Two Mater Questions

[puttgirl]

Once again, I'm trying to narrow down the tomato choices for my small garden-I'm trying to decide which of two pairs to plant. If anyone has grown both, I'd appreciate the feedback.

1. Box car willie vs. Wisconsin 55-for a good, productive all-purpose tomato

2. Federle vs. Sausage-for additions to other tomatoes for canning

Which do you prefer? Thanks for the input!

[puttgirl]

Please, somebody help me decide!

[dipchip2000]

Sow some seeds for all of them and make the decision after the plants are up by picking which plants look the most vigorous and healthy. That is how I do it.

ron

Originally Posted by puttgirl

Please, somebody help me decide!

Wisconsin 55 did okay for me last year. I suppose it would do quite well if tended to better than I did. Things like soil amendment and consistent watering were two things I was not able to do [for certain reasons].

[TomNJ]

The only one of these I have grown is Boxcar Willie, and it certainly qualifies as a good, productive all-purpose tomato.

TomNJ

[puttgirl]

I wasn't able to take care of my garden much last year, either-hope it goes better this time around.

[organichris]

I haven't grown out Box Car Willie, but I have some seedlings right now and they are dominating every other variety where overall vigor is concerned.

[puttgirl]

Sounds like BCW is in the lead.

[puttgirl]

I still need some advice about the pastes-anyone?

[camochef]

Puttgirl,
I've grown Box-car Willie for quite a few years but not the past two or so. It's been replaced in my gardens by Tarasenko6 which has become my favorite red tomato. A little larger than BCW and somewhat more productive and I find it to be a little better tasting...but BCW is a great tomato too.
I've grown sausage in the past then switched to Opalka until we had that wet year in '09. My opalkas all bloated and tasted so bland. The paste that outperformed all others that year was Wessel's Purple Pride, a Cherokee Purple/sausage cross. Great producer, great taste and one of the prettiest paste tomatoes I'd ever grown.
I didn't grow any paste's last year, and only have one in this years planting...Kukla's Portugese paste which is new to me for this year. I'll check and see if I have any Wessel's seed left, but I don't think that I do.
Camo

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by puttgirl

Once again, I'm trying to narrow down the tomato choices for my small garden-I'm trying to decide which of two pairs to plant. If anyone has grown both, I'd appreciate the feedback.

1. Box car willie vs. Wisconsin 55-for a good, productive all-purpose tomato

2. Federle vs. Sausage-for additions to other tomatoes for canning

Which do you prefer? Thanks for the input!

1. about the same as standard reds, slight preference to BCW on taste

2. About the same as grown by me, no preference

And I'm not going to suggest alternatives b'c that would, I think, just confuse the issue rather than help it since these are the ones you asked about. I did the same for Remy's list just now. I used to say, oh I'd grow this and not that, etc., but when someone has taken the time to make some initial decisions and list alternatives, I just crawl into the corner and cry, saying, if only__________

[puttgirl]

Well, the federle won out, because the seed was older!