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Google
2014 Tomatoes
+23
s1rGr1nG0
CapeCoddess
tagyourit
herblover
manda99
AtlantaMarie
Marc Iverson
68carguy
dvelten
kensadams
kamigh
grownsunshine
walshevak
Paintedlady
Judy McConnell
llama momma
sanderson
TxGramma
Turan
yolos
kauairosina
Goosegirl
jmsieglaff
27 posters
Page 3 of 3
Page 3 of 3 • 1, 2, 3
Re: 2014 Tomatoes
My last report was in July and now it's mid Sept and things have changed a bit.
Black Krim (P) recovered from it's leaf diseases and is producing a few more fruit.
The yellow pear (P) is still going great guns - few leaves, but continuing to flower.
What I had been calling Big Boy - really is Better Boy (S) (finally crawled under the vines to read the tags) this variety has been my best producer and is still going great with 6-8 fruit each day.
The Celebrity(4)(B), Patio (B)(4),Rutgers (2) (P)- none of these did well (only a few fruit) and have been pulled. Most of these were indeterminate so lived their lives.
Black Cherry (P)and SunGlow (P) limped along and won't be tried again.
(P)= 5 gal bucket; (S) in garden soil; (B) in raised bed
Something about the dark skinned fruit turned me off - tomatoes are supposed to be red or yellow to these old eyes.
So -- next year? Definitely will have Better Boy (or BB F1); unknown orange (saved seeds from store-bought tomato salad fruit mixture) ; Yellow pear; San Mar.... for sauce; and a tomato that I haven't tried before (still choosing variety) - any suggestions??
Black Krim (P) recovered from it's leaf diseases and is producing a few more fruit.
The yellow pear (P) is still going great guns - few leaves, but continuing to flower.
What I had been calling Big Boy - really is Better Boy (S) (finally crawled under the vines to read the tags) this variety has been my best producer and is still going great with 6-8 fruit each day.
The Celebrity(4)(B), Patio (B)(4),Rutgers (2) (P)- none of these did well (only a few fruit) and have been pulled. Most of these were indeterminate so lived their lives.
Black Cherry (P)and SunGlow (P) limped along and won't be tried again.
(P)= 5 gal bucket; (S) in garden soil; (B) in raised bed
Something about the dark skinned fruit turned me off - tomatoes are supposed to be red or yellow to these old eyes.
So -- next year? Definitely will have Better Boy (or BB F1); unknown orange (saved seeds from store-bought tomato salad fruit mixture) ; Yellow pear; San Mar.... for sauce; and a tomato that I haven't tried before (still choosing variety) - any suggestions??
Judy McConnell- Posts : 440
Join date : 2012-05-08
Age : 83
Location : Manassas, VA(7a) and Riner, VA (7a)
Re: 2014 Tomatoes
Hi Judy. You mentioned you saved seeds from an orange variety. This year I planted Sungold tomatoes and they are amazing. They are sweet as candy, they are prolific producers and they were my most disease resistant. They are also an F1 hybrid, so I cannot plant from seeds I harvest myself... they will not produce the same plant.Judy McConnell wrote:My last report was in July and now it's mid Sept and things have changed a bit.
Black Krim (P) recovered from it's leaf diseases and is producing a few more fruit.
The yellow pear (P) is still going great guns - few leaves, but continuing to flower.
What I had been calling Big Boy - really is Better Boy (S) (finally crawled under the vines to read the tags) this variety has been my best producer and is still going great with 6-8 fruit each day.
The Celebrity(4)(B), Patio (B)(4),Rutgers (2) (P)- none of these did well (only a few fruit) and have been pulled. Most of these were indeterminate so lived their lives.
Black Cherry (P)and SunGlow (P) limped along and won't be tried again.
(P)= 5 gal bucket; (S) in garden soil; (B) in raised bed
Something about the dark skinned fruit turned me off - tomatoes are supposed to be red or yellow to these old eyes.
So -- next year? Definitely will have Better Boy (or BB F1); unknown orange (saved seeds from store-bought tomato salad fruit mixture) ; Yellow pear; San Mar.... for sauce; and a tomato that I haven't tried before (still choosing variety) - any suggestions??
I only mention this because you said you don't know the variety of your orange tomato seeds. Just one more thing: My wife is so in love with Sungolds that she said she would be happy if that's all I plant next year.
Windmere- Posts : 1425
Join date : 2013-02-26
Age : 55
Location : Fayetteville, GA - Zone 7B - 8A
Re: 2014 Tomatoes
Opps, forgot. After you all raved about Sun Gold, I did buy a plant at nursery to try it. Was a great taste and I picked them right off the vine to eat.
