PlantFiles: Tomato
Lycopersicon lycopersicum 'Box Car Willie'

2012 was the first time I grew BCW. I had 19 varieties planted and BCW was my choice for best tasting that year. It started producing mid to late season and even made it through the first light frost. I do spray for blight and it did not suffer from any I could see. Most of the other varieties did not hold up to the L.B. At the end of the season they were the healthiest plants I had. I plan to give this tomato a larger percentage of my garden in 2013. This year I am also going to try Mule Team, which I have read is very similar.

One of the weakest tomato varieties I've ever grown. Out of one hundred plants, maybe two edible fruits.

Growing 2011 first to germinate out of my second crop.

A very tasty & reasonably productive tomato. First year for me...but I definitely WILL have it back again.

This tomato grew well for me in an Earth Box, although it was a bit slow starting with production. It's definitely worth growing again.

Box Car Willie grows very well for me. It is, however, very late and does not produce fruit until September. The yield is on par with other late varieties. It is quite tolerant of the tomato diseases that we have here. Appears to prefer very wet soil. While some tomatoes do poorly in wet conditions, it seems to grow best in mud and an inch or so of standing water. Plants grown in very wet conditions often grow well over 10 feet long. If grown in containers, Box Car Willie overwinters extremely well, even in a 50F area with only a small amount of light.

I tried this variety summer 2006 when our area suffered from severe drought & heat throughout July. Even my typically prolific hybrid variety failed to set fruit during the heat, but started producing after the heat passed. BCW never made a comeback. If I had more garden space, I'd give it another try.

May 2011: I tried this tomato from seed again 2008 & it self sowed 2009. I saved the seed & grew it again 2010 & this year. I find it dependable, prolific, & easy to grow from saved seed. It's my most reliable variety now.

This plant wintersowed nicely. Plants are HUGE.

First year to grow this and I'm very happy with the results. The plant is very large and spreading and is just loaded with fruit.

Has done very well for me this year in KY, although we've had an excellent growing year for tomatoes. Moderate production with good taste. Will raise again next year.

Have tried this one for several years here in the Sacramento Valley, California (U.S.) and it has been a complete flop: lowest yields of any variety that I have ever grown, and that includes over a hundred varieties. Save your money!

This is another of the highly recommended heirlooms that failed to survive past blossoming for three consecutive years. It is highly susceptible to Georgia diseases including nematodes. Since I never got a single tomato, I can't comment on taste.