Member discussion regarding the methods, varieties and merits of growing tomatoes.
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June 16, 2012 | #1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Northeast Wisconsin, Zone 5a
Posts: 1,109
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Blue Bayou
Here is a picture of Blue Bayou one of the Tom Wagner varieties I have going in this years blue tomato grow out.
I have various degrees of color in the blue varieties, but several of them currently look like this, practically black. A neighbor did a walk through with me and asked what should have been something I thought of earlier, how do you tell when these dark varieties are ripe? |
June 16, 2012 | #2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Whidbey Island, WA Zone 7, Sunset 5
Posts: 931
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By feeling them.
My first time growing Green Zebra, I was so frustrated having to feel my way through the summer. When I was giving the list of tomatoes I had available, everyone wanted red, so that they could tell when they were ripe. One friend didn't even want SunSugar or Sungold Select, and she's had them before! Glad they germinated for you! They sure look healthy! I find those kind of disturbing, myself, but I was shocked at Chocolate Cherry the first time, too. Can't wait for a taste report, mark! j |
June 16, 2012 | #3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Northeast Wisconsin, Zone 5a
Posts: 1,109
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That was my guess, but of course he looked at me funny when I said it so I started questioning myself.
Blue Bayou was one of the better germination varieties, I ended up with 8 plants of it. At least so far it appears to be fairly uniform, some of the other varieties are showing some variability, but I expected that. Blue Fog for example is blooming and setting like mad, but not showing the same kind of immediate coloring as the darker varieties, there are various degrees of blue showing up on different plants of that one. |
June 16, 2012 | #4 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 602
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Wow, those are dark! Please keep us posted on the taste, etc.
I'm surprised you have tomatoes that far along in NE Wisconsin already. |
June 16, 2012 | #5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Northeast Wisconsin, Zone 5a
Posts: 1,109
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Probably more than half of mine have at least 1 cluster of fruit set, which is exceptional for my area. Unfortunately the warm weather has also come with a drought, hardly any rain in since the end of April.
I'm hoping to do a blue tomato taste test with some local restaurant folks once most of the blue varieties are producing. I'll be sure and post some details here! |
June 16, 2012 | #6 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: NW Wisconsin
Posts: 910
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Quote:
Those are really dark. I am growing some of the P20, but I am still not convinced that any of the blues are more than a novelty. I have never heard anyone say they taste good.
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Mike |
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June 16, 2012 | #7 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Western WI
Posts: 359
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Last year Helsing ★★★★★★★★ Blue had great taste...especially late in the season.
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June 16, 2012 | #8 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Brooksville, FL
Posts: 1,001
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That is one incredible looking little mater. I want to know the taste as well, but really interested in a cut picture.
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Jan “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” -Theodore Roosevelt |
June 16, 2012 | #9 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Whidbey Island, WA Zone 7, Sunset 5
Posts: 931
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Great! I have one or two of them ready to go in the ground as soon as it warms up.
j |
June 16, 2012 | #10 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: St Paul, MN
Posts: 158
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Mark, do keep us posted on how these develop. Like Doug, I'm amazed you have tomatoes that far along. I'm just now getting some small fruit on the earlier varieties (and I planted out fairly early for this part of the country). Good for you!
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June 17, 2012 | #11 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina
Posts: 1,332
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Those are some of the darkest ones, and most evenly so, that I've seen! (Except for on seed packs and such, where they put their very best photos)
Good job! Hope they are tasty for you. (If not, eat them anyway because they are supposed to have lots of good nutrients) |
July 13, 2012 | #12 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Northeast Wisconsin, Zone 5a
Posts: 1,109
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Starting to get a few ripe ones now, but mostly the smaller ones and none of the ones that are pure blue black all over. Still this one was pretty close, you can see the red wine colored blush on the bottom.
And a picture of it cut. Taste of the early ones is good, between a 6 and 7 on my personal scale. To compare it I had a Barlow Jap afterwards which was a good solid 8. |
July 14, 2012 | #13 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Brooksville, FL
Posts: 1,001
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Mark this looks so good, nice balance between meat and juice.
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Jan “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” -Theodore Roosevelt |
July 14, 2012 | #14 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Western WI
Posts: 359
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Nice looking tomato! My Bayou are pretty small yet as I got them in late but your photo gives high hopes for them.
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