Heirloom Tomato '6-Packs'; what would you put in?

15 years ago

Hello,

Some of my neighbors would like me to start tomatoes for them. If you were putting together say, 6-packs of heirlooms, which ones would you grow? Would you have them grouped in the packs like cherries, slicers, beefsteak, or some other category. I am thinking of mixing them in the packs or having at least 2 types. I may also make newspaper cups, and have all the tomato plants as individual for mix and match.

I am sure the neighbors are not up on all the available varieties of heirlooms (or they'd be starting from seed, I imagine) so I need help selecting for them. I am no expert on the flavor of the different tomatoes.

The qualities should be geared toward a home gardener whose experience may be beginner to intermediate in gardening.

Flavor is primary, of course, but any other qualities that will give them success growing them will be of interest.

I suppose I should have both determinate and indeterminate.

Thanks in advance,

Robin

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Comments (8)

trudi_d
15 years ago
Mix up the colors and sizes.

Two reds, a pink, a yellow, an orange/gold, a purple/black.

Sizes three round, one beefsteak one paste, one cherry.

If you have Green-When-Ripe toms don't put them in a six pack but offer them separately. GWR is confusing when you expect something else--they are not the norm and so I wouldn't put them into a mixed six pack. Same goes for dwarf plants--offer them separately too.

T
macheske
15 years ago
Robin,
Why don't you find out whether they will be able to stake or cage them to answer the indeterminate vs. determinate question. Personnaly, I don't have a use for determinate but others might only be able to grow them for example if they want to put them in a flower garden, etc. As far as varieties, why not just choose some that you grow? Do you have a real reason to only provide heirlooms? I like to have some hybrids and some heirlooms in my garden. I give my neighbors and friends plants and it's usually a mix of variaties. This year my next store neighbor will get 1 sunsugar, 1 big beef, 1 momotaro, 1 cherokee purple, and 1 jet star. The reason is that my neighbor is Japanese and his wife's parents come over to help in the garden, who are from Japan. I'm hoping they will like the momotaro. Other's get similar ones. One thing to think about is that some people are turned off by green shoulders, cracks, etc. I know my wife's parents think a tomato is not ripe unless it's round and red, even though they have been gardening for their entire lives. You should have seen the look on their faces when I severed them some sliced cherokee purples last year! BTW...they loved them but it took a long time for them to even taste them.
Rick
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autumngal
15 years ago
You know, I would say lots depends on your zone. I find tomatoes in my garden depend so much on the season and there are some hot summers that varieties that I'm about to give up on really shine- and in a cold summer there are others that really shine. I put together 6 packs for friends (I try to do 8 packs, what's a few more tomatoes?) here in my colder zone and this is what I usually do:

1. Sungold- cherry/ orange. it's a hybrid, but so amazing.
2. Bloody Butcher: early/ small/ red. It's my favorite early. In my garden, it hates hot weather, so I've been tandem planting it with a late variety (usually Kellogg's breakfast) and pulling it.
3. Cherokee purple: 8- 16 oz. 80 days, purple. My favorite tomato, yummy, colorful, easy
4. Mortgage Lifter: 12- 16 oz. 80 days, pink. A great tomato all around, but fantastic for those people who need that red color- it's pink, but in the right color family
5. Japanese Black Triefle: smaller, black, prolific- just a great, yummy tomato. I like to toss one "weird" one in to keep people on their toes and open minded. This has an unusual shape and is a great tomato.
6. Kellogg's Breakfast: 1- 2 lb. orange: This is a late, yummy tomato. I love it because it keeps the garden fresh. When other plants start to wind down or you aren't as excited about another Cherokee purple, here comes KB. I've heard that KBX is a better strain, you can get it from Tatiana's (who is on this forum a lot). I'm trying it this year.

Your other post about which tomatoes are best for which thing is hard for me. I just grow tomatoes that I love and do almost everything you listed with them. You can make sauce from any tomato, including cherrys (which make a very sweet sauce). I've also made sandwiches with cherrys, salads with huge tomatoes and so on. My theory is if it tastes good and you have a lot of it, you can do just about anything with it. The only thing I really can't speak for is I haven't dried tomatoes yet. I'm sure I will at some point, so then will have an opinion.

Good luck!
marbles_n_the_garden
Original Author
15 years ago
Great suggestions and info! Keep it coming & thanks!
Robin
digdirt2
15 years ago
I'm assuming that they have indicated a preference for heirlooms/OP varieties to you? If so, then I'd agree with Trudi's approach as a very good one.

We grow "by request" for several friends and neighbors each year as well as for the farmer's market plant sale. And while preferences are definitely regional, we have found over the years that there is little interest in any cherry or paste variety here, especially for cherry varieties. Many just have no use for them and we've had folks who come to the farmer's market tell us that "cherry tomatoes aren't real tomatoes".

Don't agree with that personally, but my point is - know your market - and that means ask them some more questions first. ;) They will tell you if they like different color fruit (many don't), if they want plants for containers or in the ground, stakes/cages or not, etc.

You'll then have a much better handle on what to grow. You are zone 7? Best get a move on then. ;)

Dave
daylilyfanatic4
15 years ago
hi here are a few suggestions.

Indeterminate

NAR (neves azorean red) Great tasting large fruited heavy producer

Kellogg's breakfast: wonderful taste large fruit moderate production

Japanese black trifele: interesing black tomato. very productive.

matina: small fruited early good tasting and very heavy producing

cuostralee: very large tasty and also a heavy producer

marianna's peace: extremly tasty large with moderate production

opalka: if your canning its the way toi go otherwise not a great choice

DET

Sophies choice: large fruited for a det and extremly tasty and early

kewalo: a great all around tomato

ace: a staple commercial variety. easy to grow
barrie2m_(6a, central PA)
15 years ago
Instead of selecting a few specific varieties I would mix'em up and use your imagination to name a dozen different combination names such as:

"State 6-pack"- varieties with State names or inferences
"Native 6-pack"- var. originating from native Americans
"Religious 6-pack"- var. with religious name or inferences
"Russian 6-pack"- var. originating in vicinity of Russia
Rainbow 6-pack"- mix of colors or varieties of multiple colors

You get the idea. We did something similar with herbs and the results were very good. The only downfall is that you need to start many different varieties and then make-up the 6-packs as you wish. I'm betting your neighbors will enjoy the time you have put into it. A little explanation of each variety included would also be appreciated.
marbles_n_the_garden
Original Author
15 years ago
Great idea!

Heirloom Tomato '6-Packs'; what would you put in?

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trudi_d

macheske

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Heirloom Tomato '6-Packs'; what would you put in?

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