Early girl vs. Oregon spring

tgplp · January 26, 2011

Okay, first things first. You will probably say something like this: " don't waste your time with those! Grow an heirloom instead!" but don't worry, I'm growing 19 varieties, and most are delicious heirlooms. But here in Seattle, I don't know if they will ripen or not so I need an early back up. Question is... Early girl or Oregon spring? Tell me what you think and why!

Thanks!
Taryn

barkeater · January 26, 2011

They both Su__! Oregon Spring is parthonogenic which means the texture will be mushy if not the most perfect conditions and even then production isn't good. Bloody Butcher, Sophies Choice, Silvery Fir Tree, and others are better choices and earlier. Just my .02

habitat_gardener · January 26, 2011

Last year I wanted to try a lot of early and container varieties, so I grew Sophie's Choice, Kimberl(e)y, Moravsky Div, Bloody Butcher (with bigger fruit), Clear Pink Early, Gold Nugget, Medovaya Kaplya, and a few others. Unfortunately, I started them outside and they grew very slowly in the cooler-than-usual spring, and then I didn't get around to planting them until mid-June, so I didn't get any fruit from that batch until the end of August. And it was cool all summer, with cooler nights starting in Sept.

They were all ok, and someday I'd like to give them all a second chance, but two that I planted in the garden beds tasted the best and were the earliest: Moravsky Div (red, about 1-2 oz. each) and Bloody Butcher (red, about 3-8 oz. each). Clear Pink Early was a little sweeter than the others, but it was also a week or two later. Medovaya Kaplya was a standout, too (productive yellow pear-shaped cherry tomatoes).

I grew Silvery Fir Tree in 2006. The plant was pretty, but the tomatoes were too tart for my taste.

Also in 2006 I grew Early Girl just to see why it was so popular in this area. By itself it was ok, but when I compared it to any of the heirlooms I grew that year, it tasted flat. And it wasn't early for me! But it was a pretty good late tomato -- it produced more fruit than anything except cherry tomatoes in Oct and Nov.

Haven't tried Oregon Spring.

Taryn, PM if you want seeds (not a general offer).

Gobig_or_Gohome_toms · January 26, 2011

I vote no on early girl grew it two years in a row and would not grow again. Have never tried Oregon spring. The second year was a mismarked plant I bought and I have not had that problem the last 3 years as I grow all my plants from seeds now.

Craig

montanamato · January 27, 2011

Early girl is not early here and ripens about midpack with my Op toms...Aurora is early and has good taste and texture...Oregon spring was fairly awful for me and I can eat any tomato...

Jeanne

tgplp · January 27, 2011

Ok, ok, i get it.

I have some other earlies, too. I liked silvery fir tree last year, but it got blight to easy. Here are some other options I have: glacier, koralik ( a cherry), Early wonder, and San fransisco fog. Any of those sound good?

Taryn

BigdaddyJ · January 27, 2011

That's like choosing between Snookie and her twin sister! Sorry, couldn't resist. I have grown both. Of you latest group I'd go with Early Wonder. A little bigger than Snookie, err, Early Girl but not nearly as early. I grew Early Wonder twice but was a little disappointed in it's DTM for an "early" but it has nice real tomato flavor.

seeker · January 27, 2011

I agree with BighaddyJ. I grow Early Wonder every year, and it always does well for me. We like the taste, and the tomatoes are a good size for slicing. (I don't want to be misleading: it doesn't taste as good as, say, Stump of the World, but it's very good for an early.) Also, if you want to try one of the parthonogenic types, I think Siletz is better than Oregon Spring.

tomakers · January 27, 2011

Sun Gold is always the earliest in my garden. I grow Kimberley for an early for the last couple of years. Small, but at least it tastes good.
Tom

dice · January 30, 2011

Clear Pink Early did well for me. It is not as early as
Bloody Butcher, Kimberly, Moravsky Div, Kotlas, or
Stupice, but the fruit are bigger. (Flavor was very mild,
and I have not grown it in a few years, so I tend to not
remember it when these discussions come up. It is reliably
early and productive, though. Gets to 3-4' tall here.)

