cultivation, these seeds can yield a bountiful harvest of delicious tomatoes..
Reviews for "The Magic Continues: Crossbreeding Highland Tomatoes"
1. Jane - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with the Highland magic tomato seeds. Despite following all the instructions carefully, the seeds did not germinate well at all. Out of the pack of 20 seeds, only 6 successfully sprouted, and even those plants didn't produce as many tomatoes as I had expected. The flavor of the tomatoes was also rather bland, not at all what I was hoping for. Overall, I would not recommend these seeds if you are looking for a reliable and flavorful tomato harvest.
2. Mark - 1 star - The Highland magic tomato seeds were a complete waste of time and money for me. Not a single seed sprouted, despite my efforts to provide them with optimal growing conditions. I've grown tomatoes successfully in the past, so I know it wasn't an issue with my gardening skills. I reached out to customer service for assistance, but they were unresponsive and unhelpful. I'm extremely disappointed in the quality of these seeds and will not be purchasing from this brand again.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - I had high hopes for the Highland magic tomato seeds, but unfortunately, they did not meet my expectations. While some of the seeds did germinate and grow into plants, the overall yield was disappointingly low. The tomatoes themselves were small and lacked flavor, making them less enjoyable to eat and use in cooking. I also found that the plants required a lot of maintenance and care, which was more time-consuming than I had anticipated. I won't be repurchasing these seeds in the future.