21 Tomatoes We're Planting This Year

Quick Overview

The video details the selection and initial planting of 21 different tomato varieties for the upcoming season, including heirloom, hybrid, and unique types like the World's Smallest Tomato and a rootstock variety for grafting experiments.

Key Points: The presenters select 21 different tomato varieties to start from seed, covering a wide range of types. They specifically highlight starting the 'World's Smallest Tomato' (Solanum pimpinellifolium), which is easy to grow indoors and has a unique flavor. They plant an heirloom storage tomato, the 'Piennolo del Vesuvio' (Yellow and Red), noting its thick skin allows for long storage. The presenters are also planting the 'Kellogg's Breakfast' tomato, a giant heirloom variety, and the 'Indigo Rose' cherry tomato for its high anthocyanin content. They introduce the 'Fortamino' tomato rootstock, which they plan to use for grafting their favorite scions onto for improved hardiness and disease resistance. They utilize a seed starting tray under a grow light, planting two seeds per cell for most varieties, except for the rootstock, which they plan to start separately for grafting later. The video briefly shows the process of fermenting tomato seeds for cleaning and mentions that the Epic Grow Light has adjustable brightness levels.

Context: Two hosts, Kevin (San Diego, CA) and Jacques (San Diego, CA), are indoors preparing to start their early season tomato seeds using a dedicated seedling tray under a grow light. They are reviewing a large selection of tomato seeds, explaining their reasons for choosing specific varieties—such as flavor, growing habit, disease resistance, and storage capabilities—before physically planting the seeds into the soil mix.

Detailed Analysis

The video features two hosts, Kevin and Jacques, selecting and planting 21 different tomato varieties indoors using a seedling tray under a specialized grow light. Kevin begins by introducing the 'World's Smallest Tomato' (Solanum pimpinellifolium), noting its easy indoor germination and small size, planting two seeds per cell. Next, they discuss storage tomatoes, specifically the heirloom 'Piennolo del Vesuvio' (Yellow and Red), emphasizing their thick skins allow for months of storage. Kevin then shows the 'Kellogg's Breakfast' tomato, an orange heirloom he enjoys for slicing, and Jacques presents the 'Indigo Rose' cherry tomato, valued for its high anthocyanin content. Jacques is also starting the 'Fortamino' tomato rootstock, which they plan to use for grafting their favorite varieties onto later to impart disease resistance and hardiness, noting that rootstock seeds are often started separately. They demonstrate planting the seeds from the packets, sometimes using fermented seeds cleaned on a paper towel, and place white plant tags in the soil. Kevin shows off the Epic Grow Light, noting its adjustable brightness settings (8, 12, or 16/24 hours) and how it provides full-spectrum light, which is superior to cheaper end grow lights. They also show seedlings they previously grew in the trays, which are now established enough to be held up for demonstration. The video concludes with a call to action to shop their store.