Mid-season Tomato Report

kellyst · August 17, 2013

This should be a peak season report, but tomatoes are at least 2 or 3 weeks behind where they were last year. This is normally peak season for me for late varieties. This year I haven't even had the opportunity to try many of my late varieties. I'm not including what I haven't been able to try yet. I'm breaking this down by “new” to me varieties and “old” varieties. All “old” varieties are, for the most part, great tomatoes for me in previous seasons. A few are ones with great reputations that I haven't given up on yet. In general, “old” varieties are not as flavorful this year due to the wet season we've had.

Best varieties are in italics.

“Old” varieties

Brandywine – 1 ripe fruit so far. Excellent flavor. Healthy plants. Productivity is average.

Carbon – Very healthy plants. Very productive. Good flavor. Consistently great tomato that will always be in my garden.

Cherokee Purple – A couple ripe fruit. Not productive. Healthy plants. I'm giving up on Cherokee Purple. Great reputation but never productive enough for me.

German Johnson – A couple ripe fruit. Average productivity. High productivity last year. Good flavor.

Isis Candy – None ripe yet. This one won't make the cut next year.

Kentucky Beefsteak – A couple ripe fruit. Bland tasting this year. Great flavor previous years. Always has healthy plants and great production.

Mountain Princess – Great productivity. Plants can be tempermental with some dying.

Prudens Purple – Very good taste. Very good productivity. Always a standout.

Rozovyi Myod (aka Siberian Pink Honey, aka Pink Honey) – Tied for best tomato of the season. Huge tomatoes. First tomato of the year. Produces all season long. Great taste. Great productivity.

“New” varieties

1884 Purple – Very healthy plants and very good productivity. Flavor is pretty bland. Probably won't repeat.

Abraham Lincoln – Plants are tempermental. Very productive. Very bland taste. Won't repeat.

Dester – One ripe fruit. Delicious.

Eva Purple Ball – Very healthy plants. Very productive. Great taste. Definite repeat.

Glacier – Not early at all. Blame the weather? Productive and good taste.

Jaune Flammee - Very healthy plants. Very productive. Great taste. Definite repeat.

KBX – One ripe fruit. Best tasting tomato of the year.

Korol Gigantov – Early beefsteaks. Great taste and productivity. Unique taste. Definite repeat.

Momotaro OP - Very healthy plants. Very productive. Great productivity and taste. Definite repeat.

Steak Sandwich OP – Very healhty plants. Very productive. Very bland. Won't repeat.

Van Wert Ohio – Tied for best tomato of the season. Very healthy plants. Very productive. Great productivity and taste. Definite repeat.

Wisconsin 55 – Good taste. Not very good productivity.

August 17, 2013	#1
kellyst Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: West Central Ohio Posts: 32	Mid-season Tomato Report This should be a peak season report, but tomatoes are at least 2 or 3 weeks behind where they were last year. This is normally peak season for me for late varieties. This year I haven't even had the opportunity to try many of my late varieties. I'm not including what I haven't been able to try yet. I'm breaking this down by “new” to me varieties and “old” varieties. All “old” varieties are, for the most part, great tomatoes for me in previous seasons. A few are ones with great reputations that I haven't given up on yet. In general, “old” varieties are not as flavorful this year due to the wet season we've had. Best varieties are in italics. “Old” varieties Brandywine – 1 ripe fruit so far. Excellent flavor. Healthy plants. Productivity is average. Carbon – Very healthy plants. Very productive. Good flavor. Consistently great tomato that will always be in my garden. Cherokee Purple – A couple ripe fruit. Not productive. Healthy plants. I'm giving up on Cherokee Purple. Great reputation but never productive enough for me. German Johnson – A couple ripe fruit. Average productivity. High productivity last year. Good flavor. Isis Candy – None ripe yet. This one won't make the cut next year. Kentucky Beefsteak – A couple ripe fruit. Bland tasting this year. Great flavor previous years. Always has healthy plants and great production. Mountain Princess – Great productivity. Plants can be tempermental with some dying. Prudens Purple – Very good taste. Very good productivity. Always a standout. Rozovyi Myod (aka Siberian Pink Honey, aka Pink Honey) – Tied for best tomato of the season. Huge tomatoes. First tomato of the year. Produces all season long. Great taste. Great productivity. “New” varieties 1884 Purple – Very healthy plants and very good productivity. Flavor is pretty bland. Probably won't repeat. Abraham Lincoln – Plants are tempermental. Very productive. Very bland taste. Won't repeat. Dester – One ripe fruit. Delicious. Eva Purple Ball – Very healthy plants. Very productive. Great taste. Definite repeat. Glacier – Not early at all. Blame the weather? Productive and good taste. Jaune Flammee - Very healthy plants. Very productive. Great taste. Definite repeat. KBX – One ripe fruit. Best tasting tomato of the year. Korol Gigantov – Early beefsteaks. Great taste and productivity. Unique taste. Definite repeat. Momotaro OP - Very healthy plants. Very productive. Great productivity and taste. Definite repeat. Steak Sandwich OP – Very healhty plants. Very productive. Very bland. Won't repeat. Van Wert Ohio – Tied for best tomato of the season. Very healthy plants. Very productive. Great productivity and taste. Definite repeat. Wisconsin 55 – Good taste. Not very good productivity.