I've grown the hybrids available at big box nurseries like Walmart and Home Depot since the early 90s. I'm so observant, I never knew what an heirloom was until sometime last fall when my desert growing experience sent me online for help. I've grown Better Boys successfully in a nice climate many times and found the taste excellent. In the desert they crack and stink. Early Girls were always kind of blah for me, but they start early and end late which is nice. I understand done right they are spectacular. I don't know about that. Super Sweet 100 and Sungold will always have a place in my gardens. I eat them both by the handful daily. This year I have been pleased with Champion first and Goliath second among the larger hybrids I grew. I'm done with Better Boy, Celebrity, and Ace. The two cherries and Champion will be back next year, but that's it. I've heard good things about Momataro (sp?) and Amelia recently and am tempted to acquire the seed, but I have way more than I can grow already, mostly moving on to heirlooms.

Adding I started Jet Star very late and finally brought three in today. They have been cooking in desert temps pushing 115 daily so maybe my results will be unfair, but they also get very good reviews around here. I have a pack of the seed and will probably give them a better chance next year. Just the fact that they didn't crack makes me happy.

I have 8 heirloom and one hybrid - I've grown this one for years - low acid, determinate and loaded with fruit and flavor. Burpee's Sweet Tangerine.

Doing Sun Chief for the first time this year and must say I'm not at all impressed. Sets fruit despite heat but badly prone to splitting and the favor is not much to speak of IMO.

Jet Star is the best over-all performer of all my hybrid varieties this year but Brandy Boy is just now kicking into gear and we find them to be better eating - on a par with many of our heirlooms.

Once the search is back online if you search 'best favorite hybrid' you'll find some long discussions on folks preferences if they haven't fallen off the board.

Dave

With you on Champion mojave, (the plants are compact enough to stay caged, yet the fruits are evident to be picked, (pretty much in abundance)- though I have seen better.
I wish Carnival was still available, but donÂt have the room anyway. I got curious enough about Bella Rosa to give it a try. ItÂs an all green disease free plant and a decent tomato and no doubt will return next year.
My other hybrid is container grown Bush Early Girl which I purchased. Except for BER itÂs doing well, (though not early).
IÂm seeing favored status for Amelia from Texas growers on some forums, so might be on my tentative list for 2010.

Word is Merced will be available next year (according to the plantanswerman).

Here is a link that might be useful: Jerry Parson planning on Merced for 2010

I have one Sun Chief and it's a beauty - don't know how it will taste- it looks perfect and will be ripe in a couple of days - no splitting.

Where do you guys get seeds for Brandy Boy? I usually grow an Early Girl or two every year and thats it as fas a hybrids go, but I think I'd like to try Brandy Boy.

Damon

Brandy Boy
Big Beef
Big Zac
Momotaro
Sun Gold

These 5 hybrids are always in my garden.

Found it at Burpee.

Although it's true I prefer heirlooms, I've grown quite a few hybrids and still do from time to time, and since I grow primarily for taste the following are ones I prefer:

Sungold F1
Jet Star F1
Supersonic F1
Moreton Hybrid F1

..... and the last three above are older Harris hybrids which I think have excellent taste.

Ramapo F1, just reintroduced having been out of production for quite a few years

Big Boy F1
Better Boy F1

And the above two are two of the earliest popular hybrids offered back in the late 40's for Big boy F1 as bred by Dr. Oved Schifriss at Burpee and Better Boy as bred by John Peto at Petoseed and released in the early 50's.

Both of them have one parent in common, and that's Teddy Jones, a large pink beefsteak heirloom from the midwest.

Carolyn

I am growing three hybrids this year.
Heatwave acquired as a transplant det. very good production about 20+ fruit and counting but, despite it's name and it's claim didn't see one mater till the temps dropped to 85 F for a while.
patio the container tomato acquired as transplant det. medium production also won't set fruit above 85 F but, it didn't make the claim that it could like the heatwave did
red Delicious acquired as seed indent. still just a baby that's hoping for a warm fall.
sorry can't comment on taste yet still waiting for ripe ones as these are all second tries after blight (or whatever evil spirits live in my garden soil) took my better boys
your friend,
Angel

I can tell you that I had no production up to a week ago - now my beefy boy and applause are rocking. Tons of flowers and baby fruits. I have around 30 enchantments on the vine. I added some 3-10-3 fertilizer to my earthboxes and it seemed to help the bb and A into gear.

I grow both hybrids and heirlooms. My favorite hybrid is Brandy Boy. They are not the best for sauce or canning, but great for slicing. I also save the seed and am now up to F6. It is still true to its F1.
John A

There are two hybrids that I just love.

Mexciana Hybrid (Burpee) This is just a wonderful little DET--makes fine toms for salad, but chop it up and toss it into a pot and it is nirvana. It seems to get sweeter when cooked and it doesn't break down into pulp but instead holds its chunky shape. If I remember right, some of the marketing with this tomato is that it's great for making salsa. I think this would be great canned or stewed.

Dombito Hybrid (Totally Tomatoes) Eye-Candy gorgeous fruits have satiny smooth flesh and are super yum fresh. I don't remember cooking this one, likely because they were just so awesome fresh from the vine.

Favorite hybrids:
Brandy Boy (although I hate ordering directly from Burpee because of their outrageous shipping rates)
Ramapo
Moreton
Momotaro--love it, but it doesn't love the desert at all