tom varieties and I

[mikej]

Hello, This is only my second thread, but wanted to hear it from you guys. I have been reading in many forums for the last 6 months.

Last spring I wanted to grow some tomatoes again after a lay off of a few years. I bought some seed from Walmart called Super beefsteak. They were big, but the flavor was just not there. I had grown some tomatoes in the past that I had received the seedlings from a commercial grower and like I mentioned in my other thread. I have know idea what variety they were. Some one had given me a bag that had all kinds of seed packets in it and one those was Ferry Morse Brandywine. After all that I had read about the BWs I had to try it this fall.

Here is how I do it and has been successful for me.

Started seed Aug 13 in a tray in cheap potting mix bought from Walmart. The seed tray has a clear cover on it and I keep it covered until germination. I have a 4' flourescent shop light on a chain that I can raise as the plants grow. I keep the light about an inch from the top of the plants. After 3 weeks, I move them into some red solo cups with wholes drilled into the bottom.


I let them grow in the cups letting them harden by moving them in to the sun a little more each day for another 3 weeks. Here they are just before transplanting into the ground. I have 16 of these.


Here is one last week.


For staking I use some 8' tposts driven into the 2' and twine with my version of the Florida Weave. I have a bed about 6" high and 3 ft wide covered with a piece of 4' wide plastic. I use grass clippings in the rows between the beds and around the plants. I Just got large roll of hay that I will be using all around my garden for weed and moisture control. I hope the hay works out. My concern is introducing seeds into the garden. But I thought what the heck, this is south Florida, I am going to have new weeds all the time anyway, so maybe this will slow it down enough while the crops are there.


Now for the questions. Does anyone know about this Ferry Morse Brandywine? That is all it says on the package. I also ordered me some seed from Tomato Growers Supply. (I went to their store a couple of saturdays ago, but they were closed.) My seeds have come in. I have.

grape tomato
Tasti-Lee Hybrid
Better Boy hybrid
and the free ones others have been receiving German Giant.

I am going to start some new seed tomorrow and am debating on pulling a few of my Brandywines to put 2 plants each of the hybrids and German Giant.

I grow my grape tomatoes in a different place up against a chain link fence. It worked great last spring.

I have read all over forums about the differing opinions about varieties, but I want to hear it first hand from you guys. I wanted tomatoes that are fairly easy to grow in my environment, but still satisfy my tomato hunger with taste.
Did I make good choices in my varieties?