Mid summer report

13 years ago

Well here we are in July, which is about halfway through growing season for us in coastal SC, and I thought I'd let you guys know how my toms are doing. This year I've planted Black krim, Old German, Brandywine, Cherokee purple, and Roma. The Roma is the only non-heirloom that I have. So far I've fought off Blight, hornworms, and 100 degree heat. I've had a decent harvest so far, but it came more in a spurt. I had a bunch come in off the heirlooms, then I think that the heat caused alot of blossom drop. For the last 2 weeks I've only been able to get about a dozen heirlooms and probably 20 romas.

I've found though that my old germans (which I think were mislabeled, they are gold) are pithy and don't have much flavor. The romas are hard as a rock and very pithy as well. I've only gotten about 5 brandywines, but they were delicious. The Black krims are my favorite. Very tasty and plenty of tomato goo inside! :) My cherokee purple made 2 toms and now seems to have trouble setting fruit.

I'm happy though because at least the blight is under control. I'm hoping the next batch of toms will have more flavor all around. :)

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Comments (5)

sunsi
13 years ago
I'd be interested to know if you are growing inground or in containers? Also, how many tomato plants of each variety? For instance, you mentioned only getting two tomatoes off the Cherokee Purple was that for one plant or did you have more? Thanks.
jerrya
13 years ago
Interesting on Old German. I grew it last year and it was yellow and red, i.e. bicolor. It was extremely late, producing its first fruits after some plants had already produced all they would, and had been yanked. For me it produced large fruit that had few seeds and was mostly meat. I found the flavor to be different, citrusy, and a good addition to the garden, mostly because of timing. Don't know about SC, but in N. Tx, fruit set stops because of heat and we are without home grown tomatoes whenever that sad day comes, at least until fall tomatoes come in. For me last year, that end of spring maters was in August for Old German, but typically we are done by right around now.
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davidtigerfan
Original Author
13 years ago
I've got two of everything except the Roma and the Cherokee purple. Jerry, with your description, I definately think that my OG's were mislabeled. I wonder what I have.

Sunsi, it's been really hot here too so I guess I'll have to wait till fall as well. I've got some small ones on the vine, but I'm not betting on those.
diclemeg
13 years ago
Here on Long Island zone 7a... I have a ton of set tomatoes, and some of them are bigger than softball, and have approx 50 plants and approx 10 on each, but have a whopping total of two that are blushing.. ie they are all green. Have had no pest issues of any kind, and use no pesticide, dust, whatever. I just want my tomatoes to start to turn red.

Question... one the first plant that has a tomato blushing... out of ten tomatoes, one is blushing and orange...its a Franchi Red Pear... and its one of the smaller on the truss, in fact a few are softball size but green. When can I expect this orange one, and the rest on this plant, to fully mature????????????? I'm clueless here, regarding the time remaining.
bigdaddyj
13 years ago
My Mid Season Report: All the following have ripened at least one tomato so far and all grown organically without sprays:

OSU Blue...tall plants, average taste, huge production, earlier fruits were more purple than current ones. Very Good disease resistance.

Sun Gold (54)...tall plant, great production excellent tasting cherries as usual. Above average disease resistance.

Hege German Pink(69)...tall plants, GREAT taste, huge production and early for a full size tomato. Good disease resistance.

Gary O Sena(72) tall plants, GREAT taste, huge production and early for a full size tomato. Good disease resistance.

German Johnson(76) very tall plant, Very good taste, Great production. Average disease resistance.

Spudakee (76) tall plant, good production, average disease resistance. Good taste.

BrandyBoy (76) tall plant, above average disease resistance, Very Good taste. Average Production.

Cowlicks Brandywine (76) tall plant, above average disease resistance, Very Good taste. Above average production.

Sudduth Brandywine (78) tall plant, above average disease resistance. Very Good taste. Average production.

Orange Minsk (80) Short but full plants that don't want to grow up the Texas cage. Very Good taste. Above average disease resistance. Great production.

Big Cheef (83) tall plant with very good taste and production. Above average disease resistance.

Dana's Dusky Rose (84) tall plant with very good taste and average disease resistance. Good production.

Porterhouse (86) Average size plant with very good production and good taste. Looks like a couple 2 plus pounders on him! Above average disease resistance.

Vorlon (86) Average size plant with good production and very good taste. Below average disease resistance.

KBX (89) Huge plant with very good production and very good disease resistance. Very good taste.

The following plants haven't ripened a fruit to taste yet:

Granny Cantrell German PL...Average size plant with average production and above average disease resistance.

Brandywine/NAR F4 cross...Average size plant with below average production this year and below average disease resistance.

Goose Creek...tall plant with good production and good disease resistance but WHERE are the ripe ones?

Claude Brown's Yellow Giant...Very tall plant with Above average production with some HUGE still green fruit on them! Very good disease resistance.

Marianna's Conflict...Average size plant with poor production on a very diseased plant. VERY unlike previous years.

Notes:

Very hot sunny season has ripened the same varieties 10 to 16 days earlier than last year's cool and cloudy season. Big Zac seeds failed germination. Gave Big Beef a rest this year. Tied for best tasting this year so far are Gary O Sena and Hege German Pink. Both even beating the Brandys! A very good season so far...;-)

Mid summer report

Comments (5)

sunsi

jerrya

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davidtigerfan
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Mid summer report

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sunsi

jerrya

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davidtigerfanOriginal Author

diclemeg

bigdaddyj

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davidtigerfan
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