Opalkas Rule!

[puzzley]

Yes, it is my first year with Opalka, but I still can't say enough good things about it. We make a lot of sauce every year, and Viva Italia has been my paste/sauce tomato of choice until now. First of all, I was surprised at how large they are. I have many over a pound, and they are VERY heavy for their size, and prolific. Lots and lots of huge pepper shaped tomatoes. They are almost all meat, with few seeds and gel. Viva Italia is a meaty tomato, but much smaller, roma size.

The kicker, however, is the taste! Every bit as good as any heirlooms I'm raising. Makes absolutely outstanding pasta sauce.

[frdmfrc]

Reading your post excites me. This is our first year growing Opalka as well, but we've not had any ripe yet. They are beautiful fruit though and great looking plants so I go out daily waiting for the first blush. Thanks for sharing your review, now I really can't wait

[puzzley]

Frdmfrc, as I write this, about three gallons of pasta sauce is reducing on the stove, all made with Opalkas. It smells wonderful. There were many with green sholders early on, but that seems to have cleared up in the late season. Your pics look great, and that is indeed the true Opalka. You'll be surprised at how big some will be.

[fortyonenorth]

Good to hear your comments. I grew Opalka last year (a miserable tomato year here in NW Indiana) and was unimpressed. I'll have to give it a try again next year.

[geeboss]

puzzley

Which seed vendor did you get your Opalka's seeds from?

My pastes were a bust this year. Tried Jersey Devil 3 plants all were round red maters. Tried Opalkas all were some sort of beefsteak. and my San Marzano Redorte died.

At least I've got some maters. Now were is my spray

George

[ALLGOLD]

They look and sound amazing. Has anyone grown Purple Russian's? In terms of looks thats all i could find but i'll try and track down some Opalkas.

[puzzley]

George, my Opalka plants were given to me by a friend, not some of those I raised from seed. However, I'm sure his seed came from Tomato Growers Supply.....

[frdmfrc]

Mine were ordered from Seed Savers Exchange Now if they would just get ripe! Our weather has been so crazy this year. We just went from temperatures of 103 down to 67 as a high in 2-3 days. It's warming back up and I hope we get a nice late fall so some of our fruit has a chance to ripen.

[dice]

Originally Posted by ALLGOLD

Has anyone grown Purple Russian's?

A couple of earlier threads mentioned Purple Russian:
http://www.tomatoville.com/showthrea...Purple+Russian
http://www.tomatoville.com/showthrea...ian#post132020

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[doublehelix]

I might have to try these next year.

[cottonpicker]

I grew Purple Russian this season.... quite productive, relatively disease-free and gave fairly tasty fruits with dark purplish-blackish.. interiors... However, most of mine had a split of some sort. I had other varieties that I liked better but this one, to us, was pretty good". Probably won't grow it next year...got other varieties I like much more--- Earl's Faux, Cowlick Brandywine, Russian Pink Heart...Sun Sugar, Anna Russian, Eva Purple Ball...etc.
LarryD

LarryD

[dice]

[Purple Russian]
Cottonpicker, how juicy was it? More like a paste, or more
like a slicer?

[cottonpicker]

dice..... fairly juicy...not a dry paste.

[Sunsi]

The Opalka I got this year was the wrong plant tiny little plum shaped tomatoes but I've had the real thing before so I'll have to wait for next year--they're one of my favorites.

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by Sunsi

The Opalka I got this year was the wrong plant tiny little plum shaped tomatoes but I've had the real thing before so I'll have to wait for next year--they're one of my favorites.

Do you buy plants for what you grow or raise them from seed?

There are some wrong seeds out there for Opalka so I know what you had, as you do, was wrong.

And remind me for I think I asked you once before but have forgotten, where in NYS are you? You can't be that far from where I live in true upstate NY.