best tomatoes for Atlanta area?

17 years ago

Hello all,

I've been perusing the various GW forums and seed catalogues, trying to figure out which varieties of tomatoes will do best in our beastly summers here in Decatur. My plants did sooooooo poorly last year. I think maybe I just put them out too late and the heat (and associated maladies ...) worked 'em over before they had a chance to set much fruit. But I'm DETERMINED to get better results this year.

I'm listing below all the varieties (most or all are heirlooms) I've seen mentioned in connection with hot, heat and the South. I'd appreciate (GREATLY!!) any feedback from anyone who has experience with these varieties. Please tell me what has done well for you in the past and what has NOT done well.

Also, if you've got a recommendation that's NOT on this list, please let me know. I prefer heirlooms, but a good hybrid can be a girl's best friend when she's got fresh mozzarella in the fridge and a handful of homegrown basil.

Here goes:

Ailsa Craig

Arkansas Traveler

Aunt GertieÂs Gold

Big Beef

Black Cherry

Black Krim

Brandywine Red

Caspian Pink

Cherokee Chocolate

Cherokee Purple

Costoluto Genovese

Creole

Delicious

Eva Purple Ball

Heatherington Pink

Homestead 24

Jeff Davis

Mama Mia Paste

Manalucie

MariannaÂs Peace

Marion F

Marmande

Marvel Striped

Mortgage Lifter

Muleteam

Neves Azorean Red

New Big Dwarf

Rose

SchellenbergÂs Favorite

Teffen Mennonite

Tropic

Tropic (VFT)

Let me know what you all think!

Patricia

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Comments (11)

KH 888
17 years ago
I am over in Athens and I am wondering where you can buy heirloom tomato plants in the Atlanta area. Do you have to start from seed or are there any good suppliers?
pam_3
17 years ago
I'm sure other folks will chime in with more veg experience. For my part...I grew Brandywine in the ground with no special treatment, and got some really tasty tomatoes. It didn't produce a whole lot, but that may have been my fault. I grew Romas in a container on the deck last year, and had more tomatoes than I needed, and they were quite good. Good luck this year. Fresh tomatoes are worth the effort!

