Bill Bean tomatoes

We are growing the tomato plants that you sent us seeds for last winter. I believe they are called Bill Bean tomatoes, and that the original seeds came to America in someone’s socks. They are growing beautifully, and the tomatoes are the size of small pumpkins already. Can you tell us any more about these tomatoes, such as the approximate time they came to America or anything else you might know about them? We’re curious! (My Hopi Pale Grey squash plants died unfortunately, thanks to the cucumber beetle. I still have four more seeds to try again with next year.)

Lisa Smith
Sunbury, Pennsylvania

Sorry to hear about your squash plants. These things happen — better luck next spring!

The Bill Bean tomatoes were “smuggled” into the US by an old Italian man, coming from Italy around 1900. They were passed to us by a friend who’s name is Bill Bean. As we don’t know the Italian’s name, we just gave him Bill’s! They are huge, very flavorful tomatoes that are relatively seedless for such a large tomato. We even use them to make tomato sauce as they are very meaty. I hope you love them too and keep seeds to pass to your friends. — Jackie

Will’s sprinkler

Will is amazing! The sprinkler being made out of things you already have is so smart. Can you please tell me how the pipe hooks on the wheel assembly? I can’t tell from the picture. I learn so much from you. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.

Sandie
Siberia, Indiana

I think he’s pretty amazing too. I’ve put a detailed photo in the blog. The wheel is attached to the angle iron via a bolt and washer. The bolt is welded to the angle iron. The bent pipe is welded to the angle iron too with an upright short flat brace piece. I hope this will help. The sprinkler works great! — Jackie

8 COMMENTS

  1. I’ll be watching for the tomato seeds to come up for sale, too. This year we canned only two cookers of green beans, no pickles, no tomatoes, and only a few bites of okra. It RAINED! We had more rain in two or three weeks, then we usually get in ten months. Our garden just rotted to the ground, and we couldn’t do a thing about it. The yard looked more like a lake, then a yard. I have to say, I hope we have better luck gardening next year, but I am extremely thankful for the break in a nearly three year drought. The rivers had been looking more like wet sidewalks, then rivers. Good luck on your business endeavor!

  2. I’d like to buy a few of the Bill Bean tomato seeds if that is possible. How can I do this? Thanks, Otis

  3. What a great idea for a home business for you! I love heirloom varieties, and I can’t wait to see what you will be offering.

  4. thanks, Jackie, what a great idea to generate some cash. I will be one of your first customers. Hope you guys have a GREAT seminar.

  5. laura,

    We plan on starting a tiny homestead business, selling some of our favorite old-time heirloom seeds such as Bill Bean tomatoes, Punta Banda tomatoes and Hopi Pale Grey squash, among others. Cheap, great seeds and cheap postage. Everything we can do on the homestead to bring in small amounts of cash certainly help in the end. We’ll keep you posted, starting this fall.

  6. Thanks for the info, Jackie. Friends have been asking us about these tomatoes, and now I have more to tell them. Can’t wait to taste them!

    Thanks too, arm2008, for the info about the radishes. I will be sure to do that when I plant my remaining Hopi Pale Grey seeds next spring. I appreciate all the helpful information at this blog, from Jackie as well as from her readers.

  7. I plant radishes in with all my vine crops – the cucumber beetles don’t like them. Just let the radishes keep growing. The bees love the flowers and it keeps them around to pollinate when the time comes.

  8. Jackie,the Bill Bean tomatoes sound great, I’d love to try them. Will you have
    seeds available for next spring ??

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