they are pink ave. 1 to 11/2 lbs
best tom. i growen in 40 yrs.
was the last plant to pull last season
save seeds for this one

gene

I'm also growing this one for the first time this year. Have had one ripe one so far, very nice set of light green well shaped fruits remain on the plant. Definately a good one.
Mine are averaging in the 3" dia range, nothing going to a pound or more, but I'm still well satiasfied. Seeds are already fermenting from the first fruit.

Granny Cantrell was originally called Granny Cantrell's German Red. However, several that have grown it out ended up with a pink and not a red (skin color mutation, cross?, beats me), so it's now frequently just referred to as Granny Cantrell.

I grew it this year, and what I ended up with was a pink (seeds from Baker Creek). Good to very good tasting med-large beefsteak, avg productivity.

Mid to late season in my garden.

Also, do a google search on Granny Cantrell + PlantFiles to see pictures/find out more information.

I am pleased to see that you all are growing a tomato dear to my heart.
The winter of 2000 I decided I would limit my gardening to growing mostly heirloom tomatoes after recovering from a second triple by-pass in four years; I had been having heart problems for several years. Not too long after this I attended the funeral of a dear friend who had grown up in Eastern Kentucky. There I met Jerry Cantrell, the new director at Bellewood Home where I had worked for twenty-four years as Director of Facilities. He had heard that I was interested in growing tomatoes and mentioned that his Mama, Lettie, of West Liberty, Kentucky, had a tomato that I might enjoy growing. She sent me seed and I loved it so much I have been growing it ever since; I have shared seed with folks around the world. Lettie died in 2005 at the age of 96; it is the only tomato she ever grew. Lettie always called it her German Red Tomato and that is why I called it red. After several years of folks growing it the mater of color came up and so I dropped the red. In the fall of 2005 I shared the seed with my friend, Merlyn NiedenÂs, who is a master grower for several seed companies. He grew it and was so pleased with the results shared seed with Baker Creek and Southern Exposure Seed Exchange this year.

Granny CantrellÂs German Tomato: 69-80 days. (Indeterminate) Kentucky Family Heirloom. The only tomato grown by Lettie Cantrell of West Liberty since the Â40s. Large one pound plus, tasty fruit on large, regular-leaf plants. Vines can be a bit wispy. Delicious for fresh eating, slicing, or canning. Lettie died in November 2005, at the age of 96
A top "10" in taste with the -- Cincinnati Heirloom Open Pollinated Tomato Associate Growers.
Won "Best In Taste" Baker Creek Fall Festival 2006. Merlyn Niedens grew it last year to share with Southern Exposure Seed Exchange and Baker Creek for their 2007 seed catalog.
Ira Wallace, Manager at Southern Exposure Seed Exchange told me that this was the most requested tomato they have had this season. Enjoy!
Gary

{{gwi:1357488}}

Thanks Gary! Hope all is well in KY.

Thanks for the picture, Korney. Lettie would say that is a red tomato! lol
Gary

So I don't wait until it is deep red, :)then, pink instead? Dark pink or light red?I noticed that my green fruits have ridges and the plant has larger leaves then my other plants, is this corrrect? As for the seeds...I found a site with dierections on how to save and ferment them, but what do I store them in for next year? Also is there a special way to plant them next year?