I know you can buy heirloom seeds at a lot of places...Lowes, HD, Target, probably Walmart, as well as your favorite nurseries.
Hope that helps.
Pam
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I have been growing and grafting fruit trees since I was in my early teens and workin after school and in the summers at Green Brothers Nurseries.Know many of the folks around the south such as Lee Calhoun and Jim Lawson who are experts in the field. Have met with the USDA Fruit and Nut tree folks down in Byron, traveled to Long Ashton in England to see the research center there, and regularly obtained scion wood from Cornell. Even this year grafted many a fine pears onto flowering pear seedlings that were plentiful around the yard. Used to be a NAFEX member. Would love to start some figs, but with my various health issues, cannot really justify a new ten year venture. Most of my work is now tending to my large mixed fruit orchard and developing the life in the soil of my garden as I slowly convert to raised beds. What started the tomato exploration was my interest in growing two each of the best 100 to see what will thrive, produce, and deliver plenty of quality tomatoes. After growing them, I will have good idea of what does best in GA. Towards this end, I have included Creole, Goose Creek and Tropic.Before beginning I took recommendations for seed from around the U.S. and the world back in January from the "experts" in the field. These I began in my Florida room and have been tending and repotting ever since. With my own theory of developing life in the soil, evene my seedlings were started with the best organic seed starting soil to which I added soil micro-organism to enhance root production and disease resistance early own. This assures that a very broad range of organisms go into the soil along with the plants. Meanwhile, I have been consistently adding large amounts of humus, home produced manure compost, and far more to the soil. Now, I would just love to have these 100 varieties get out into the region to educate and provide new taste experiences..as well as a broadly available base of Georgia seed stocks as most who visit are fascinated with saving their own. Each visit takes an hour or two as we just talk tomatoes to match their interests and uses. We should be developing a base of info as to who has what seed. I now have a rather huge collection, but will be growing far fewer next year. Thats why I only planted two of each variety...to add their new seed to my selection, though I will only grow 20 next year. My seed comes from growers across the U.S. and Canada, Russia, Mexico, Europe and the Slavic nations. With many later arrivals, I still have many flats yet to be potted of varieties that will be perfect for later planting as well as the original 100 varieties. Most HAVE to have Green Zebra, SunGold, and the Cherokee strains as those are what they seem to have seen and experienced the most, but there are over 5000 varieties and I was seeking those recomeended by the experts as the best in FLAVOR and had to stop somewhere. Few have any concept of how much work is involved inacquring the rare seeds, much less the starting of seed, mutilple transplants, and moving them in and out for proper hardening, display, daily watering and protection from sun and storms...and I still have at least five hundred new seedlings to pot. Expensive, quality potting soil with large cups to provide adequate root mass adds up quickly.
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Dave, I'm not having any problems per se. I'm growing in raised beds and I have done what I can to increase the sunlight, including taking out several trees. The shade I'm getting now is primarily from neighbor's trees. I haven't done too badly this year. I averaged about 10-12 tomatoes per plant and have had two flushes of that amount so far. (The San Marzano's have more, but I've lost a lot of them to BER). With luck I'll get a third flush before frost. The reason for the post is that with the small garden that I have, I am less able to experiment than some. And I know that Ted plants a LOT of varieties. So my logic was that what has done well for him seemed like a good place for me to pick varieties from for next year. By the way I planted Arkansas Traveler based on some of your posts, so thanks for that, it was our favorite of 2009. Susan
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From the original post I get the idea you are looking for the best determinate tomato to in North Carolina and flavor is a factor? I'd contact Twilley Seed Company and ask their advice on determinate hybrid varieties for Carolina as they have quite a few that have tomato spot wilt virus (TSWV) resistance and some with Yellow Leaf Curl Virus (TYLC) resistance. I've grown one TSWV-res. determinate that I thought had decent flavor and that is Mountain Glory. Another TSWV-res determinate that frequently sells out (seed) quickly is Bella Rosa. Talladega is a TSWV-res variety that also is heat tolerant but I thought Top Gun, which has the same characteristics, tasted better. If Yellow Leaf Curl is an issue, I'd check out PS-01522935 from Twilley which also is TSWV-res as well as VFN, ASC, and Grey Leaf resistant as well. Have no idea about flavor. None of those mentioned above in this post are gonna taste as good as many heirlooms that will grow well in your area. I'd suggest trying Indian Stripe wish basically is a more compact Cherokee Purple type tomato that has stood up very well to the rigors of North Carolina conditions from reports I'm getting back.
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mcrean1
17 years ago
Hierloom wise, I have had the greatest success with Cherokee Purple and Ozark Pink.

Non hierloom try Heatwave, Burpee Big Beef, and the hybrids of Big and Better boy. I always try my hand at a few newbies every year as well, but these have been my consistent perfomrers.
girlgroupgirl
17 years ago
Green Zebra.

If you are looking for heirloom toms, you will be able to purchase them from the Episcopal Church of the Holy Comforter or the Ace Hardware in East Atlanta Village (also our tomatoes). These are grown from organic seed by disabled adults, and we are non-profit so the tomatoes are a very nice price.
If you would like a list and description of all tomatoes (heirloom and hybrid) that we have in production, please feel free to email me.

GGG
lawyergardener
17 years ago
First, I wish I'd known about the local charity sales of heirlooms before I bought mine for 2007! Second, here's what I did this year to buy heirloom seed and plants. I'm a huge Internet user, so I searched and purchased via the 'net this year. If you want the world's largest selection with great plant photos and descriptions (including indicators for what does well in HOT HOT HOT climates like ours) go to www.heirloomtomatoplants.com.

The owner is Laurel (a very, very nice lady) who grows over 150 types of heirloom tomatos (or you can custom order from her stock of 1,500 types of seed, and she'll grow'em for you!). Her website's pictures and descriptions are fantastic, and she indicates what does well in heat, cold, containers, etc. Although the plants are reasonably priced (to me, anyway), the downside is shipping from the Los Angeles area.

For seed, try a southern company such as Southern Exposure Seed Exchange (www.southernexposure.com) which carries lots of organic heirloom tomato (and other veggie) seeds suited for the South (they're located in VA). For a wider selection (and I mean hundreds if not thousands of heirloom choices), try www.tomatofest.com. Personally, I thought their prices were high but the selection fantastic - and great photos, too. I purchased many of my seeds from two Oregon sellers - Victory Seed Company (www.victoryseeds.com) and Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds (www.rareseeds.com).