Wi-sunflower · January 30, 2011

Silvery Fir Tree doesn't get blight, it just plain dies. It's DETERMINATE so puts out a quick flush or 2 and then quits.

I always tell my plant customers that are interested in SFT that it will get them some EARLY tomatoes but not to depend on it to last the season. But by the time it dies, your other plants should be then giving fruit.

Yes Sun Gold is fairly early, but Gold Nugget will be about a week earlier for me. But like SFT, Gold Nugget is also Determinate and will not last the season.

The other problem with Gold Nugget is that like a lot of yellow varieties, it will get those "rusty" spots all over the fruit as the plant is going down hill. Very unappitizing and makes the fruit unselable. I don't usually notice that on the Sun Gold/sugars or Galinas and a few of the other yellows that make rampant plants.

Carol

Tormato · January 31, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by tgplp

Okay, first things first. You will probably say something like this: " don't waste your time with those! Grow an heirloom instead!" but don't worry, I'm growing 19 varieties, and most are delicious heirlooms. But here in Seattle, I don't know if they will ripen or not so I need an early back up. Question is... Early girl or Oregon spring? Tell me what you think and why!

Thanks!
Taryn

I would never say something like that.

I would say ...put Early Girl and Oregon Spring in a Celebrity Death Match. The survivor could then lose to Kimberly.

Qweniden · January 31, 2011

I disliked them both equally. Neither plant was early and neither had any flavor at all. Total waste of garden space and I'd never grow either again.

Someone mentioned sungold above. In general I'd say grow some early ripening Cherries for early tomatoes.

Its not a Herloom vs Hybrid thing. These are just not early and not tasty. At least in my climate.

Qweniden · January 31, 2011

Another thing. Id wait to hear from someone who grows in your region, but in general if I was in a colder area with less sunshine Id grow primarily cherries.

GunnarSK · January 31, 2011

Both Sungold and Koralik have been mentioned in this thread. I don't know Sungold, but Koralik is a Polish commercial variety, and I have grown it. Generally cherry tomatoes are both early and prolific, and Koralik self-sows so willingly, that you'll probably only have to buy it once.

January 26, 2011	#1
tgplp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Pacific North West, zone 8a Posts: 510	Early girl vs. Oregon spring Okay, first things first. You will probably say something like this: " don't waste your time with those! Grow an heirloom instead!" but don't worry, I'm growing 19 varieties, and most are delicious heirlooms. But here in Seattle, I don't know if they will ripen or not so I need an early back up. Question is... Early girl or Oregon spring? Tell me what you think and why! Thanks! Taryn

January 26, 2011	#3
habitat_gardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: California Central Valley Posts: 2,543	Last year I wanted to try a lot of early and container varieties, so I grew Sophie's Choice, Kimberl(e)y, Moravsky Div, Bloody Butcher (with bigger fruit), Clear Pink Early, Gold Nugget, Medovaya Kaplya, and a few others. Unfortunately, I started them outside and they grew very slowly in the cooler-than-usual spring, and then I didn't get around to planting them until mid-June, so I didn't get any fruit from that batch until the end of August. And it was cool all summer, with cooler nights starting in Sept. They were all ok, and someday I'd like to give them all a second chance, but two that I planted in the garden beds tasted the best and were the earliest: Moravsky Div (red, about 1-2 oz. each) and Bloody Butcher (red, about 3-8 oz. each). Clear Pink Early was a little sweeter than the others, but it was also a week or two later. Medovaya Kaplya was a standout, too (productive yellow pear-shaped cherry tomatoes). I grew Silvery Fir Tree in 2006. The plant was pretty, but the tomatoes were too tart for my taste. Also in 2006 I grew Early Girl just to see why it was so popular in this area. By itself it was ok, but when I compared it to any of the heirlooms I grew that year, it tasted flat. And it wasn't early for me! But it was a pretty good late tomato -- it produced more fruit than anything except cherry tomatoes in Oct and Nov. Haven't tried Oregon Spring. Taryn, PM if you want seeds (not a general offer). Last edited by habitat_gardener; January 26, 2011 at 11:11 PM. Reason: to answer the question!

