What tomatoes are you planting THIS year?

15 years ago

Hi y'all,

Can we get the tomato thread going again? Tomatomania is this weekend at Tapia Bros. Which tomatoes came through for you last year, and where are you?

I got the most pathetic harvest of my life last year here in a hot inland valley. maybe the result of the May heat wave, maybe my new veggie garden's soil is too well composted, maybe too much water. Early Girl, Pink Brandywine, Mr. Stripey-- none did much of anything and I yanked them all.

Anyhoo, I am trying to decide what four tomatoes to buy, and I am also supposed to choose three for my neighbor. He wants a grape tomato (I think he means cherry) a beefsteak, and a plum. I want productivity and taste. I bought a Stupice for productivity, since it did so well the year before last, but it's not a very tasty one in my garden.

From re-reading the last two year's posts, I think I might try:

Sioux

Nebraska Wedding

Marianna's Peace

Opalka

and/or Neves Azoran Red.

How do these do for you? Any other favorites?

Renee

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Comments (21)

socks
15 years ago
I just planted a Celebrity I got at HD. Hope it will rain today or tomorrow to give it a nice start from Mother Nature.
barbara_in_la
15 years ago
Though I might be late, I just planted seeds of Health Kick, Caro Rick, Burpee's Supersteak Hybrid, Brandywine, Celebrity, and Sungold. Of them all, Sungold is the only one I've grown before and like a lot.
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Boomer Sooner, Believe me I do understand. I have wanted to plant for weeks, but knew I shouldn't, and when those frosty mornings hit last week after our average last frost date, I was relieved that I didn't have plants in the ground to cover up. Here's what I do to feed my "tomato planting fever". In February, as soon as the stores have them (except for this year, which I'll explain in a second), I buy several tomato plants in 5" peat pots. They are usually about 8-10" tall, have main stems as big around as my little finger, and either already have blooms on them or are about to bloom any day. I buy 4 or 5 of them, and pot them up into 2-gallon or 3-gallon pots. Then, I carry them outside into the sun on warm days, and into the well-insulated but undeated garage/barn on cold nights. If the forecast low is going lower than maybe 25 degrees, I carry them into the house. Does it get old? Sometimes it does, but on the other hand, it means we'll be harvesting the first tomatoes in April or earliest May. Just knowing that helps me be patient about putting my home-grown seedlings into the ground. This year, I was busy and didn't buy them the first week they were in the stores. Then, the second week, we had 9.25" of snow here, and parts of north central Texas south of us had up to 14" of snow. Guess what the brilliant minds at all the stores did? They left those nice, healthy, lush tomato plants outside where they all froze. So then I couldn't buy them for another week or so because all the stores had lost their entire inventory. I finally found some that hadn't frozen around the third week of February. They were at a Lowe's in Southlake, TX. Those six plants have about 14 or 15 tomatoes (total on all the plants combined, not that many on each plant) on them right now and we're expecting the first ripe one in 2 or 3 weeks. I can hardly wait. Having those few plants to fuss over, and knowing that we'll have ripe tomatoes soon, helps me slow down and wait for the right weather instead of being in a rush to plant. I still have about 6 jars of canned tomato sauce and about the same amount of canned salsa, several quarts of frozen tomatoes in the freezer that I can use for cooking, and 3 gallon-sized zip-lock freezer bags full of dehydrated bite-sized tomatoes. The dehydrated ones, when rehydrated, still have wonderful flavor but of course they don't have the same texture as fresh tomatoes. I'm dying to have that first ripe tomato! Paula, If this wind doesn't stop blowing, I don't know when I'll feel like the plants "can" go into the ground, but certainly by this weekend. The winds on Tuesday are supposed to gust up to around 40 mph---and that is getting so old. I'm sort of dreading putting all of them into the ground, because then I'll still have about 200 left....and I'll start worrying about whether or not I can find good homes for all of them. lol Dawn
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As I was digging through my garden getting the beds ready for the summer, I was constantly digging up roots from the bushes that were recently removed and wondered what kind of compost roots make. I usually leave them in the ground, but I don't know what good it does, if any. As for planting in the same spot every year, as long as you have no bad stuff in your soil and you can replinish the nutrients, you should be fine. The recommendation is based on soil-born diseases and pests that can still be in the soil from last year. As long as you don't have any of those, you should be fine. The only other reason I can think of is if local wildlife has a good memory and can remember to return to that spot where good tomatoes were last year. Although, I don't think moving a plant over 5 feet would foil the birds in my neighborhood. What may be a good example is what I found the other day. As I was preparing the beds, I dug up what looked like an albino horn worm. Horn worms were all over the daturas (angel trumpets) I had in my bed last year and wouldn't be surprised if some larvae, eggs or whatever was in the soil close to where those were planted. Hopefully, they are a variety that is limits itself to the daturas and will leave my tomatoes alone as they did last year. I'll have the BT on standby just in case.
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Started from seed: Black Prince (1st time. Purple Cherokee didn't grow well last year, so I'm trying this one in its place) Black Cherry (1st time and very excited. I'm not a real fan of cherry tomatoes... love the production, but not the taste. I've heard this is the cherry tom for people like me.) Speckled Roman (3rd time. Didn't grow last year and missed it so it's making a return.I really enjoy these as a cooking tomato and think they're absolutely gorgeous with their orange, red and yellow star burst skins. Flesh is deep red and makes an awesome sauce) Brandywine (4th time. Keep growing these mainly because everyone says they're great. I get decent yields, but find the flavor a little mild for my taste. May be this will be the year they shine?) Purchased as plants: Green Zebra (2nd time...I know this is one that really divides people. I love them. My fave salad tomato. All I can say is don't eat them too young. Let the yellow part of the skin start to blush before slicing in. They're still tart, but sweeter and more complex.) Black Zebra (1st time... not sure about this one) Eva Purple Ball (1st time.. very excited... heard so many good things about this plants taste, hardiness and yield) Mortage Lifter (1st time... hoping this satisfies my beefsteak needs if Brandywine once again disappoints.) and of course: Early Girl (3rd time. Growing because it's supposed to be early and productive. In the past for me it was a mid season tomato with poor yields. But I think I treated her as a second class citizen relegated to a less than ideal plot. This year, I'm showing her love in hopes she shines. We shall see.)
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davissue_zone9
15 years ago
early girl, champion, celebrity and stupice have always done well for me in the central valley.
wanda
15 years ago
Champion does extremely well for me all season. I just planted 2 of them.
Also a San Francisco Fog because it produces earlier as it likes the cooler spring weather. It stops producing in summer when it gets too hot and then kicks in again in fall through about December.
I'm in San Jose area.

