This beautiful beefsteak tomato is one of our favourite finds.
The Tomato: The Mansfield Tree Tomato has uniquely coloured fruit – we would describe its colour as rosy-pink to crimson-pink (see images showing a range of colours). The tomatoes weigh about 150g (5 oz) and have a good mild sweetness. This is a tall healthy plant that can get up to 7 feet in height and has very good production.
But wait there’s more – lots more! This is a very long-lost tomato with an amazing story.
The Amazing Story Behind the Tomato: We can confidently say that the ‘Mansfield Tree Tomato’ dates back to the 1870s. Over the years, this tomato has had a few names depending on the seed vendor, but there have been enough clues along the way to follow the name trail. Its ‘real’ or original name is ‘Mansfield Tree Tomato’– this is the name given to it by William Mansfield, the gardener who spent 20 years developing this tomato from the 1870s to the late 1880s. It has also been called the ‘Mansfield Giant Tree’; ‘Mansfield’s Mammoth Tree’; Mansfield Climbing; ‘Mammoth Prize’ and ‘Giant Climbing’.
We also think it is the original ‘Giant Tree’ tomato.
Wait There’s More! We have been in touch with a member of William’s family. William’s great-great-great-great-grandson reached out to us. He was so happy to find the tomato in our collection — his family thought it had been lost to history. William’s grandson (x4) also shared some family history. He said his grandfather (who met William’s son Frank) used to tell him about William’s giant ‘tree tomatoes’. How cool is that! So even though they thought the seeds were lost, the family kept the stories of William’s tomato alive. We have included a few more details the family shared with us in the story below.
What follows is a condensed version of the Mansfield Tree Tomato’s story. If you would like to read the longer version — please scroll down to the end of the story for a link to our ‘Seed Story’ on this tomato.
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The Amazing Story of the Mansfield Tree Tomato
This tomato first entered the seed trade in the late 1880s. One of the earliest and best descriptions of it was published in the Mills Seed Company catalogue of 1890. In their catalogue, the seed company included an engraving of Mr Mansfield and his tomatoes with a charming sign above the tomatoes that read, “There Are No Chickens Up Here” (see image).
William’s great-great-great-great-grandson (Bryce) let us know that William was 6’6″ tall — which puts into perspective how tall his tomatoes were in the catalogue engraving. The family also shared with us that William was born on Jan 25, 1825 in Groton, Middlesex, Mass. He lived to be 89 years old (he died in 1914). Which means he was about 65 years old when the ‘Mansfield Tree Tomato’ entered the seed trade (around 1890) and the engraving of him was made ( see image of “There Are No Chickens Up Here”).
Back to 1890, here is the Mills Seed Company’s account of the ‘Mansfield Tree Tomato’:
New tomatoes seem to be the rage with seedsmen in the United States, each one trying to outdo the other by introducing new seeds. I have always made it a point to test new varieties of tomatoes as they are brought out and am careful to note the merits of each one separately. Last spring I heard of a new tomato in Wisconsin which was claimed to be a ‘Tree Tomato’, and which would grow ten feet high and produce larger tomatoes than any other variety in cultivation. I at once made an investigation, and the originator made claims which I could hardly believe, but I knew if they would produce tomatoes as he said, they certainly were the greatest tomatoes in cultivation. I was determined to give them a trial on my grounds, and at quite an expense I procured a supply of the plants direct from Mr Mansfield, the originator. They arrived late in May with tops somewhat broken, but I set them all out just to see what they would do.
The season was the worst one for tomatoes I ever saw, but in spite of that the ‘Tree Tomato’ grew very fast, and by September 1st, it was the grandest and most wonderful sight at my seed grounds; such vines I never saw before, and as to tomatoes, there was no end, which were smooth, of handsome color, and of immense size. I find the originator made claims which were true, not praising them any too much, and below I publish a letter received from him giving the history, so all can see what a wonderful tomato this is. After finding out that they were an excellent kind, I at once made arrangements with the originator for all the seed he had and now am able to offer the true and genuine seed, which can be procured of no other seedsman this spring.
Under date of October 15th, 1889 Mr Mansfield, the originator writes–”I will state facts and nothing but facts: – The Mansfield Tree tomato has been originated by me after eighteen years of careful selections and special methods of cultivation, until it has attained the heights of 10 feet and 7 inches for the tree, and a weight for a single tomato of 3 ¼ ounces and a diameter of 6 inches, with testimonials of over 60 pounds of ripe fruit to a single tree, of a quality that surpasses all others. Fruit ripens from July 4th until frost. I have one tree laid by for a sample, to show you or any of your customers, which measures 10 feet and 7 inches, and can show testimonials to back all my statements, and you can stake any money on them on my account, and come on for the vouchers. I had my first ripe tomato on July 4th, and a fine one it was. My best trees, July 25th, stood 7 feet high, and I had tomatoes on them that were five inches in diameter at that time and still growing. They were then all liberally loaded with fruit from the blossom up to five inches, and run up as high as seventeen on one stem, and always of superior quality. They are as solid all the way through as a hard boiled egg, and but very few seeds in a tomato. There are several other tomatoes that have been called Tree Tomatoes, but all have proved to be poor, worthless, and sour tomatoes, but the ‘Mansfield Tree Tomato’ has proved to be all is claimed for it, and sends back to me from sample seed sent out, most wonderful accounts from Dakota to Vermont, and from the Lakes to Florida and California.”
In 1893, the May Seed Company of St. Paul, Minnesota published another good description of the tomato and included a lovely colour image on the back page of their catalogue (see image):
This variety has created the greatest sensation since its introduction two years ago. This past season it grew to a height of over fifteen feet, and produced Tomatoes of enormous size and the most delicious flavor. All who have tasted the Mansfield are loud in their praise of its fine quality, wonderful growth and beauty of its fruit. Mr William Mansfield has spent twenty years in growing and experimenting with the Tomato and success at last crowned his efforts. We have grown almost every tomato that has been introduced for a number of years, and must confess we have never seen anything that could equal the Mansfield in growth and productiveness. Last season we procured a large supply of seed but sold out a number of times, and were obliged to pay an enormous price to Mr Mansfield for all the seed he could furnish.
But if this is such a great tomato, why have you never heard of it before? If you want to keep reading, check out our ‘Seed Story’ on the Mansfield Tree Tomato HERE.
We are so excited to bring the Mansfield Tree Tomato back to the seed trade with its rightful story!
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How to Plant: Start seeds indoors 6 weeks before the last frost. Plant seed 5mm (¼ inch) deep. Transplant after the danger of frost has passed/later spring.
