Goliath variety

[TomatoDon]

In another thread I showed pictures of my neighbor who covered up nearly 100 plants against the recent freezing temps the other day. As it turned out he lost all but 4 I think. He had planted about half of his seedling crop of Goliath that he started in early January.

He breaks the "Better Boy" tradition in my neck of the woods and grows Goliath from Totally Tomatoes, claiming it to be a superior variety in every respect. I went to one site and sure enough everyone there raved about it, particularly its disease resistance, fruit size, and flavor.

The TT web site shows several different kinds, and I believe the ones he grows are the "Original Hybrid," although a quick glance at his large seedlings I noticed how thick the stems were, reminding me (almost) of a bush variety. I know this is mostly an OP forum, and I did read about the variety on TT, but also wanted to check here for a more objective opinion. So even through there appears to be variations of the variety, I'd like any feedback.

Thanks!

Don

[elkwc36]

Don,
I have grown the original Goliath for many years. Here in this area it is quickly making a name for itself. As the one dependable good tasting hybrid that will do good here. I know some small truck gardeners who have went 100% to this variety. I have grown the Old Fashioned, the Early, the bush and the gold one also. I continue to grow the Old Fashioned one and the original. I know every year I will have tomatoes for my salsa and to eat. The original here out performs all the Beef's, Boys, Girls, Jet Stars and other hybrids that seem to be so popular elsewhere. I continue to start some JS for others but not for my garden. I do grow Brandyboy and like Porterhouse last year but OG is still my hybrid standby. He picked a good one in my opinion. JD

[TomatoDon]

That's exactly the info I am getting from him and a neighbor, and also from some of the growers web forums. This man hasn't lived here long, and grew them in another region of the state but says they perform just as well here. I think he sold several thousand dollars worth of seedlings and tomaotes from his front yard last year. I'm just getting to know him, but the other neighbor is a native here and has converted to 100% Goliath as well. I hope they held back a few seedlings so I can try some.

Also, have you seen the Goliath's that are now starting to show up at retail centers? Do you have any idea what strain they are? This variety has sorta sneaked up on me.

Can you give a little more info on taste and size? From what I am seeing they are very well formed, somewhat oblate in shape, and pretty well blemish free. Is that about right?

Thanks!

Don

[organichris]

Yeah, where I grew up Better Boy and Big Boy were the tomatoes of choice for every gardener I knew. I remember being taken aback when my uncle grew some Romas. I don't think I had even seen a cherry tomato until I was in my teens.

Thanks for the info on Goliath. I saw some at a local greenhouse yesterday, and didn't know anything about it.

[kygreg]

Although I do grow mostly OP"s; I do grow a few hybrids, and have grown Original Goliath, Early Goliath, and Italian Goliath for the last 4 years and like them all. Have seen Goliath at Walmarts this year for the first time.

[TomatoDon]

I think Bonnie is supplying those Greg, so they must know the interest is there. Do you know what strain they offer? Is it the original?

And how does it compare to the Boys in size, shape, and flavor?

Don

[jungseed]

Just for your information, the developer of the Goliath tomato gave exculsive rights to sell the seed in the US to the Totally Tomato, R H Shumway family of catalogs. If you buy them somewhere else, they probably are not the real thing. We do sell the seed (retail price) to some of the website seed sellers and they resell. Others are not buying the real thing.
If you got the seed from someone else and want to know if they sold you the true variety PM me, I'll be able to tell you.

[cottonpicker]

jungseed..... I just looked in the current issue of the TT catalog, pg. 6, and found ORIGINAL GOLIATH & OLD-FASHIONED GOLIATH listed among others--sweet G, Early G., Gentle giant G, etc..........
Will the REAL Goliath please stand up?? help... Your opinion, pleeease........

thanks!!

[elkwc36]

Like I said I've tried all the Goliath's. I like the original the best then the Old Fashioned. The original for me is a 6-12 oz. tomato depending some on the year and also how hot when set. Have lost very few to disease over the many years of growing. All my seed has come from TT. The taste would be a 7-7.5 most years. This is compared to the many op's I grow. And in my book I've only grown one 9.0 and it was Lucky Cross. The shape is pretty much as you stated. The Old Fashioned is a larger tomato. 10-14 oz. mostly here. They aren't as heavy a producer on the average but do a good job. Taste is good and it makes a great slicer. The sunny Goliath is my favorite gold/yellow hybrid. But I like KB better when compared to a op. Like I say try one. How they perform and taste in your garden maybe totally different. But for me the original will stay because of dependability. JD

[jungseed]

Had to get ahold of our seed specialist. The original Goliath was the first and is the one that started the line. It has very uniform fruits.
The Old-fashioned goliath was named that by the developer because it does not have the uniform fruit, but she thought the flavor was closer to an heriloom than the original.

