zone 6B/7A garden picks

TightenUp · August 22, 2011

an update to a previous post. i'd like to hear a little more feedback from people in my own growing zone. i am right on the border of 6b and 7a.

pick 1
paul robeson or cherokee purple

pick 1
brandywine sudduth
earls faux
stump of the world

Barbee · August 22, 2011

I am in Zone 6b.
In your first section, I can tell you I have never grown Paul Robeson so I can't comment on that. I have grown Ch. Purple and while it tastes very good, it was not productive in my garden. That's a big strike for me so I replaced it with Spudakee Purple, the potato leaf version.. and it is very productive in my 6b garden and tastes great.
For your 2nd section, I have grown all 3 varieties. Earl's Faux was excellent tasting. Production was decent, but not great. BW Sudduth is growing in my garden right now and the plant is loaded with giant tomatoes. The taste is excellent. Stump of the World is also growing in my garden right now and it is overflowing with tomatoes. Taste is outstanding.
I would say you would do great with any of the 3 but you might want to try all 3 at some point and see which one you like the taste of best of all. For me taste is very important, but production is right up there too. That's the two things I use as a guideline as to whether a tomato gets invited back into my garden.
Hope this helps

TightenUp · August 22, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barbee

I am in Zone 6b.
In your first section, I can tell you I have never grown Paul Robeson so I can't comment on that. I have grown Ch. Purple and while it tastes very good, it was not productive in my garden. That's a big strike for me so I replaced it with Spudakee Purple, the potato leaf version.. and it is very productive in my 6b garden and tastes great.
For your 2nd section, I have grown all 3 varieties. Earl's Faux was excellent tasting. Production was decent, but not great. BW Sudduth is growing in my garden right now and the plant is loaded with giant tomatoes. The taste is excellent. Stump of the World is also growing in my garden right now and it is overflowing with tomatoes. Taste is outstanding.
I would say you would do great with any of the 3 but you might want to try all 3 at some point and see which one you like the taste of best of all. For me taste is very important, but production is right up there too. That's the two things I use as a guideline as to whether a tomato gets invited back into my garden.
Hope this helps

Thanks

thats exactly the type of response i am looking for. experience with the varieties and in the same zone. i appreciate your time!! my 2 main factors are also production and taste. were any from group 2 prone to cracking for you?

what else do you grow and hold in high regards?

TomNJ · August 22, 2011

Hi Jeff,

I am in Sayreville, NJ. I have not grown Paul Robeson, but I have grown Cherokee Purple for two years and it is a very good producer for me and tastes great. Likewise BW Sudduth is a winner in my garden for both production and taste. This year I am growing Earl's Faux alongside BW Sudduth and so far they are equal in all respects. If I had to pick just one I'd choose BW Sudduth. I have seeds for these if you need them.

TomNJ

Barbee · August 23, 2011

This year, I'm getting quite a bit of cracking on all my fruits. I'm blaming it on the weather since in years past I've not noticed the kind of cracking I'm getting this year.
Marianna's Peace is one of my gotta plant it every year tomatoes. I'm totally loving the Lescana I have growing for the first time this year and I have a Black Brandywine I like very much. And Black Krim ain't too shabby in my garden either.
It's too bad you dont live closer. Our CHOPTAG tomato tasting is this weekend. That's a great way to try out varieties before you plant them in your garden.

kath · August 23, 2011

I didn't post earlier because I haven't grown all the varieties on your list and I'm also in 6b in PA at about the same latitude as the middle of Hunterdon and Somerset counties and the northern part of Middlesex- so north of you, but...

I grew Cherokee Purple last year and had fantastic production and not much cracking-never tried Paul Robeson. I also grew Spudakee Purple and didn't get tomatoes as nice or of as good a taste as Cherokee Purple. SP had lots of catfacing and cracking for me.

From the other group, I had wonderful production from Brandywine Suddeth's and low yields from Stump of the World and Earl's Faux. But that was only one year's trial for all those varieties.

I've had good luck with JD's Special C-Tex for production and amazing taste two years in a row.

TightenUp · August 23, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomNJ

Hi Jeff,

I am in Sayreville, NJ. I have not grown Paul Robeson, but I have grown Cherokee Purple for two years and it is a very good producer for me and tastes great. Likewise BW Sudduth is a winner in my garden for both production and taste. This year I am growing Earl's Faux alongside BW Sudduth and so far they are equal in all respects. If I had to pick just one I'd choose BW Sudduth. I have seeds for these if you need them.

