What a treat!

[tam91]

Kumato's are wierd - they keep for half of forever. Edible at various stages, with a slightly different flavor the riper they get.

[OneDahlia]

Originally Posted by roper2008

I have seen Kumato's at Trader's Joe. They always too soft, like they are over ripe.
That's why I never purchased them. I'll check them out again next time I go.

The ones I get at the grocery stores here are firm, not soft.

[camochef]

Thanks for the great response, and all the kind words.
Few additional comments.
First, this is one of the sites you'll find if you google Kumato:
http://www.kumato.com/en/Kumato.aspx
be sure to check out the FAQ.

From what I've found so far, they are sold in 1 lb. sleeves. The first sleeve I bought in Giant contained 4 tomatoes and the cost was $3.95
The next visit about a week later, they were 5 in a sleeve for $2.99 and they were a little smaller.
That same day I also stopped at Wal-mart and found them there for $1.99 a sleeve and there were 6 in a sleeve just a bit smaller.
Colors varied from a dark greenish cast over maroon in one sleeve...to dark Brown in another and a reddish brown in yet another. They taste best when they are brown!!! I feel they're a little under-ripe when green looking and a bit over ripe when they look more red.
I heard they ripen from the outside, not sure thats true but I've read so many different reports on them I might be a bit confused. I do know that so far, everyone I've eaten has been juicy, sweet and quite tasty, especially for this time of the year and from a supermarket tomato.
Their skins are somewhat thicker than say a tasty Brandywine, but I'm willing to sacrifice a little.
Overall, I found them to be exceptional for a February tomato, and although they are somewhat smaller than my prefered slicers, they are juicy, sweet and taste like a tomato, notlike the sleeve they come in.
They may not be for everyones taste, but at this time of the year here in Pennsylvania, they certainly satisfy mine!
Enjoy!
Camo

[camochef]

Originally Posted by roamwhereiwant2

Good to see you posting, Camo.

You know, I think my problem with Kumato is not Kumato's fault. The grocery stores in my area insist on keeping tomatoes in the fridge and some even chill them in the produce section. What a shame.

Thanks!

Oh no! Not to be refrigerated! Unless its left over after having been cut open, but they're so small that you could just eat it instead of refrigerating. Oh I forgot to mention, all those I've eaten so far, have less core than any tomato I ever had, except cherries like sun-gold. ( camo's not a big cherry tomato person).

Enjoy!
Camo

[camochef]

Originally Posted by barefootgardener

Hi Camo, glad to see your posting again!! Missed you and your posts..

I am soo glad you loved the Purple Dog Creek.. It is one of my favorites for taste, ripeness and production. It is a beauty of a tomato. I was happy to share seeds with you so you could try it!

As for the Kumato, I have yet to try it! I have tried the Campari once, a month ago or so, and found it lacking in flavor. We eat very few ripe tomatoes from grocery stores this time of year..

Ginny

Ginny,
Thanks! Your too kind.

I think Purple Dog Creek was the best tomato I grew last season. It had some very complex flavors to say the least. The size was sensational also. I'm so glad you sent some seed my way. I found them to be very impressive, and when a new to me tomato stands out like they did in what was a terrible tomato year here, that means a lot!
I don't usually plan my next years garden on growing a tomato for only one season, but PDC is my #1 tomato for this years gardens.
If you get a chance, try a sleeve of Kumato's, they aren't as expensive around here as others have claimed. It just might change your mind about winter tomatoes. Those I had were all from Mexico. Distributed by Sunset and awarded the Superior Taste Award by the "International Taste and Quality Institute in Brussels"
If you get around to it check out last years tomato reviews over at Redneck acres. You'll be pleased to see purple Dog Creek took the #1 spot.
Enjoy!
Camo

[Deborah]

What's a sleeve?

[camochef]

Originally Posted by Deborah

What's a sleeve?

The cardboard container that tomatoes are packaged in...usually holding two-six fruits depending on their size. topped with clear wrap.

