What exactly is "old time" tomato taste? - Page 5

habitat_gardener · March 30, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sun City Linda

Mr T - I seeded Earl of Edgecombe first time this year. It seems to be growing like a dwarf. Dark green, sturdy. I dont have Carolyns book anymore and Tat.....well, have no idea how to spell it the lady that has a database of nearly all does not have this one listed.

Yes, she does.

http://t.tatianastomatobase.com:88/w...l_of_Edgecombe

Sun City Linda · March 30, 2011

Thank you, I was checking in her online catalog of seeds available. And I see it does grow tree like! Great! I have the right seeds!

LInda

SWFLORIDA9B · May 28, 2016

Everyone agrees that Rutgers is an excellent full flavored tomato with "old time taste". I know there are some other varieties that have it and some are listed here, but do any of of them actually beat or surpass Rutgers for "full flavored old time taste"?

Rutgers is my favorite tomato, but if there are actually any other toms that actually SURPASS it for "old fashioned full flavor" I would like to know. Thanks.

Gardeneer · May 28, 2016

I did not read all the posts going bach t0 2011.
But I think that part of that " good ol time taste " is just nostalgic , just like the "good old time" istelf, "good old time" this , "good old time"that.
To me a tomato has to :

-- look tasty. (nice color, not dull looking )
-- impart some aroma when you smell it or cut it.
--- be juicy.
--- be tangy ; Call it balanced acidity and sweetness.

GRDNR---

JLJ_ · May 29, 2016

I believe that 'good old time tomato flavor' is that flavor which most popular tomatoes shared until recent decades when mega markets began demanding that commercial growers deliver firm green tomato shaped rocks which would ship and keep well, and which could be gassed and turned into red, green (unripe) tomatoes -- and then promoted breeding of varieties specialized for such use, with little, then no, consideration given to flavor of the fruit.

There was a period when fresh grocery tomatoes had gone downhill, but good brands of canned tomatoes still carried real tomato flavor -- but eventually the tomato simulating green rocks invaded the canned tomato market, too.

As was said early in this thread, the original Marglobe is hard to beat -- though it didn't exist quite as early as mentioned in an earlier post . . . the child of the smallish, smooth, disease resistant French descended Marvel and the popular, large, thick-walled Livingstone's Globe wasn't released by the USDA until the mid 1920's.

Marglobe's "pink sister" Glovel (same parents as Marglobe with Papa and Mama reversed, and Marglobe's children, such as Pan America, Scarlet Topper (Pritchard), Break O Day, and Rutgers have much of Marglobe's virtue, but don't exceed it as a tough, workhorse producer of good ol' fashion tomato flavor, I think -- though of course Rutgers did eventually assume Marglobe's commercial dominance spot.

Of what might be called Marglobe "grandchildren" -- Atkinson is an excellent tomato -- appears to be mostly Rutgers descended, and I suspect that Marion may be in the good ol' fashioned group as well, though I've just gotten seeds, so can't see what it does until next year -- but it's a Marglobe 'grandchild' via Pan America, Rutgers, and Break O Day, with an infusion, via Homestead, of Dobbies Champion and, via Victor, of Allred.

The advantage that original Marglobe has is that it was bred to be tasty, multi-use, rugged, disease resistant (for its time) and productive with minimal fuss, because it was a dominant commercial variety in the days when commercial varieties had to taste good or no one would buy them. And from its earliest days in the 1920's, it was also a very successful home garden tomato -- good for eating, good for soup, good for canning, good for juice, good for cooking, good for sauces.

My grandma wasn't the only one who found that Marglobe was the only tomato she needed to grow to get good tasting results for any purpose.

twillis2252 · May 29, 2016

Will concur the previous observations about Rutgers. I planted three Rutgers last year and was very satisfied with the yield and old time flavor. This year planting over 25 varieties. Hope to be able to select the best 10-15 to use for next year. Will select several new varieties to try also. Rely on the TV community for their honest appraisals and evaluations of the varieties they have selected. Also, really appreciate the feedback and suggestions provided by my friend Tatiana...

