I have one chance to impress. What variety to choose?

DoubleJ · October 23, 2008

I have to send seeds to a friend that doesn't believe heirlooms can be better than the hybrid starts she gets at wal mart. Off of my list below, what 2 or 3 would you choose to send if you have 1 shot at an impression? Please keep in mind not only taste but yield and tomato size and appearance as well. They will be for the Chicago area, whatever zone that is.

Omar's Lebanese
Aunt Gertie's Gold
1884
Aunt Ginny's Purple
Aunt Ruby Germ. Green
Stump of the World
Large Pink Bulgarian
Earl's Faux
Kellogg's Breakfast
Marianna's Peace
Black Krim
Persimmon
Prudens Purple

KBX

Mortgage Lifter
Yel. Brandywine(Platfoot)
Anna Russian
Soldacki
Neves Azorean Red
Bull's Heart
Black from Tula
Lucky Cross
Orange Russian 117
Green Giant
Mazarini
Goji Faranji
Cherokee Green
Paul Robeson
Brandywine Sudduth
Brandywine Sudduth
Black Cherry
Sungold
Lil Pink Cherry
Black Sea Man
Sophie's Choice
Carbon
Early Kus Ali
Cherokee Purple
Peiping Chieh

brog · October 23, 2008

For Taste--Productivety -- Vigor--Beauty and Health
Black Krim--Stump of the world--Mortgage Lifter
Good luck Bill

**carolyn137** · October 23, 2008

If your friend has been growing hybrids only then if it were me I'd choose some varieties that were mostly round and red so that there isn't the shock factor of different colors/shapes.

When moving into an area where most of the folks are accustomed to hybrids only I think it's a good idea to start out slowly and opt for great tasting roundish reds that they can then compare with what they have grown.

And so I suggest:

Druzba
Break O Day
Red Brandywine ( true RB, not an imposter)
Bulgarian #7

.......for starters and as possibilities in no particular order although I know what I'd grow.

Tomstrees · October 23, 2008

Black Cherry !!! Grow for it !!!

~ Tom

jcmorse33 · October 23, 2008

For heirloom tomato neophytes I'd say a three pronged approach...

1st a cherry variety that pumps out hundreds if not thousands of flavor bombs such as Sungold or Black Cherry.

2nd a productive and good tasting round red like Carolyn suggested. My pick would be Red Brandywine.

3rd something big and meaty with flavor to bowl them away in a potentially odd package given the round red shapes they are probably used to. This is where I would look at Stump of the World or Earl's Faux or Cherokee Purple or something like that. I would probably still shy away from varities for a reputation of being finicky, or varities that they might have trouble knowing when to pick or that would force them to take too great a leap of faith. So I would probably leave Brandywine and the green when ripes off the list until they are hooked.

Just my thoughts...

--Justin

ContainerTed · October 23, 2008

I think I would also include the Cherokee Purple. It's color when ripe is absolutely beautiful. Have your friend do a BLT with some CP.

Ted

Barbee · October 23, 2008

From your list I'd choose .. Marianna's Peace, Cherokee Purple, and Earl's Faux.

MP and CP because those are the 2 varieties of tomatoes my neighbors beg for every year and tell me they are the best tomatoes they've ever put in their mouth. Plus, they pump out the tomatoes thoughout the season, like the hybrids. At least they do for me, in SW Ohio.

Earl's Faux because I tasted it at the choptag fest this year and it's outstanding. I will be buying seeds for that tomato this winter.

montanamato · October 23, 2008

Cherokee Purple has floored everyone I have ever given a plant to...
On your list I would go with Soldacki or Stump of the World.

Jeanne

barkeater · October 24, 2008

Brandywine and Black Cherry.

PaulF · October 24, 2008

If they like red/pinks ( many new growers do not distinguish the differences) I would send Stump of the World, Neves Azorean and/or Marianna's Peace.

