newbie needs tomato advice

[Downinmyback]

This is my first year of growing heirloom tomatoes and i wanted to try a bi-colored tomatoes an i was wondering which was the best tasting. I am not worried about anything beside taste on this variety as i plan on having only two of these in my garden (only as a experiment).I plan on sending another seed order off in about a week time . and i need some advice quick

Thanks for the help.

[nctomatoman]

I've tried over 20 different bicolors - and the only two that I enjoy eating are Little Lucky and Lucky Cross (sure some can call me biased, since they did originate from a Brandywine bee produced cross) - but my wife and others who have eaten them without knowing this love them both....and my wife does not enjoy the flavor of the other ones (most bicolors tend to be very mild, bland - but there are those who do enjoy them. Taste is very personal!). Victory Seeds seeds the seeds for both.

[landarc]

I am with Craig, in that I typically dont care for bi-colors. That said, I have had Lucky Cross and thought it was good. I also have had some of Feraltomateos Boar and Tie-Dye tomatoes and they were preety good as bicolors go.

[JerryL]

I'll join the bandwagon for Lucky Cross. My wife likes Big Rainbow but I can't say I'm much of a fan of that variety.

[dcarch]

I am trying Ananas Noire this year. Not exactly a bi-color; Tri-color?

"This wonderful Belgian tomato variety is a true gem as it features extremely smooth fruit that feature a genuine kaleidoscope of colors which alternate between a jade green, a stunning purple and a bright yellow. When the tomatoes are sliced, the tomato reveals a bright green flesh with deep crimson streaks of color. When eaten, the multi colored flesh reveals a true delight, having a wonderful sweet, smokey flavor with a slight hint of citrus.
Amazingly enough, unlike so many other rarer tomato varieties, Ananas Noire/Black Pineapple is a very, very productive variety that is capable of producing a very heavy yield. "

dcarch

[pooklette]

I tend to prefer my tomatoes slightly mild and sweet (the sweeter/fruitier, the better.) That said, I love Big Rainbow. Lucky Cross is also a hit though. In comparison (in my garden) Lucky Cross seemed to be more 'full flavored' than Big Rainbow. I.e. Big Rainbow leaned toward mild/sweet and Lucky cross was less mild and a tad more 'tomatoey' in flavor...in my zone 5 garden, anyway.

[flowerpower]

''Little Lucky" is one I already had on my list for '07. The description and pic looked good to me. I have never grown a bicolor before either.

[Mischka]

Originally Posted by dcarch

I am trying Ananas Noire this year. Not exactly a bi-color; Tri-color?

"This wonderful Belgian tomato variety is a true gem as it features extremely smooth fruit that feature a genuine kaleidoscope of colors which alternate between a jade green, a stunning purple and a bright yellow. When the tomatoes are sliced, the tomato reveals a bright green flesh with deep crimson streaks of color. When eaten, the multi colored flesh reveals a true delight, having a wonderful sweet, smokey flavor with a slight hint of citrus.
Amazingly enough, unlike so many other rarer tomato varieties, Ananas Noire/Black Pineapple is a very, very productive variety that is capable of producing a very heavy yield. "

dcarch

I grew this one last year. It was very good in both terms of yield and taste. Not at all like the bi-colors that I've grown...which always look appealing to the eye but a dud on the tastebuds.

I'll be growing it again this season.

My seed source was Baker Creek.

[spyfferoni]

Has anyone tried Burracker's Favorite? I have seeds for this and was wondering if I should give it a spot.

Thanks,
Tyffanie

[Mischka]

Originally Posted by spyfferoni

Has anyone tried Burracker's Favorite? I have seeds for this and was wondering if I should give it a spot.

Thanks,
Tyffanie

Sorry to chime in yet again...LOL.

I've grown Burracker's Favorite in three non-consecutive growing seasons and it tasted mealy/grainy and bland every time. In all fairness, It might do much better in a different climate than mine. (zone 5b)

There is one notable quality for this variety. I had several 3+ lb. fruits from each plant; to date the largest tomatoes I've ever grown here.

I may try it again this year in my elusive search for a good tasting bi-color.

[Ruth_10]

I am going to grow Burracker's Favorite soon, based solely on the story quoted below from an earlier post by Mischka. Even though I wasn't there, I can hear exactly the tone of voice Mrs. Burracker used when she said "Shet up" to her dogs. It's a wonderful story and the phrase "Shet up" is now near and dear to me and my vocabulary.