The "unknown Orange" (saved seeds) is about 1 -1 1/2" round and I couldn't find anything like it in on-line catalogs (some similar but NOT the same). Assume it is hybrid but will see what the seeds produce next spring.
The "unknown Orange" (saved seeds) is about 1 -1 1/2" round and I couldn't find anything like it in on-line catalogs (some similar but NOT the same). Assume it is hybrid but will see what the seeds produce next spring.
Judy McConnell- Posts : 440
Join date : 2012-05-08
Age : 83
Location : Manassas, VA(7a) and Riner, VA (7a)
Re: 2014 Tomatoes
Bakers Creek is selling seed for an open pollinated SunGold tomato. That means some one started with the hybrid and planted a lot of its seeds, selected from those plants for the one with the Sungold characteristics, planted seeds from those plants and then reselected etc. I am told it usually takes 7 generations to stabilize into the OP variety.
I bought a Sungold plant this year as well. We have been eating them off the vine like grapes all summer. Right now I have a tray of them drying into tomato raisins.
I bought a Sungold plant this year as well. We have been eating them off the vine like grapes all summer. Right now I have a tray of them drying into tomato raisins.
Turan- Posts : 2616
Join date : 2012-03-29
Location : Gallatin Valley, Montana, Intermountain zone 4
Re: 2014 Tomatoes
I saved seeds from my original Sungolds and they've come true for 2 yrs now. But they don't do well from suckers - too small.Windmere wrote: This year I planted Sungold tomatoes and they are amazing. They are sweet as candy, they are prolific producers and they were my most disease resistant. They are also an F1 hybrid, so I cannot plant from seeds I harvest myself... they will not produce the same plant.
I only mention this because you said you don't know the variety of your orange tomato seeds. Just one more thing: My wife is so in love with Sungolds that she said she would be happy if that's all I plant next year.
Lyndeeloo, can we get an update on the results of your listed tomatoes when you get a chance please?
CC
CapeCoddess- Posts : 6824
Join date : 2012-05-20
Age : 68
Location : elbow of the Cape, MA, Zone 6b/7a
Re: 2014 Tomatoes
Judy McConnell wrote:Opps, forgot. After you all raved about Sun Gold, I did buy a plant at nursery to try it. Was a great taste and I picked them right off the vine to eat.
The "unknown Orange" (saved seeds) is about 1 -1 1/2" round and I couldn't find anything like it in on-line catalogs (some similar but NOT the same). Assume it is hybrid but will see what the seeds produce next spring.
Could your unknown orange be a yellow that was left on the vine till orange? I've done that with my jubilees, which are largish yellows that eventually go a very pretty solid orange, at which point they are perfectly ripe. And not all my large tomatoes turn out to be large ...
Blond Kopfchen comes to mind as a yellow that I think is supposed to be about that size ... just speculatin'....
Marc Iverson- Posts : 3638
Join date : 2013-07-05
Age : 62
Location : SW Oregon
Re: 2014 Tomatoes
No, Marc - don't think it is a Blond Kopfchen (the BK 'tis a bit smaller). The yellow was ripe and came in a box of mixed smaller tomatoes (everything from a black cherry to sun golds).
Judy McConnell- Posts : 440
Join date : 2012-05-08
Age : 83
Location : Manassas, VA(7a) and Riner, VA (7a)
Re: 2014 Tomatoes
My tomato plants are all getting blighted but still producing well; slowed down the last few days due to cooler weather though.
Black Krim- 8 fruit
Herb's Rose -5
Dixie Golden Giant-17
yellow Pear-190
Sugar Lump cherry-1,226
We still have a month til our average first frost date and I have usually kept my plants going til about the end of October so still have 4-6 weeks of production before I pull them up. I will pick everything on the vines to ripen inside at that point.
Black Krim- 8 fruit
Herb's Rose -5
Dixie Golden Giant-17
yellow Pear-190
Sugar Lump cherry-1,226
We still have a month til our average first frost date and I have usually kept my plants going til about the end of October so still have 4-6 weeks of production before I pull them up. I will pick everything on the vines to ripen inside at that point.
herblover- Posts : 577
Join date : 2010-03-27
Age : 61
Location : Central OH
Re: 2014 Tomatoes
herblover, what's your take on the flavor of the Black Krim? I'm considering them for next year...
