Cardinal

• General Info
• Seed Availability

Cardinal
Maturity	midseason
Growth habit	indet.
Leaf type	regular
Fruit color	red
Fruit shape	oblate, globe
Fruit size	medium
Fruit type	slicer, canner
Variety type	historic, commercial heirloom
Country	USA

Burpee's description from the 1888 Burpee's Seed Catalog:

"THE CARDINAL. This new tomato, named and introduced by us in 1884, has given excellent satisfaction. It colors right up to the calyx, and every specimen is virtually of one color, the most brilliant cardinal red; the flesh appears of the same red color, being scarcely any lighter. The pulp is very thick, with comparatively few seeds and absolutely no green core. In shape the Cardinal is nearly round and uniformly smooth, withough any ridges. It is as early and much larger in size than Livingston's Perfection. The fruits are firm and solid; keep well. The plants bear abundantly throughout the entire summer."

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Henderson's description from the 1890 Peter Henderson & Co Vegetable Seeds Catalog:

"CARDINAL. Color brilliant cardinal red when ripe; appearing as if varnished; flesh of almost as bright a color. In shape almost round, solid, and with very few seeds."

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History

• A vey old commercial tomato variety introduced by W. Atlee Burpee in 1884.
• Sometimes a totally different variety, Kardinal, is incorrectly spelled as 'Cardinal'.
• There was also an F1 hybrid called Cardinal released by the Joseph Harris Co. in the late 1950s.
• PI 270175. Donated to USDA in 1960.

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See also

• Kardinal (pink heart-shaped Russian commercial tomato)

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Seed Availability

Year	Commercial Vendors	Seed Savers Yearbook (Member listings)	Seeds of Diversity (Member listings)
2018		.	.
2017		.	.
2016		.	.
2015		.	.
2014	Victory Seed Company	.	.
2013	Victory Seed Company	.	.
2012	Victory Seed Company	1	0
2011	Victory Seed Company	1	0
2010	Victory Seed Company	1	.
2009	Victory Seed Company	1	.
2008	Victory Seed Company	2	.
2007		2	.

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