Tomatoes 2011

13 years ago

It's time to wintersow the tomatoes, and sadly, I don't have a clue what to grow this year, but I thought if I started this thread, all of the tomatoheads would post their lists, and I could get some ideas.

The problem is too many choices! I had over 100 varieties to choose from, and then I participated in Deb's tomato seed swap, and now it's closer to 150!!! How in the world am I supposed to narrow that down to just a few?

And I hate to admit it, but after last year, I'm becoming more of a pepperhead than a tomatohead. I learned that extra pepper plants can be stuck in the nearest empty pot, or even in the flower beds. Extra tomato plants ... not so easy to find a place for in a small garden. Also, the tomatoes were a bit pickier about location. No matter how close I crammed the pepper plants, they remained healthy, and all produced well. The tomato plants don't like being too close, and tend to block one another's sunlight, so the ones in the middle become very disgruntled! So in order to keep them all happy, I'm going to have to space them out more, which means a maximum of 7 plants here at the house, and 6 - 8 plants at the community garden, assuming that I'm able to get a plot this year.

Feeling overwhelmed with choices ...

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (22)

Dan _Staley (5b Sunset 2B AHS 7)
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Peppuh. Ayuh.

Dan
colokid
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I know what you mean. Last year 36 varieties. this year I am trying to find place for 10
Stupice (all ways one plant),Pruden' purple, thessaloniki, spudakee, tarasenko 6, giganisque, pusta kolox, NAR, brandy wine red (the true RL one), one of the brandy wines-cowlick-landis or OTV, and my preacher joe X unknown that I am growing out. My spelling may not be correct.
Kennyp
Related Discussions
Participants Wanted in Oklahoma Tomato Trial
Q
Comments (27)
I sent out an email to all participants. If you did not received an email from me and requested to participate, Please send me another email. thanks everyone..... this will be fun gary
...See More
PNW Post Your Tomato Pictures 2011
Q
Comments (17)
I've only been watering every 10-14 days since the planting mix in my raised beds stays pretty moist. My tomatoes started breaking in the middle of August. Black Prince tomato breaking color on August 12th (80 days after transplant) Of course, this was the same week I had planned a trip to San Diego to visit my family. Three of the Black Prince tomatoes actually ripened within a week of the first tomato breaking. I made my husband take a picture, then pick them since they were getting overripe. Black Prince tomatoes ripening on the vine on August 20th I was only away for six days, but of course, this was when the weather finally started warming up (breaking 80°), so the other tomatoes also started breaking. When I got home on August 23rd, all of them were breaking. More Black Prince tomatoes breaking on August 23rd Cherokee Purple tomatoes breaking on August 23rd (89 days after transplant) Tomatoes on the first Black Krim plant breaking on August 23rd (90 days after transplant) One tomato on the second Black Krim plant breaking on August 23rd (90 days after transplant) A Jaune Flammé tomato breaking on August 23rd (41 days after transplant) The week's harvest of Black Krim (on bottom left, including the bright red one), one Jaune Flammé (top left), three Black Prince (top left), two Cherokee Purple (top right), and dozens of Sun Gold tomatoes on August 26th The two Black Krim plants are producing different colored tomatoes. Tatiana's TomatoBase shows Black Krim tomatoes to be dark reddish-brown when ripe, like the ones in on the bottom left in the photo above. However, all the tomatoes from the second Black Krim plant are bright red when ripe, some with green shoulders. I grew both of these plants from Burpee's Heirloom Tomato seeds, and their photos show some bright red tomatoes. I was a little surprised by the variation in shape for the Black Prince, but I wasn't expecting that much variation in the color for any of the heirlooms. Cherokee Purple starts off pink with green shoulders, then turns golden-orange, then dark reddish-purple. It's not only beautiful (if you can overlook some catfacing) but tasty too!
...See More
Grafted Tomato Pruning Tips
Q
Comments (4)
You do need to be careful about reading too much into these claims. Grafted plants definitely do need more pruning but for different reasons- the suckers of the root stock will grow vigorously from below the graft and need to be constantly removed all season long. And in order to do that suckering effectively you should at least remove suckers from a few feet above the graft just to be sure. Pier review articles might suggest a 5% increase in yield instead of 10X (1000%). To most of us who have tried grafting in the north where few soil borne diseases are an issue the hassles arent worth the benefits of grafting. Since I sucker plants extensively in my greenhouses I do however differ with Dave totally about the benefits of suckering. I can't think of a better way of increasing marketable yield per square foot of soil area than to plant more densely and sucker to one or 2 stems. Depending on where you are located, Jenny, you may benefit more from Grafting, Dr. Randy Gardner had stated that in North Carolina where soil diseases are prevalent one just cannot get heirloom tomatoes to a harvestable crop without grafting. You'll just need to weigh the options.
...See More
Top 5 Largest Heirloom Tomatoes?
Q
Comments (18)
What is large and what is big and what is really big? The tomatoes mentioned so far grow at the big level but not really big. Why has noone mentioned Big Zac....oh, it is a hybrid. So what about Delicious. It holds the world record at 7 3/4 pounds. A strain of Delicious, the so-called Hunt Strain grew a tomato over 7 pounds a few years ago and a 6.5 pounder 2 years ago. Brutus Magnum produced a 6.25 pound tomato in 2011. MegaMarv popped one at 5.51 pounds that same year and several growers are reporting tomatoes with MegaMarv over 5 pounds this year. Over 4 pounds is large. Over 5 pounds is big, over 6 pounds is really big and over 7 pounds is huge and over 8 pounds will be a new world record. &&&&&& I had to cut and paste the above so I wouldn't forget something. LOL Big Zac F1; Yes, Minnie won many NJ contests with it but over the years when folks grow it, and I do read/post at several message sites, folks seem to get not much over a pound or two with it. Delicious? Yes, Gordan Graham 's biggie , while it still holds the world record at what, something like 7# 12 oz, I didn't confirm that,if not using the the selections made by others from that original fruit, and not everyone has access to those seeds, don't get anything near the record with just regular ole seeds for Delicious, from this or that seed site. Fact is, and you know it from your post, that there are many who are dedicated to growing the biggest baddest fruits they can. And Marv Mesissner, whom I know, helped that along with his book. Those growing for size use special techniques, just as the large pumpkin growers do, megablooms, which I knew and still do as fused blossoms, seem to rule. But I do think that just ordinary home growers are looking for just ordinary varieties, no special techniques used, to get some big ones. And nothing wrong with that as I see it. ( smile) Carolyn
...See More
digit
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I've done better this year. The 29 varieties in 2010 with a too early start, too many weeks here at home, too early transplanting to the garden anyway, too few ways to protect them from late frosts, too much cold wind . . . lost plants . . . confusion . . .

