Colleen's Glory is a mid-early variety, that produces flawless, round, deep-red globes averaging 6–11 oz (some reaching 12–14 oz) with thin, smooth skin and outstanding sweet-classic flavor balanced by mild acidity. Flesh is juicy yet firm, with fewer seeds — excellent for slicing and fresh eating. Plants are unusually compact and sturdy for an indeterminate, featuring thick central stems and heavy blossom set starting when plants are only about 1 ft tall. Production is remarkably high and reliable, even under neglect, and the variety performs very well in large containers (5-gallon or bigger with a strong cage or stake).

HISTORY: In spring 2015, beloved Michigan Heirlooms customer Colleen Hammond stopped by the greenhouse to pick up her plants and mentioned an extraordinary “heirloom” tomato called Glory that she had been growing and saving seed from for the previous 12 years — originally purchased as seed from Park Seed. I was immediately intrigued and asked if she would share some seed. Completely unexpected, Colleen returned the very next day with a packet. Despite the late start, the seeds were sown that season and grown in containers just in case I needed to move them into the greenhouse.
 
Research soon uncovered the real story: the original Glory was a 2003 F1 hybrid released by Peto Seeds (later Seminis) — a large, disease-resistant fresh-market tomato bred from two undisclosed heirloom parents.
 
Glory (025239) - Breeder and vendor: Seminis (BEFORE it was purchased by Monsanto) Vegetable Seeds-Seminis Garden. Parentage: F1 hybrid. Characteristics: fresh market tomato, large, indeterminate plant. Resistance: Alternaria stem canker; Fusarium wilt races 1, 2; Verticillium wilt race 1; gray leaf spot. Similar: none. Adaptation: NAFTA. 2003.
 
Through more than a decade of careful, consistent seed-saving in her own garden, Colleen had unintentionally dehybridized and fully stabilized the line into a true open-pollinated variety that kept all the hybrid’s vigor, earliness, productivity, and superb flavor. In honor of her the tomato was renamed Colleen’s Glory and is now proudly offered exclusively through Michigan Heirlooms.
 
Sold as a single plant in a 3.5" pot.