I've had Sun Gold and Sun Sugar (both orange cherry types) and both produced like crazy and tastes almost like candy.

wanda
slo_garden
15 years ago
Of those on your list, I've grown Sioux and Marianna's Peace. I was very happy with both. Sioux is very productive with a tangy, acidic flavor. Marianna's Peace is sweet, without being overly so, and moderately productive. My grow list this year is:

Aker's West Virginia
Ananas Noir
Banjan Roomii
Berkeley Tie Dye
Bijskij Zeltyi
Black Cherry
Black from Tula
Blue Ridge Mountain
Cherokee Green
Cosmonaut Volkov
Crnkovic Yugoslavian
Goji Faranji
Huang Se Chieh
JD's Special C-Tex
KBX
Lithuanian
Neves Azorean Red
Rhoades Heirloom
Russian 117
Shuntukski Velikan
Sunset's Red Horizon
Super Snow White
Thieneman's Australian Heart
Ukrainian Pear

Every available inch of my garden is going to be crammed with tomatoes (LOL).
socks
15 years ago
And I also have a couple volunteers I might leave to grow.
cabrita
15 years ago
This year I am yanking out the volunteers and returning them to the compost pile...

Repeats we have grown before:

Stupice
Glacier
Kellogs breakfast
Black Krim
Momotaro

trying this year for the first time:

Neves azorean red
Carbon
Brandywine
Principe Borghese
Paul Robeson
Sun gold
Druzba
Cherokee green
tammysf
15 years ago
i am in nor cal where we have some warm summers and am doing:

black krim (heirloom)
sun sugar (orange cherry)
sugar sweet (red cherry)
big beef (beefsteak)
san marzano (plum)

most are prolific bearers but i do not have super high hopes for san marzano...hoping it beats my expectaions.
iris_gal
15 years ago
Sweet 100 - delicious cherry tomato, heavy producer. Tasted it at a friend's last year.

Celebrity - first time, recommended by a neighbor.

