Paring down the list (just slightly)

[tam91]

Well, I have decided to eliminate sweet peppers and most bush beans this year, and grow more tomatoes. Sweet peppers take forever, and I can easily buy them in the store - so I just need to grow my few jalapenos and serranos I think. Bush beans - well, I can wait for the pole beans. There I go, room for more tomatoes! Also, as I am growing in containers, I think I can space them just a little closer within the rows. But I still have to make a few choices (although I may pawn off a few extras on a friend or two).

I figure I can grow 6 each of cherries, red, pink, black, and yellow/bicolor. Probably a few more yellow/bicolor than I need, but I want to compare some varieties.

So here is my list:

Cherries - some for taste, a few for looks
Black Cherry
Sungold
Red Pear - they're ok, and they're cute
Jaune Flammee
Dr. Carolyn Pink
Green Doctors Frosted
Galina's yellow

Need to drop one of the last 3 - are Galina's a lot like Sungold? Or are they significantly different in color? I liked yellow pear (yeah, cute) because of the looks, but not the taste, so was wondering if Galina's would be a substitute. Sungold tastes awesome, but isn't quite as pretty a combination in the bowl with the red and black.

Black

Black Krim
Indian Stripe
Nyagous
Spudakee
Cherokee Purple
Pink Berkeley Tie Dye
Brad's Black Heart

Again, one too many. I know I want Black Krim and Indian Stripe. I've always really liked Nyagous, but I wasn't quite as thrilled last year. I've never had a heart of any kind before, so I don't know if I like them.

Pink
Brandy Boy
Terhune
Stump of the World
Earl's Faux
Brandywine Suddeth's - is this one too difficult/low production?
Kosovo
Vera's Seed

I'd probably pick just one of the hearts this year (Kosovo or Vera's Seed) - any suggestions which?

Red
Neves Azorean Red
Red Brandwine regular leaf
Big Beef
German Red Strawberry
Delicious
Supersteak

The reds seem to be where I just stick a few from the nursery. I'm not set on Delicious or Supersteak - perhaps I should just grow an extra red brandywine or big beef?

Yellow/Bicolor
Pineapple - we love this one
Lemon Boy - productive and reliable, goes nicely in combo plates
KBX potato leaf
Berkeley Tie Dye
Beauty King
Maiden's Gold - I'm excited to try Ted's
Aunt Gertie's Gold
Golden Queen - Stokes
Virginia Sweets

Here, three too many. How to choose... how to choose... ?

Any thoughts welcome - except I'm probably not going to add more varieties this year, rather trying to trim just a little.

[Joe Crumley]

Tam,

Wow what a project. I admire you.

With respect to peppers, I could not do with out pimenteos. To me they are the most attractive, heart shape, and with their sweet meaty walls they are a must. With the first bite, there is a perfumey smell unlike any other pepper. Ok, I'll plant a couple Scotch Bonnets also since they take very little room.

Good luck with your garden. It's time to get started.

[dipchip2000]

Joe?

I sent you a PM

ron

[carolyn137]

[quote=tam91;198532]Well, I have decided to eliminate sweet peppers and most bush beans this year, and grow more tomatoes. Sweet peppers take forever, and I can easily buy them in the store - so I just need to grow my few jalapenos and serranos I think. Bush beans - well, I can wait for the pole beans. There I go, room for more tomatoes! Also, as I am growing in containers, I think I can space them just a little closer within the rows. But I still have to make a few choices (although I may pawn off a few extras on a friend or two).

I figure I can grow 6 each of cherries, red, pink, black, and yellow/bicolor. Probably a few more yellow/bicolor than I need, but I want to compare some varieties.

So here is my list:

Cherries - some for taste, a few for looks
Black Cherry
Sungold
Red Pear - they're ok, and they're cute
Jaune Flammee
Dr. Carolyn Pink
Green Doctors Frosted
Galina's yellow

Need to drop one of the last 3 - are Galina's a lot like Sungold? Or are they significantly different in color? I liked yellow pear (yeah, cute) because of the looks, but not the taste, so was wondering if Galina's would be a substitute. Sungold tastes awesome, but isn't quite as pretty a combination in the bowl with the red and black.

