Help me narrow down my list!

13 years ago

Hey all,

I would love some opinions here! I'm working on my list for next year, and so far it's looking like this...

Processing tomatoes (2 of each):

Amish Paste

Long Tom

Purple Russian

San Marzano Redorte

A few cherries (one of each):

Black Cherry

Ildi

Green Doctors or some as-yet-undetermined variety (I really want to try Green Doctors, but I have yet to find it anywhere where there is actually something else I want... and I hate to pay shipping for one seed packet.)

And one each of:

Black Krim

Brad's Black Heart

Brandy Boy

Cherokee Purple or Indian Stripe

Danko

Green Giant

Joe Thieneman's Australian Heart

Kellogg's Breakfast or KBX

Marianna's Peace

Here is my problem... I can only fit 4-6 from that last list. I just don't have enough space for them all! So which ones would you all eliminate? Danko, Green Giant, and either Cherokee Purple or Indian Stripe are definites, but I can't pick between the rest. I'm most concerned with taste, disease resistance, and productivity... I know, I'm not asking much... =)

Thanks!

Lori

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Comments (3)

carolyn137
13 years ago
I skipped the first group b'c you already had your mind made up on those.

A few cherries (one of each):
Black Cherry
Ildi
Green Doctors or some as-yet-undetermined variety (I really want to try Green Doctors, but I have yet to find it anywhere where there is actually something else I want... and I hate to pay shipping for one seed packet.)

****

There are several sources for Green Doctors and for some of the sources there are lots of other interesting varieties.

Jeff Casey at Casey's Heirlooms lists both Green Doctors and Green Doctors Frosted.

Glenn at Sandhill Preservation with over 400 varieties to chose from lists Green Doctors and I think will be adding GD Frosted for 2011.

Adam at Gleckler Seedmen will be listing both Green Doctors and GD Frosted for 2011, and there are lots of rare, hard to find varieties there now and more to be added for 2011

Mike at Victory Seeds lists it and loads of other varieties there as well

Carol at Knapps is also listing it.

In the link below to Tania's T-base data you can go from GD to GD Frosted if you wish just by clicking on the link on the GD page.

*****
And one each of:
Black Krim , delete
Brad's Black Heart, keep
Brandy Boy , delete
Cherokee Purple or Indian Stripe, I'd chose Indian Stripe
Danko , already chosen, a variety I listed in the SSE YEarbook and I love it.
Green Giant , already chosen
Joe Thieneman's Australian Heart , keep
Kellogg's Breakfast or KBX , chose KBX
Marianna's Peace , delete

Just my selections for 6 of them. And no way to determine disease tolerances b'c you haven't told us which diseases are a problem for you. And productivity can be very variable from year to year, so I picked the ones I did primarily on taste and good productivity as grown by me in my zone 5 garden.

I wasn't really sure if you wanted input on the paste varieties but in case you do want some suggestions I'd suggest considering:

Heidi
Mama Leone
Opalka
Martino's Roma

Carolyn, who doesn't consdier Amish Paste to be a paste variety b'c it's too juicy. There are other varieties with the word paste as part of the name that aren't paste varieties either. Long TOm is just a long red and I think there are better long reds such as Opalka, etc, and I've never been enthusiastic about any of the San Marzanos or Costolutos as far as that goes. ( smile)

Here is a link that might be useful: Seed sources for Green Doctors
vikingkirken
Original Author
13 years ago
Carolyn,

Thanks for the source tips on Green Doctors... it looks like Victory Seeds may work for me. I should have been clearer--I'm only looking to buy one or two tomato varieties this year; I am just hoping to combine them with an order for some other veggie seeds that I also need. It's been difficult to find someone selling this relatively obscure variety who also sells other veggies!

The main reason I am set on my pastes is because I already have those seeds and have liked three of the four; I tried Long Tom last year but lost it in the late blight epidemic before getting any fruit, then this year it was an "extra" and got dumped in a bad spot in the yard, so I'd like to give it another shot. I like larger pastes as they're faster for me to process (I don't care about picking out all the seeds, just removing the skins), and I really like Amish Paste as it's juicy enough to also use fresh for salsa/tacos/etc. but not too seedy (and thus the emphasis on hearts as well).

I tried Opalka this year, but grew it out from seeds obtained in a trade, and I am quite sure they were not true to type; they looked more like a standard San Marzano to me. I may still end up ordering some to try again next year...
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My only input is that I would definitely keep Brad's Black Heart and JT's Australian Heart. Both are fabulous!

Help me narrow down my list!

Comments (3)

carolyn137

vikingkirken
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Help me narrow down my list!

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carolyn137

vikingkirkenOriginal Author

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vikingkirken
Original Author