The butterflies have been abundant in August into early September

In a recent Instagram Live, one of my good gardening friends, Dan in Colorado, asked a great question. Since I wrote Epic Tomatoes in the 2012-2013 time span, was the Top 250 Tomatoes list that I created for that book still hold? If I were to update the book, what changes would I make?

I’ve grown hundreds of tomato varieties in the 11 or so years since I made that first list for the book. It is therefore completely understandable - necessary - that there are quite a few changes to the list - for each one added, one has to come off. Without further ado (or words from me) - let’s start with the removals.

The 44 varieties that I no longer consider to be a variety worthy of my top 250 list

Abraham Lincoln
Beefsteak
Big Boy hybrid
Chalk’s Early Jewel
Earliana
John Baer
Oregon Spring
Red Pear
Shannon’s
Stick
Tommy Toe
Wayahead
Dwarf Champion
Golden Queen
Oxheart
Ponderosa
Watermelon Beefsteak
Perth Pride
Black Prince
Gold Ball
Madara
Sunray
Ace
Better Bush hybrid
Break O’Day
Colossal Red
Gurney Girl hybrid
Matchless
Prue
Scarlet Topper
Silvery Fir Tree
Stone
Ultra Boy hybrid
Burgundy Traveler
German Johnson
Nicky Crain
Peach Blow Sutton
Porter
Brad’s Black Heart
Southern Night
Garden Peach
Gold Nugget
Yellow Pear
Virginia Sweets

The 44 varieties that replace those above are

Potato Leaf Yellow
Rufus Rainbow
Lucky Bling
Mary’s Favorite
World War II
Earl
Rosella Cherry
Cancelmo Family Heirloom
Polish Bling
Don’s Double Delight
Blue’s Bling
Casey’s Pure Yellow
Abraham Brown
Captain Lucky
Large Lucky Red

and the following Dwarf Tomato Project varieties

Summer Sweet Gold
Blazing Beauty
Uluru Ochre
Sweet Scarlet Dwarf
Wherokowhai
Orange Cream
BrandyFred
Coorong Pink
Beauty King
Firebird Sweet
Walter’s Fancy
Golden Tipsy
Eagle Smiley
Vince’s Haze
Parfait
Maura’s Cardinal
Egypt Yellow
Wild Spudleaf
Elsie’s Fancy
Suz’s Beauty
Gloria’s Treat
CC McGree
Snakebite
Oriole
Chocolate Heartthrob
Purple Heartthrob
Peppermint Stripes
Confetti
Saucy Mary

Each removal and addition has specific reasons, but this blog would be far too long and wordy if I included all of that. If anyone has specific questions, just ask! Happy reading!