Back again, but will grow only one variety this year.

[mensplace]

After two years I am back to walking without my left leg dragging behind. The garden will be sizably smaller, but I still want a decent and continual harvest. My efforts of a few years ago gave me a great appreciation of SO many novel heirlooms. However, this year the approach will be to select ONE variety and stagger the planting with a few weeks between each and a maximum of 20 plants.
With much of my memory lost, I just cannot recall what was the most prolific and consistent bearer over an extended time.

My preference is for a slicing variety of roughly 1/2 pound or about 4 to five inches across. Remember, this is the south so heat and disease resistance are important...realizing that there will be a lull in JULY and August. Prefer an indeterminate that will keep on growing and bearing, while shading to prevent sun-scald. Flavor means high acid and sugar. Color preference...deep red and round around the circumference. Not a huge beefsteak or mealy flesh, but plenty of drip down your arm factor.

Your recommendation for the best of the best to meet these criterion? Remember, I'm seeking that one variety!

HOPE ALL ARE WELL!

[oxheart]

you may remember my wife and I , we bought some plants from you a few years ago . Otv brandywine did well here last year and grandfathers Ashlock as well both excellent taste , gf for higher production , wife will email you.

[gssgarden]

Big Beef!, Hands down for me here in Charlotte!

Greg

[CarolynPhillips]

Big Beef. It tops everything I have ever grown.

[mensplace]

It was great to hear once again from some old friends! I will investigate these varieties tomorrow, Went back to my garden which has sat idle for far too long and thought it was time again, just on a reduced scale. At least I can begin the basics of prepping my seed starting area, selecting a seed starting mix, and all of the rest. I am definitely ready for spring. I also greatly enjoyed reading of the many who had received seeds from my collection ...kind of a paying forward all of the great guidance and assistance a few years back. GOD bless you All!

[erlyberd]

Hope all is well but this is exactly why I started my garden journal! Like money in the bank when the mind begins to fail us!

[ContainerTed]

Clarence, If you don't mind raising a hybrid, I would suggest Celebrity. I found that the plants tend to throw a good bunch of ripe ones and start another batch at the same time. This would give you some pretty good tasting toms and might allow you to stagger them out to get continuous yield over the summer. The disease tolerance it would give you might also help out with the chores as you get back to your gardening.

And, if you don't mind growing two varieties, I would supplement the above with a good early producer to give the harvest a jump-start. Perhaps Sibirskiy Skorospelyi might be a good choice for an early one.

In both cases, you can stick them all in the ground or stage some in buckets or both. Both will also fit your target definition in your first post. The pictures below are from where I lived in the Buford area.

Good to see you back up and back to growing some things.

[b54red]

Although I live south of you and probably have more disease pressure to deal with I would definitely go with Big Beef. It is one of the best tasting of the hybrids and will produce in the heat of summer better than just about any tomato. Due to its strong disease tolerance it needs less constant attention than most other varieties which is always a plus. I plan on growing more of them this year than last for that very reason. If you want to go with a single variety and you want a steady supply of nice red tomatoes from about 8 ounces to a pound Big Beef would be my top choice. Now if you wanted to go with a black tomato I would go with Indian Stripe for the same reasons.

[mensplace]

perhaps I need to re-think the idea of all one kind and diversify to a few of each to assure a bit of diversity as well as reliable output. Now to find the best source for the Sibersky, Ashlock, and OTV Brandywine. With just a couple of plants of each, planted at multiple intervals I will have plenty as I will only be planting a couple of each. Lowes will have the others such as the Big Beef and Celebrity. If I have anything like those in the beautiful pictures, I will be a happy man!

[ContainerTed]

Clarence, I've got plenty of the Sibirskiy Skorospelyi. If you'd like, I'll send you some - no need for anything in return. Let me know if your address is still in Cartersville. I still have that one in my database.

[mensplace]

Originally Posted by ContainerTed

Clarence, I've got plenty of the Sibirskiy Skorospelyi. If you'd like, I'll send you some - no need for anything in return. Let me know if your address is still in Cartersville. I still have that one in my database.

Bless You! Have not moved, so address is the same. Just a very few seeds please as I only want to start a few plants. Funny, but I had hoped to move back to the Blue Ridge mountains to the north, but even in this nice neighborhood there have been many foreclosures and home values are half what we paid. The good news is that my garden soil should be perfect after a year of rest.

THANK YOU!

[nealf]

Hey neighbor,

I got a Neves Azorean Red plant from you a couple of years back when you sold in the Cville square. I think I still have some saved NAR seeds from the plant I got from you even!

I also have several varieties that I can offer to you since you are so nearby. I have PMed you a copy of my seed list!

Glad to hear you're back in it.

[roamwhereiwant2]

Glad that you are able to garden again. Here's another vote for Big Beef. It's not my favorite, but it's darn good and the heat doesn't seem to stop it.

[ContainerTed]

Good 'nuf. I'll send them out in tomorrow's mail. Might put an extra surprise or two in the envelope.

Take it easy and take care not to get in too much of a hurry with your recovery.

[amideutch]

Clarence, glad to see you posting again. I heard Cowlicks didn't do to bad down in your neck of the woods if you want to try a pink. Ted Has seeds for Cowlicks and maybe he could add a few to the others he sends you. Ami