I have started the following seeds:
Brandywine - Red, Pink and Yellow
cherokee chocolate
cherokee purple
earliana
Tiger Tom
Copia
amish paste
Indian Stripe
Tess's Land Race (Baker Creek - small currant tomato)
Pink Accordion
Brandywine Red
Black Cherry
Hillbilly
Orange Heirloom (from Victory Seed)
eva purple ball (plant from Laurel's)
Purple Haze (plant from Laurel's)
Goose Creek (from South Carolina low country, plant from Laurel's)
Dagma's Yellow Perfection (plant from Laurel's)
Black zebra (plant from Laurel's)
Paul Robeson (plant from Laurel's)

This is my first time growing these heirlooms, so don't take this list as gospel for growth in the South's climate. I'll post my results this fall/next spring!
ourhappyhome
17 years ago
Of those on your list, I've grown Black Krim and Eva's Purple Ball with tremendous success. Eva's is my favorite for this area. I also grew Kellogg's Breakfast and Ponderosa Red last season. Both produced okay in pots, especially KB and it had wonderful flavor. This year I'm growing these varieties which I understand are good for our climate.

Started from seed:
Lime Green Salad
Brandy Boy
Bloody Butcher
Cherokee Chocolate
Flamme
Galina
New Big Dwarf
Aunt Ginny's Purple (Aunt Ginny's is not necessarily good for Georgia, but I hear it has superb flavor)

I agree with LawyerGardner that Laurel's has a wonderful selection of plants and a great website. She is highly recommended on the Heirloom Tomatoe Forum. There is also a really incredible group of folks over in Alabama off Hwy 20 who raise healthy heirlooms that are good for the southeastern climate. They also come highly recommended on the Tomatoe Forum. I tried them last year and will use them again this year. They had the best prices I could find, fast shipping and excellent packaging. The group The Tasteful Garden. Try the link below. They sell about 20 varieties of tomato plants. I'm buying 3 or 4 plants from them this year:
Mortgage Lifter
Stomp of the World
Aunt Gertie's Gold
Momotaro
Hope this helps!

Here is a link that might be useful: Tasteful Garden
PRO
Tasteful Home Decor
15 years ago
Just a note, Tasteful Garden ships plants all over the US and have 50 tomato varieties with most heirlooms as well as other vegetables, peppers and herbs. You can order online too!

Here is a link that might be useful: The Tasteful Garden
bagsmom
15 years ago
Super fast response here - must go play wii bowling!

Cherokee Purple was so very, very delicious! I don't even like tomatoes and I was instantly converted! BLT's to die for!!!!!!
girlgroupgirl
15 years ago
Holy Comforter also has a wide variety of heirloom and old hybrid tomatoes (all are non-GMO) of all sorts for sale locally, at great prices. They are organically grown and the proceeds go to 100% to non-profit.
When time comes, I can offer you a list and descriptions for the year if you like. We haven't planted yet, of course!
loganville
13 years ago
Arkansas Traveler has produced well for me in Loganville, GA. Big Beef is reliable and a heavy producer but not among my top favorites for taste. Brandywines are so different, regular leaves, potato leaves, pink, red, etc it is hard to comment. The yields are usually relatively small but the right Brandywine has amazing taste. Aunt Ginnys Purple has done well here. Creole takes the heat and I like the taste. Homestead 24 produces and produces and produces, loads of tomatoes and Sioux does well too. Marianna's Peace did not do well the one year I planted it but it wasn't a good year for tomatoes in general so I am going to try it again. I like German Giant and German Johnson and always plant Rutgers. Italian Sweet has done well for me and is huge. I am trying Mortgage Lifter this year but no ripe ones yet. While the Florida heat varities will set in the hot summer, the taste leaves a lot to be desired for me. I am also trying Bella Rosa this year, it isn't a heirloom but is supposed to have great taste. I have many green tomatoes on this plant but nothing red yet, soon. I keep on trying a few new ones each year and repeating those I like best. My soil is now wonderful after years of composting. Good soil makes all the difference.
woody_ga
13 years ago
Park's Whopper does well for me. I had a more difficult time finding tomato plants this year, but it may have been because I wanted to start too early. I get impatient at times! So I planted Early Girl and Better Boys. They are producing well.

Our local Hardware store (Morgan's in Woodstock) did carry some heirloom varieties a little later, and the gardening lady gave me one (Yoder Yellow) that was broken. It has done fine and has green tomatoes. I also have some Green Zebras but, I started them from seed and they got a late start. I am hopeful about those because of their taste. I'll be glad to report how they do.

best tomatoes for Atlanta area?

Comments (11)

KH 888

pam_3

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