SunGold

[HiPoha]

When I decided to plant this variety because of it's reputation for being very sweet, I could find no pictures of how this plant would grow. Turns out it likes to grow outwards in a lanky fashion. It was hard to contain them in a cage. They branch out over eight feet in all directions. The fruits were very tasty, when eaten with Thousand Island dressing, it's like WOW, like a sudden splash of vinegar in your mouth.
My plants have past their peak and have slowed down giving just a few fruits per day now. I'll definitely keep replanting this tomato.

[coastal bend]

I grew them for the first time this fall and have picked over 700 toms off of 2 plants with more to come. The plant has peeked, blooms have slowed down but still a lot of toms yet to pick. Days shorter and nights cooler. They are really good. I take some to some friends and always tell them "I bet you can't eat just one". Haven't lost yet. Of course my wife really likes them.She wont's more plants next year.

[Rockporter]

I wonder how those would taste dried? I just ordered a dehumidifier(Excel) and can't wait to start drying things like the basil that keeps growing and growing and growing, lol.

My family is all in other states and I would enjoy drying some of the fruits of my labor and sending soup packets to them for gifts. I know at least four fmaily members would really enjoy that.

Hi Poha, are those 55 gallon barrels you cut in half or something? Those are huge for a tomato plant and do you think they work better than an Earth Box for big plants like tomatoes?

[TightenUp]

i dried some in an oven for about 12 hours and they came out great. also did black cherries. the black cherries were better dried but the sungolds were much better fresh. at least thats my opinion

[HiPoha]

Rockporter: Yes I use half 55 gal plastic drums. I can get them free from my brother who has a salvage company (junk yard). I've been looking at those earthtainers others are using with great success, but having my own success with these heavy planters keeps me from switching.

And to all the other SunGold lovers, glad to be in your company.

[coastal bend]

I noticed that the stems and the leaves are a lot bigger than mine. I think it might have to do with the great weather you have in Hawaii. More constant highs and lows.

[HiPoha]

On my original post, I mentioned how Sungold would be like a splash of vinegar when eaten with a salad dressing like Thousand Island. I'd now like to correct that remark. My first crop of Sungolds had a tart taste to it . That was why it had that effect. I liked it then.
Lately my Sungold plants have matured and the taste has become a lot better. I was wondering what others are tasting in their Sungolds. The generalized description of "fruity" and "sweet" needs to be more specific. I can say that some of my Sungolds actually taste like a Sunkist orange. Yes, it has lost some of that tartness. Taste perception may vary with each individual, but it would be interesting to know what you compare your Sungold taste to. Maybe different locations produce different tastes.

[Keger]

These did pretty well in the heat last year. The kids loved them at the markets. I have a few going now. They will definately run over you. I think I had one last year the got about 14' tall. Fun stuff.

[kurt]

In my mind since they were orange I was expecting a orangy/fruity taste.As a first time grower of these got jumpy and tried them too early and got the tartness as mentioned.Wife said to wait untill they turned darker orange and they did improve "some"but wait too long and they are not really something to write home about.But......I did grow some Sungold 2 and Sungold OP from a different vendor and got larger berrys more consistent resultsI am on the fence about growing the F1s again.Seems the berrys were very small to a nickel size but not consistent throughout.Good amount overall per plant 10-15 foot long vines.Will probly save some seeds from better plants ,try again next season to see if they "grow"accustomed to my 10B zone in successive years.But all in all did not live up to the hype I have read about here and elsewhere.I see some similar named varietys Sunsugar,Sunburst in the markets and they seem to be more fruity than tart.

[Redbaron]

I wanted to try them this year but so far 0% germination. Any of you guys that grew them before know if they have a slow germination?

About 75% of the new varieties I tried this year have at least germinated 1 seedling. But nothing from these so far. It will be a week soon so I am starting to become a bit worried.

[kurt]

Originally Posted by Redbaron

I wanted to try them this year but so far 0% germination. Any of you guys that grew them before know if they have a slow germination?

About 75% of the new varieties I tried this year have at least germinated 1 seedling. But nothing from these so far. It will be a week soon so I am starting to become a bit worried.

I tell the wife sometimes I feel tomatoes have a memory and a mind of thier own.The Sungold history I beleive started in Japan and was stabilized in Asia.For me they had good 3-5 day germination rates,8 out of ten sprouts.I firmly beleive that the original landrace of a variety carrys through its genetic "memory".For me the "northern"seeds take longer to emerge than warmer weather varietys.

[Redbaron]

Originally Posted by kurt

I tell the wife sometimes I feel tomatoes have a memory and a mind of thier own.The Sungold history I beleive started in Japan and was stabilized in Asia.For me they had good 3-5 day germination rates,8 out of ten sprouts.I firmly beleive that the original landrace of a variety carrys through its genetic "memory".For me the "northern"seeds take longer to emerge than warmer weather varietys.

Now I am worried that I got a bad bunch of seeds. And I traded away all my extra's Oh well there is next year. Probably God's way of telling me I tried too many new varieties this year.

[habitat_gardener]

Originally Posted by kurt

In my mind since they were orange I was expecting a orangy/fruity taste....

They may need heat to develop that legendary taste. I find that in my cool summers, I like a few at a time (if someone else offers some), but I get tired of them quickly if I grow my own plant. Some sort of off flavor, and they crack even without rain.

But I like Sunsugar F1 better, too.

[Vespertino]

Wow, I didn't realize sungolds could get that big! I'm crossing my fingers that my two little sungolds do as well as yours!

[Dewayne mater]

The flavor of sungolds is at its peak when it is warm to really warm. Before then, meh. After it is really hot, the skin starts to get thick and the fruits are smaller. Still it produced for me when everything else had quit. Eventually, it shut down too, but, they produced until we were tired of them.