Okay Bonnie, in 2011 - I've got 22 varieties: Big Dwarf*^
Big Beef
Dagma's Perfection*^
Dusky Rose*^
Early Girl
Gary O Sena^
Goliath
Kellogg's Breakfast*^
Milka's Red Bulgarian*^
Orange Minsk^
Rainy's Maltese^
Thessaloniki^
Woodle's Orange*^
Bloody Butcher^
Buisson^
Lunchbox
Pink Pearls^
SunSugar
SunGold
Sweet 100
Sweet Quartz*
Wow*^

*new-to-me
^open-pollinated

Obviously, I'm making a real commitment to trying out new OP slicers while not dropping any of my standards, hybrid or OP! All this is good because I am willing to grow more than a dozen slicers each year (. . . might as well be a dozen different slicers ;o).

If you want to know my preferences, Bonnie, look at the ones that are not new-to-me. Yes, I'd like to have all OP's but, at this time, I'm not about to give up on those disease-resistant, thrive-on-abuse hybrids!

I'm really looking forward to having the Pinks back and to trying some Oranges/yellows! I really wasn't very impressed with Minsk last year - huge plant, few fruits. Of course, I love those orange cherries.

The pink cherry Sweet Quartz would add to the colors in that group. Isn't that a terrible name? Here! Bite into a piece of quartz . . ! No wonder that variety has been out for years and hasn't caught on! Anyway, DW & I will refer to it as Sweet Rose (just like we call Bloody Butcher, JaliRanchr ;o).

