Mikado

General Info
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Mikado
Maturity	midseason
Growth habit	indet.
Leaf type	potato
Fruit color	pink
Fruit shape	beefsteak
Fruit size	large
Fruit type	slicer
Variety type	heirloom, open-pollinated
Country	USA

Tatiana Kouchnareva (B.C KO T). Mikado - ripe fruit. 2015-07-22.

B.C KO T

Indet., potato leaf. Fruits are pink, but not as large as expected, only 4-6 oz. Very good full tomato flavor.

Seed source:

1. Mireille Blais, Quebec 06

2. Oleg Funtikov, Smolensk, Russia 10 (wrong leaf - RL)

Year grown: 2015

Location: Zone 7b, PNW, Anmore, BC, Canada (760 ft above sea level)

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

"THE MIKADO. The largest early variety in cultivation. We named and introduced the Mikado Tomato in 1886, and seldom has any novelty in so short a time created such a furore in gardening circles; certainly no more distinct or valuable Tomato has ever been introduced. One of the most remarkable features about this variety is the fact that, notwithstanding that it produces perhaps the largest fruit of any sort in cultivation, it is at the same time one of the very earliest to ripen; the cut we show being not more than one-half the average size. The Tomatoes are produced in immense clusters, are perfectly solid, generally smooth, but sometimes irregular. has all the solidity that characterizes the Trophy. The color is purplish red. It is not unusual for single fruits of this variety to weigh from 1 to 1 1/2 lbs each. The foliage shows the distinctiveness of the variety, for it is whole or entire, while in all other varieties the leaves are cut or serrated."

History

Old commercial tomato variety introduced by Peter Henderson in 1886.
Originated in Iowa.
Probably the first known potato leaf variety offered in a seed catalog.
It is possible that the Mikado tomato may be related to the Brandywine tomato known today.
'Mikado' means 'Emperor' in Japanese, and can be written as みかど、ミカド、帝、or 御門.

Also known as