I recently became interested in this tomato, and saw somewhere that there was an article written about it back in 1994, Goldenseal: West Virginia Traditional Life (Volume 20, No. 2 - Summer, 1994) called A Man and His Tomato. I contacted Goldenseal on Facebook and was very happy when they agreed to copy the article and send it to me. There are some very interesting things mentioned. Hope you enjoy it. Page 12 is an insert, and the story continues on pg 13. I also know that William Estler's granddaughter, EdieJ, is a member of this site. Hope she can add some insight.

What a wonderful article! I am thrilled that you found it and could share it here with all of us. I love having the history of this tomato. I now wonder if it was one variety that my own grandfather grew. It is growing in my garden this season and from the looks of it, will need a bigger support system.
Thank you edweather!

Ah, @edweather, thank you for posting this! I have a copy of the article, of course, but it's getting a little raggedy so wouldn't be really "postable." The article pretty much covers the history. I wish I could say we are getting tomatoes off of the plants I started but so far no luck, all the blossoms get dropped. And a family friend I sent seeds to is having the same issue, and she is in Ohio so it's not the hot southern weather. So I am praying hard that folks here I sent seeds to have some kind of good luck! Anyway I hope y'all enjoy the read.

I have not been out to the garden in a few days but I will try to check mine again tomorrow. Last time I was out there, there were no flowers yet. Temps have cooled into the 80s instead of the 90s although still humid. Hopefully I will have some soon.

Interesting article, thanks

Great article. Thanks so much for posting.

Rooting for EdieJ and everyone trying to help her grow Estler's Mortgage Lifter out.
Hope at some point there will be seed to share.

EdieJ you may have posted this somewhere, but are there any greenhouses in West Virginia growing out this tomato for sale now?

[mention]friedgreen51[/mention] not that I am aware of. My Aunt tried to give the rest of Uncle Bob's seed to a couple of places but nobody would take them.

Coincidentally, a few years ago when we were visiting my family, we went to one of the greenhouses in Barboursville. They had Pink Ponderosa tomatoes. HUGE tomatoes! So I bought a few & saved some of the seeds. I finally this year got a few to grow (far enough away from the EML plants that they won't cross - I have lots of other things the bees prefer anyway.) And I just checked, there is at least one tomato the size of a golf ball. There are enough similarities to EML's that I really do believe it was one of the original parent plants. Now to get my EML's to start producing and I will be a happy camper!!

Great article, many thanks for putting it up.

Edie, Estlers is just kickin into gear. Much set fruit and a good flush of flowers. This plant grows and looks just like EML from saved seed I've planted in years past. Just sits there for awhile then ends up being a very robust plant and always a bit paler green in color. You'll have plenty of seed.

I can't see the fruit in those pictures, but they do look healthy! I am sure between all of us, she will have a lot. I don't bag fruit is my only problem.

Actually my hope is that anyone who gets seeds from their plants this year will help distribute them around next year. The more folks growing them the better chances they will go on in the future.

Edie, I'm curious, are you named after your grandmother Edith?

An interesting article that I will shortly have the time to read fully. Down Under we mostly get the story of Radiator Charlie and his version of ML. Would love the opportunity to grow EML sometime, certainly some very impressive plants in the photos

[mention]Ginger2778[/mention] As a matter of fact, yes I am! Edith is actually my middle name but it's the one I prefer.

Great article! Thanks for posting it.

EdieJ wrote: ↑Wed Jul 01, 2020 9:05 am My Aunt tried to give the rest of Uncle Bob's seed to a couple of places but nobody would take them.

That's unfortunate. Did they say why they would not take them? Any thoughts on why EML fell "out of favor" in the W. VA area?

I would be interested in growing this variety next season and saving seeds. Would I need to do anything special to ensure that it doesn't cross pollinate with another variety in the garden?

[mention]ponyexpress[/mention] She said something about the seeds wouldn't go through their automated seeders. I dunno.
I think if you are growing more than 1 variety and want to save seeds you need to bag blossoms. I don't know how to do that but there are probably tutorials to explain it. I hope you get a chance to try them!

OK, today I found a previously sad little EML from Edie's 2011 seeds that didn't make it into the main garden because it just didn't look healthy enough to take up a prime spot. It was still sitting in my Radio Flyer wagon with GGWT, Gallego, and Box Car Willie that I didn't have room for. Honestly, the GGWT and Gallego looked MUCH bigger and healthier, but that little guy hung on this long, so I stuck him in the herb garden to see what happens. Now, Alexa tells me that 80 days from today will be Sept. 25th. We never have frost by then, so there is a reasonable chance that I will get some fruit from it, and since it is quite a ways from the main garden, should not be contaminated by disease issues that may occur there. I have room for one more in that garden and would love to add GGWT or Gallego, but of course that would increase the chance of cross pollination. I hate to toss two large healthy plants even at this late date. Hmmm. I could try bagging a few, but I have never done that before.

[mention]Sue_CT[/mention] I understand... I am the same way. If something wants to live I try to give it every opportunity. I can't bring myself to toss any viable plants. We have tomatoes growing in the oddest of places!

I ended up putting the GGWT and Gallego in large pots about 15-20 feet away. They are usually what I would consider to be plants that are too big for a pot, but better than throwing them away.

Oh, folks, I'm doing a Happy Dance all across the porch. Found a pea-size tomato on one of my EML's this morning. Hallelujah!!! And several big healthy blooms that I am praying will follow suit, they are not all crooked over.