****

Sungold F1 is a hybrid and Galina's Yellow is an OP heirloom variety from Siberia which has PL foliage a deep gold cherries and I think it's a terrific variety. Galina was the ultimate source of the varieties Dr. Carolyn, Dr. Carolyn Pink, Green Doctors and Green Doctors Frosted.

In no way to I consider Jaune Flammee to be a cherry.

So if it were me I'd kick out Red Pear and retain all the rest but if you have to have Red Pear then kick out any of the last three; Dr. Carolyn Pink if you don't need a pink cherry, GD Frosted if you haven't grown a GWRipe Cherry before or Galina's if you want to.
Black

Black Krim
Indian Stripe
Nyagous
Spudakee
Cherokee Purple
Pink Berkeley Tie Dye
Brad's Black Heart

Again, one too many. I know I want Black Krim and Indian Stripe. I've always really liked Nyagous, but I wasn't quite as thrilled last year. I've never had a heart of any kind before, so I don't know if I like them.

If you've NEVER grown a heart before I'm sending you to tomato jail, so keep Brad's and kick out Berkeley if not Nyagous which I've never seen rave reviews about.
Pink
Brandy Boy
Terhune
Stump of the World
Earl's Faux
Brandywine Suddeth's - is this one too difficult/low production?

... it is for some and not for others but no different in that respect from the other so called Brandywine strains. BTW, it's Sudduth, not Suddeth, it was Doris Hill Sudduth who gave the seeds to Ben Quisenberry

Kosovo

I was the first to list this one in the SSE YEarbook in 2003, seeds from Glenn Parker of NZ. Does well for almost everyone. Initially from a UN worker in the Kosovo area, but here I go again, b'c you can read the background at Tania's site.

Vera's Seed, the correct name is Vjerino Paradajiz Sjeme, seeds given to me by Leslie from her mother-in law in Bosnia and it translates out to Vera's Tomato Seeds; I prefer the original spelling, actually of all varieties that come from anywhere. I SSE listed it many years ago.

I'd probably pick just one of the hearts this year (Kosovo or Vera's Seed) - any suggestions which?

Since you say you haven't grown hearts before I'd give a slight nod to Kosovo.

Red
Neves Azorean Red
Red Brandwine regular leaf
Big Beef
German Red Strawberry
Delicious
Supersteak

The reds seem to be where I just stick a few from the nursery. I'm not set on Delicious or Supersteak - perhaps I should just grow an extra red brandywine or big beef?
******

Up to you as to the the F1's you mention and another heart, but I don't know too many folks who would rave about Delicious taste-wise, I wouldn't, and if it were me, and it's not, I'd choose a couple of great large red beefsteaks of the OP persuasion/
Yellow/Bicolor
Pineapple - we love this one
Lemon Boy - productive and reliable, goes nicely in combo plates
KBX potato leaf
Berkeley Tie Dye
Beauty King
Maiden's Gold - I'm excited to try Ted's
Aunt Gertie's Gold
Golden Queen - Stokes
Virginia Sweets

Here, three too many. How to choose... how to choose... ?

If you already know you love Pineapple then why not set it aside to try Virginia Sweets? Lemon Boy hasn't been a fave of mine but it is one of yours, so keep it, and I can't comment on the Brad varieties, but think I could come up with something a bit better than Golden Queen, and I doubt that Stokes would be selling the USDA strain anyway.

Any thoughts welcome - except I'm probably not going to add more
varieties this year, rather trying to trim just a little.

Finally, like all such lists I'm indicating my own opinions about varieties and their taste and production for me where I live and garden. Your tastes and the way you grow tomatoes could be far different from what I do.

In any case, have a wonderful growing season.

[tam91]

Oh, thank you so much for all the feedback. I understand, Jaune Flammee is larger than a cherry really, I just sort of put it in that category as it is smaller. And it is beautiful, so I have to try it.