Carbon or Cherokee Purple if they would be able to understand the exterior color difference from a round red.

Black Cherry

Kellogg's Breakfast if they have grown yellows or orange tomatoes.

bonekittyslug · October 24, 2008

1) Cherokee Purple
2) Earl's Faux
3) Black Krim

'Nuff said!

Tormato · October 24, 2008

JJ,

I'm with Carolyn on limiting the shock factor, and going with something smooth and round. Many of the ones on your list can grow quite gnarly.

One, not on your list, that I recommend to first timers is Eva Purple Ball.

Gary

DoubleJ · October 24, 2008

I worry about the "tenderness" of cherokee purple. Will that be an issue?

DoubleJ · October 24, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tormato

JJ,

I'm with Carolyn on limiting the shock factor, and going with something smooth and round. Many of the ones on your list can grow quite gnarly.

One, not on your list, that I recommend to first timers is Eva Purple Ball.

Gary

I'll look into getting some of that.

ctx00978 · October 24, 2008

Oh boy.

Omar's Lebanese ~I had outstanding results in Missouri, and was great tasting, although I've read less than favorable results for others. Illinois is only 1 state away, and I really do love this tomato.

Neves Azorean Red~ I had good results this year, and it was mighty fine tasting. It seems (according to people's posts) to adapt rather well to many environments and not suffer much with disease. All in all, a very nice tomato that I will grow again.
Cherokee Purple~ If you think they can accept a tomato that isn't red, then cherokee purple would be awesome. Flavor wise, it seems to provide a good tomato "punch" throughout the season, and tastes just like you think a tomato should. And, it really isn't "out there" in appearance, so even if they've never had a tomato that wasn't red, it wouldn't be a turn-off.

October 23, 2008	#1
DoubleJ Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Shelton, WA Posts: 127	I have one chance to impress. What variety to choose? I have to send seeds to a friend that doesn't believe heirlooms can be better than the hybrid starts she gets at wal mart. Off of my list below, what 2 or 3 would you choose to send if you have 1 shot at an impression? Please keep in mind not only taste but yield and tomato size and appearance as well. They will be for the Chicago area, whatever zone that is. Omar's Lebanese Aunt Gertie's Gold 1884 Aunt Ginny's Purple Aunt Ruby Germ. Green Stump of the World Large Pink Bulgarian Earl's Faux Kellogg's Breakfast Marianna's Peace Black Krim Persimmon Prudens Purple KBX Mortgage Lifter Yel. Brandywine(Platfoot) Anna Russian Soldacki Neves Azorean Red Bull's Heart Black from Tula Lucky Cross Orange Russian 117 Green Giant Mazarini Goji Faranji Cherokee Green Paul Robeson Brandywine Sudduth Brandywine Sudduth Black Cherry Sungold Lil Pink Cherry Black Sea Man Sophie's Choice Carbon Early Kus Ali Cherokee Purple Peiping Chieh Last edited by DoubleJ; October 23, 2008 at 02:53 PM.

October 23, 2008	#2
brog Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Lilburn GA Posts: 278	For Taste--Productivety -- Vigor--Beauty and Health Black Krim--Stump of the world--Mortgage Lifter Good luck Bill __________________ Bill

October 23, 2008	#3
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	If your friend has been growing hybrids only then if it were me I'd choose some varieties that were mostly round and red so that there isn't the shock factor of different colors/shapes. When moving into an area where most of the folks are accustomed to hybrids only I think it's a good idea to start out slowly and opt for great tasting roundish reds that they can then compare with what they have grown. And so I suggest: Druzba Break O Day Red Brandywine ( true RB, not an imposter) Bulgarian #7 .......for starters and as possibilities in no particular order although I know what I'd grow. __________________ Carolyn

October 23, 2008	#4
Tomstrees Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NJ Bayshore Posts: 3,848	Black Cherry !!! Grow for it !!! ~ Tom __________________ My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view. ~ H. Fred Ale

