I started Thessaloniki two weeks ago and am more excited about this tomato than all the rest I have, due to its tough hide and very nice flavor according to claims. I hope to practice with it for fall to get it going in the better spring season. I think it is a good candidate for heat and won't crack in the rain, and will get nice gold freckles in strong sun .... and looks like round Christmas ornaments.

I consider it an heirloom, btw, although it was developed in 1957. The reason is because it was simply a selection and cross between an early and late season varieties also known by the name Thessaloniki at the time (early and late). Unfortunately I can't find the early variety (nor late) anywhere, as this mid season variety seems to have supplanted both.

The 1957 one we have is the one that proved to be a great selection is the "mid-season" cross and was very popular in the US around 40-50 years ago from what I recall when I tried to come up with a tomato that might do well and set fruit in the Florida heat, that was not one of the new "heat tolerant" tomatoes. Please share any pictures if you can.

Have you tried it in a Greek Salad? I can’t wait to make one with it with good Greek tomatoes instead of the really cellulose-reds I always seem to especially get in them (Greek salads are always coming out off a refrigerator that I’ve had), so I can’t wait to use Thessaloniki good and fresh and put on some music on a cloudless day and dream of Thessaloniki.

The city the tomato is named after was named by Alexander the Great’s father, for his sister. She, in turn was named after an alliance with Thessaly which brought him victory and consolidation of his Macedonian empire. Nike like the sneaker and rocket, was the Greek goddess of victory. Jason set sail from there to find the Golden Fleece and Zeus led the battle to establish the Olympian gods on those same fields, defeating the pre-Olympian Titans.

Stinygiasou, may Thalia (the youngest of the Greek Charities, and daughter of Zeus) grace your tomato harvest ;-)
PupillaCharites

Any chance on any picture of a plant?

Horiotiki salata it will be thanks for your suggestion. No time to grow any oregano, by I think I can still get marjoram started in time, so if it works I can grow two parts and negotiate with the neighbor who has a lemon tree.

Thanks again for the ThN posting, it's great someone in the forum is excited about this one. I only have one seedling (of 3 seeds planted and it was healthy but a little slow ... just gave him his own own private CF bulb after reading your post ;-)

PC

Thanks for posting the pics of the plants, they don't look like they are aggressive growers which is what I wanted to know because I have a front and a back row when the Sun gets low.

"forgot the big slice of feta cheese for the salad"

And I was just figuring all along that with such great deep red, tasty round tomatoes, who needs the feta LOL.

PC