Thinking positively...variety suggestions

mensplace · September 12, 2017

There was a time when I not only knew most of the characteristics of most of the best varieties and actively grew and tested hundreds. After my strokes and the insidious progression of Alzheimers, most of what I knew is gone. That said, this year I started late and was reduced to getting plants at Lowes and Home Depot. NONE had the flavor of those I had grown in the past.

Now the doctors said that I have about a year to a year and a half. I'm calling B.S.. Just getting out to my tomato patch was the best therapy ever and has helped immeasurably in attitude, outlook, and physically. After being reduced to sitting for the past couple of years, my working around my little garden not only gave me exercise, but something to look forward to. Amazing how important that is!

Now I am thinking positively and thinking in terms of what seed I should select to start next February.

If YOU were in such a situation what would be your top ten (not yellow or black) for size for slicing for sandwiches, huge, deep flavor, and consistent long term production with minimal pampering? Thanks so much for your consideration!

Is there a tomato with flavor and characteristics that you love above all others? Wish we had a tomato hall of fame reflecting the very best of the best!

ginger2778 · September 12, 2017

Elgin Pink
Olive Hill
Rebel Yell
McMurray#10
McKinley
Prudens Purple
KBX
Never Azorean Red
Girl Girl's Weird Thing
Brutus
Honorable mention: Lithium Sunset
If you need seeds for any if these, I have them.

b54red · September 12, 2017

Limbaugh's Legacy
Red Barn
Cowlick's Brandywine
Henderson's Winsall
Kentucky Wonder
Pruden's Purple
Royal Hillbilly
Giant Belgium
Arkansas Traveler
Crynkovic Yugoslav
Rebel Yell
Brandywine Sudduth's

I'm sorry I went over ten. If I could have added black varieties it would have certainly been more since there are at least a half dozen must grows for me among them.

Don't give up and just keep on keeping on. Good luck.

Bill

ginger2778 · September 12, 2017

Curious, why don't you like black tomatoes?

mensplace · September 12, 2017

Probably not true of all, but of the two I have tried they were both a mushy, super soft texture. Can't remember the varieties.... or much else. Heck sometimes I can be talking and go blank in mid sentence. Other times I can be writing something simple...like my name...and boom, nothing. What I can do is use my walker to get out to my garden and get down to grow my plants. It could be a whole lot worse, so I just enjoy every day!

There may well be incredible black tomatoes and I just am not familiar with them! Apparently B54RED thinks a lot of them and he surely proved right on my fall garden planning.

marc_groleau · September 12, 2017

Gregoris Altai
Dester
Stump of the Workd
Boxcar Willie
Omar's Lebanese
Cuostralee
Rose de Berne
Aunt Ginny's Purple
Prundens Purple
Eva's Purple Ball

mensplace · September 12, 2017

I once grew the PERFECT tomato. That thing produced a fruit that covered a whole sandwich with one slice. Each slice was well segmented with rich, juicy seed segments. I despise soft pulpy flesh with almost no juice and no seed segments. The flavor was super rich and tart, It wasn't a globe shape, but a more flattened round with small stem area. NO cracking or A beautiful light, even red. A solid tomato of about 1 1/2 pounds. When I gave away all of my seed stock I let them all go. Wish I had that seed today...whatever it was. Too, years ago had a Cherokee Purple that was excellent. This year they were not fit to eat...soft, mushy, no flavor.

mensplace · September 14, 2017

One thing is for sure, in just a few years variety preferences can REALLY change...probably reflecting a healthy and continuous evolution of varietals and taste preferences!

Thanks for your updates! Wonder which would be best for next year's mater sandwich? Assuming........

AKmark · September 14, 2017

Chapman
Crnkovic Yugoslavian
Rebel Yell
Brandywine Sudduth's

These are very consistent for me, always top shelf, and are nice beefsteaks. I could add 6 more, but they would be second to these, or redundant favor wise.

mensplace · September 14, 2017

sent in error to wrong place

zipcode · September 15, 2017

Well, you need to try a GWR. These things are really good. Spears Tennessee Green has a nice size, 250+ grams (9 oz), and little catfacing (it does have some shoulder cracking). Good strong taste on the tart side but not too much.
Most black go to overripe really quickly, and best flavour is just a few days, I love Berkley Tie Die Pink but it's so gosh darnoodley hard to eat it exactly when it wants to be eaten (in some instances it can be too aggressive in acidity though). I wouldn't count the yellows out though, there are some which will surprise you with tartness and strong taste, like Aunt Gertie, Azoychka.

