Looking for a cherry tomato!

July 9, 2012

I grew Black Cherry, Sungold F1, Jaune Flamme, Improved Porter, and Juliet this year. I will not grow the Black Cherry, Sungold, or Jaune Flamme next year but will regrow Juliet (My daughter loves it and it pumps out tomatoes all season until frost) and Improved Porter (I'm really interested in how the variety produces new branches (not suckers) from the main stem as it grows).

I'm looking for a very productive, round, red, slightly acidic, slightly smaller than a ping pong ball, cherry variety to grow next year with my other two cherry varieties. I would appreciate any suggestions.

I'm also curious if anyone has grown the "Big Sungold Select" variety offered by Brad Gates at Wild Boar Farms. If you have grown it, comments would be appreciated.

Any comments on the "furry" varieties offered by Wild Boar farms would also be appreciated. I can only imagine eating them would be similar to eating a hairball or at the minimum, a fuzzy peach. I'm really interested in seeing and hearing peoples reactions when I give them a sack of tomatoes including some covered in hair.

Ted

**carolyn137** · July 9, 2012

Ted, Reinhard Kraft in Germany sent seeds of Big Sungold Select to both Brad and myself/ I offered it in my seed offer here at Tville the past two years, I think, for an SASE.

But it turns out there was a problem. Brad noticed and indicated at his site that it was not stable and noted the different colored ones he was getting and the same happened to the ones I was giving away here at Tville.

Sungold Select I
Sungold Select II

... were ones that Reinhard developed from Sungold F1 as OP's and were perfectly genetically stable when released and as far as I know still are.

Big Sungold
Big Sungold Select

...... were NOT developed by Reinhard, they were selections sent to Manfred Hahm , a friend of Reinhard's who sells seeds off Reinhard's website.

The two closet to Sungold F1 would be the first two IMO, but not that close to be honest.

I can't speak to brad Gates furry ones but can speak to the matte surface fuzzy/furry ones such as Nectarine, Peach Blow Sutton, Garden peach, if you want me too.

Also I sure don't consider Jaune Flammee to be cherry sized.

Finally when it comes to red cherries that are NOT sicky sweet but I think have great taste I'll just suggest a few:

Chadwick's Cherry, also known as Camp Joy
Gardener's Delight, an older German variety with great taste
Casino Chips, just offered here at Tville by the person who found it
Riesentraube, a multiflora

habitat_gardener · July 9, 2012

My favorite is Tommy Toe. I've grown it several years. It has good flavor at every stage of ripeness, unlike some other varieties where you have to eat them at the peak or else they're spitters. I think the flavor is balanced, so I guess it's slightly acidic. It's not a candy tomato like Sungold, and it doesn't have that off taste that Sungold gets. It's a large cherry, but hasn't gotten ping-pong size in my garden. And very productive once it gets started. It's not an early tomato, though -- a couple years ago, I got my first Tommy Toe around the same time as my first Purple Brandy (aka Marizol Bratka).

pdxwindjammer · July 9, 2012

It is always surprising to me when someone says they won't grow again what is on my list of must haves, such as Bleck Cherry. I LOVE these tomatoes and they do well form me here in Portland, OR.

I have not grown the "furry" ones from WB but I have grown Garden Peach and really liked it. I must have received over 100 pool ball sized peach colored tomatoes that had fuzz similar to what a peach has. I slow roasted trays and trays of these!

July 9, 2012

Thanks Carolyn, I think Risentraube is a very good choice.

Please define "multiflora" for me. I think the Improved Porter variety may be multiflora resulting in multiple branches emanating from the main stem with leafs that look almost rugose. The semi rugose leafs turn to regular serrated leafs as each branch grows. This season, I started removing the extra branches as if they were suckers. Later, I realized I didn't know how well the new branches would grow and produce so next season I will leave them on and see what they do.

The plants produced fruit that looked like pink eggs which turned red when ripe. I don't really consider it a cherry, but the size is slightly smaller than a ping pong ball and is very productive. The taste is good, but can't be defined as sweet or acidic.

While you are probably correct about the Jaune Flamme not truly being a cherry, the fruit were in the ping pong ball size range and very productive on long trusses. If I liked the taste, they would certainly be worth growing again.

