Planning what to buy for next year.

2 years ago

I'm looking into what to buy for next year. (This year was my trial season). I'd like a good plum (roma) with good yield and decent resistance. We eat them both raw and in sauces, so it needs to be decent tasting in salads as well. A good seller, with decent germinating rates would be appreciated as well.
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Determinate or not, I really don't care. As long as the yield is good. Honestly, I've been a little disappointed with the production of the determinate varieties I planted this year. I've gotten 2 tomatoes, so far, which, considering it was supposed to be an early variety, is very underwhelming. In contrast, my indeterminate has been giving me 3-5 tomatoes every day for a solid 2 weeks, now, and it's still full of fruits and flowers.

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I've read a lot of good things about the Amish Paste, but I'm open to any help and suggestions. It will be grown in planters on my deck. It seems to be working for this year's tomatoes, both determinate and indeterminate. (see pic).
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Thanks in advance for your imput. God bless.
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Atheen

Featured Answer

docmom_gw

2 years ago

I have never thought roma tomatoes had much flavor when eaten fresh, and I find their texture on the mealy side. I have grown Amish Paste, and it has much better flavor and larger fruit than romas. There are literally thousands of delicious heirloom varities. This year I am growing Happy Jack, Peron’s Sprayless, Brad’s Oxheart, Brandywine (which is delicious, but not as productive as others), and more. Black Cherry cherry tomatoes are amazingly productive and utterly delicious. I have seeds purchased for next year, based on tons of recommendations online, for Hillbilly, something German Green, Cherokee Purple, and at least ten more that I can’t remember off the top of my head. Hopefully Hopefully, others here will respond, but if not, search online for ”best tasting tomatoes,” or ”favorite tomato varieties for market.”

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Comments (11)

Labradors
2 years ago
You don't really need to limit yourself to a plum variety for sauces. A whole world of great-tasting tomatoes will open up if you want it to. Heart varieties have fantastic flavour raw and are also good in sauces and then there are the cherries, which really produce.
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Atheen - 7a - in Maryland, USA
Original Author
2 years ago
Docmom, Labrador, thank you for replying.

I thought Amish paste was a roma/plum type? I actually have looked into it for next year.

Plums are the easiest for me, because I can't eat the seeds. I have diverticulitis, and a single seed can send me to the hospital. Which means I have to pretty much throw away the whole center of a tomato before I can eat it fresh. So the thicker the outside flesh part is versus the core, the better for me. Which brings us to plums and romas.

Making sauce is not as much of a problem, because the food mill takes care of it, and I I don't waste nearly as much since it alliws me to use the core as well.

God bless,

Atheen
Labradors
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Atheen, so sorry to hear that you have problems eating tomato seeds :(.

Amish Paste IS classified as a paste, although apparently it is far too seedy and juicy to be a "real" paste.

Marzano Fire is one I have grown which was good and a real beauty. Seeds are available here: Products - Artisan Seeds (growartisan.com)

Good luck!

Linda
pricklycuttingnoca
2 years ago
Atheen, your pot and rack looks really good. Maybe you can tell us the source?
Atheen - 7a - in Maryland, USA
Original Author
2 years ago
Of course. Got it on Amazon. They sometimes have em at home depot, too.

Hydrofarm GCTB2 Heavy Duty Tomato Barrel with 4' Tower, Green https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B076VZHB58/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_N9FHN5NFHMXKA726PJW8?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
pricklycuttingnoca
2 years ago
Thank!
Gary Fitzgerald
2 years ago
I have a friend who has diverticulitis (a self diagnosis). His favorite tomato is Andes Horn. It has few seeds, and basically almost no gel. So, any seeds are easily removed. The flesh is juicy, unlike many pastes. The flavor is very good, although not truly outstanding. In a very rainy year, it can be the best tasting tomato in the garden. In such conditions, when most other tomatoes lose their flavor, this one doesn't. The one drawback is that it is a fairly late tomato, for me, about 80+ dtm.
yankeebubba
2 years ago
Consider the erstwhile paste/saucer Opalka, which some claim is so flavorful that cooks don't add spices/herbs; while the jury's still out on that claim, it is a prolific, meaty producer with a minute seed cavity.

If you're looking for a très firm cultivar, which defies softening/wimping out even when used for Jenny's Tomato Breads, you can't go wrong with the Yaqui Hybrid; can't say I've encountered a harder working determinate.

YankeeBubba
Gary Fitzgerald
2 years ago
I wonder about the origins of Opalka, or at least the origins of the seed I have. I trialed it side-by-side with Andes Horn, and they seemed exactly the same. Same flavor, same DTM, same plant habit, etc...
yankeebubba
2 years ago

Some of our Opalkas appeared like your Andes Horn, but others (below) were oddly shaped, bordering on misshapen.

The plot (sauce...?) thickens when you toss in the Jersey Devil Hybrid, (above middle, flanked by a coupla Giant Garden Pastes) another 2021 "newbie," which more mirrors the Andes Horn and just might make it into our permanent rotation.

Planning what to buy for next year.

docmom_gw

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Labradors

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Planning what to buy for next year.

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Atheen - 7a - in Maryland, USAOriginal Author

Atheen - 7a - in Maryland, USAOriginal Author

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Atheen - 7a - in Maryland, USA
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