Help Wanted - Final selections of 2012 grow list

[JoeP]

TV,
I had hoped to be an expert after two years of tomato growing and not have to solicit input again this year but two summers of terrible weather does not an expert make. I would appreciate some help making my final selections. I cut my number of plants down to 19 this year. That being said, I don’t want to waste spots on varieties that are risky due to late season or not tolerant of a cooler climate.


I have my mind pretty well made up on the early and cherry. But I would appreciate any feedback/recommendations from your experience with Green, Black, Pinks, Reds, Bicolor, and Orange, especially from Pacific Northwest or Northern gardeners with shorter seasons and cool nights. Please comment (good or bad) or recommending alternatives.


My priorities are:
1. Taste
2. Will do well in a cool climate
3. Mid season or close…this is where your experience will help.

Production would be nice but it is not terribly important. I’d rather have a few great tomatoes than lots and lots of mediocre ones.


I know what I want in these:


Early:
-Stupice
-Yamal

Cherries:
-Sungold

I need help finishing off the lists below:

Green:
-Grubs Mystery Green
(Any other green as early?)

Black:
-1884 Purple (great last year! - the only one of several blacks that had any real flavor.)

Candidates -
-Gary'O Sena - earlier than other blacks


Pink: (4 spots, 3 below and 1 open spot)
-Crnkovic Yugoslavian
-Unnamed Pink variety from TV member
-Cowlicks

Candidates for the open spot:
I’d like to try either Anna Russian or Kosovo: I lean towards Anna Russian since it is earlier. Are these two similar in taste? Any reason to grow both?


Red: (5 spots, 2 below and 3 open)
-Moskvich – because it is early midseason
-Rostova (heart) - ( from TV member - not Sunset’s Red Horizon from Tomatofest or Rostova from TGS)

Red Brandywine has been the most flavorful red the last two years. I like a nice strong flavor like Red BW but hopefully a little earlier in a PNW climate. Is there such a tomato?


My list of Red candidates for the 3 open spots -
-Red Brandywine – My favorite Red so far
-Neves Azorean Red- (recommended by many last year but I doomed it by planting in a pot.)
-Jean’s Prize -
-Lyuda’s Moms Large Red Ukranian -
-Sunset’s Red Horizon (heart)-
-Wisconsin 55-
-Alice’s Egypt (heart)-


Any alternatives to these?

Orange/Gold: (1 spot,)
-Orange Minsk – is it disease prone?


Alternative Candidates:
-Mennonite Orange
-Jumbo Jim Orange
-Orlov Yellow – I grew last year in a pot with poor results. I blame weather and my planting it in a pot.
-KBX – Territorial (a PNW seed company) lists Kellogg’s Breakfast so I have to assume there is a market for such a tomato this far north. Tried KB two years ago with a few ripe fruits, and KBX last year with even less success. Neither were standouts for flavor but I never see a negative word about KBX. Must be good somewhere.

Bi-Color:
-Northern Lights
-Pineapple - late but my wife's favorite. Not negotiable.

Anyone have luck with Gold Medal? Territorial lists it at 75 DTM and Pineapple at 90 DTM. I agree with Pineapple but 75 seems....well, wishful.

I appreciate any feedback.

Thanks,
JoeP