[amideutch]

Here's what we have been getting at the super markets here in Germany. Welcome back Camo!!! You have been missed. Ami

[carolyn137]

Camo, did you read your Birthday thread in the 2 cents Forum? Since no one had heard from you I offered to convey those Birthday wishes to you, but couldn't do it.

I know you were able to read e-mails around Xmas time b'c I sent you one of my e-mail Xmas cards and you sent me back a nice thank you.

My computer guy says I should be considering a new computer this Spring and tells me why, but heck, the Dell that I have I only got in the Spring of 2005 and my adage is, if it isn't broken, why go new.

So perhaps one of these days my computer will go on me and I'll be on the phone ASAP saying Wayne, order me a new one ASAP and get it up here and installed.

All to say Happy Birthday, belated, and I too am glad to see you back posting.

[retiree]

Yes and I'm happy to see Camo posting again too!

His tomato reports are some of the most interesting I've ever read.

Neil G. (Canada)

Originally Posted by Deborah

What's a sleeve?

[camochef]

For all the kind words...Thanks!

Ami,
Packageing looks a little different but the tomatoes look the same, I hope they taste as good as mine.

Carolyn,
Yes I did read the birthday thread and I thank you for the offer to convey them and I thanked all for their kind words and thoughts. From sometime in the fall (early Oct), my e-mail has been intermittent at best. Then it died completely sometime in Dec. or so.
I wasn't overly concerned as I had so many things going on I didn't have much time to spend on the computer anyway. Now, the bathroom is re-done, The blazer has been repaired, I junked the John Deere and bought a much better tractor, which is why I can't afford a new computer till I get it paid off. And in the past two months, my three best friends have died.
Makes me feel like I've been raised up on the list, especial since two of the three were younger than I am. by as much as 6 years!
Anyway, I still cannot connect to my e-mails at all, but I can still access the internet.
I did get out my yearly tomato reveiw on Redneck acres which doesn't have near the members this site does or the other site I banned myself fom back in the summer of last year. Those that got to read them, I hope enjoyed them, although I had a lot less tomato plants in my garden last year, I thought they were the best reviews I ever put out. Many were compared early in the season, mid-season and towards the end of the season.
There were some new winners, a few disappointments, and a few surprises to say the least. I found Purple Dog Creek, which I had received seeds from Ginny in Mi. to be the best tasting tomato of the year. It was my first year growing it, and I'm planning on growing it again this season.
As far as this season goes...there will be a lot less tomatoes. I'm planning on only growing 10-12 plants. I know, I've made similar claims in the past, but they always seem to get away from me. This year, I'm sticking to my plans.
I will add that the Kukla Portugese Beefsteak, Bullsheart, and Paste were all tasty tomatoes, (seeds were from Jackie T.), although not near as productive as I would have expected. This was the worst tomato year I ever experienced, plagued by stinkbugs and large flocks of tomato eating birds.

Neil,
Thanks again for your kindness. I did plant your Ashleigh seed late last year when doing my replants that were destroyed by unknown mauraders. So not a fair evaluation! They also were up against some of the best tomatoes I ever grew. Still...I will be trying them again. Thanks!

To all: May everyone have a great growing season ahead, with less of the troubles that seem to plague us all. Enjoy!
Camo

[camochef]

Willyswoodpile,
Yep! Thats the exact same looking sleeve mine came in but mine are long gone. Yours look a bit to the red side on my computer where mine were more brown looking or brown with a greenish tint.
I hope yours were as tasty!
Enjoy!
Camo

Originally Posted by camochef

Willyswoodpile,
Yep! Thats the exact same looking sleeve mine came in but mine are long gone. Yours look a bit to the red side on my computer where mine were more brown looking or brown with a greenish tint.
I hope yours were as tasty!
Enjoy!
Camo

I brought a sleeve home for my mother 3 months ago and she won't eat anything else. I ordered some Kumato seed from Terry T. and I am also going to save some [from the sleeve] and grow out the F-2's.
I plan on crossing Kumato with one of Tom Wagner's new releases.