2013 Grow List -- Central Valley, CA

[z_willus_d]

Anne, I'll have to find your grafting thread in the rolls. I'd love to read about your failures (no sadism implied), if only to pick up hints on what stumbling blocks to look out for. Many of the varieties on my list came from trades or give aways from folks here on TV. Such as, say Goose Creek, Ray N.'s favorite, which I quite agree is excellent. Or Work Release Paste, one of Kath's favorites; Van Wert Ohio; etc. etc. It's great to benefit from all the vetting and trialing that others have performed so that when I come around to trying out a variety (and there are what seem like thousands to choose from), I can start off with the winners. For me, there are enough favorites out there to keep me busy for a lifetime. In short, I'd say about two-thirds of my list is comprised of tomatoes that are "favorites" of other TV members, most of which I've vetted myself. The rest are long time personal favorites or new trials, such as the mystery orange for my dad and Madam Jardel's Black.

As for the Green Zebra, I wouldn't really list it as a favorite, and it actually wasn't on my list last year. However, something odd happened through the 2012 season. I found myself craving the medium sized, globular, distinctly flavored Green Zebra tomatoes. I used to take them to work with me for snacking or to side-dress my lunch. I like the acidic, tangy flavor they offer, and I wasn't quite able to reproduce that quality with the other more lauded greens I grew in '12. So it's found a way back on to my list, a minor tomato among giants. I hope it lives up to my memory of it (originally grown at a different site).

Best of luck.
-naysen