I do know red cherry isn't the best tasting ever - but it's ok, and I'm growing it for looks. Actually, I make a cooked dish with it that is really pretty tasty. It's better than yellow pear (to me) which I really like the looks of, can't find a good subsitute that is that bright yellow color. I do like the bowl of the mixed pretty color cherries.

Tomato jail, LOL - well I've only grown heirlooms for a couple years - one of which was doomed by walnut trees. And remember, I tried a supposed heart last year, and got that bizarre thing. So I did try.

Hmmm drop Nyagous. That was actually one of my first heirloom tomatoes ever, and we just loved it. But last year - meh. So maybe skip it for a year. I am interested to see how Cherokee Purple compares to Spudakee etc.

Sudduth - oops, I do know the correct spelling, sorry for that typo (and on such a renowned variety besides). Well, maybe I'll give it a try, if one plant doesn't yeild much I won't have a tomato shortage. And Kosovo it is then, I'll save Vera's for next year, or get my friend to grow it.

Lemon boy isn't anything I'd be crazy about by itself - the taste is a bit boring. But it is so reliable and productive, and a pretty color. And when combined on a plate with a lovely red and a black tomato, it's pretty - and the flavor seems complimentary somehow. I was given Golden Queen, and I believe they said it originally came from Stokes - I'll double check just for interest. But ok, Golden Queen is out for this year, or at my friend's garden.

Dunno about giving up that Pineapple, it's hubby's favorite and I quite like the flavor. Have to think about that one...

I'll still have to work on cutting down that gold/bi-color list. Hopefully someone will comment on Brad's varieties and Virginia Sweets - I got that latest as a freebie from TGS - aaak, they complicated my list .

"couple of great large red beefsteaks of the OP persuasion" - like...?
I have to look back, I think I got some advice on reds - which is where I came up with the Neves etc. I do have the German Red Strawberry, so I have a black, red, and pink heart which I think may be enough hearts to start. But for some reason, I haven't come up with a bunch of reds that I "have to have". I love the pinks and blacks, but some people just want a nice red tomato. So if you or anyone have any ideas...

I do hope everything grows well - I am so excited to be trying it from seed this year.

[b54red]

I will only comment on two because some I'm not familiar with and for the most part I really like your list.
Keep Kosovo, it was by far the most productive heart and it doesn't split as badly as some of the others. It also makes a great sauce tomato.
German Red Strawberry is a heart or for me it was a big plum and not a very good one either. If you would like to grow a really great tasting heart try Donskoi. It is not terribly productive but mine put out about a dozen but they averaged over a pound with fantastic taste. To me it ranks up there with the best of the reds and pinks in flavor and when you get a two pounder off it is something to see.
Oh yeah I would keep the Big Beef just for insurance in case it is a very bad year for tomatoes.

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by b54red

I will only comment on two because some I'm not familiar with and for the most part I really like your list.
Keep Kosovo, it was by far the most productive heart and it doesn't split as badly as some of the others. It also makes a great sauce tomato.
German Red Strawberry is a heart or for me it was a big plum and not a very good one either. If you would like to grow a really great tasting heart try Donskoi. It is not terribly productive but mine put out about a dozen but they averaged over a pound with fantastic taste. To me it ranks up there with the best of the reds and pinks in flavor and when you get a two pounder off it is something to see.
Oh yeah I would keep the Big Beef just for insurance in case it is a very bad year for tomatoes.

B54, if your GRS is plum shaped then methinks you don't have seeds for the right variety b'c it's been an excellent variety for many folks.

Three other red hearts that I really like a lot are Indiana Red and Linnie's Oxheart and Danko, and yes, I have grown Donskoi, seeds from an SSE friend Neil L several years ago, probably 2006 or 7.

[b54red]

Originally Posted by carolyn137

B54, if your GRS is plum shaped then methinks you don't have seeds for the right variety b'c it's been an excellent variety for many folks.

