Best Tomatoes

Kay Conneely · July 11, 2012

Hello,

I am a new Tomatovillian! I am chair of a Master Gardener Tomato Market in the San Francisco area where we have lots of microclimates - many requiring tomatoes with fewer days to maturity. I would love to know about your favorite tomatoes - especially those with fewer than 80 days to maturity.

habitat_gardener · July 11, 2012

Here's a list of early tomatoes
http://t.tatianastomatobase.com/wiki...Early_Tomatoes

And another
http://store.tomatofest.com/Tomato_V...mates_s/47.htm

A lot of early tomatoes are cherries or saladettes, and I assume you don't need recommendations for those.

My favorite productive large tomato that's relatively early is Pruden's Purple. It's been one of my top 3 favorites the 2-3 years I've grown it.

Looking at the Tomatofest list, here are a few larger ones I've loved:

Caspian Pink is another great-tasting one. When I see one in nurseries too early in the season to plant, I often buy a seedling anyway and plant it with walls-o-water for the earliest large tomatoes.

Opalka is a midseason torpedo-shaped tomato, juicier than a paste, that's one of my favorites to eat in the garden.

I've grown Tobolsk only once, but it was tied for first place that year (with Purple Brandy, aka Marizol Bratka, another wonderful tomato) and it's a great orange tomato.

I don't live in the fog belt, so I have a few more choices, but I still do get cool summer nights here.

RobinB · July 11, 2012

Here in Reno, I don't usually try tomatoes that are longer than 75 DTM. Yes, DTM is variable, but it still gives us a guide. I have tried the usual suspects, Stupice, Matina, and Bloody Butcher come to mind, but they are not good tasting to me and I don't see the point. One that has always been great for me is Lime Green Salad. It's determinate and has gorgeous sprays of blossoms on the plant. It's 58 days. It's in my garden every year.

I'm trying a lot of new tomatoes this year, and for the most part, the jury is still out.

Some wonderful tomatoes that I have tried and are wonderful, but still under 80 DTM are:
Black & Brown Boar
Jaune Flamme
Black Cherry

Many of the new tomatoes from the Dwarf Tomato Project are well under 80 days, too.

Robin

July 11, 2012	#1
Kay Conneely Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Mill Valley, CA Posts: 1	Best Tomatoes Hello, I am a new Tomatovillian! I am chair of a Master Gardener Tomato Market in the San Francisco area where we have lots of microclimates - many requiring tomatoes with fewer days to maturity. I would love to know about your favorite tomatoes - especially those with fewer than 80 days to maturity.

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July 11, 2012	#2
habitat_gardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: California Central Valley Posts: 2,543	Here's a list of early tomatoes http://t.tatianastomatobase.com/wiki...Early_Tomatoes And another http://store.tomatofest.com/Tomato_V...mates_s/47.htm A lot of early tomatoes are cherries or saladettes, and I assume you don't need recommendations for those. My favorite productive large tomato that's relatively early is Pruden's Purple. It's been one of my top 3 favorites the 2-3 years I've grown it. Looking at the Tomatofest list, here are a few larger ones I've loved: Caspian Pink is another great-tasting one. When I see one in nurseries too early in the season to plant, I often buy a seedling anyway and plant it with walls-o-water for the earliest large tomatoes. Opalka is a midseason torpedo-shaped tomato, juicier than a paste, that's one of my favorites to eat in the garden. I've grown Tobolsk only once, but it was tied for first place that year (with Purple Brandy, aka Marizol Bratka, another wonderful tomato) and it's a great orange tomato. I don't live in the fog belt, so I have a few more choices, but I still do get cool summer nights here.

July 11, 2012	#3
RobinB Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Near Reno, NV Posts: 1,621	Here in Reno, I don't usually try tomatoes that are longer than 75 DTM. Yes, DTM is variable, but it still gives us a guide. I have tried the usual suspects, Stupice, Matina, and Bloody Butcher come to mind, but they are not good tasting to me and I don't see the point. One that has always been great for me is Lime Green Salad. It's determinate and has gorgeous sprays of blossoms on the plant. It's 58 days. It's in my garden every year. I'm trying a lot of new tomatoes this year, and for the most part, the jury is still out. Some wonderful tomatoes that I have tried and are wonderful, but still under 80 DTM are: Black & Brown Boar Jaune Flamme Black Cherry Many of the new tomatoes from the Dwarf Tomato Project are well under 80 days, too. Robin