Manitoba Tomato: Hanna’s Tomato Tastings 2008

Part of Hanna’s Tomato Tastings 2008

I bought these seeds in an effort to find a good early ripening tomato. Being in Cleveland, the growing season can fluctuate dramatically from one year to the next. This means that for the most part, you have to lay your bets on Mother Nature’s temper. Odds are pretty long that she will be kind, so investing in some short season tomatoes is a good idea. Manitoba promises to do that. Let’s see how we did with the tomato bookie this year.

The description from the company I got it from reads:

6-1/2 oz. brick-red tomatoes are smooth and slightly flattened in shape. Extremely productive and very early variety developed in Manitoba, Canada. Determinate. 60 days.

The Beauty Pageant:

Size: Medium/small. Slightly larger than a golf ball.

Shape: Smooth and round. Just a smidgen flat on the top.

The inside: Compact cells inside. Thick core, thinner walls. Rather large seeds in comparison to the size of the tomato.

Texture: Not mealy, but not really silky. I think the largish seeds contribute to that. It has tough skin.

Tasting:

Off the Vine Tasting: This is a sour tomato. It is a nice sour, like a lemon. No hint of sweetness.

Sliced and Salted Tasting: Salt adds some sweetness to the sour, which is a fun combination.

Cooking Thoughts:The sour flavor lend itself well to gourmet salad and appetizers. I don’t think you would want to use this in sauce or in salsa.

Growing Notes:
Productive plant. I am not so sure that it is as early as it claims to be, but it is early enough. Leggy plant, but tied up nicely.

Will Hanna grow this one again:
Probably not. Interesting flavor, but not the kind that I am looking for. On top of that, the very sour flavor would really limit what I could use it for in cooking.