Here is the story of Burracker's Favorite; as told by Chuck Wyatt on his website:

As recently as ten years ago the only heirloom varieties available were in private collections. I hunted high and low for varieties. Swapping became very prevalent during that period and I fear there are a number of cross labeled varieties floating around as a result of trades between novice growers. Let me relate the story of my acquisition of the variety Burrackers’ Favorite.

I am a descendant of Meriweather Lewis of Lewis and Clark. General Samuel Hance Lewis settled where Madison Run meets the Shenandoah River in the Shenandoah Valley, once the breadbasket of the Confederacy. This area took the brunt of Union efforts to burn the valley which were largely successful, While the valley itself was largely burned out, a number of market farmers eked out an existence in the Nearby Blue Ridge and Great Smokey Mountains. Many settlements were completely bulldozed to make room for what is Now Shenandoah National Park.

Zeda Lam was a fifteen year old mother of two when she and her husband were forced off their homestead near Swift Run Gap. I still have two of Zeda’s tomato varieties but this is ‘nother tale ‘bout ‘nother ‘mater. I had heard of a tomato, a bicolor, possibly named “Shenandoah.” Being grown in the vicinity of Brown’s Gap in the Blue Ridge. Zeda was then living in Swift Run Gap, just a little piece from Brown’s Gap. Zeda promised that if would take the double log bridge that crossed the creek just a short piece above her Spring house on Madison Run and continue on the two lane dirt road (ne cowpath) to the second ridge crest and then down into the next Hollow I would eventually come upon Burracker Cabin at the beginning of the following upslope.

After following Zeds’s directions I found myself approaching a tanbark roofed log cabin that had been expanded several tines and now seemed to have quite a number of rooms although there was no evidence of its ever having been painted. The yard was swept but bare clay. An uncovered porch with its front door ajar were right in front of my pickup and I was about to open the door when a mangey looking bear hound appeared from under the shed. He stretched and yawned before smelling in my direction and letting out a whoop! Immediately he was answered from behind the house, under the barn, on top of the outhouse, under the corn crib and gawd knows where else! Dogs came from everywhere and seemed determined to devour my pickup! There were at least two dozen BIG raw boned hounds of all mixed breeds. This was obviously the Burrackers bear pack and they seemed bent on my destruction. The truck was fairy new and its paintjob was taking a beating as well as the body work. I was like the hub of a wheel with spokes everywhere. This pack was well blooded and most members showed scars from fights as well as ears stripped to ribbons.

After what seemed like an eon a grey haired, barefooted woman in a feed sack dress appeared with a shot gun in her hands. She shot over the melee and yelled “Shet Up” whereupon something resembling silence reigned for a precious few seconds. “What’r ye Doi’n here?” The woman (obviously Mrs. Burracker) demanded.

I felt I should do more explaining FAST so I continued with "Zeda Lam sent me up here looking for some big yellow tomatoes with red patches on them. She says you raise them."

Mrs Burracker sent one of the "passel" of youngsters for a 'mater which was handed through a crack in the window I got my 'mater and left IN A HURRY!

Burrackers Favorite is now a part of my offerings. I can't be sure it is really the legendary "Shenandoah". So much of the old South is Gone With The Wind so please help to preserve this outstanding relic.

Charles Atwood "Chuck" Wyatt
1936-2002
__________________
Mischka

[pbud]

I grew Burracker's Favorite last year and it was a fine tasting tomato! Now that I know the story I like it even more. I'd certainly recommend it to anyone who hasn't tried it.
Paul

[Suze]

Lucky Cross is my favorite yellow-red bicolor, hands down. Burracker's Favorite is a distant second, nice but not extraordinary. Others I've tried just seem too bland to even bother with again. I am growing Virginia Sweets this year for the first time, this is one Carolyn likes, so we'll see...

Berkeley Tie Dye is pretty good as well, being more of a tricolor than a bicolor. It is also striped. Somewhat like Green Zebra in taste, but more depth (better).

[feraltomatoes]

For me each year the heirloom bi-colors are undependable for flavor and texture. For a couple weeks each summer alot of people really enjoy them the rest of the year your chasing the ghost.

The first ones off the plant are tasteless no matter what your growing conditions are. I find them to peak after a long hot dry spell and when the plant is struggling for water. Any amount of rain and they are pig food.

Brad.....

[Suze]

Originally Posted by jtcm05

I'm also growing Lucky Cross and Virginia Sweets this year. Have you grown little lucky? Similar to LC?

John, this will be my first year growing Little Lucky, but my understanding is that it is basically just a smaller version of Lucky Cross.

Little Lucky Heart was also on the grow list, but both of my two seedlings happen to have a lethal mutation (no growing tip).