Tomatomania and Roger's Gardens Celebrate
'Persuasion':
The 2025 Tomato of the Year
What A Knock Out In All Categories!
Some years you just know. (And if you’re watching our instagram it may have been hard to miss our crush on this one.) We just couldn’t ignore this variety in our trials, conversations and tastings all during the growing season. Its obvious good looks, great taste and staggering production makes it the winner this year.
It’s a relatively new variety, hybridized and released a few years ago by Brad Gates of Wild Boar Farms in Northern California. We’ve worked with Brad closely through the years and have enjoyed so many of his introductions, from Michael Pollan to Berkeley Tie Dye to his new Dwarf, Golden Hour. There was just something about this one though that stands out from the rest.
A deep pink base showcases lighter peach/gold striping and a beautiful antho-blue shoulder on this 2-5 oz saladette. We first grew this star in our most challenging trial garden 2 years ago. It turned our heads in a difficult year so we were determined to take a closer look, and we weren’t disappointed.
In a pot it’s impressive. In the ground, and especially in a raised bed situation this last summer, it was astounding. In that spot we let it run without a cage and the plant stretched out and covered much of a 4’ x 16’ bed, running over the edge on all sides. The base of that plant, the trunk if you will, was easily the size of a tennis racquet grip and the plant produced steadily and impressively through the season. When we reluctantly pulled it out it still had green/blue fruit all over it.
While most of the fruit is a bit larger than a ping pong ball, some were double that and even showed light lobing. The beautiful anthocyanin shoulder varies in coverage and density across the plant, primarily due to sun exposure. More sun, more color.
Perfect for salads, where it’s color truly shines, salsa, snacks and anything else one can dream up, the taste is bright, often fruity, very unique. More sweet than tangy, there is still a nice acidic tomato part of its profile. Tomatomaniacs who attended our Fig Earth Supply Happy Hour tasting event in LA this summer were truly impressed.
There are no hints or tips necessary to grow this one successfully. With good siting, solid planting practice and good care you’ll only have to stand back and watch. Then pick, taste and enjoy!