CC
CC
CapeCoddess- Posts : 6824
Join date : 2012-05-20
Age : 68
Location : elbow of the Cape, MA, Zone 6b/7a
Re: 2014 Tomatoes
I really like them; a bit of a smoky, more robust flavor and adds a great depth of flavor and color when mixed with other varities. I made a batch of no-cook herbed pasta sauce combining Black Krim, Dixie Golden Giant and Herb's Rose tomatoes which is beautiful to look at. Hope it tastes good because it is in the freezer for a cold winter day when I need a taste of August!CapeCoddess wrote:herblover, what's your take on the flavor of the Black Krim? I'm considering them for next year...
CC
herblover- Posts : 577
Join date : 2010-03-27
Age : 61
Location : Central OH
Re: 2014 Tomatoes
CapeCoddess wrote:herblover, what's your take on the flavor of the Black Krim? I'm considering them for next year...
CC
I enjoyed the Black Krim over the Cherokee Purple so will plant it again next year. I also enjoyed the Hillbilly as it is both large and very productive.
floyd1440- Posts : 815
Join date : 2011-06-21
Age : 70
Location : Washington, Pa. Zone 6a
Re: 2014 Tomatoes
The pictures I've seen of Hillbilly's inside when cut open horizontally made it look beautiful, like it would be a real stunner on the plate.
Marc Iverson- Posts : 3638
Join date : 2013-07-05
Age : 62
Location : SW Oregon
Re: 2014 Tomatoes
Hi CC! Its really interesting reading about everyone's results this year.
Here's my update
This years' tomato experiment could be called
"The good, the bad and the ugly"
the good
My winner again this year is the Beefmaster. I saved and planted the seeds from last years' crop and once again they are delicious, prolific and ranged from large to huge. The plants look the best of all the tomato plants and they did well considering what a disappointing year I had for tomatoes. The Brandywine, mortgage lifter, black krim and german queen plants fought for their lives and gave us a few tomatoes each. While all tasted good the German Queen was the stand out of those four. The black cherry did ok and tasted great once we figured out when to pick them. One problem I ran into this year was with all the different colors of tomatoes and determining when to pick them. Initially we left some of them on the vine too long and the flavor suffered. Once we figured out what was "ripe" for each variety we had better results.
the bad
The heirlooms as a rule did poorly, but the Bloody butcher, purple calabash, cosmonaut volkov and hillbilly plants each wilted, shriveled and died almost immediately. I bought all four of them from the same nursery and I don't think I would buy there again. Whatever problem they had affected many of the other tomato plants in my garden. Even with careful watering many of the plants appeared wilted and had difficulty thriving. The orange wellington did poorly, but I had given my neighbor several plants and his did very well and he was kind enough to share.
the ugly
The Malinowy Olbrzym, Polish Pink Raspberry Tomato, tasted really, really good (no raspberry flavor, the name must come from the color and the ribbed shape) but the plant was wilted most of the time and the tomatoes were misshapen. The 2 plants were pretty prolific and the pink tomatoes tended to be on the large size. A definite keeper.
I've fermented and dried the seeds from the tomatoes that we liked best as well as the 10 or so varieties we brought home from the tomato festival. Looking forward to next year already!
Here's my update
This years' tomato experiment could be called
"The good, the bad and the ugly"
the good
My winner again this year is the Beefmaster. I saved and planted the seeds from last years' crop and once again they are delicious, prolific and ranged from large to huge. The plants look the best of all the tomato plants and they did well considering what a disappointing year I had for tomatoes. The Brandywine, mortgage lifter, black krim and german queen plants fought for their lives and gave us a few tomatoes each. While all tasted good the German Queen was the stand out of those four. The black cherry did ok and tasted great once we figured out when to pick them. One problem I ran into this year was with all the different colors of tomatoes and determining when to pick them. Initially we left some of them on the vine too long and the flavor suffered. Once we figured out what was "ripe" for each variety we had better results.
the bad
The heirlooms as a rule did poorly, but the Bloody butcher, purple calabash, cosmonaut volkov and hillbilly plants each wilted, shriveled and died almost immediately. I bought all four of them from the same nursery and I don't think I would buy there again. Whatever problem they had affected many of the other tomato plants in my garden. Even with careful watering many of the plants appeared wilted and had difficulty thriving. The orange wellington did poorly, but I had given my neighbor several plants and his did very well and he was kind enough to share.
the ugly
The Malinowy Olbrzym, Polish Pink Raspberry Tomato, tasted really, really good (no raspberry flavor, the name must come from the color and the ribbed shape) but the plant was wilted most of the time and the tomatoes were misshapen. The 2 plants were pretty prolific and the pink tomatoes tended to be on the large size. A definite keeper.
