The 'Moneymaker' tomato variety is not only striking because of its curious name. We reveal where the Moneymaker tomato comes from and how to grow and care for it in the garden.
The 'Moneymaker' salad tomato fulfills all expectations of a typical tomato fruit: round, red and tasty, easy to care for and rich in fruit. Introducing the historic and globally cultivated tomato variety.
Moneymaker Tomato: Profile
| Fruit | salad tomato; deep red |
| Flavour | fruity, sweet and sour |
| Maturity | medium early |
| Growth | Stick tomato, up to 2 m |
| Location | Greenhouse, sheltered field, pot |
Origin and history of the tomato variety
The name 'Moneymaker' roughly means "money maker". The name is no coincidence, as the Moneymaker tomato has long been the predominant variety for commercial cultivation in greenhouses around the world. In the USA, a variety called 'The Money Maker' was found in the local variety register as early as 1894. Other sources name England and 1910 as the place of origin, more precisely the area around Bristol. There the variety 'Money Maker' appeared in 1913 and became the most cultivated variety in England. In the meantime, however, the Moneymaker tomato has been largely replaced by more resistant hybrid varieties. Its positive cultivation properties and good taste now enrich hobby gardeners all over the world. Incidentally, in horticultural research, the 'Moneymaker' is still used today as a standard tomato for a wide variety of experiments with tomato plants.
Moneymaker tomato taste and properties
The plants of the 'Moneymaker' variety are robust and cold-tolerant, which also makes them interesting for higher altitudes. They can grow up to two meters high and form long panicles with up to ten fruits. As they ripen, the tomatoes turn deep red and reach a weight of around 100 grams. The Moneymaker tomato is a medium-early variety and can be harvested from the end of July. Of theThe taste of 'Moneymaker' can be described as fruity and balanced sweet and sour. The variety is seed-proof and is propagated from its own seeds.
Planting and caring for Moneymaker tomatoes: Tips for outdoors and in pots
As a very robust variety, the 'Moneymaker' is particularly suitable for tomato cultivation outdoors. Alternatively, it can also be cultivated in a bucket in a warm, sheltered spot. Even in cool summers, it wears reliably and plentifully. A rain cover reduces fruit bursting in the event of heavy rainfall or irregular water supply. The Moneymaker tomato can be planted out from mid-May. Dig a deep hole with a shovel and place the young plant in it. About a third to half of the plant should be sticking out. All leaves that would now disappear underground are removed. Fill the planting hole or a sufficiently large pot with a nutrient-rich potting soil such as our organic Plantura tomato and vegetable soil. Its high compost content promotes soil life and stimulates the root formation of the young plants. The nutrients it contains provide the Moneymaker tomato with the start of flowering and fruiting.
The Moneymaker tomato should definitely be supported. Twisted metal rods or sticks, for example from hazelnut bushes, are ideal for this. As a salad tomato, the 'Moneymaker' can be grown with two to three shoots. When pinching the tomato, regularly check the leaf axils for excess side shoots. From June the growth of the small fruits begins and the plant needs larger amounts of nutrients and minerals to provide it with good care. We therefore recommend fertilizing with a primarily organic long-term fertilizer such as our Plantura organic tomato fertilizer. The granules are lightly worked into the surface and kept moist. The fertilizer gently releases its nutrients for plants and soil over a period of two months. This is followed by additional fertilization, which is sufficient until the end of the season.
Harvesting and using ‘Moneymaker’ tomatoes
The red, round fruits of the Moneymaker tomato are best eaten fresh, for example in a salad or with a snack. Of course, they are also suitable for processing in soups and sauces. The rich harvest of the 'Moneymaker' can also be preserved for the winter. Here you will find instructions and recipes for preserving tomatoes.
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