tomatoes for ketchup (zone 4B)

9 years ago

Hello everyone. This is my first post. After buying a hobby farm last year I am getting serious about gardening and growing food for the family. This was my first year and I had a good crop of nursery purchased hybrids, some of which I made into ketchup. I had never made ketchup before and can't get over how good it is compared to store bought. But I would like to get into OP varieties. I am looking for plants on the small side, to grow in my 4'x4' raised beds. I am also looking for excellent flavor, ability to grow well in cool, often wet summers, in zone 4B. Color should be red, or possibly pink, but shape does not matter. I am wondering if some more experienced gardeners could offer some suggestions? Thank you in advance.

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Comments (16)

seysonn
9 years ago
Happy farming and gardening !

Well I have never made ketchup but I make sauces, like spaghetti sauce. If you simmer SS longer to reduce it , get it thicker, you will end up with some kind of paste, from which you can make ketchup.

Basically, for making ketchup you'll need the so-called "paste" tomato varieties that have less water, more meat. Tomatoes in Roma, SanMarzano and a lot of heart varieties are better suited for making paste, if that is what you want.

Wait for more expert recommendations, plse.
digdirt2
9 years ago
Ketchup can be made from any variety and just as with sauce, many agree that the best flavor comes from using a mix of varieties and types. You'll find discussions about this over on the Harvest forum here which is the food canning and preserving forum at GW.

So your real issues are finding a red OP that is a small plant and will do well "in cool, often wet summers, in zone 4B".

Generally "small plants" equals determinate varieties rather than indeterminates so that eliminates many of the best paste types and the hearts. Consider improving your growing conditions if possible to increase your options for the bigger plants.

Do you buy plants or grow your own from seed? Growing from seed will improve your choices substantially.

Otherwise most any of the determinate, red variety OP's that are available for sale locally will work well.

Dave

Here is a link that might be useful: NCHFP - Ketchup
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ukulele01
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks very much for the responses. I will certainly check out the Harvest forum.

To answer your question digdirt, so far I have been buying my plants. Part of the reason I posted this question is because I want to start my own plants from seed next year, and start saving my seeds. I think you might be on to something when you suggest determinate varieties. Can you (or someone else) suggest some OP red determinate varieties with exceptional flavour that I can blend, and can tolerate cool, often wet, summers? I don't mind doing mail order.
ukulele01
Original Author
9 years ago
Oops, sorry for the repeat post (deleted).

This post was edited by ukulele01 on Mon, Oct 27, 14 at 6:29
digdirt2
9 years ago
Silver Fir Tree, Clear Pink Early, Rutgers VFA, Glacier. Marmande (semi-det.), Sophie's Choice, etc. to name just a few. See the link below to the listings of heirloom and OP determinates on Tatiana's Tomatobase,

Dave

Here is a link that might be useful: TT - Heirloom determinates
fusion_power
9 years ago
I'm a little pickier than Dave. There are only three varieties that I would make ketchup with.

Costoluto Genovese - highly productive indeterminate intense flavored red tomato with fluted shoulders.

Heidi - determinate paste type, highly productive, adaptable to many climates.

Rio Grande - Paste type with high production and rich flavor.

The problem with the above is that they are relatively low in sweetness. If you insist on sweeter ketchup, you will have to either add sugar or grow a sweeter variety like Crnkovic Yugoslavian to blend in the mix.
ukulele01
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks very much for all of the suggestions. I am very intrigued by what I read about the Costoluto Genovese, but I see it described as "heat loving." I wonder if anyone has had good luck with it in Atlantic Canada? In any case, I may try it and see for myself.
suncitylinda
9 years ago
Better put on your reading glasses fushion, Dave was responding to requested suggestions for ketchup tomatoes for ops cool, wet climate. =)
carolyn137
9 years ago
It has taken me a while to get back here and many have posted in the meantime.

My concern was the need for varieties that were NOT indeterminates since so many great ones are,

For paste varieties two that I can highly suggest are Heidi and Martino's Roma, the former semi-det and the latter determinate.

Those can be used to thicken up whatever else you might use.

Off hand I can't think of any meaty, low seed beefsteak varieties, great tasting, etc, that are determinates,

As to hearts the one determinate I love and should meet all your needs is Danko, a red heart.

I gardened in a 4b/5a area , same as you,

Carolyn
seysonn
9 years ago
OK. Talking about ketchup..
It has so many stuff in it that it would be near impossible (to me) to get the taste of TOMATO. let me read the ingredients list from what I have in the frig:(where are my glasses ?!)
OK
Tomato (from concentrate); high fructose corn syrup ; distilled vinegar ; corn syrup ; salt ; onion powder ; garlic powder; OTHER FLAVORS (gees !! what are those !)

I admit, have bad palate and weak nose too. hehe
PupillaCharites
9 years ago
I think your best bet is a productive old faithful type hearty tomato. I second the Rutgers recommendation.

Since tomato is so adulterated in ketchup, it is boiled, salted and heavily condimented ... I wouldn't be concerned about any fancy heirloom and just go for a good acid-balanced producer of old fashioned tomatoes that Campbell's would be proud of, not too way south from your zone, and it will probably taste best.

My first choice is actually the OP Marglobe, a basically determinate, stout and vigorous plant. Rutgers (OP) is actually a cross between Marglobe and a Campbell's tomato and Marglobe has old fashioned appeal to me - probably the ketchup my grandparents had as kids. The plants are easy to grow and produce very well, and the disease resistance will be great as a starter.

I have grown both Rutgers and Marglobe and they were more fun than my other OPs, except Cherokee Purple which I'm always amazed by (but would prefer Marglobe for ketchup & its production).

Best growing.
wes074
9 years ago
Better put on YOUR reading glasses, suncitylinda. He's fusion, not fushion:)
ukulele01
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks again for the suggestions. You all sound like such awesome gardeners and I hope some day to "catch up". He-he!

Since I first posted someone has given me some Pantano Romanesco seeds as a gift. I had never heard of them but their description sounds delicious. Unless someone tells me they likely won't do well in my climate, I will use them as the base, and layer on one or two other varieties. Cheers everyone!
carolyn137
9 years ago
I can't tell you how they would do in your climate, but if you read the link below you'll see that it's an indeterminate variety, which you said you did not want, by saying varieties on the small size, which this variety is not,

Always something else to think about and it never ends when deciding which varieties to grow,

Carolyn

Here is a link that might be useful: Pantano Romanesco
John A
9 years ago
Although it is indeterminate and not a paste, I agree with the Rutgers recommendation. The taste is just right for ketchup, a little tart, and doesn't get too big.
John A
digdirt2
9 years ago
Rutgers VFA is the determinate form of Rutgers. And if you want small plants as you indicated then P.Romanesco isn't for you.

Dave

tomatoes for ketchup (zone 4B)

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tomatoes for ketchup (zone 4B)

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