Our strain of Longkeeper comes from the collection of a long-time seedsaver, the late Steve Airhart of Stirling, Ontario. It is an excellent storage tomato that is a beautiful salmon/peach colour. It does look similar to Mystery Keeper, but we are considering them as different varieties. In particular, we are keen to offer this strain because it comes from an individual seedsaver who would have been preserving the seeds for personal use, and we are thinking, would have selected the best, longest-lasting tomatoes (like we do). In contrast, many commercial vendors of longkeepers might not have the patience to wait the 4 to 6 months after harvest to collect seeds.
Pick unripe at the end of summer and then store in a cool, dry place. Ripe when the exterior is a salmon/peach colour (they won’t get red). Fruit will be firm. Robust, easy to manage 2.5 foot plants.
We collect seed from our longkeepers in January; so, you will be able to store yours until November/December.
How to Store: In their classic how-to book, Root Cellaring, food storage experts Mike and Nancy Bubel suggest storing tomatoes at 13 to 18 C (55 to 65 F) to keep them on “hold” for a while. A spot in your basement would do or a colder room in your house. On the other hand, the Bubels also suggest you can store tomatoes at room temperature (15 to 21 C / 60 to 70 F)–on your kitchen counter, for instance, but it will speed up the ripening process a bit. Keep it simple, and do whatever works for you.
How to Plant: Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost. Plant seed 5mm (¼ inch) deep. Keep moist. When true leaves appear, transplant to a larger container if needed. Transplant outside after the danger of frost has passed/later spring.
