Can you tell reds from pinks (picture attached)

WVTomatoMan · May 16, 2013

The topic of being able to distinguish between red and pink tomatoes came up in another thread. I didn't want to thread jack so I thought I'd try a poll. Please view the attached picture and respond to the poll and/or offer insight by responding.

Randy

RebelRidin · May 16, 2013

Hey.... It's only skin deep!

Crandrew · May 16, 2013

^

Yes, and shades of color are not my forte.

NorthTom · May 16, 2013

26 pink, 39 red?

socalgardengal · May 16, 2013

I'm guessing the back rows, haven't a clue as this is my first year. Would love to know.

ginger2778 · May 16, 2013

It was easy.
Marsha

travis · May 16, 2013

Pinks in back, reds closest to lens.

Quick count, and I've been drinking, about 40 pinks.

**carolyn137** · May 16, 2013

Yes I can Randy, your photograpgy is good. But sometimes I have doubts and then I'll peel off some epidermis from the iffy one, same from a known pink and a known red and compare the epidermis colors.

Clear =pink
Yellow = red

And I learned to do that after I first listed Anna Russian as RED in an SSE Yearbook of long ago.

Carolyn

mcsee · May 17, 2013

I think there are red and pink mixed in the back rows, but at least 20 pinks.

nancyruhl · May 17, 2013

While I know how to tell the difference, I finally decided to group them together in my garden this year. I just couldn't remember which was which and I was driving myself nuts referring to Tatianas all the time. So, the question really is for me--is the difference really only skin deep.

**carolyn137** · May 17, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by nancyruhl

While I know how to tell the difference, I finally decided to group them together in my garden this year. I just couldn't remember which was which and I was driving myself nuts referring to Tatianas all the time. So, the question really is for me--is the difference really only skin deep.

Yes, color-wise the difference is based on the epidermis color but each pink and red variety as to all other traits can be vastly different as to taste,production, etc., as I'm sure you know Nancy.

Carolyn

feldon30 · May 19, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by nancyruhl

While I know how to tell the difference, I finally decided to group them together in my garden this year. I just couldn't remember which was which and I was driving myself nuts referring to Tatianas all the time. So, the question really is for me--is the difference really only skin deep.

Having attended Tomatopalooza and 5 SETTFests, I think I've tasted a large enough sample of tomatoes to draw a few conclusions.

Generally speaking, I prefer pinks to reds. They have a smoother, more nuanced, velvety, almost meaty flavor. I have yet to taste a perfect 10 red tomato that wasn't also an oxheart which I sort of put into their own category. Yet I've tasted plenty of 9 and 10 pink beefsteaks. I just can't imagine a red beefsteak knocking my socks off the way pink PLs have.

I really need to try Red Penna or Red Barn, but this year I'm only growing Black Cherry, Big Beef, Brandywine, and Cherokee Purple. It's all I could fit on the driveway this year.

**Lee** · May 17, 2013

26 pinks in the back.
Rest reds in the front.

It's much easier to tell when they are side by side... but yes, skin color is the key.

Lee

dice · May 17, 2013

Do you mean "in the picture" or in general? I can tell the difference
between a pink tomato and a red tomato sitting right in front of
me at a glance. I cannot always tell in people's photos when looking
at them on a computer monitor.

livinonfaith · May 17, 2013

Yep, I finally got the whole picture when growing out one of the dwarf experiments last year. There were both clear and yellow skins between the two "red" varieties that I grew. (Obviously, one had some genes that weren't all that red!)

It was a lot of fun seeing all of the variations.

It was also interesting to see what the yellow skin does to the exterior of a "black" tomato versus what a clear skin looks like on a similar colored interior flesh.

Tomatoes are like little works of art! Especially the blacks with their coral bottoms and olive shoulders, or the bi-colors with their streaks and splotches. Sometimes, it's as much fun looking at them as eating them. (And yes, I know how crazy that sounds.)

View Poll Results: Can you tell the difference between the red and pink tomatoes?
Yes	116	83.45%
No	8	5.76%
Not sure	15	10.79%
Voters: 139. You may not vote on this poll

May 16, 2013	#2
RebelRidin Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Maryland's Eastern Shore Posts: 993	Hey.... It's only skin deep! __________________ George _____________________________ "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is it’s natural manure." Thomas Jefferson, 1787

May 16, 2013	#8
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	Yes I can Randy, your photograpgy is good. But sometimes I have doubts and then I'll peel off some epidermis from the iffy one, same from a known pink and a known red and compare the epidermis colors. Clear =pink Yellow = red And I learned to do that after I first listed Anna Russian as RED in an SSE Yearbook of long ago. Carolyn __________________ Carolyn

May 17, 2013	#13
Lee Tomatopalooza™ Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NC-Zone 7 Posts: 2,188	26 pinks in the back. Rest reds in the front. It's much easier to tell when they are side by side... but yes, skin color is the key. Lee __________________ Intelligence is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put one in a fruit salad. Cuostralee - The best thing on sliced bread.

May 17, 2013	#14
dice Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: PNW Posts: 4,743	Do you mean "in the picture" or in general? I can tell the difference between a pink tomato and a red tomato sitting right in front of me at a glance. I cannot always tell in people's photos when looking at them on a computer monitor. __________________ -- alias

May 16, 2013	#3
Crandrew Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: asdf Posts: 1,202	^ Yes, and shades of color are not my forte.

May 16, 2013	#4
NorthTom Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Alberta Canada 3a Posts: 24	26 pink, 39 red?

May 16, 2013	#5
socalgardengal Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: San Diego,Ca Posts: 462	I'm guessing the back rows, haven't a clue as this is my first year. Would love to know.

May 16, 2013	#6
ginger2778 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Plantation, Florida zone 10 Posts: 9,283	It was easy. Marsha

May 16, 2013	#7
travis Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 2,984	Pinks in back, reds closest to lens. Quick count, and I've been drinking, about 40 pinks.

May 17, 2013	#9
mcsee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Victoria. Australia Posts: 543	I think there are red and pink mixed in the back rows, but at least 20 pinks.

May 17, 2013	#10
nancyruhl Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Metro Detroit, Michigan Posts: 1,051	While I know how to tell the difference, I finally decided to group them together in my garden this year. I just couldn't remember which was which and I was driving myself nuts referring to Tatianas all the time. So, the question really is for me--is the difference really only skin deep.

May 17, 2013	#15
livinonfaith Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina Posts: 1,332	Yep, I finally got the whole picture when growing out one of the dwarf experiments last year. There were both clear and yellow skins between the two "red" varieties that I grew. (Obviously, one had some genes that weren't all that red!) It was a lot of fun seeing all of the variations. It was also interesting to see what the yellow skin does to the exterior of a "black" tomato versus what a clear skin looks like on a similar colored interior flesh. Tomatoes are like little works of art! Especially the blacks with their coral bottoms and olive shoulders, or the bi-colors with their streaks and splotches. Sometimes, it's as much fun looking at them as eating them. (And yes, I know how crazy that sounds.)