Steve
jaliranchr
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hi all! Well, just finished my 2011 list today. Fewer varieties than the last few years, but still plenty of new ones, in addition to old favorites. Hope everyone has a great growing year! I prefer to lurk these days just to see how all of you are doing. Digit! LOL
xaroline
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
At Seedy Saturday I bought the following:
Sophie's Choice
Jaunne Flamme
Silvery Fir Tree
Variegated

Caroline
kareng_grow
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Last year, I grew black cherry tomatoes on advice from folks on this forum and was not disappointed. Fabulous flavor. This year I'm going to try Milano - plum tomatoes and the super sweet 100 cherry tomatoes. Don't have room for anything else.
I've also started getting hooked on peppers and will grow some Big Jims this year. My Ancho chiles were insanely successful last year in my greenhouse so will grow some more this year.
david52 Zone 6
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
This year, I'm trying 3 different ox-hearts, trying to find one that will do the best here. For home use, they're kind of interesting, with decent flavor and few seeds. So, Kosovo, Cour de Boeuf, and Ox Heart Gigantissimo from Sandhill P.

Along with the usual assortment of Sun Gold, Vorlon, Thessaloniki, and something called Tappi's finest - which sounded pretty good in the catalog.
mstywoods
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I'm finally getting into the planting seed game! Just planted a few varieties of tomatoes-

Brandywines: Big Cheef, Glicks, Sudduth, Red Landis (from seed trade 2011 - Thanks Jay/elkwc!)
Dana's Dusky Rose (from seed trade 2011- Thanks Jay/elkwc!)
Black Krim (grew these last year, too)

We grew yellow pear last year, but think we may pass on those this year. They were good, a very prolific, but prefer the larger tomatoes I think.

Marj
highalttransplant
Original Author
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Marj, I'm with you on the large tomato preference! I'd pick a meaty beefsteak over a gel filled cherry every time!

I still haven't planted any tomatoes yet, too busy planting more peppers, LOL. The list is pretty close to done though. I've narrowed it down to 17, which is a couple more than I really have room for, but I don't mind a couple of back-ups in case I lose a plant as a result of some catastrophe.

So here's what I plan to sow:

Amish Paste
Black Cherry
Box Car Willie
Carbon
Cherokee Purple (or Indian Stripe)
Earl's Faux
Hillbilly
New Big Dwarf (for container)

the rest of these will go in the community garden, if I'm able to get the space (if not, I'll have a few plants to give away):

Caspian Pink
Neves Azorean Red
Giant Belgium
Striped German
Black Krim
Sweet Horizon (aka Rosalies Early Orange)
Stump of the World
Pineapple
Persimmon (or Valencia)

Hoping to get them sown either Friday or Saturday. Just realized I haven't planted peas yet, which I usually have done by St. Patrick's Day, and it's almost time for carrots and radishes. Seems like this season is already flying by, even though it's really just getting started.

Bonnie
mstywoods
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I just LOVE the names they come up with for plant varieties! Some are sooo creative and interesting - and some are like "huh?!". :^D

Marj
colokid
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Names? I was just over in my favorite tomato place and they mentioned "Pineapple Pig". I think I will pass that one up.
KennyP
provogirl
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Here is a list of the tomatoes I am growing this year. I also have a gone a little nuts on the peppers, eggplants and the herbs (15 kinds of basil).

German Pink Tomato
Yellow Pear Tomato
Sugary Tomato
Beefsteak Tomato
Chamber's Currant Tomato
Clementine Tomato
Crimson Tide Tomato
Mrs. Stripey Tomato
German Johnson Tomato
Big Rainbow Tomato
Mr. Stripey Tomato
Green Zebra Tomato
Juliet Tomato
German Queen Tomato
Lemon Boy Tomato
Red Fig Tomato
Swap Beefsteak Tomato
Sweet Baby Girl Tomato
Costuluto Genovese Tomato
Stupice Tomato
Black Sea Man Tomato
Chamber�s Red Sausage Tomato
Bloody Butcher Tomato
Black from Tula Tomato
Beams Yellow Pear Tomato
Tommy Toe Tomato
Cream Sausage Tomato
Gold Medal Tomato
Green Sausage Tomato
White Queen Tomato
Hillbilly Potato Leaf Tomato
Japanese Trifele Black Tomato
Beefeater Tomato
Fuyu Tomato
Pink Target Tomato
Red Meat Tomato
Banana Yellow Tomato
Yellow Cr�me Tomato
Big Beefy Tomato
Cleota Pink Tomato
Tlacalulu Tomato
Kellogg's Breakfast Tomato
Ailsa Craig Tomato

