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SHIRLEY S. An Amish family heirloom. Many decades ago, the seeds of this variety were given as a special wedding gift. Since then, it has been carefully preserved and passed down through generations, maintaining its outstanding qualities and surviving to the present day. Originally named Shirley Spooner, it later became more widely known among rare tomato collectors under its current name. The plant is tall, mid-season, highly productive, and has a long fruiting period. In open ground, it reaches about 1.8 meters in height.
This rare variety is easily recognized by its potato-type foliage — small, finely divided leaves that give the plant an elegant and tidy appearance. Its main treasure is the fruit. Large, meaty, and beautifully shaped, the tomatoes have a rich dark-pink color. Their average weight ranges from 300 to 550 grams, while some fruits can reach 600-700 grams. The skin is thin yet firm, resistant to cracking, and ensures excellent keeping and marketable qualities. The flesh is juicy, tender, and contains very few seeds.
The flavor is considered one of the best among meaty tomato varieties — a perfect balance of sweetness and mild acidity creates a rich and full-bodied aroma that is especially valued by heirloom enthusiasts. Thanks to this structure, the fruits are excellent not only fresh in salads and appetizers but also for making thick sauces and flavorful pastes. This variety combines beauty, taste, and rarity. Its fruits delight with stability, rich aroma, and an exceptional sugar-to-acid balance, while the plant itself, with proper care, produces abundantly over a long period.