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Growing Tomatoes

What's your favorite cherry tomato?

16 years ago

What's your favorite cherry tomato? Which one really has you salivating? I am looking for some new varieties to try since one of my Sungolds has really tough skin this year. I bought Black Pearl, too. I like its flavor. I would like some other suggestions to dream on for spring. thanks, Brandy

Comments (14)

mkhys223
16 years ago
Have you tried Reisentraube Brandy?Black Cherry and Galina are excellent choices also for my tastes in cherry types.

Mike
jwr6404
16 years ago
Galinas(yellow) and Gardners Delight(Red).
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I grew Cosmonaut Volkov, and they did not split or have bad skin for the most part. I got a decent harvest from them, even though the vines have had some kind of fungus or bacterial spot on the leaves starting in early September. If I had done a better job of spacing my garden and supporting the tomatoes (they sort of grew all together like a thicket), or perhaps had sprayed some fungus preventative on them, they would have done even better I'm sure. They also taste very good in our opinion, but we have not eaten a lot of heirlooms, so the connoisseurs might disagree. Siletz came up early, the fruit were big, and the plants rather hardy. They are determinate, and are one of the parthenogenic varieties (blossoms need not pollinate to set fruit) developed at Oregon State decades ago. I would say that their taste does not compare with the more well-known heirloom types (or Volkov), but they are still better than Safeway tomatoes ;), and very easy to grow for such a big fruited tomato. Next year I am think about trying Thessaloniki, Anna Russian, Fireball or New Yorker, maybe Eva's Purple Ball or Persimmon (which may be too late-season for around here) and some others already mentioned. Has anyone grown these in the Seattle area?
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So does that make Black Cherry a "new" heirloom (contradiciton in terms)? Is it an heirloom-to-be, or just another hybrid? ******** No, Black Cherry is not a hybrid, it's OP. There's more than one definition of what the word heirloom means when referring to tomato varieties. Most definitions say that the variety should be OP and most say that the variety should have been around quite a few years. One common definition says before 1940 b/c after that date hybrids became available to the public. Another popular definition says the variety should be around for 50 years, so it's a sliding scale. Not an heirloom this year, but it beomes an heirloom next year, if you will. Another definition says it should be a variety passed down within a family from generation to generation. And that can be added to either of the two definitions I mentioned above if you wish/ Another definition says that an heirloom is any variety treasured, but that is not a definition used by many. So take your pick. ( smile) It's a controversial issue and I've given you some different definitions, but it's nothing that I personally want to discuss in detail. Black Cherry and Brown Berry were both bred within the last five years or so which would not make them heirlooms by anyones definition other than those who say that an heirloom is something treasured. And there are darn few folks who adhere to that definition which actually I think was first suggested by Tom Wagner, the breeder of Green Grape, Green Zebra, Lime Green Salad, Greenwich and a few others. Carolyn
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I ended up with a cherry fort - not a maze. The signif other decided to downsize the whole deal... so I ended up with a 10 X 10 area. We were starting with lawn... So I planted a tomato every 6-8 inches. I know inches... I put in: Gajo De Melon Suncherry red star sungold green doctors zebra cherry black cherry snow white Riesentraube OSU Blue Oh heavens, I'll have to go home and check again... there were others... I got a lot of people who wanted to donate seed, so I took them up on them and added them to the 'fort'. I have to take recent pictures, but this is what it looked like early on. I haven't been gung-ho on documenting this because I didn't want to document a complete failure if it happened... :) Then I went back to the original farm (without my camera) this weekend and they have extended their tomato maze - lots more varieties and much bigger this year... I will bring the camera next time I go. Again they told the kids "come back with your basket and belly full." SO cute and SO gets them excited about gardening. I want that!!! I'll take pictures tonight and post them tonight or tomorrow.
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lumierefrere
16 years ago
Galina
jwr6404
16 years ago
According to Daves Forum Galina is not a Cherry Tomato. I think we,on this thread, all agree that Galinas is a nice Yellow Cherry Tomato.
brandyray
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks for the suggestions! And all of those are new to me :) so new tomatoes to try next yr. Will I be able to order any of these as plants? And if so, where? I have ordered from Burpee and from Peace Valley (the latter's prices were good but shipping turned out to be expensive). Or maybe one of you who lives in NC might be willing to sell me a few plants next year? Brandy
gonefishin
16 years ago
One of the best tasting cherry tomatoes that I have found is Dr. Carolyn Pink. You might enjoy this thread with pictures to see what you think. If you prefer to order plants, Darrel Jones at selected plants sells quality plants and is super nice to do business with.
Just my .02
Bill P.
trudi_d
16 years ago
My favorite is Brown Berry.
sunsi
16 years ago
I've been considering what cherry tomatoes to grow next season the bulk of my plants are usually pastes and larger sized tomatoes. There has to be cherry tomatoes for balance though so from this thread (and Dr. Carolyn's book) I think Galina and Dr. Carolyn will be in my garden next year.

I saw a black cherry in one of the threads here at Garden Web and I'm curious about it's taste as it looks fantastic.
gtomato
16 years ago
Black Cherry then Sungold in a close second.

Both are wonderful tasting, productive and bear fruit for a looong time. BC might have a thicker skin than most. That's what I experienced anyway.

greg
jwr6404
16 years ago
sunsi
I think Galina and Dr Carolyn will be in my Garden next year"
Check Daves Forum for the Galina as well as Galinas. If it a Cherry type you want be sure to order Galinas seeds and not Galina seeds.
jwr6404
16 years ago
In 2 previous post I referred to Daves Forum. It should have been Daves Garden. I must be getting old. Galina and Galinas are 2 different varieties
jdkan
16 years ago
Black cherry. Nothing else in second place.
naturalstuff
16 years ago
Black Cherry #1. Sweet 100's dead last. The middle is being filled in by others.
brandyray
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks so much for all the great ideas, but the best one of all is the link to the company that sells them!!!! Thank you, Bill! It does not look like I will need to order from Burpee next yr!!!! And I was quite impressed w/ the selection at Selected Plants. Thanks again, I have a list made for next spring. Now, if my tomatoes would hurry up a bit, so I have some to share... :) Brandy

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