ProvoGirl
digit
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
This morning, it rained and now, sunbreaks -- the outdoor thermometer has just reached 40F altho' it is past mid-day. So, I am frozen beside the remote thermometer ready to make changes in the greenhouse. I figure I've got 60mins tops, before I have to do one thing, or another.

The transplanting of some of the tomatoes into pony packs began this week. This will go on for awhile since there has been 3 sowings of seed . . . and, I broke down today, planting 2 more varieties!

DW had hurt my feelings in 2010 saying that we had too many cherries and, "especially those big Sweet Chelseas!" I've pouted for 6 months now until she said today, "We really should have more of those Sweet Chelsea for the freezer."

Since my container had room for more than the Sweet Chelsea, I snuck in Dr. Carolyn yellow cherry seeds! Won't DW be surprised?!

Jali, it is good for us to actually see what you are up to!

Caroline, did you buy seeds from Jeff Casey there in Calgary?

David, with your cooking interest & talents - it makes great sense to me that you are working with an oxheart!

I actually looked up the one named 'Stump of the World' and still don't know where the name comes from. It was also called 'Big Ben' for Ben Quisenberry the originator or, preservationist. (Marj, you can see how tomato gardeners would ignore that perfectly sensible name and go for: 'Stump of the World.' ;o) Not looking up Pineapple Pig . . .

Yes, I like the peppers but for the most desirable fruit of annual garden plants, I want 1st & foremost either melons or tomatoes. And, if melons are limited because of the climate -- I'm delighted that there are 1 or 2 tomato varieties to make life interesting.

Oops! There's that sun again! Just when I thought I'd need to go out to close the vents and turn the greenhouse furnace back on! Now what? I wonder if I have time to make a run to the hardware store . . .

Steve
ProvoGirl, with "Tomato" written with every variety you should see what your list looks like as a "word cloud." I did! Choose "any which way" in Layout. It'll look like a spilled packet of seeds!

Here is a link that might be useful: Wordle Word Cloud
digit
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Oh and Karen, I fell for Black Cherry last year -- or, at least, DW did!

I knew, knew, knew she wouldn't like a black tomato! But, she thought they made a pretty picture - Yep! She doesn't want to see another one of those out there . . .

There's no accounting for that woman's taste!

S'
elkwc
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Due to my current job situation I'm a week behind starting my mater seeds. Hopefully with get them and my pepper seeds all planted this weekend. Like always having a hard time keeping numbers down. And that is after I eliminated over 250 varieties from my collection. Seems I receive too many new ones I feel I must try.

Jali great to see your list. You have some interesting ones. I'm leaving off some this year in order to grow a few new ones and old ones I hadn't grown in a few years. They will be back next year including your Rainy's Maltese. If you haven't tried Dana's Dusky Rose I need to send you seeds. The same for you Bonnie. I really liked it last year and it did well here. Hopefully it will continue. I shared seeds with a few and it seemed to do well for everyone.

I also plan on trying my hand at grafting this year. There will be a learning curve and no better time to start. I will limit it somewhat due to my work demands. Hope to graft 20-25 using 3 different grafting rootstocks and compare results to non grafted plants of the same variety planted side by side.

