Hybrid Paste tomato or best paste overall

[MendozaMark]

Originally Posted by Gardadore

How do hearts do in your part of the world? I have been completely converted to making sauce from them as opposed to the pastes. My sauces this summer have been sweet but full flavored. I use the oven roasting method and I also oven dry tomatoes.

One of the most prolific was Fish Lake Oxheart, large robust red. Others that are delicious are Anna Maria's Heart, Anna Russian, Joe's Pink Oxheart, Kosovo and Amish Paste (actually a heart). A good paste for me has been Ernie's Plump, a double pear and quite prolific. These are,of course, larger than the pastes, but then you need less tomatoes to make the same amount of sauce.

Tanya has a wonderful list of oxhearts to consider at http://t.tatianastomatobase.com:88/w...haped_Tomatoes

I wish you luck in your project. Your friend should be amazed at the difference in flavor between the regular pastes and the hearts, especially after they are cooked down.

This is my first year trying any OPs or heirlooms. I did get some cherokee purple seeds at an outrageous price last year in Argentina. Unfortunately, they ended up red, ribbed and were the biggest disease magnet. Everything I have grown here was from collected seed from fresh tomatoes. Thats how i can tell you most of the round reds are hybrids here.

I did bring seeds of Anna Russian, but they never germinated after 2 tries. Most of the seed I got was from good vendors, but a couple i got from ebay before I discovered tomatoville. I have German red strawberry and they are looking decent. I also have Fish lake on my 2016 wish list. So i am not sure if they will do well. Other then cherries I am trying to keep everything early to mid season. I do use shade cloth but temps get crazy hot here in the desert from December to Feb. I am also Canadian, so I shut down too in those temps.

The hearts have really intrigued me though and I wish I had more varieties on hand to try. I am just starting to collect seed back in Canada for my 2016 visit, so I will try to get a few hearts. The shorter season ones would be better but a great tomato must be tried regardless some times. Thanks for the advice and encouragement.