TomNJ

Tom

i'll see where my seed collecting quest takes me and possible take you up on that offer. thanks for the reply!!!

do you have any other staples?

lakelady · August 29, 2011

I have become a seed collecting...fiend

. My list of "must haves" keeps growing and I keep buying seeds that I have yet to plant. How many plants/seeds are you going to want ? I'm doing an indoor tomato project so I will (or let's say I pray I will) have lots more seeds for you if you need any oddballs I may be trying ). Aren't you growing in containers on a rooftop or something near the shore? Somehow I remember that. Are you looking for taste primarily for fresh eating (salads) or slicers, or cooking? There are so many things to consider (at least in my mind) to picking these guys.

I wish I knew of a tomato festival around here so I could try some different varieties I'm thinking of growing too.

August 22, 2011	#1
TightenUp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Jersey Posts: 1,183	zone 6B/7A garden picks an update to a previous post. i'd like to hear a little more feedback from people in my own growing zone. i am right on the border of 6b and 7a. pick 1 paul robeson or cherokee purple pick 1 brandywine sudduth earls faux stump of the world

August 22, 2011	#2
Barbee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 1,818	I am in Zone 6b. In your first section, I can tell you I have never grown Paul Robeson so I can't comment on that. I have grown Ch. Purple and while it tastes very good, it was not productive in my garden. That's a big strike for me so I replaced it with Spudakee Purple, the potato leaf version.. and it is very productive in my 6b garden and tastes great. For your 2nd section, I have grown all 3 varieties. Earl's Faux was excellent tasting. Production was decent, but not great. BW Sudduth is growing in my garden right now and the plant is loaded with giant tomatoes. The taste is excellent. Stump of the World is also growing in my garden right now and it is overflowing with tomatoes. Taste is outstanding. I would say you would do great with any of the 3 but you might want to try all 3 at some point and see which one you like the taste of best of all. For me taste is very important, but production is right up there too. That's the two things I use as a guideline as to whether a tomato gets invited back into my garden. Hope this helps __________________ *Barbee*

August 23, 2011	#5
Barbee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 1,818	This year, I'm getting quite a bit of cracking on all my fruits. I'm blaming it on the weather since in years past I've not noticed the kind of cracking I'm getting this year. Marianna's Peace is one of my gotta plant it every year tomatoes. I'm totally loving the Lescana I have growing for the first time this year and I have a Black Brandywine I like very much. And Black Krim ain't too shabby in my garden either. It's too bad you dont live closer. Our CHOPTAG tomato tasting is this weekend. That's a great way to try out varieties before you plant them in your garden. __________________ *Barbee*

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August 22, 2011	#4
TomNJ Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2009 Location: Floyd VA Posts: 771	Hi Jeff, I am in Sayreville, NJ. I have not grown Paul Robeson, but I have grown Cherokee Purple for two years and it is a very good producer for me and tastes great. Likewise BW Sudduth is a winner in my garden for both production and taste. This year I am growing Earl's Faux alongside BW Sudduth and so far they are equal in all respects. If I had to pick just one I'd choose BW Sudduth. I have seeds for these if you need them. TomNJ

August 23, 2011	#6
kath Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: zone 6b, PA Posts: 5,664	I didn't post earlier because I haven't grown all the varieties on your list and I'm also in 6b in PA at about the same latitude as the middle of Hunterdon and Somerset counties and the northern part of Middlesex- so north of you, but... I grew Cherokee Purple last year and had fantastic production and not much cracking-never tried Paul Robeson. I also grew Spudakee Purple and didn't get tomatoes as nice or of as good a taste as Cherokee Purple. SP had lots of catfacing and cracking for me. From the other group, I had wonderful production from Brandywine Suddeth's and low yields from Stump of the World and Earl's Faux. But that was only one year's trial for all those varieties. I've had good luck with JD's Special C-Tex for production and amazing taste two years in a row.

August 29, 2011	#8
lakelady Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: northern NJ zone 6b Posts: 1,862	I have become a seed collecting...fiend . My list of "must haves" keeps growing and I keep buying seeds that I have yet to plant. How many plants/seeds are you going to want ? I'm doing an indoor tomato project so I will (or let's say I pray I will) have lots more seeds for you if you need any oddballs I may be trying ). Aren't you growing in containers on a rooftop or something near the shore? Somehow I remember that. Are you looking for taste primarily for fresh eating (salads) or slicers, or cooking? There are so many things to consider (at least in my mind) to picking these guys. I wish I knew of a tomato festival around here so I could try some different varieties I'm thinking of growing too.