[cottonpicker]

THANKS for all information.... May try the Original Goliath next year.

[TomatoDon]

I'm going to see if I can pick up a few for later this year. I think they are in the discount stores now.

Along these same lines, what about the BHN 444, 589, and 640. I read about them on line, and that's always a good start, but some of that can be biased and I like opinions from actual growers here as well. What does the BHN stand for?

The rain has slowed me some and I still have more to plant. Slowly getting there, however.

Thanks!

Don

[feldon30]

Don, I did a bunch of searches here at Tomatoville but could not find a list of what varieties you are growing. Would love to see your list. I think you grew Neves Azorean Red and Brandywine Sudduth last year? What did you think of them?

BHN 444 (aka Large Healthy Surprise) has tolerance Verticillium, Fusarium 1, Fusarium 2, and most importantly Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus. [Read More]

BHN 640 adds Fusarium race 3 tolerance to the package.

BHN 589 is claimed to have been bred for flavor.

Originally Posted by TGS regarding BHN 589

This is the first BHN variety bred especially for great flavor. It also boasts a complete disease-resistance package including crack-tolerance and offers very high yields. Large to extra-large attractive fruit have real tomato taste making BHN 589 appealing to both home gardeners and those selling at farmers? markets. Determinate.

BHN varieties were bred by BHNSeed which is a Florida hybrid tomato breeder for commercial tomato farming.


I guess I am curious what your goals in in your garden. Are you intending to grow enough tomatoes to sell at the farmer's market? Are you limited on space and wanting to maximize your productivity? Have you experienced losses to TSWV or Fusarium 1, 2, or 3? Just curious...

[TomatoDon]

Thanks Morgan. I saw some brief info on some web sites, but not very substantial.

Off the top of my head, my list for this year.
1. BWS
2. Earls
3. NAR
4. Stump
5. Ch Purple
6. Robeson
7. Zogola
8. Chapman
9. Omars
10. Brandy Boy
11. Purple Haze
12. C Tex
13. Big Beef
14. Better Boy
15. Pineapple
16. Bloody Butcher
17. Black Cherry
18. Sungold
19. Courtralee
20. Mortgage Lifter, from Chef Jeff and the Estler
21. New Big Dwarf
22. Red Sunset
23. WinsAll
24. Red Penna
25. KBX

Gosh...that's just what comes to mind now. I'm sure I'm leaving a few out, and will probably add some more store bought seedlings. Some seedlings I started are doing better than others, some didn't do much at all. On the whole, I should have enough to feed half of Portugal.

Looking into the BHN's and Goliath's now, as I'm seeing more and more of them at the garden and discount centers.

When is the Houston thing? I'd like to get out and see you guys this summer.

Edit. I don't remember losing anything to disease last year. Very unusual. I think I lost a few seedlings due to transplant shock, or they just didn't make it otherwise, but on the whole I had a healthy patch.

[feldon30]

Great list. Out of that I'm growing Brandywine (Sudduth), Earl's Faux, Stump of the World, Cherokee Purple, Pual Robeson, Brandy Boy F1, JD's Special C-Tex, Bloody Butcher, Black Cherry, Sungold, Cuostralee, and KBX..

Home Depot, Lowe's, and Wal-Mart carry Bonnie's plants and that's it. Out of Bonnie's they usually have Brandywine (who knows which strain) and very rarely they have Arkansas Traveler and Jet Star. I've grown Celebrity and Roma VFFNT and did not like them. Beefy Boy was ok, but it was my first homegrown tomato and probably wouldn't stand up to some of the varieties I'm growing now.

Fortunately Austin, Dallas, Houston, and presumably San Antonio (we have not personally investigated any nurseries there) have a great selection of tomato plants available in late February, early March at local nurseries. I do buy a few plants a year, but mostly I start my own plants from seeds. Next year I may start as many as 400 tomato plants for selling at the UrbanHarvest Farmer's Market.

The South East Texas Tomato Fest is June 21st in Washington, TX. The closest town as far as lodgings would be Brenham. Houston is the closest city. I'm sure one of us would be happy to pick you up at the airport and carpool to the event if you want to skip renting a car.