Aunt Lou's Underground Railroad Heirloom Tomato Characterization Descriptors
Infinite Seeds Association
We curate, preserve, and reproduce a collection of 1,700 heirloom tomato varieties for public use. We work to prevent genetic erosion.
History and Origin of the Variety
Historical Origin
This extraordinary heirloom variety has one of the most moving and meaningful stories in the world of heirloom tomatoes. Its origin dates back to the mid-19th century, when an anonymous African American man, possibly escaping slavery, transported these precious seeds from Kentucky to Ripley, Ohio, as part of his journey to freedom via the Underground Railroad.
Ripley, Ohio, was home to the Rankin House, a well-known secure Underground Railroad station now serving as a museum. It was in this historic town that this courageous man shared the seeds with a white woman named Lou, who would become the custodian of this priceless genetic heritage. Aunt Lou passed these seeds on to her great-nephew, Francis Parker, a notable figure who shared handwritten seed packets across the country.
Curiosities of Variety
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Story of freedom : Literally transported through the Underground Railroad as a symbol of hope and survival
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Chain of Preservation : Kept alive by Francis Parker, Mr. Ellis, Gary Millwood and Mary Stenger
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Official Recognition : Included in the Seed Savers Exchange Yearbook in 2010
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Ark of Taste : Inducted into the prestigious Slow Food Ark of Taste in 2018 by nomination of Jay Erisman
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Symbol of resistance : Represents African American cultural resistance, heritage, and survival
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Multigenerational preservation : Passed down from generation to generation for over 150 years
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Evolutionary Name : Originally called simply "Aunt Lou", expanded to honor her full history
Cultural Importance
Aunt Lou's Underground Railroad is not just a tomato variety; it's a living testament to African American history, resilience, and cultural preservation. This variety represents the importance of seeds as carriers of history, culture, and hope. Its preservation honors the memory of the anonymous man who risked everything for freedom and demonstrates how food can be a vehicle for cultural resilience and survival. Its inclusion in the Slow Food Ark of Taste officially recognizes its unique historical and cultural value in American food heritage.
1. PLANT DESCRIPTORS
| Feature |
Review for "Aunt Lou's Underground Railroad" |
| Type of growth |
Indeterminate |
| Growth habit |
Erect and vigorous |
| Plant height |
Tall (180-220 cm) |
| Plant vigor |
Strong |
| Color of young stem |
Green |
| Pubescence of the stem |
Present |
| Hair density |
Average |
| Leaf type |
Potato leaf type |
| Leaf color |
Dark green |
| Leaflet shape |
Wide and rounded |
| Leaflet edge |
Smooth |
| Leaf pubescence |
Present |
3. FRUIT DESCRIPTORS
| Feature |
Review for "Aunt Lou's Underground Railroad" |
| Fruit shape |
Oblate - Lightly ribbed beefsteak |
| Fruit weight |
Medium-large (120-450 g) |
| Fruit diameter |
Large (8-12 cm) |
| Color of unripe fruit |
Light green |
| Color of ripe fruit |
Dark pink to pinkish red with purple undertones |
| Color intensity |
Intense |
| Color uniformity |
Uniform with slight variations |
| Presence of green shoulders |
Occasionally present |
| Shoulder shape |
Gently rounded |
| Surface smoothness |
Smooth with slight grooves |
| Presence of ribs |
Slightly ribbed |
| Fruit shine |
Bright |
| Chalice scar |
Average |
| Pistil scar |
Small to medium |
| Number of locules |
4-6 |
| Distribution of locules |
Regular |
| Thickness of the walls |
Thick (6-8 mm) |
| Firmness of the pulp |
Firm and fleshy |
| Pulp color |
Intense reddish pink |
| Amount of juice |
Very juicy |
| Quantity of seeds |
Abundant (40-60) |
6. AGRONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS
| Feature |
Review for "Aunt Lou's Underground Railroad" |
| Days to flowering |
Medium (70-75) |
| Days to harvest |
Medium-late (85-90 days from transplant) |
| Yield per plant |
Medium-high (4-6 kg) |
| Number of fruits per plant |
Medium (10-18) |
| Harvest concentration |
Staggered (mid-season) |
| Heat tolerance |
Good |
| Cold tolerance |
Moderate |
| Low light adaptation |
Regular |
| Recommended spacing |
60-75 cm between plants |
7. RESISTANCES AND TOLERANCES
| Pathogen/Pest |
Review for "Aunt Lou's Underground Railroad" |
| Alternaria (Alternaria solani) |
Moderately resistant |
| Fusarium (Fusarium oxysporum) |
Moderately resistant |
| Verticillium (Verticillium dahliae) |
Moderately resistant |
| Mildew (Phytophthora infestans) |
Susceptible |
| Bacterial wilt (Ralstonia solanacearum) |
Susceptible |
| Bacterial freckle (Pseudomonas syringae) |
Susceptible |
| Tomato mosaic virus (ToMV) |
Susceptible |
| Yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) |
Susceptible |
| Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) |
Susceptible |
| Trips (Thrips tabaci) |
Susceptible |
| Aphids |
Susceptible |
| Cracking |
Moderately resistant |
SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE "AUNT LOU'S UNDERGROUND RAILROAD" VARIETY
Featured Attributes:
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Unique and priceless history : The only known variety documented as transported via the Underground Railroad, with incalculable historical value
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Exceptional flavor : Complex and balanced flavor that combines rich sweetness with pleasant acidity, creating a multidimensional profile
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Cultural Heritage : Represents the resistance, survival and preservation of African American culture through generations
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Official recognition : Included in the prestigious Slow Food Ark of Taste as a food heritage in danger
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Genetic diversity : Abundant quantity of seeds that facilitates conservation and propagation
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Adaptability : Good performance in various climatic and growing conditions
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Educational value : Extraordinary tool for teaching history, culture and the importance of seed preservation
Limitations:
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Disease Susceptibility : Vulnerable to several common tomato diseases, requires preventative management
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Support Needs : Tall, vigorous plants requiring sturdy staking
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Season-specific : Production concentrated in half a season
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Limited availability : Rare variety that is not widely available commercially
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Delicate conservation : Requires special care in seed preservation to maintain genetic purity
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Variability : May show some variation in characteristics due to its open-pollinated heritage
Recommended Uses:
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Historic Preservation : Essential to preserving this invaluable American cultural and genetic heritage
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Cultural Education : A perfect tool for teaching African American and Underground Railroad history
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Premium fresh consumption : Excellent for gourmet sandwiches and special salads where its history adds value
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Seed Preservation : Critical to Keeping This Unique Historic Genetic Line Alive
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Memorial Gardens : Ideal for gardens dedicated to African American history and freedom
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Historical Research : Valuable for studies on heirloom varieties and food cultural heritage
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Conscious Gastronomy : Appreciated by chefs who value ingredients with history and cultural significance
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Specialized Collectibles : Essential for collectors of historically significant varieties
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Community Programs : Excellent for educational programs on agriculture, history, and cultural diversity
Data based on documentation from the Seed Savers Exchange, records from the Slow Food Ark of Taste, research by Kate Black (University of Kentucky), testimony from Gary Millwood and Mary Stenger, and historical archives from the Notable Kentucky African Americans Database.