September 12, 2017	#1
mensplace Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: USA Posts: 1,013	Thinking positively...variety suggestions There was a time when I not only knew most of the characteristics of most of the best varieties and actively grew and tested hundreds. After my strokes and the insidious progression of Alzheimers, most of what I knew is gone. That said, this year I started late and was reduced to getting plants at Lowes and Home Depot. NONE had the flavor of those I had grown in the past. Now the doctors said that I have about a year to a year and a half. I'm calling B.S.. Just getting out to my tomato patch was the best therapy ever and has helped immeasurably in attitude, outlook, and physically. After being reduced to sitting for the past couple of years, my working around my little garden not only gave me exercise, but something to look forward to. Amazing how important that is! Now I am thinking positively and thinking in terms of what seed I should select to start next February. If YOU were in such a situation what would be your top ten (not yellow or black) for size for slicing for sandwiches, huge, deep flavor, and consistent long term production with minimal pampering? Thanks so much for your consideration! Is there a tomato with flavor and characteristics that you love above all others? Wish we had a tomato hall of fame reflecting the very best of the best! Last edited by mensplace; September 12, 2017 at 03:17 PM.

September 12, 2017	#2
ginger2778 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Plantation, Florida zone 10 Posts: 9,283	Elgin Pink Olive Hill Rebel Yell McMurray#10 McKinley Prudens Purple KBX Never Azorean Red Girl Girl's Weird Thing Brutus Honorable mention: Lithium Sunset If you need seeds for any if these, I have them.

September 12, 2017	#3
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	Limbaugh's Legacy Red Barn Cowlick's Brandywine Henderson's Winsall Kentucky Wonder Pruden's Purple Royal Hillbilly Giant Belgium Arkansas Traveler Crynkovic Yugoslav Rebel Yell Brandywine Sudduth's I'm sorry I went over ten. If I could have added black varieties it would have certainly been more since there are at least a half dozen must grows for me among them. Don't give up and just keep on keeping on. Good luck. Bill

September 12, 2017	#6
marc_groleau Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 444	Gregoris Altai Dester Stump of the Workd Boxcar Willie Omar's Lebanese Cuostralee Rose de Berne Aunt Ginny's Purple Prundens Purple Eva's Purple Ball

September 14, 2017	#8
mensplace Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: USA Posts: 1,013	One thing is for sure, in just a few years variety preferences can REALLY change...probably reflecting a healthy and continuous evolution of varietals and taste preferences! Thanks for your updates! Wonder which would be best for next year's mater sandwich? Assuming........

September 14, 2017	#9
AKmark Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Wasilla Alaska Posts: 2,010	Chapman Crnkovic Yugoslavian Rebel Yell Brandywine Sudduth's These are very consistent for me, always top shelf, and are nice beefsteaks. I could add 6 more, but they would be second to these, or redundant favor wise.

September 14, 2017	#10
mensplace Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: USA Posts: 1,013	Varieties sent in error to wrong place Last edited by mensplace; September 14, 2017 at 11:03 PM.

September 15, 2017	#11
zipcode Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Romania/Germany , z 4-6 Posts: 1,582	Well, you need to try a GWR. These things are really good. Spears Tennessee Green has a nice size, 250+ grams (9 oz), and little catfacing (it does have some shoulder cracking). Good strong taste on the tart side but not too much. Most black go to overripe really quickly, and best flavour is just a few days, I love Berkley Tie Die Pink but it's so gosh darnoodley hard to eat it exactly when it wants to be eaten (in some instances it can be too aggressive in acidity though). I wouldn't count the yellows out though, there are some which will surprise you with tartness and strong taste, like Aunt Gertie, Azoychka.