On September 10th, the Bioleft extension team visited Julia’s farm, a member of the Minka cooperative for agroecological seed production, located in Florencio Varela. This is where the varieties of tomatoes linked to the “Al rescate del tomate criollo” project are being evaluated.
Julia and her family are dedicated to growing vegetables and succulents in greenhouses, which they later sell at local markets. Over the years, they have collected, rescued, and cultivated various varieties of tomatoes and other species, which they propagate and distribute through the Minka seed network, as well as exchange at various fairs. They have varieties of tomatoes in different shapes, colors, and origins (such as from the province of Mendoza and Spain). For the 2024-2025 season, Julia sowed 19 varieties of tomatoes, including both her own and those linked to Bioleft.
At the end of July (7/29), she planted 13 of her own tomato varieties in seedbeds, including: Cherry amarillo y negro; Lomitero; Verde; Pata Negra; Gigante de Bell; Amarillo Platense; Cherry Cebra; Púrpura; Cherry negro y rojo; Cherry huevo rojo; Cherry blanco; Durazno y Feo de Tudea.
Most varieties showed good germination responses. To ensure seedling production, Julia planted several seeds per container, and now she will need to transplant the seedlings, separating those that are too close into individual containers for better growth.
At the beginning of August (8/6), she planted the first batch of heirloom tomatoes in seedbeds. These seeds, harvested in 2023, are from the same collection as the varieties being evaluated in the “Al rescate del tomate criollo” project. Out of 10 seeds sown, she obtained:
- Perita N°20: 4 seedlings.
- Perita pequeño N°18: 4 seedlings.
- No me olvides N°56: 10 seedlings.
- Perita N°67: 2 seedlings.
In early September (9/2), she sowed the second batch of heirloom tomatoes in seedbeds. This time, the varieties sown are part of the collaborative evaluation project “Al rescate del tomate criollo” for the 2024-2025 season. She planted 10 seeds of the following varieties in individual containers: N°56, No me olvides; N°172, La Piqui; and N°7, Aimé. There are no germination data yet.
After checking the seedbeds, we toured the greenhouse where the tomatoes will be transplanted once they are ready. For this, we must wait until the plants reach a height of at least 15-20 cm, and their stems have a thickness similar to that of a pencil.
This greenhouse suffered severe structural damage due to the strong storms in the area earlier last autumn. As part of the joint efforts between Bioleft and Minka, it was decided to pool resources and efforts to repair it. By the end of August, thanks to the hard work of Julia and her family, the greenhouse was ready.
Lastly, Julia showed us her nursery, where she grows indoor plants, flowers, and succulents that she later sells at fairs. We were amazed by the number and variety of plants she has to offer, and we admired her passion and dedication to growing them.
We thank Julia and her family for welcoming us and sharing their knowledge and experience; it was a very pleasant visit. See you next time!