Porterhouse

[Thomas]

I can recall numerous threads about this new variety. I have now tried more than 30 varieties of the 50 I planted this year. Porterhouse is a spitter! Has to be the worst mater in my garden.

Has anyone else found this to be a spitter too?

I remember Carolyn responding to a few of the threads about this "new" variety...I remember her telling how she wont be growing it. That is the best advice I could give

[Vince]

Not great, but good. Not a spitter, but I am not sure I will grow it again.

Vince

[douglasls]

The size of my Porterhouse so far has been disappointing. I am growing about 15-20 different varieties all in containers. I got a ripe Big Zac this week that was a one pounder! I was surprised how big it got in the pot. But on the PH plant I have 2 toms and they are each about 3-inches in diameter. They are no where ripe! I plant all my tomatoes at the same time. I doubt I will plant next year. One hybrid that is doing really well in a pot is Grandaddy which is a Jung determinate exclusive. It is a compact plant with beautiful 10-12 oz tomatoes. That is one I will grow next year, along with Big Zac.

[BigdaddyJ]

PH is doing great for me. No splitting. Good looking huge tomatoes. Most are between 1 and 2 pounds. A few go slightly over 2 pounds. They give Big Zac a run for the money size wise. They taste good but not as good as BZ.

I will definitely regrow it again next year.

[BigdaddyJ]

Here's pic of 2 PH's. One is 1.75 lbs. and the other 1.90. They are all coming in between 1 and 2 pounds with the average about 1.5 pounds. A couple are slightly over 2 pounds. A couple are also slightly under a pound. I never prune so this is a big tomato for me!
They give Big Zac a run for the money size and production wise. Both EXCELLENT! BZ has an edge in taste. I will continue growing both. It is very rare to get so many HUGE tomatoes from a single plant.

[feldon30]

Finally got to taste it at Tomatopalooza. Meh.

[felpec]

A spitter here. Poor germination, very ribbed tomatoes (unlike the "cover shot"), mealy texture, and bland taste. Won't be growing this one again!

[TomatoDon]

It's off my list too.

Don

[peispud]

I never heard of Porterhouse before. Love the deep red color. Is it a hybrid? Don't throw any left over seeds away, I can send you a SASE for them

Peter

[TomatoDon]

They were available at Wal Mart in the US all season. Should be plenty of seeds around. I may still have some.

Don

[feldon30]

Porterhouse at Burpee

Porterhouse was "new" in 2004 but of course like most information from Burpee, it should be greeted with skepticism.

Actually Porterhouse was developed by/for Burpee at North Carolina State University in 2001. [entry]

I have yet to read a good review of the flavor. There are so many good large beefsteaks around, I can't see interest in growing a variety we must pay up to a quarter a seed for (in the case of 17 seeds in a $4.40 pack). And that's not to mention the poor germination many have noted.


It makes me want to say about Brandy Boy, which continues to impress me, "forget everything you know about Burpee and just grow BB". If we ever prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Brandy Boy is not a hybrid at all, but a stabilized O.P., I will never buy tomato seeds from Burpee again.

[TomatoDon]

You seem to rate BB really high. Is it much better than the other BW's? More reliable? I had plans for some this year but the patch filled up before I got them in.

Don

[feldon30]

Better than Brandywine (Sudduth's)? No.

But if you routinely get just a few fruits per BWS plant, then alternatives become important. If I can get 25 tomatoes with 70% of the taste of BWS vs. 2-3 tomatoes of BWS, what will I grow?

[BigdaddyJ]

feldon and don,

I think PH is a good tasting tomato. Just not as good as many of the large pink heirlooms like Sudduth and Marianna's Peace. If you're growing ONLY for taste PH isn't a top choice IMO. BUT...if you like a lot of really large, productive and good tasting tomatoes that fill out a slice of bread nicely then PH is a good choice.

I agree Brandy Boy is the best Burpee ever. You might be onto something though. BrandyBoy is VERY similar to Brandywine. The plants growing side by side in my garden look nearly identical two years running. They taste very similar. A slight edge in production to BrandyBoy. But Sudduth Brandy has very good production year after year here and I realize many say it is a low producer and that has always mystified me.

If the choice came down to growing either Brandy Boy or PH Brandy Boy would win. But thank goodness I can grow many, many varieties and I sure like seeing a huge tomato bush full of huge tomatoes on it like PH has provided.

Sudduth, BrandyBoy and PH are all on my yearly must grow list. It's hard to get on that list but the size and production and decent enough taste has placed PH on it.

[Thomas]

I am with FelPec...I got ribbed, almost orangish tomatoes from my PH. I will probably grow BB again next year. BB has done very well for me, PH and BB are the only Burpees I grew this year.

There will most likely be a Soldacki or G. Ashlock in place of PH next year.