Below is a rough list of what I will start. Not all will find a home in my garden. Some I will be give away for others to try. Jay

2011 Tomato List

All Around Types

Amish Canner
Atkinson
Glick's 18 Mennonite
Heinz 1439
Heinz 1350
Kanora - Kansas variety
Mozark - A University of Missouri variety - Det
#670
Hunt's Family Favorite

Bi-Colors

Arkansas Marvel
Pink Berkeley Tie-Dye
Texas Star

Beefsteak/Slicers

Barlow Jap - Pink
Big Cheef - Brandywine Cross
Brandywine OTV
Carmello OP
Cleota Pink
Costoluto Genovese
County Agent - Red
Cowlick Brandywine - Pink
Earl's Faux
Ed's Millenium - Brandywine selection
Germaid Red
Grandma Suzy's Beefsteak
Hege's German Pink
Lancaster County Pink
Make My Day
Pomodoro Costoluto Genevese
Purple Haze F5 - One of the top 3 I grew last year. A very good pink selection from a PH grow out. Feel it is about stable now.
Royal Hillbilly
Strawberry Margarita
Sweet Corners Pink - Don't know anything about this one. Sent to me and sounds nice
Todebusch Pink

Cherries

Aunt Rubys German Green Cherry
Black Cherry
Black Mystery Pear - Checking to see if it is stable yet
Blondkopfchen
Camp Joy
Cherokee Green Pear
Green Doctors Frosted cherry
Mountain Magic Hybrid
Smarty F1 hybrid
Sungold Hybrid
Sungold Select OP
Sweet Treats Hybrid - A very good cherry I grew last year
Texas Star Cherry cross - Checking for stability. The best cherry I grew last year. A bicolor
WOW Cherry Hybrid - Have extra seeds for anyone wanting to try this new cherry

Darks

Amazon Chocolate
Black from Tula
Black Goosecreek
Carbon
Cherokee Chocolate
Cherokee Purple RL & PL
Dana's Dusky Rose - One of my top 3 last year
Indian Stripe
JD's Special C-Tex
PPP x P "C" - Pale Perfect Purple x Purple Price
Purple Haze - I will be growing the real PH along with at least 3 different selections from grow outs and attempts to stabilize them.One is named Haze and supposedly stable now. One is a pink and listed under the pinks
Spudakee - PL strain of CP
True Black Brandywine
Vorlon

Green when Ripe

Absinthe
Cherokee Green
Emerald Evergreen

Oxhearts
Guildo Pietroboni
JD's Special Pink Heart

Plum/ Paste/Other small types

Cody's Paste
Grandma Mary's Paste
Heinz 2653 Paste
Hog Heart Paste
Malinowski

Yellows/Orange

1884 Yellow Pink Heart - Darrell Merrell variety
Belarus Orange 1
Casey's Pure Yellow
Golden Queen non USDA
Juane Flammee'
Kellogg's Breakfast
KBX
Lillian's Yellow
Orange Minsk
Woodle Orange

Others

OSU Blue Fruit
Tomasil - White

Suppose to receive some other new varieties to try from a breeder. If they arrive in time I will eliminate some on the list to make room for at least a few of them.

Grafting Rootstock

Emperador
He-Man
Maxifort

Hybrids other than cherries - Will pick 5-8 from this list

Big Beef
Big Zac
Brandyboy
Geronimo
Goliath
Heritage Hybrid
Jetsonic
Jet Star
Moreton
Momotaro - Nematode tolerance
Old Fashioned Goliath
Pear Goliath
Porterhouse
Pink Beauty
Prime Beef Goliath
Ramapo
Red Defender
Security
Sunny Goliath
highalttransplant
Original Author
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Finally got mine sown today!!! Okay, I know I don't really eat many cherry tomatoes, and I already had Black Cherry on the list, but somehow I planted Isis Candy and Galina's Yellow Cherry today. I'll probably give them away, but if there's room, I may stick on of each down at the community garden.

Elkwc, nice list! I've tried some on the ones you have listed, and some were on my preliminary list, but didn't make the final cut. No, I haven't tried Dana's Dusky Rose yet, and you're the second person that's recommended that one to me this week!

Bonnie
elkwc
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Bonnie send me your address sometime and I will send some seeds of DDR. I've grown all but a couple on your list. You have several nice ones. Sadly I can't grow all I like and still try some new ones every year. And some I will be growing I have had for seeds for a few years and been pushing them back. The seeds are now 3-5 years old so need to grow them if I'm going too. Jay
jaliranchr
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Wonderful lists, everyone!