Ted

July 9, 2012

Feldon,

I don't have any dislikes for either Black Cherry or Sungold. I've grown them, I know what they do and how they taste and want to move on and try some other varieties. I can't complain about production which was huge or taste or disease resistance. If I knew all I want to know about Improved Porter, it would also be gone after this season. The only one I can't get rid of is Juliet because it is my daughters favorite. I'm not a big fan of cherry tomatoes in general, but I want to continue looking for a few that will cause me to become a cherry tomato fan.

Like you, I'm missing the WOW gene when it comes to cherry tomatoes so far.

Ted

**carolyn137** · July 9, 2012

Ted, multiflora means many blossoms, and those blossoms are all on ONE stalk. Here's a Google IMAGES for Riesentraube:

http://www.google.com/search?num=10&...M6aU6QHoxfS_Bg

There can be up to several hundred blossoms on one stalk but usually only 30-50 will set fruit. To me Riesentraube has a taste more like a beefsteak tomato and is not sweet, nor floral , just darn good tasting.

There are quite a few other multiflora varieties, Ildi is another one although not red.

feldon30 · July 9, 2012

Ted,

It would be extremely helpful to know what it is you did not like about Sungold and Black Cherry which for many people (not all) are their #1 and #2 tomato varieties. Some people find Sungold too fruity/floral, and others are frustrated at its predilection for splitting. Note that Sungold's flavor changes quite a bit depending on the stage of ripeness that you eat it. When they're still firm they have an acidic bite. When they get soft, they are more fruity.

Did the plants succumb to disease, did you have low productivity, or are we just talking flavor and fruit quality here?

Although I haven't grown that many, I've tasted quite a few, and I have yet to find a remarkable red cherry except Sweet 100. If you are willing to go pink, I would recommend Sweet Quartz F1 to anyone. I was harvesting practically a handful a day at its peak and they were delicious.

As has been drummed into our heads, flavor is an individual thing. For instance, few green-when-ripe tomatoes have impressed me, even when I have been presented with excellent examples. I'm just missing a gene or two that makes them go "wow!" in my mouth.

Mlm1 · July 9, 2012

If I were in the garden and had the following small tomatoes to eat while working I would eat them in the following order: Sweet as Linda, Elfin and Brandysweet Plum first:depending on which was closest at hand. I love all 3 of them. Next would be Black Cherry then Sun gold if I could find one that wasn't too ripe. I don't like overripe Sungold. Then Peacevine Cherry, Jaunne Flamme, and Juliet.

"Sweet as Linda" is new for us. I will e-mail Steve and ask him to comment on it.

Marla

janezee · July 9, 2012

I like the sweet cherry tomatoes, but I agree that it would be nice to have real tomato taste in a smaller form, since it's so difficult to get larger toms to ripen and taste really succulent in the coolth.

I have high hopes for the Casino Chips and Gardener's Delight that are in now. Sorry the Babywine didn't make it to the garden this year, but 2013 planning is in gear already.

Have you tried any GWR varieties like Verde Claro, Green Doctors, Green Grape, or Green Zebra Cherry?

I'm also trying a few of Tom Wagner's new cherries this year. I'll let you know how they do.

j

j

feldon30 · July 10, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by janezee

I like the sweet cherry tomatoes, but I agree that it would be nice to have real tomato taste in a smaller form, since it's so difficult to get larger toms to ripen and taste really succulent in the coolth.

It's not a cherry, but I've found Black and Brown Boar to have great flavor even when it's cool (one of the few fall tomatoes I grew that still had flavor after a few chilly nights). They're a bit bigger than a golf ball, and are bronze-green with red striping. It tastes like a full size tomato to me. It's too bad Brandysweet Plum's productivity is so poor.

July 10, 2012

Feldon,

Thanks for your comment about Black & Brown boar. I had it on the grow list I am building for 2013, but removed it in favor of a different Brad Gates variety. I may have to rethink my choice. Is it a compact plant as well as a compact tomato? I grew his Pink Berkeley Tie Dye this year and it was very compact.

Have you found a Brad Gates variety with outstanding taste? Every variety he has produced seems to be absolutely gorgeous, but I'm still searching for one which is both gorgeous and delicious.

Ted

feldon30 · July 10, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by tedln

Feldon,

Thanks for your comment about Black & Brown boar. I had it on the grow list I am building for 2013, but removed it in favor of a different Brad Gates variety. I may have to rethink my choice. Is it a compact plant as well as a compact tomato? I grew his Pink Berkeley Tie Dye this year and it was very compact.