January 27, 2011	#7
BigdaddyJ Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Zone7 Delaware Posts: 399	That's like choosing between Snookie and her twin sister! Sorry, couldn't resist. I have grown both. Of you latest group I'd go with Early Wonder. A little bigger than Snookie, err, Early Girl but not nearly as early. I grew Early Wonder twice but was a little disappointed in it's DTM for an "early" but it has nice real tomato flavor. __________________ Farmer at Heart

January 27, 2011	#9
tomakers Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Cranberry Country, SE MA - zone 6? Posts: 353	Sun Gold is always the earliest in my garden. I grow Kimberley for an early for the last couple of years. Small, but at least it tastes good. Tom __________________ I never met a fish I didn't like.

January 30, 2011	#10
dice Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: PNW Posts: 4,743	Clear Pink Early did well for me. It is not as early as Bloody Butcher, Kimberly, Moravsky Div, Kotlas, or Stupice, but the fruit are bigger. (Flavor was very mild, and I have not grown it in a few years, so I tend to not remember it when these discussions come up. It is reliably early and productive, though. Gets to 3-4' tall here.) __________________ -- alias

January 26, 2011	#2
barkeater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NE Kingdom, VT - Zone 3b Posts: 1,439	They both Su__! Oregon Spring is parthonogenic which means the texture will be mushy if not the most perfect conditions and even then production isn't good. Bloody Butcher, Sophies Choice, Silvery Fir Tree, and others are better choices and earlier. Just my .02

January 26, 2011	#4
Gobig_or_Gohome_toms Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Zone 4 Lake Minnetonka, MN Posts: 967	I vote no on early girl grew it two years in a row and would not grow again. Have never tried Oregon spring. The second year was a mismarked plant I bought and I have not had that problem the last 3 years as I grow all my plants from seeds now. Craig

January 27, 2011	#5
montanamato Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Montana Posts: 1,038	Early girl is not early here and ripens about midpack with my Op toms...Aurora is early and has good taste and texture...Oregon spring was fairly awful for me and I can eat any tomato... Jeanne

January 27, 2011	#6
tgplp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Pacific North West, zone 8a Posts: 510	Ok, ok, i get it. I have some other earlies, too. I liked silvery fir tree last year, but it got blight to easy. Here are some other options I have: glacier, koralik ( a cherry), Early wonder, and San fransisco fog. Any of those sound good? Taryn

January 27, 2011	#8
seeker Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Harrisburg PA Posts: 95	I agree with BighaddyJ. I grow Early Wonder every year, and it always does well for me. We like the taste, and the tomatoes are a good size for slicing. (I don't want to be misleading: it doesn't taste as good as, say, Stump of the World, but it's very good for an early.) Also, if you want to try one of the parthonogenic types, I think Siletz is better than Oregon Spring.

January 30, 2011	#11
Wi-sunflower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,591	Silvery Fir Tree doesn't get blight, it just plain dies. It's DETERMINATE so puts out a quick flush or 2 and then quits. I always tell my plant customers that are interested in SFT that it will get them some EARLY tomatoes but not to depend on it to last the season. But by the time it dies, your other plants should be then giving fruit. Yes Sun Gold is fairly early, but Gold Nugget will be about a week earlier for me. But like SFT, Gold Nugget is also Determinate and will not last the season. The other problem with Gold Nugget is that like a lot of yellow varieties, it will get those "rusty" spots all over the fruit as the plant is going down hill. Very unappitizing and makes the fruit unselable. I don't usually notice that on the Sun Gold/sugars or Galinas and a few of the other yellows that make rampant plants. Carol

January 31, 2011	#13
Qweniden Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Sacramento, California Posts: 267	I disliked them both equally. Neither plant was early and neither had any flavor at all. Total waste of garden space and I'd never grow either again. Someone mentioned sungold above. In general I'd say grow some early ripening Cherries for early tomatoes. Its not a Herloom vs Hybrid thing. These are just not early and not tasty. At least in my climate.

January 31, 2011	#15
GunnarSK Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Warsaw, Poland 52° N Posts: 363	Both Sungold and Koralik have been mentioned in this thread. I don't know Sungold, but Koralik is a Polish commercial variety, and I have grown it. Generally cherry tomatoes are both early and prolific, and Koralik self-sows so willingly, that you'll probably only have to buy it once.