Heirloom Tomatoes

Missed-Em 1/15/2013, 12:36 pm

I'm considering ordering some heirloom tomato seeds this year. I'm thinking to plant 5-6 different varieties to go along with our usual beefmaster and yellow pear. What varieties would you recommend for the St. Louis area (high heat/humidity). Last years drought really limmited our harvest even with regular watering, hope this year is more "normal".

bwaynef 1/15/2013, 1:45 pm

Missed-Em wrote:What varieties would you recommend for the St. Louis area (high heat/humidity). Last years drought really limmited our harvest even with regular watering, hope this year is more "normal".

I'll always recommend Black Krim, ...but I don't know that it is particularly suited to heat/humidity. (Most tomatoes will drop blossoms in high heat.) They do pretty well in SC. Cherokee Purple will probably do pretty well also. Homestead was bred particularly for the conditions you mention and is a staple in FL. Any that do well in Louisiana are sure to tolerate heat/humidity well too. I think they're referred to generally as Creole, though I've heard that there is a specific variety that goes by that name as well.

If droughts an/the issue, I'd recommend deep watering, perhaps w/ soaker hose and a timer.

TN_GARDENER 1/15/2013, 6:48 pm

bwaynef wrote:
Missed-Em wrote:What varieties would you recommend for the St. Louis area (high heat/humidity). Last years drought really limmited our harvest even with regular watering, hope this year is more "normal".

I'll always recommend Black Krim, ..

Yup. Get yourself a black tomato. The Black Krim is great choice.

**camprn** 1/15/2013, 7:31 pm

High Mowing's Tomato Comparison Chart.

This is not an heirloom but a new, true black tomato.

http://www.highmowingseeds.com/Organic-Seeds-Indigo-Rose-Tomato.html
Heirloom Tomatoes Indigo-Rose-tomato

http://awaytogarden.com/giveaway-high-mowing-seeds-can-do-creed-and-how-to-grow-better-melons-healthier-tomatoes

bwaynef 1/16/2013, 9:19 am

Indigo Rose came out of the breeding efforts of OSU, likely a descendant of OSU Blue. I'm pretty sure that both of those are grown more for the novelty of being blue, due to high levels of anthocyanins, rather than for their taste.

**camprn** 1/16/2013, 9:24 am

bwaynef wrote:Indigo Rose came out of the breeding efforts of OSU, likely a descendant of OSU Blue. I'm pretty sure that both of those are grown more for the novelty of being blue, due to high levels of anthocyanins, rather than for their taste.

From the write-ups I have seen I agree, though I have not had a taste of one.

cindre2000 1/16/2013, 11:58 am

Some of my favorites:

Nyagous
Eva Purple Ball
Pineapple
Brown Berry
Gold Rush Currant
Beams Yellow Pear
Kellogg's Breakfast
Moonglow

All of the above have given me repeated success.

I recommend keeping the tomatoes well spaced (I use trellises rather than cages) and well trimmed of excessive suckers (almost a daily task sometimes).
I cut off the bottom 18-24" of leaves once the plants a big enough (to prevent soil born diseases).
Mulch heavily! I top dress with a variety of high nutrient fertilizers (fish meal, bat guano, bird guano, seaweed) and then put down a thick layer of mulch.

cheyannarach 1/17/2013, 1:59 am

Lemon boy... YUM!

Pollinator 1/17/2013, 9:51 am

bwaynef wrote:
I'll always recommend Black Krim, ...but I don't know that it is particularly suited to heat/humidity. (Most tomatoes will drop blossoms in high heat.) They do pretty well in SC. Cherokee Purple will probably do pretty well also. Homestead was bred particularly for the conditions you mention and is a staple in FL. Any that do well in Louisiana are sure to tolerate heat/humidity well too. I think they're referred to generally as Creole, though I've heard that there is a specific variety that goes by that name as well.

The secret to good tomatoes here is to get them in early, so you get your crop before heat, humidity and disease take their toll. That said, Black Krim (and Black Cherry), as well as Marion and Ozark Pink are excellent choices for this climate. Homestead has failed me repeatedly (poor production) as well as Cherokee Purple (invariably splits). Creole does fairly well. For sauce San Marzano is waaayy more productive than Roma. Our most consistent heirloom main crop tomato is Abe Lincoln.

jkahn2eb 1/17/2013, 11:47 am

Black Cherries do great for me (seeds from Baker Creek). Vorlon is my favorite tasting tomato. Still trying to get Paul Robeson's to produce. 3rd time's a charm

pryz123 1/17/2013, 5:46 pm

I love Mariannas peace, Missouri pink love apple, Carbon, Paul Robeson, Black cherry, and Spoon. I grow about 20 different varieties each year and these are the ones that i grow every year. The Mariannas peace and missouri pink love apple have good flavor and are both red. the carbon and paul robeson and black cherry are dark and have that smoky dark tomato flavor, mmmm. And Spoon is my daughter's favorite. It has tiny pea size tomatoes with good flavor, and is just covered in them.

floyd1440 1/19/2013, 6:51 am

Since it was rather hot last summer I will share with you what produced well and what did not for me.

Brandywine and Mr, Stripey did well in early and late summer but did not set blossums in the hot temperatures so I am shying away from them this year.

However my grape and a WV 63 heirloom did quite well all season long and got great yields but just got a fewmore varieties from SSE yesterday.

Black Krim
Red Zebra
Hillbilly

My wife likes the bicolor ones as in the winter you only find he same old ones at the store..
Heirloom Tomatoes 3170584802

Sponsored content

Heirloom Tomatoes

Heirloom Tomatoes

Re: Heirloom Tomatoes

Re: Heirloom Tomatoes

Re: Heirloom Tomatoes

Re: Heirloom Tomatoes

Re: Heirloom Tomatoes

Re: Heirloom Tomatoes

Re: Heirloom Tomatoes

Re: Heirloom Tomatoes

Re: Heirloom Tomatoes

heirloom tomato

Re: Heirloom Tomatoes

Re: Heirloom Tomatoes


	Hello Guest! Welcome to the official Square Foot Gardening Forum. There's lots to learn here by reading as a guest. However, if you become a member (it's free, ad free and spam-free) you'll have access to our large vermiculite databases, our seed exchange spreadsheets, Mel's Mix calculator, and many more members' pictures in the Gallery. Enjoy.