Have you found a Brad Gates variety with outstanding taste? Every variety he has produced seems to be absolutely gorgeous, but I'm still searching for one which is both gorgeous and delicious.

Ted

Now I'm really curious. What would you say are your favorite tomatoes that you have grown or tasted?

July 10, 2012

Feldon,
I can only comment on the ones I grew this year. I don't remember all of my favorites from past years. I think Hillbilly was great this year. Hoy, Limbaughs Potato Top, Carbon, and JD's Special C Tex were very good. Black Krim was very good if eaten before fully ripe. Black Cherry was very good if allowed to ripen fully. KBX was great if I could wrap my mind around the fact that it tasted like a tomato instead of a mango slice. Honorable mention would go to Barlow Jap, Stump Of The World, Wes, Brandywine Pink, Tarasenko 6, and Druzba. I've forgotten a few I'm sure, but those are the ones I remember best. Sungold F1 had a great taste, but I am planting raspberries, blueberries, and figs to satisfy my sweet fruit taste needs

Ted.

Sun City Linda · July 9, 2012

Ted - I have seen switched photos and even descriptions at more than one seed site re: Porter and Improved Porter. If you are growing something like an egg shape that starts pink, that would be Porter. Improved Porter is larger, fully round and not pink at all. IMO, which is prone to operator error!

Several of us are growing a red cherry from Marko this year that he says is THE best!

July 9, 2012	#5
tedln Guest Posts: n/a	Thanks Carolyn, I think Risentraube is a very good choice. Please define "multiflora" for me. I think the Improved Porter variety may be multiflora resulting in multiple branches emanating from the main stem with leafs that look almost rugose. The semi rugose leafs turn to regular serrated leafs as each branch grows. This season, I started removing the extra branches as if they were suckers. Later, I realized I didn't know how well the new branches would grow and produce so next season I will leave them on and see what they do. The plants produced fruit that looked like pink eggs which turned red when ripe. I don't really consider it a cherry, but the size is slightly smaller than a ping pong ball and is very productive. The taste is good, but can't be defined as sweet or acidic. While you are probably correct about the Jaune Flamme not truly being a cherry, the fruit were in the ping pong ball size range and very productive on long trusses. If I liked the taste, they would certainly be worth growing again. Ted Last edited by tedln; July 9, 2012 at 06:34 PM.

July 9, 2012	#6
tedln Guest Posts: n/a	Feldon, I don't have any dislikes for either Black Cherry or Sungold. I've grown them, I know what they do and how they taste and want to move on and try some other varieties. I can't complain about production which was huge or taste or disease resistance. If I knew all I want to know about Improved Porter, it would also be gone after this season. The only one I can't get rid of is Juliet because it is my daughters favorite. I'm not a big fan of cherry tomatoes in general, but I want to continue looking for a few that will cause me to become a cherry tomato fan. Like you, I'm missing the WOW gene when it comes to cherry tomatoes so far. Ted Last edited by tedln; July 9, 2012 at 06:46 PM.

July 9, 2012	#7
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	Ted, multiflora means many blossoms, and those blossoms are all on ONE stalk. Here's a Google IMAGES for Riesentraube: http://www.google.com/search?num=10&...M6aU6QHoxfS_Bg There can be up to several hundred blossoms on one stalk but usually only 30-50 will set fruit. To me Riesentraube has a taste more like a beefsteak tomato and is not sweet, nor floral , just darn good tasting. There are quite a few other multiflora varieties, Ildi is another one although not red. __________________ Carolyn

July 9, 2012	#8
feldon30 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 5,346	Ted, It would be extremely helpful to know what it is you did not like about Sungold and Black Cherry which for many people (not all) are their #1 and #2 tomato varieties. Some people find Sungold too fruity/floral, and others are frustrated at its predilection for splitting. Note that Sungold's flavor changes quite a bit depending on the stage of ripeness that you eat it. When they're still firm they have an acidic bite. When they get soft, they are more fruity. Did the plants succumb to disease, did you have low productivity, or are we just talking flavor and fruit quality here? Although I haven't grown that many, I've tasted quite a few, and I have yet to find a remarkable red cherry except Sweet 100. If you are willing to go pink, I would recommend Sweet Quartz F1 to anyone. I was harvesting practically a handful a day at its peak and they were delicious. As has been drummed into our heads, flavor is an individual thing. For instance, few green-when-ripe tomatoes have impressed me, even when I have been presented with excellent examples. I'm just missing a gene or two that makes them go "wow!" in my mouth. __________________ [SIZE="3"]I've relaunched my gardening website -- [B]TheUnconventionalTomato.com[/B][/SIZE] * [I][SIZE="1"]*I'm not allowed to post weblinks so you'll have to copy-paste it manually.[/SIZE][/I]

