Need an 'anchor'

14 years ago

Last year I went "whole-hog-heirlooms", and loved the fun and color. I've played with them for several years, and will continue to do so. BUT... I need to find a good, red, reliable "anchor" to build around for our canning (mostly salsa, sauce and "just tomatoes") and general purpose sharing. I'm replacing my Roma's with Opalka's this year for a "paste" tomato. The colors and flavors add to the mix, but when the peppers and onions are ready, it's no time to be out hunting enough of "any tomatoes" to fill the pot. I'd hoped my six Wisconsin 55's would keep up, but they didn't produce well at all last year. My Golden Girls did great, so they took up the slack. So, my spaghetti sauce is a bit orange at the moment.

OK, I'm looking to put out 10-12 of my 60 plants as the anchor. A good friend has suggested... don't scream... Better Boy. I know, I know... but... alternatives?

PS - No, repeat, NO Rutgers. Never, ever again. (Do I sound bitter?)

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Comments (9)

digdirt2
14 years ago
Ok so no Rutgers? Too bad. Then Champion, Big Boy, Jet Star, Sioux or Supersonic would be my next choices. ;)

Dave
vermontkingdom
14 years ago
I too grow a fair number of plants for canning (salsa, paste, relish, chili, and whole tomatoes.) I experimented with more than 40 varieties last summer but the primary ones I used for canning were several types of paste tomatoes--Roma, San Marzano and one that has been heirloomed through a local Italian family here in Vermont for more than one hundred years and, one nonpaste variety, Moreton. For eating off the vine, I love big beef and brandywine, although, at this point in a seemingly long winter, I would gladly eat the lousiest tasting one from last summer.
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simmran1
14 years ago
Pastor,
You sound so bitter against Rutgers. Marion is a better Rutgers, and also if youÂre disappointed in taste,
you may want to go to Fedco to get the real Rutgers.

IÂm a salsa/paste maker myself and need to time tomato-pepper harvest with garlic harvest, which is July 10th.
2 weeks after garlic harvest, the bulbs are cured. One of the early tomatoes is Milano Plum and the other is Napoli.
The pepper Buran for mild and Early Jalapeno for the medium. Why Buran? Because the taste is just as ripe before it turns color.

-Randy

Here is a link that might be useful: Kitchen Garden Seeds
pastor_steve
Original Author
14 years ago
I must make a confession. I picked up my Rutgers last year at... oh this is hard... Wal-mart. I knew better. But it may have been the weather too. Anyway... if I had a dozen usable 'maters off of these four plants I'd be surprised.

So, maybe I should extend Rutgers a little grace, huh?
rwk_nova
14 years ago
I picked up 12 puny Rutgers plants from a local Southern States for about $3 when most of my 1st plantings expired from too much rain. To my surprise they grew, produced pretty well and tasted ok fresh so you might want to give them another chance. That being said, Better Boy and Big Beef produced as much and tasted better IMHO. IÂve heard good things about the Moreton Hybrid, Jetsetter, and Jet Star but have not personally tried them yet.
deanriowa
14 years ago
I love Rutgers they have done well for me in Iowa. Another good Rutgers sized tomato is Italian Market Wonder. I have heard good things about Sioux and Box Car Willie and I am trying them both out this coming season.

Dean
alanleveritt
14 years ago
Here in central Arkansas I've had great luck with Beefy Boy, which I think is a Park tomato. Good taste, flawless appearance and productive. We grow lots of heirlooms for sale and use the Beefy Boy as our backup.
miesenbacher
14 years ago
Kellogs West Virgina ("The Tomato Machine" with fruits up to tennis ball size)
Ludmilla's Red Plum (Fruits are as big as soda cans with excellent Production and flavor)
Guido (Beefsteak tomatoes 1-2lb fruit, more acidic than sweet with yields up to 40lbs per plant)
myfamilysfarm
14 years ago
Pastor Steve, I have not had luck with Rutgers, I have tried several years hoping for the best. They just don't produce enough to make them worth my time.

My favorite is Big Beef, year before last they were producing 1,000# each week off of about 300 plants. This went on for 6-8 weeks before slowing down. By that time, we were ready for them to slow down. I plant Lemon Boy and Golden Jubilee for my yellow tomato customers, I have had good luck with the Lemon Boy stopping about the same time that the Golden Jubilees get starting.

Need an 'anchor'

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