I've fermented and dried the seeds from the tomatoes that we liked best as well as the 10 or so varieties we brought home from the tomato festival. Looking forward to next year already!
lyndeeloo- Posts : 433
Join date : 2013-04-14
Location : Western Massachusetts Zone 5b
Re: 2014 Tomatoes
Thank you all for hte indepth results.
What are peoples favorites for sauce types? Gilberti is still on my 'to try' list. Any others people recommend? My family prefers paste/sauce tomatoes and is not into big slicers at all (they tend to be left on the counter until I toss them into dinner).
My results so far~
Oroma, it made lots of smallish Roma type tomatoes. It was not as well protected in the cold frame so I picked them all green at the big frost last week. They are not exciting tomatoes. Definitely for sauce but even cooked sorta bland. I am not bothering again with determinate tomatoes. I grew these from seed.
Sunsugar, a golden cherry that is identical to the SunGold as far as I can tell. Big happy plant covered with fruity, sweet little tomatoes. My 6yo niece adores them (and multicolored carrots). I am drying a bunch as tomato raisins, they should be delicious in biryani this winter. Next batch I dry is going to be cut in half, it takes for ever to dry them whole. Bought at a local nursery.
Stupice, the first ripe tomato every year and steadily produces all summer. A real trooper. Better flavor than Oroma but not spectacular. Before I had a greenhouse I grew these outside and they did well enough. They have good cold handling ability but the flavor suffers then. Bought at a local nursery.
Celebrity, yeah ok a big tomato. Not as flavorful as Big Beef in my memory and definitely not as productive. It is a in between determinate and indeterminate tomato. But it was a last moment fill in and fine so I am pleased but not planning to repeat. Bought at a local nursery.
Cherokee Purple, the only big slicer tomato my family gets excited about. We like them roasted as well as sliced. Not a tall plant and produces on the early side and then has a second flush before fall. Bought at a local nursery.
Black Icicle, this is an indeterminate black (actually mahogany) paste tomato. Good flavor and lots of them. We can not tell them apart form the red paste tomatoes except by color. They always look like they are feeling sad and limp and yet keep growing through the roof and dripping with fruit. I think they just are that way. I grew them from seed.
Cuorie Di Bue, big Italian oxheart paste tomato. I have trouble getting my family to recognize that it is a paste tomato even though it is so big. They are prejudiced against anything not long. Good flavor and produced well and has lots more ripening yet. Last year these were ripening in boxes until Christmas. This year I got them started earlier. Most of them get roasted and canned as sauce/paste. Started from seed.
Striped Roman, family favorite. Prolific, tasty, versatile. Definite sauce/paste tomato and we love them in salad or on sandwiches or fried on a tortillas.
After trying out some closer spacing the last couple years I went back to 2'x2' spacings but 2 plants per block planted in line with each other. That way I could reach all sides easier. This year I tried out all twine and no cages (except the Sun Sugar). It worked really well and was part of making it much easier to work around the plants. The twine tied plants can move aside a bit for reaching to the back corner. Cleaning them all out should be so easy too. I am still not into a lot of pruning but did do some. Every plant was at least 2 leaders some got up to four......
Right now I am running a space heater at night in the greenhouse and then opening the doors during the day. We will see how long this lasts.
What are peoples favorites for sauce types? Gilberti is still on my 'to try' list. Any others people recommend? My family prefers paste/sauce tomatoes and is not into big slicers at all (they tend to be left on the counter until I toss them into dinner).
My results so far~
Oroma, it made lots of smallish Roma type tomatoes. It was not as well protected in the cold frame so I picked them all green at the big frost last week. They are not exciting tomatoes. Definitely for sauce but even cooked sorta bland. I am not bothering again with determinate tomatoes. I grew these from seed.
Sunsugar, a golden cherry that is identical to the SunGold as far as I can tell. Big happy plant covered with fruity, sweet little tomatoes. My 6yo niece adores them (and multicolored carrots). I am drying a bunch as tomato raisins, they should be delicious in biryani this winter. Next batch I dry is going to be cut in half, it takes for ever to dry them whole. Bought at a local nursery.
Stupice, the first ripe tomato every year and steadily produces all summer. A real trooper. Better flavor than Oroma but not spectacular. Before I had a greenhouse I grew these outside and they did well enough. They have good cold handling ability but the flavor suffers then. Bought at a local nursery.
Celebrity, yeah ok a big tomato. Not as flavorful as Big Beef in my memory and definitely not as productive. It is a in between determinate and indeterminate tomato. But it was a last moment fill in and fine so I am pleased but not planning to repeat. Bought at a local nursery.
