Tomato Mountain Merit

‘Mountain Merit’ is bred to supply classic vine-ripened tomatoes

‘Mountain Merit’ has a backstory that’s relevant to us. This cultivar is something of an achievement in Tomato circles because it can produce vine-ripened flavor in a climate hostile to Tomato plants. You see, the folks in North Carolina like market-fresh, vine-ripened Tomatoes, and those Tomatoes have to be grown locally; however, the South has a bad problem with a large variety of Tomato diseases. Does this sound familar?

A typical fruit weighs about 8 ounces—a large salad or small beefsteak

‘SolarTower Black’ has a really deep, deep purple you can see in the highlights

SolarTower™ is the first self-climbing Ipomoea on the market. Note the name—Tower—because it gets confused with SolarPower. Tower is the climbing one. It keeps growing straight up, reaching for something to grab onto so it can keep climbing. This is a great opportunity to get creative with vertical wall plantings and topiaries.

Notice the large, lush leaves—they come in dark dramatic Black or vivid chartreuse Lime. We like using both together because the contrast is so striking. Plants reach 4–6 feet with a spread of 3–4 feet, for lush tall spires to mark an entryway or cover an arching trellis. 

Customers will feel a sense of accomplishment with this sweet potato vine because it’s such a fast grower. SolarTower will climb up their barbecues, pergolas, or mailboxes while they just sit back and enjoy the show all summer. These are vigorous Ipomoeas, growing 4–8 feet a season, so we recommend them for landscaping or projects with high coverage needs.

We grow new ‘SolarTower Black’ and ‘SolarTower Lime’ in the 8-inch pot.

‘SolarTower Lime’ has a vivid, light bright green that mixes well with ‘SolarTower Black’

Bright veins trace a pattern in the dark leaves

We have a new tuberous Begonia—‘Nonstop Mocca Cherry’. These rose-like flowers deliver a thoroughly solid bright red that is consistent from the interior to the exterior. Nonstop Begonias set the standard for the tuberous types, with large, 4-inch fully double blooms that keep on coming all summer long.

Nonstop Mocca selections are even more dramatic. We get the same vibrant flowers in the same large size, only they’re set against dark chocolate foliage that makes them pop. Plants reach only about a foot tall and the blooms face upward so they’re frequently used in baskets and window boxes. This chocolate-cherry cordial also makes an elegant accent for the shade garden.

‘Nonstop Mocca Cherry’ is available in the 4.5-inch pot.