The Unique Florida 91 Tomato Variety - Ideal for Hot, Humid Climates

The History of the Florida 91 Tomato

The Florida 91 tomato is a unique variety that has become popular amongst home gardeners and commercial growers in Florida. Often referred to as the "Everglades Tomato", this heat and humidity tolerant tomato has an interesting history and background.

Origins in the Everglades

The Florida 91 tomato traces its origins to seed collected in the Everglades region of south Florida in 1991. Scientists from the University of Florida Tropical Research and Education Center collected wild tomato specimens that had naturalized in the wetlands of the Everglades.

These tomatoes likely descended from varieties brought to the Caribbean and South America by Spanish explorers in the 1500s. Over time, natural cross-pollination between wild tomato species and domesticated tomatoes produced naturalized varieties adapted to the hot, humid Everglades environment.

Breeding a New Variety

The tomato specimens collected by researchers displayed excellent heat tolerance, disease resistance, and other favorable traits. A breeding program was initiated in 1991 to select the best traits from the Everglades population to develop a new tomato variety.

By crossing selected Everglades tomatoes over multiple generations, the Florida 91 tomato was bred. It combined the best traits from the wild Everglades tomatoes for growing in hot, humid climates like Florida.

Performance in Florida Conditions

The Florida 91 tomato performed exceptionally well during field trials across Florida. It displayed wide environmental adaptation and ability to thrive in sub-tropical conditions.

The variety showed resistance to common disease problems like fusarium wilt, nematodes, tomato spotted wilt virus, and leaf curl viruses. It also demonstrated good tolerance to high temperatures and humidity levels.

Yields were impressive, with large fruit size and good fruit set even under heat and drought stress. The Florida 91 was released commercially in 1991 after proving its merits as a new variety tailored specifically for Florida's growing conditions.

Characteristics of the Florida 91 Tomato

The Florida 91 tomato displays many distinctive characteristics that make it ideal for cultivation in hot, humid climates:

Heat Tolerance

The Florida 91 is extremely heat tolerant. It can set fruit and maintain productivity at temperatures over 90°F. This ability to thrive in hot summers gives it an advantage over many other tomatoes.

Humidity Tolerance

High humidity levels promote fungal diseases in many tomato varieties. But the Florida 91 has genetic resistance that allows it to tolerate high humidity with minimal disease issues.

Large Fruit Size

The tomatoes themselves are large, averaging 6-8 ounces. Fruit are globe shaped with few blemishes or cracks. Interior color is red with small seed cavities.

Indeterminate Growth

The Florida 91 is an indeterminate variety, continuing to grow and produce fruit until killed by frost. Each plant can grow over 6 feet tall if staked or trellised.

Excellent Flavor

Despite its heat and disease resistance, the Florida 91 does not sacrifice flavor. Its tomatoes have a rich, sweet flavor with pleasant acidity. The balance of sugars and acids result in a great taste.

Growing the Florida 91 Tomato

The Florida 91 is easy to grow for both homeowners and commercial producers. Here are some tips for successfully cultivating this unique tomato:

Timing

In Florida, the Florida 91 can be planted from late January through April. Stagger planting every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvests.

Soils

The Florida 91 thrives in medium to light soils with good drainage. Raised beds help avoid disease problems in lower, wetter soils.

Fertilization

Use a complete fertilizer at planting and side dress with nitrogen fertilizer every 3-4 weeks for vigorous growth.

Pollination

Flowers benefit from vibration to release pollen. Gently shaking plants helps improve pollination and fruit set.

Staking

Use 5-6 foot stakes for the indeterminate vines. Training one main stem produces best results.

Pests & Diseases

The Florida 91 resists most common tomato diseases but can be affected by curly top virus, leaf miners, stink bugs, and hornworms which need control.

Popular Uses for Florida 91 Tomatoes

The Florida 91 is versatile enough for any application calling for a full-sized tomato. It's excellent for:

Fresh Eating

Of course, the Florida 91 is delicious eaten fresh right off the vine. The balance of sugars and acids makes it a tasty snacking tomato.

Sandwiches & Burgers

With its large size and meaty interior, the Florida 91 is perfect for slicing onto sandwiches, burgers and other dishes.

Salads

Chopped or sliced, these tomatoes liven up any salad. They hold up well without getting mushy or waterlogged.

Sauces & Salsas

The rich, tomatoey flavor shines through in sauces and salsas. The Florida 91 makes a great base for canning tomato products too.

Farmers Markets

These attractive, delicious tomatoes are popular sellers at local farmers markets. Their productivity means good yields for the small farm.

If you live in a hot climate like Florida, the Florida 91 is certainly a tomato worth trying! It may just become your new favorite homegrown tomato variety.

FAQs

How did the Florida 91 tomato originate?

The Florida 91 tomato was developed from wild tomato specimens collected in the Everglades region of Florida in 1991. Breeders selected the best traits from this population to create a variety adapted to hot, humid climates.

What are the key features of the Florida 91?

The Florida 91 has excellent heat and humidity tolerance, large fruit size, indeterminate vines, and resistance to common tomato diseases like fusarium wilt.

When is the best time to plant the Florida 91?

In Florida, the planting window for the Florida 91 is from late January through April. Stagger planting every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvests.

Does the Florida 91 tomato have good flavor?

Yes, the Florida 91 is known for having a rich, sweet flavor with nice acidity. It has a great balance of sugars and acids.

What are some popular uses for the Florida 91?

This versatile tomato can be eaten fresh, used in sandwiches and burgers, made into sauces and salsas, and sold at farmers markets. Its large size and excellent flavor make it useful for many applications.