Cherokee Purple, the only big slicer tomato my family gets excited about. We like them roasted as well as sliced. Not a tall plant and produces on the early side and then has a second flush before fall. Bought at a local nursery.
Black Icicle, this is an indeterminate black (actually mahogany) paste tomato. Good flavor and lots of them. We can not tell them apart form the red paste tomatoes except by color. They always look like they are feeling sad and limp and yet keep growing through the roof and dripping with fruit. I think they just are that way. I grew them from seed.
Cuorie Di Bue, big Italian oxheart paste tomato. I have trouble getting my family to recognize that it is a paste tomato even though it is so big. They are prejudiced against anything not long. Good flavor and produced well and has lots more ripening yet. Last year these were ripening in boxes until Christmas. This year I got them started earlier. Most of them get roasted and canned as sauce/paste. Started from seed.
Striped Roman, family favorite. Prolific, tasty, versatile. Definite sauce/paste tomato and we love them in salad or on sandwiches or fried on a tortillas.
After trying out some closer spacing the last couple years I went back to 2'x2' spacings but 2 plants per block planted in line with each other. That way I could reach all sides easier. This year I tried out all twine and no cages (except the Sun Sugar). It worked really well and was part of making it much easier to work around the plants. The twine tied plants can move aside a bit for reaching to the back corner. Cleaning them all out should be so easy too. I am still not into a lot of pruning but did do some. Every plant was at least 2 leaders some got up to four......
Right now I am running a space heater at night in the greenhouse and then opening the doors during the day. We will see how long this lasts.
Turan- Posts : 2616
Join date : 2012-03-29
Location : Gallatin Valley, Montana, Intermountain zone 4
Re: 2014 Tomatoes
the bad
The heirlooms as a rule did poorly, but the Bloody butcher, purple calabash, cosmonaut volkov and hillbilly plants each wilted, shriveled and died almost immediately. I bought all four of them from the same nursery and I don't think I would buy there again. Whatever problem they had affected many of the other tomato plants in my garden. Even with careful watering many of the plants appeared wilted and had difficulty thriving. The orange wellington did poorly, but I had given my neighbor several plants and his did very well and he was kind enough to share
The only one of that group I grew was the Hillbilly. I like to try new varieties to see what is out there as there are some many types but my wife favors the bi-color ones so I moved from Mr. Stripey to Hillbilly. This plant turned out to be both prolific and bearing 8 - 16 oz. toms and we had so many my wife made sauce out of most of them.
Sorry to hear so many of your heirlooms wilted on you. I lost several of mine last year as I wanted to put them in the garden ASAP but a cold snap damaged them and most never recovered so I wait till after Memorial Day to plant them and they all did very well this year.
The heirlooms as a rule did poorly, but the Bloody butcher, purple calabash, cosmonaut volkov and hillbilly plants each wilted, shriveled and died almost immediately. I bought all four of them from the same nursery and I don't think I would buy there again. Whatever problem they had affected many of the other tomato plants in my garden. Even with careful watering many of the plants appeared wilted and had difficulty thriving. The orange wellington did poorly, but I had given my neighbor several plants and his did very well and he was kind enough to share
The only one of that group I grew was the Hillbilly. I like to try new varieties to see what is out there as there are some many types but my wife favors the bi-color ones so I moved from Mr. Stripey to Hillbilly. This plant turned out to be both prolific and bearing 8 - 16 oz. toms and we had so many my wife made sauce out of most of them.
Sorry to hear so many of your heirlooms wilted on you. I lost several of mine last year as I wanted to put them in the garden ASAP but a cold snap damaged them and most never recovered so I wait till after Memorial Day to plant them and they all did very well this year.
floyd1440- Posts : 815
Join date : 2011-06-21
Age : 70
Location : Washington, Pa. Zone 6a
Re: 2014 Tomatoes
Thanks for the sympathy floyd and I think you are right about the cold. The nursery had the plants outside so I figured I could plant them. It was a cold spring! Seems a lot of people had poor results with tomatoes this year. I will try the Hillbilly tomatoes next year and see how they do.
Thanks for the update Turan. I am especially interested in your results with the paste tomatoes. My garden is really lacking in that area. I will be looking for the striped romans , black icicle and cuorie di bue for next year.
Thanks for the update Turan. I am especially interested in your results with the paste tomatoes. My garden is really lacking in that area. I will be looking for the striped romans , black icicle and cuorie di bue for next year.
lyndeeloo- Posts : 433
Join date : 2013-04-14
Location : Western Massachusetts Zone 5b
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