Three other red hearts that I really like a lot are Indiana Red and Linnie's Oxheart and Danko, and yes, I have grown Donskoi, seeds from an SSE friend Neil L several years ago, probably 2006 or 7.

Carolyn I have the right seed for German Red Strawberry and it did put on a lot of fruit but they were smaller than many of my other hearts and I didn't find them particularly tasty. GRS may do very good for others but for me it was one that immediately went on the "don't grow again" list. They tended to split too easily and the reason I mentioned plums was because of the size. Linnies did fantastic for me last fall. As a matter of fact it was one of my best producing fall tomatoes but I still think Kosovo is a better heart. I am trying more hearts this year in hopes of finding one that has the production of Linnies or Kosovo with the taste of Donskoi.

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by b54red

Carolyn I have the right seed for German Red Strawberry and it did put on a lot of fruit but they were smaller than many of my other hearts and I didn't find them particularly tasty. GRS may do very good for others but for me it was one that immediately went on the "don't grow again" list. They tended to split too easily and the reason I mentioned plums was because of the size. Linnies did fantastic for me last fall. As a matter of fact it was one of my best producing fall tomatoes but I still think Kosovo is a better heart. I am trying more hearts this year in hopes of finding one that has the production of Linnies or Kosovo with the taste of Donskoi.

I answered based on the fact that you said your GRS gave you plum shaped fruits, and if plum shaped then it wasn't German Red Strawberry, so if you still feel that you have the right seed when getting plum shaped fruits from GRS, there's not much more I can say, and won't.

[dice]

I would not drop Brad's Black Heart. It will compete with any
of those dark-fruited varieties for best flavor in a given season,
and they are big, solid, meaty fruits. Unlike many hearts, it is
not difficult to get enough seeds to save from a single fruit,
but they tend to concentrate in locules just inside the outer
walls, leaving the rest of the fruit with few seeds.

[recruiterg]

I might be adding more confusion to the situation, but I would suggest dropping a few of the Red varieties (I am not a big fan of Red varieties) you have listed and add Prue (kind of a combo between a plum and a heart), Ludmilla's Red Plum (large plum) or some other plum varieties. I like to have a few plums for making salsas, slicing thin and topping pizzas, fresh eating, and adding to sauces. Just my two cents.

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by recruiterg

I might be adding more confusion to the situation, but I would suggest dropping a few of the Red varieties (I am not a big fan of Red varieties) you have listed and add Prue (kind of a combo between a plum and a heart), Ludmilla's Red Plum (large plum) or some other plum varieties. I like to have a few plums for making salsas, slicing thin and topping pizzas, fresh eating, and adding to sauces. Just my two cents.

And I'm laughing b'c I suggested adding some large red beefsteaks other than the NAR already there.

Prue is a good one, but not a beesteak and yes, fruit shapes can be different on the same plant and I sure wouldn't use it for salsa and if Tom Galucci saw you were using it for salsa, well, I don't know, Tom being the originator of Prue.

Same with Ludmilla's Red Plum which I think is a great variety but I wouldn't waste it on salsa, nope, that one's for fresh eating all the way.

Isn't it wonderful that we all have different views of the same varieties?

When I started growing tomatoes I didn't ask for the opinions of others, I often didn't have a clue as to what a variety might give me, so I just grew it and saw what I got and either loved a variety and saved seeds or wasn't wild about a variety and with few exceptions saved seeds from them as well.

[OneoftheEarls]

Red cherry:

Anna Aasa over Red Pear any and every day

[tam91]

I think three hearts is enough for me to start. So... more red Beefsteaks... like...?

[recruiterg]

Carolyn, your post cracked me up. To clarify, Prue for fresh eating...one of my favorites. Ludmilla's Red Plum for fresh salsa (diced tomato, lime juice, salt & pepper, one finely diced jalapeno, maybe some diced red or yellow sweet peppers from the garden, a touch of cilantro...uncooked...heaven). I've got a long way to go before I can enjoy that again. 5 below outside now...