Mississippi Medallion Tomatoes: Perfect for Your 2021 Home Gardens

from Bluffs & Bayous Mar/Apr 2021

Krewe of Phoenix Mardi Gras Monarch Brunch

PHOTOGRAPHY BY Dr. Gary R. Bachman

Fencouraging home gardeners to be intentional with their garden and winners. I promote these plants because a heightened interest in home vegetable gardens. I called these home gardens favorite Mississippi Medallion vegetables. First up are tomatoes since I get the most questions about them. Garden Gem tomatoes were selected proven to be a great performing tomato. to about 42 inches tall, which is perfect for

Left—Garden Gems are brand new Mississippi Medallion winners that produce plentiful fruit despite Mississippi heat and humidity.

The fruits are about 2 inches in diameter and plentiful. I spring and fall tomato seasons. I was impressed with the and humid environment, which tomato varieties. Tumbling Tom tomatoes were selected in 2014. This is compact, trailing growth habit; and the clusters of fruit tumbling over the basket

Tumbling Tom tomatoes produce clusters of red or yellow fruit that are attractive growing over a basket edge. (Submitted photo/Bonnie Plants) Page 12 { March / April 2021 { Bluffs & Bayous

like to grow heirloom tomatoes and learn the stories behind the plants. One garden after moving to Mississippi was Cherokee Purple. came from the Cherokee Indians. The fruit are nice and big and perfect for a

This plant has to be trellised or caged; for it is a vigorous, indeterminate grower. Springs garden around mid-June. Although better place to start than with tomatoes. own plants, too.

Columnist Dr. Gary R. Bachman is an assistant extension professor of horticulture at Mississippi State University’s Coastal Research and Extension Center in Biloxi, Mississippi.

Left—The Cherokee Purple heirloom tomato is a vigorous plant that produces fruit with a rich taste.

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Smokin on the Tracks Smokin on the Tracks ‘

10th Annual

Yes! Smoking on the Tracks BBQ Cook-off will be happening in 2021! This milestone tenth annual event in Summit, Mississippi,

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another team in been a passion of his to make it better and better, and he and his committee are getting will become a monster event for such a village as Summit with teams coming from as far the scheduled date of competition but fell asleep, awaking in the morning with Boston

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RELAX.

RECHARGE.

RECONNECT.

Summit April 9 and 10!

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10 Smokin on the Tracks Smokin on the Tracks ‘

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Bob “Bird” Lovell Dr. Edward Dear with mask BBQ judge Bonny May BBQ judge Josh Fortenberry Artist and author Carroll Case Mercedes Ricks of La Mariposa Cafe with her food truck Clara Beth White and Nikki Burt, vocalists in The Hippies in The End Zone band; and Kyle Graves, vocalist and lead guitarist in the band Four Way Stop Christy Leuthauser, Kimberly Wooley, Jordan Harrington, Luke Harrington, and Darion Fortenberry BBQ judge Jay Harrington BBQ judge Ted Dear