October 23, 2008	#6
ContainerTed Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: 6a - NE Tennessee Posts: 4,538	I think I would also include the Cherokee Purple. It's color when ripe is absolutely beautiful. Have your friend do a BLT with some CP. Ted __________________ Ted ________________________ Owner & Sole Operator Of The Muddy Bucket Farm and Tomato Ranch

October 23, 2008	#5
jcmorse33 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Central Virginia Posts: 242	For heirloom tomato neophytes I'd say a three pronged approach... 1st a cherry variety that pumps out hundreds if not thousands of flavor bombs such as Sungold or Black Cherry. 2nd a productive and good tasting round red like Carolyn suggested. My pick would be Red Brandywine. 3rd something big and meaty with flavor to bowl them away in a potentially odd package given the round red shapes they are probably used to. This is where I would look at Stump of the World or Earl's Faux or Cherokee Purple or something like that. I would probably still shy away from varities for a reputation of being finicky, or varities that they might have trouble knowing when to pick or that would force them to take too great a leap of faith. So I would probably leave Brandywine and the green when ripes off the list until they are hooked. Just my thoughts... --Justin

October 23, 2008	#7
Barbee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 1,818	From your list I'd choose .. Marianna's Peace, Cherokee Purple, and Earl's Faux. MP and CP because those are the 2 varieties of tomatoes my neighbors beg for every year and tell me they are the best tomatoes they've ever put in their mouth. Plus, they pump out the tomatoes thoughout the season, like the hybrids. At least they do for me, in SW Ohio. Earl's Faux because I tasted it at the choptag fest this year and it's outstanding. I will be buying seeds for that tomato this winter. __________________ *Barbee*

October 23, 2008	#8
montanamato Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Montana Posts: 1,038	Cherokee Purple has floored everyone I have ever given a plant to... On your list I would go with Soldacki or Stump of the World. Jeanne

October 24, 2008	#9
barkeater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NE Kingdom, VT - Zone 3b Posts: 1,439	Brandywine and Black Cherry.

October 24, 2008	#10
PaulF Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brownville, Ne Posts: 3,296	If they like red/pinks ( many new growers do not distinguish the differences) I would send Stump of the World, Neves Azorean and/or Marianna's Peace. Carbon or Cherokee Purple if they would be able to understand the exterior color difference from a round red. Black Cherry Kellogg's Breakfast if they have grown yellows or orange tomatoes. __________________ there's two things money can't buy; true love and home grown tomatoes.

October 24, 2008	#11
bonekittyslug Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: SW VA Zone 6b-7a Posts: 176	1) Cherokee Purple 2) Earl's Faux 3) Black Krim 'Nuff said! __________________ More Harvest, Mark The life of a cat...Sleep 'til you're hungry...Eat 'til you're tired! Spay or neuter your best friend!!

October 24, 2008	#12
Tormato Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MA Posts: 4,971	JJ, I'm with Carolyn on limiting the shock factor, and going with something smooth and round. Many of the ones on your list can grow quite gnarly. One, not on your list, that I recommend to first timers is Eva Purple Ball. Gary

October 24, 2008	#15
ctx00978 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Missouri Posts: 82	Oh boy. Omar's Lebanese ~I had outstanding results in Missouri, and was great tasting, although I've read less than favorable results for others. Illinois is only 1 state away, and I really do love this tomato. Neves Azorean Red~ I had good results this year, and it was mighty fine tasting. It seems (according to people's posts) to adapt rather well to many environments and not suffer much with disease. All in all, a very nice tomato that I will grow again. Cherokee Purple~ If you think they can accept a tomato that isn't red, then cherokee purple would be awesome. Flavor wise, it seems to provide a good tomato "punch" throughout the season, and tastes just like you think a tomato should. And, it really isn't "out there" in appearance, so even if they've never had a tomato that wasn't red, it wouldn't be a turn-off.

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