Hey, Jay! That's a great list. Looks like Pink Berkeley Tie Dye made a lot of lists this year. :)Absinthe is the one Alan Bishop developed, yes? Good luck with the grafting.
gjcore
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I've only decided on these 2 so far which I've planted a few weeks ago and look okay.

Orange Strawberry Oxheart
Sandul Moldovan

I'm thinking of throwing all the packets in a bowl, close my eyes and choose 8 more. They all look so good.
Skybird - z5, Denver, Colorado
13 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I finalized all the veggies I'm going to grow this year, and here's my rather brief tomato list! Realistically I can grow 7---I'm growing 8! The two red I'm growing because I had old seed for them, and in my search for the perfect yellow/orange ones, I never got around to researching a few new red varieties (Sand Hill will be getting an order for some red ones next year!), so I decided to just use some of the seed I had around here. Who knows! They might turn out to be great! The descriptions sound good!

Sungold - gold cherry [57-60]
Sweet Baby Girl - red cherry [65]
Earl of Edgecombe - orange 6-12 oz. [73]
Dr. Wyche's Yellow - gold 6-16 oz. [75-85]
Kellogg's Breakfast - orange, 1-2 lb. 79-90]
Big Beef Hybrid - red, 10-12 oz. [73]
Delicious - red, 1 lb. [80]
Mortgage Lifter - pink, 2.5 lbs. [80-85]

I sure hope this is a better tomato year than last year was!

Skybird
highalttransplant
Original Author
12 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Well, as I mentioned on my "Admitting Defeat" thread I broke down and bought plants, since my wintersown ones are still tiny little sprouts at this point.

So here is my revised tomato growlist, which is not near as exciting as what I had planned, but hopefully I will get enough ripe tomatoes to actually can some salsa and tomato sauce.

Abe Lincoln
Azoychka
Big Red
Black Krim
Black Plum
Black Sea Man
Brandy Boy (hybrid)
Brandywine
Delicious
Goldie
Italian Gold
La Roma II
Mortgage Lifter (x2)
Orange Blossom (hybrid)
Pink Beauty (hybrid)
Thai Pink

The problem with this list is too many small to medium sized tomatoes. Would have preferred more beefsteaks, and the reviews I found for Thai Pink, which is my only cherry type, did not have good things to say about its flavor. Also, there are a few hybrids on the list, which is not my preference, but at this point beggars can't be choosers.

Bonnie
elkwc
12 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Bonnie,
I just read your update on your peppers also. I will put the last of my peppers and tomatoes out this weekend. I received 6 inches of hail on May 24th. Which wiped out most of my plants that weren't covered. Whether in the frames or in ground. Some have rebounded, I rooted the top of one which will go out this weekend. And likewise I bought a few plants to replace the large ones that already had fruit on them that the hail ruined. I have plants now that have fruit and some are fair sized but have only been out a few days. We are in year 4 of a drought. And have had extremely high temps with wind almost every day. They are trying to build a wind farm south of me around 100 miles and have had less than five full days where they could use the tall cranes and erect them since March. Some long range forecasters are saying there is a possibility of more normal temps in July along with normal to above normal rainfall. The main reason I'm setting the plants out now. If there isn't a change by mid August I will yank many of them. But if it is more normal hopefully I will have a nice fall harvest. I will update varieties later. Jay

Tomatoes 2011

Comments (22)

Dan _Staley (5b Sunset 2B AHS 7)

colokid

Related Discussions

digit

jaliranchr

xaroline

kareng_grow

david52 Zone 6

mstywoods

highalttransplant
Original Author

mstywoods

colokid

provogirl

digit

digit

elkwc

highalttransplant
Original Author

elkwc

jaliranchr

gjcore

Skybird - z5, Denver, Colorado

highalttransplant
Original Author

elkwc

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Tomatoes 2011

Comments (22)

Related Discussions

highalttransplantOriginal Author

highalttransplantOriginal Author

highalttransplantOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

highalttransplant
Original Author

highalttransplant
Original Author

highalttransplant
Original Author