Chalk's Early Jewel
From Tatiana's TOMATOBase
[edit]
| Chalk's Early Jewel | |
|---|---|
| Maturity | midseason |
| Growth habit | indet. |
| Leaf type | regular |
| Fruit color | red |
| Fruit shape | round |
| Fruit size | medium |
| Fruit type | slicer |
| Variety type | |
| Country | |
KY ST M
- Good producer of 3-4 oz red oblong globes.
- Seed Source
- Reimer Seeds
Year:
Location: Sonora, Kentucky
History
- Created by James Chalk of Norristown, Pennsylvania, introduced in 1899.
- Commercial variety available in the USA in the 1900-1930s.
- Click here to view a page from J.M. Thorburn & Co. 1908 Catalog on Craig LeHoullier's website. The catalog description says:
- " Fine large, solid, smooth, bright red; similar to Stone; early."
- Click here to view a page from Burpee 1914 Catalog on Craig LeHoullier's website. The catalog description says:
- "At Fordhook, from seed planted at the same time and with plants grown under the same conditions, Early Jewel is only about one week later in ripening the first fruits than Spark's Earliana, while it is a much more desirable variety in many ways. The plants are of strong, robust growth, with ample foliage to protect the fruits from sunscald, and the foliage is not subject to blight.
- The bright scarlet fruits are extremely handsome and of the finest table quality - quite equal to our famous Matchless. The tomatoes are smooth, round, very deep, and entirely free from cracks or blemishes; solidly meaty, with only a few small seed-cells, and of remarkably fine sweet flavor. The specimen shown in our illustration is of average size, but Mr. Chalk freequently gathers specimens weighing one pound each and upwards. For general garden planting or where an extra fine fruit is desired for early market Chalk's Jewel is the most desirable variety in cultivation. We offer only the choiced seed of our own growing at Fordhook Farms."
Related
Picture Gallery
Sherry Shiesl, Alaska. Chalk's Early Jewel - green fruit. July 2009. Uploaded with the owner's permission.
Seed Availability
| Year | Commercial Vendors | Seed Savers Yearbook (Member listings) | Seeds of Diversity (Member listings) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | . | . | |
| 2017 | Reimer Seeds | . | . |
| 2016 | . | . | |
| 2015 | . | . | |
| 2014 | Seed Savers Exchange TomatoFest |
. | . |
| 2013 | Sand Hill Preservation Center - sold out for 2013 Seed Savers Exchange TomatoFest |
. | . |
| 2012 | . | . | |
| 2011 | Sand Hill Preservation Center Seed Savers Exchange TomatoFest |
5 | 2 |
| 2010 | Blue Ribbon Tomatoes Sand Hill Preservation Center Seed Savers Exchange TomatoFest |
1 | . |
| 2009 | Sand Hill Preservation Center Seed Savers Exchange - new TomatoFest |
3 | . |
| 2008 | Sand Hill Preservation Center TomatoFest |
3 | . |
| 2007 | Sand Hill Preservation Center | 5 | . |