Wanda ~~ thanks for the info on San Francisco Fog. Do I have that name right? My brother's in San Jose so will pass it along. And I'm in an ocean influence area so will look for it locally.
vall3fam
15 years ago
I have under lights:

Opalka
Heidi
Ace 55
San Marzano Redorta
San Marzano Nano
Persimmon
Rutgers
Black Krim
Neves Azorean Red

I'll start setting them outside now to harden off and plan on planting out next week. I can't wait! It's exciting to see my little babies that in a couple months will be six foot tall!

If anyone is in the Merced area, I should have extras if anyone needs them.
Elaine
deep___roots
15 years ago
Bay area here. Squirrels were extremely satisfied with my tomatoes last season. Me, not so much.
Undeterred, I have sown seeds for:
druzba
soldacki
golden queen
kellog's
german head
omar's lebanese
rahart's red
brandywine
prize of the trials
chadwick cherry
gardener's delight
peacevine
marglobe
marvel striped
zapotec pleated
sungold
I got me a sunsugar plant and an early girl plant at the big box as well just to get a jump on things.
My seeds have germinated already (7 days). I just set the flats on the living room floor near the sliding glass doors that face the morning sun.
It seems to me that any eastern european varieties are usually very productive in this part of CA. I think I had polish giant last year. Boy, the squirrels loved those big toms! Me, I think I got 2 of them.
Better luck this year to us all. The squirrels, not so much.
tammysf
15 years ago
yeah, i am in marin and know i will have to deal with the squirrels and other critters...luckily there is this young black kitty that is hunting the critters in my yard...i love that kitty. its the neighbors cat and has killed off everything in there yard so it is branching out.
fruithack
15 years ago
Repeats: Lemon Boy, Better Boy, Zopotec, Early Girl
New: Black Tula
peebee1
15 years ago
In the South Bay here, and this year I'm growing my prolific standbys of Carmello, Box Car Willie,Cherokee Purple, Green Zebra, and Sungold. I need big producers to feed all the people at work and neighborhood clamoring for home grown tomatoes, esp. heirlooms for taste.

What else? Let's see, KBX,Indian Stripe,Opalka,Heidi,San Marzano,New Big Dwarf,and Isis Candy. Do I have room for all? Nope, but I'll find a way. Don't know if the ones in this paragraph group will produce alot, but I always try out new varieties every year.

Brandywines are not considered prolific, so I will not grow them again after trying for 2 years. Great taste though.
hosenemesis
Original Author
15 years ago
We just got back from TOMATOMANIA! and I got

Stupice
Marianna's Peace
Black Krim
Sioux
Champion

and for my neighbor
San Marzano Plum
Sungold
Momotaro

They didn't have Opalka or Neves Azorean Red, which also seem to be big favorites of Californians. I'll let everyone know what happens!
Renee
slave2thefur
15 years ago
Much to my astonishment, Mr Stripey produced fruit thru the winter with no protection, no cover, nothing - just kept going. Will plant another sweet Million cherry. Looking at trying another black one, even tho I haven't been very successful - just doesn't get that hot on the coast. Have Glacier and Siberia in the ground now, and should have fruit in a few weeks. =^,,^=
myallforjc
15 years ago
I am going primarily with Amish Paste after last years success for making sauce, along with a few Brandywine.
jcin_los_angeles
15 years ago
Paul Robeson, Big Rainbow, Better Boy, Health Kick, and Roma.
bdobs
15 years ago
Martinez here

Cherokee Purple x2
Red Brandywine x2
Big Beef x3
Sungold x2
Celebrity
Supersteak
Early Girl
Lemon Boy

I have tried Brandywine and Yellow Brandywine in the past and loved the taste, yet they produced only a couple fruits. I am hopeing maybe the RL Red Brandywine will do better for me
hershigrl
15 years ago
This is probably a stupid question, but are you supposed to replant tomatoes every year? The two tomato plants I got last year are still growing and in fact are currently blooming. Plus, they seeded in a bunch of my nearby pots. So now I really have about 5 plants. The originals were Big Boy and a generic cherry tomato.
sautesmom Sacramento
15 years ago
Overwintered tomatoes can lose some of their flavor the second year and not produce as much, and so most people just start new ones.

Carla in Sac

What tomatoes are you planting THIS year?

Comments (21)

socks

barbara_in_la

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Original Author

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What tomatoes are you planting THIS year?

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hosenemesis
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