July 9, 2012	#1
tedln Guest Posts: n/a	Looking for a cherry tomato! I grew Black Cherry, Sungold F1, Jaune Flamme, Improved Porter, and Juliet this year. I will not grow the Black Cherry, Sungold, or Jaune Flamme next year but will regrow Juliet (My daughter loves it and it pumps out tomatoes all season until frost) and Improved Porter (I'm really interested in how the variety produces new branches (not suckers) from the main stem as it grows). I'm looking for a very productive, round, red, slightly acidic, slightly smaller than a ping pong ball, cherry variety to grow next year with my other two cherry varieties. I would appreciate any suggestions. I'm also curious if anyone has grown the "Big Sungold Select" variety offered by Brad Gates at Wild Boar Farms. If you have grown it, comments would be appreciated. Any comments on the "furry" varieties offered by Wild Boar farms would also be appreciated. I can only imagine eating them would be similar to eating a hairball or at the minimum, a fuzzy peach. I'm really interested in seeing and hearing peoples reactions when I give them a sack of tomatoes including some covered in hair. Ted Last edited by tedln; July 9, 2012 at 03:18 PM.

July 9, 2012	#3
habitat_gardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: California Central Valley Posts: 2,543	My favorite is Tommy Toe. I've grown it several years. It has good flavor at every stage of ripeness, unlike some other varieties where you have to eat them at the peak or else they're spitters. I think the flavor is balanced, so I guess it's slightly acidic. It's not a candy tomato like Sungold, and it doesn't have that off taste that Sungold gets. It's a large cherry, but hasn't gotten ping-pong size in my garden. And very productive once it gets started. It's not an early tomato, though -- a couple years ago, I got my first Tommy Toe around the same time as my first Purple Brandy (aka Marizol Bratka).

July 9, 2012	#4
pdxwindjammer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 625	It is always surprising to me when someone says they won't grow again what is on my list of must haves, such as Bleck Cherry. I LOVE these tomatoes and they do well form me here in Portland, OR. I have not grown the "furry" ones from WB but I have grown Garden Peach and really liked it. I must have received over 100 pool ball sized peach colored tomatoes that had fuzz similar to what a peach has. I slow roasted trays and trays of these!

July 9, 2012	#10
janezee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Whidbey Island, WA Zone 7, Sunset 5 Posts: 931	I like the sweet cherry tomatoes, but I agree that it would be nice to have real tomato taste in a smaller form, since it's so difficult to get larger toms to ripen and taste really succulent in the coolth. I have high hopes for the Casino Chips and Gardener's Delight that are in now. Sorry the Babywine didn't make it to the garden this year, but 2013 planning is in gear already. Have you tried any GWR varieties like Verde Claro, Green Doctors, Green Grape, or Green Zebra Cherry? I'm also trying a few of Tom Wagner's new cherries this year. I'll let you know how they do. j j

July 10, 2012	#12
tedln Guest Posts: n/a	Feldon, Thanks for your comment about Black & Brown boar. I had it on the grow list I am building for 2013, but removed it in favor of a different Brad Gates variety. I may have to rethink my choice. Is it a compact plant as well as a compact tomato? I grew his Pink Berkeley Tie Dye this year and it was very compact. Have you found a Brad Gates variety with outstanding taste? Every variety he has produced seems to be absolutely gorgeous, but I'm still searching for one which is both gorgeous and delicious. Ted

July 9, 2012	#15
Sun City Linda Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: SoCal Inland Posts: 2,705	Ted - I have seen switched photos and even descriptions at more than one seed site re: Porter and Improved Porter. If you are growing something like an egg shape that starts pink, that would be Porter. Improved Porter is larger, fully round and not pink at all. IMO, which is prone to operator error! Several of us are growing a red cherry from Marko this year that he says is THE best!