Which Tomato Should I Choose?

[tlcmd]

Howdy Y'all,

As a newbie to this group and at the beginning of planting season, I have a general question, if you please.

I live in Greensboro, N.C., the northern Piedmont area of N.C. (Zone 7). Our usual latest frost date is 15 April, with the earliest frost date of 15 October. I do use walls of water to protect early transplants. I have been growing tomatos since the early 1960's. I have a small (150x30 ft garden) in which I plant tomatos, okra, cucumbers, squash, and peppers. I cage my tomatos and usually grow my plants from seed, but this year circumstances have forced me to forgo that pleasure and purchase plants.

I usually plant about a dozen tomato plants for personal and family use. The garden gets 8+ hours of direct sun/day. My preference has been Park's Whoppers since they have good resistance, are indeterminate, and bear uniform tasty fruit consistantly for most of the season.

My question: Can anyone suggest a better choice which is usually readily available?

Thanks,

[Mischka]

You've come to the right place to get an answer to your question!

There all MANY varieties that taste better than Parks' Whopper...I'll leave the podium now and lets our fellow Tomatovillians suggest their favorites. :wink:

And...welcome to Tomatoville®, by the way.

[gardenmama]

If you have a chance to mosey over to the Raleigh Farmer's Market any weekend in May, NCtomatoman (AKA Craig) will be there with his myriads of heirloom tomato plants and wealth of knowledge about their histories and how they perform in the NC climate and soils. Depending upon your particular taste preference he can match you up with some great varieties to try this summer.

Come on over to Umstead Park to Tomatopalooza IV[tm] the last Saturday of July for a taste test spectacular. Check out the Tomatopalooza postings under the Regional Tomato Gatherings for more information. http://www.tomatoville.com/viewforum.php?f=26

[carolyn137]

tlc,

What is your preference?

That is, hybrids or OP heirlooms? And if the latter what colors and shapes interest you? And for what purpose are you growing them, as in primarily for fresh eating, sauce, canning, a combo of all three, etc.?

If you aren't that familiar with the huge number of varieties, in the meantime why not go to tomatogrowers.com and take a look at the pictures and descriptions, which are accurate as to plant habit, indet or det, leaf form, etc.

Where you live you can grow any variety you want to, and seed sowing time is coming up for those in your area NOW, and some have already sowed seed.

[Lee]

TLC,

My parent's live in G'boro, and I've already reserved 20
spaces at their place for foster tomato plants.
If you want, I'm sure I could bring along another 15 or
so if you'd like to try an assortment of varieties.... Send me a PM.

BTW, I'm slowly pushing the Park's Whoppers out of my
dad's garden!

Lee

[tlcmd]

"What is your preference?"

I'mafter an indeterminate reasonably resistant tomato plant which bears fairly uniform fruit throughout the season which has a good taste. Tender, fine texture, slightly acid. Purpose for growing is primarily eating them; sandwiches, sliced, quartered, salads, and whole with a salt shaker.