'Riñon Rippled Delight' Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum

Origin: Cuba, via New Jersey

Improvement Status: Cultivar

Seeds per packet: ~25

Germination tested 11/2023: 89%

Life cycle: Annual

EFN ORIGINAL. Tomatoes across the Americas are known as "Riñon", which means kidney, but the earliest in the USDA's collection came from Cuba in 1932. Already less than uniform when it was collected from the wild in Cuba (according to the original notes), nearly a century in the USDA's collection seems to have made the government's variety even more variable. When we first grew it out, we found at least a dozen different types, ranging in size, shape, flavor, color, and vigor. With a little selection, we've basically stabilized this wonderful little tomato from the 'Riñon' genepool: a reddish-pink, flat, fasciated (deeply ribbed), flavorful and incredibly productive tomato. 

This variety carries the Open Source Seed Initiative (OSSI) pledge, which states: “You have the freedom to use these OSSI-Pledged seeds in any way you choose. In return, you pledge not to restrict other's use of these seeds or their derivatives by patents or other means, and to include this pledge with any transfer of these seeds or their derivatives.” More information on OSSI can be found at osseeds.org.

GROWING TIPS: As with other tomatoes, start indoors in March or early April and transplant outdoors after danger of last frost. Plants should be 2-3 feet apart. This is a fast-growing, very tall tomato, so it will benefit from a tall trellis or long stakes. Expect some variation to still crop up, but only save seeds from the plants producing the most ribbed, best-tasting tomatoes.