May 28, 2016	#63
SWFLORIDA9B Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2016 Location: Tampa Posts: 1	Rutgers vs. Marglobe, ramapo, etc. Who is #1 for old fash taste? Everyone agrees that Rutgers is an excellent full flavored tomato with "old time taste". I know there are some other varieties that have it and some are listed here, but do any of of them actually beat or surpass Rutgers for "full flavored old time taste"? Rutgers is my favorite tomato, but if there are actually any other toms that actually SURPASS it for "old fashioned full flavor" I would like to know. Thanks.

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March 30, 2011	#62
Sun City Linda Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: SoCal Inland Posts: 2,705	Thank you, I was checking in her online catalog of seeds available. And I see it does grow tree like! Great! I have the right seeds! LInda

May 28, 2016	#64
Gardeneer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7 Posts: 4,919	I did not read all the posts going bach t0 2011. But I think that part of that " good ol time taste " is just nostalgic , just like the "good old time" istelf, "good old time" this , "good old time"that. To me a tomato has to : -- look tasty. (nice color, not dull looking ) -- impart some aroma when you smell it or cut it. --- be juicy. --- be tangy ; Call it balanced acidity and sweetness. GRDNR---

May 29, 2016	#65
JLJ_ Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Wyoming Posts: 759	I believe that 'good old time tomato flavor' is that flavor which most popular tomatoes shared until recent decades when mega markets began demanding that commercial growers deliver firm green tomato shaped rocks which would ship and keep well, and which could be gassed and turned into red, green (unripe) tomatoes -- and then promoted breeding of varieties specialized for such use, with little, then no, consideration given to flavor of the fruit. There was a period when fresh grocery tomatoes had gone downhill, but good brands of canned tomatoes still carried real tomato flavor -- but eventually the tomato simulating green rocks invaded the canned tomato market, too. As was said early in this thread, the original Marglobe is hard to beat -- though it didn't exist quite as early as mentioned in an earlier post . . . the child of the smallish, smooth, disease resistant French descended Marvel and the popular, large, thick-walled Livingstone's Globe wasn't released by the USDA until the mid 1920's. Marglobe's "pink sister" Glovel (same parents as Marglobe with Papa and Mama reversed, and Marglobe's children, such as Pan America, Scarlet Topper (Pritchard), Break O Day, and Rutgers have much of Marglobe's virtue, but don't exceed it as a tough, workhorse producer of good ol' fashion tomato flavor, I think -- though of course Rutgers did eventually assume Marglobe's commercial dominance spot. Of what might be called Marglobe "grandchildren" -- Atkinson is an excellent tomato -- appears to be mostly Rutgers descended, and I suspect that Marion may be in the good ol' fashioned group as well, though I've just gotten seeds, so can't see what it does until next year -- but it's a Marglobe 'grandchild' via Pan America, Rutgers, and Break O Day, with an infusion, via Homestead, of Dobbies Champion and, via Victor, of Allred. The advantage that original Marglobe has is that it was bred to be tasty, multi-use, rugged, disease resistant (for its time) and productive with minimal fuss, because it was a dominant commercial variety in the days when commercial varieties had to taste good or no one would buy them. And from its earliest days in the 1920's, it was also a very successful home garden tomato -- good for eating, good for soup, good for canning, good for juice, good for cooking, good for sauces. My grandma wasn't the only one who found that Marglobe was the only tomato she needed to grow to get good tasting results for any purpose.

May 29, 2016	#66
twillis2252 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: SC & NC Posts: 258	Will concur the previous observations about Rutgers. I planted three Rutgers last year and was very satisfied with the yield and old time flavor. This year planting over 25 varieties. Hope to be able to select the best 10-15 to use for next year. Will select several new varieties to try also. Rely on the TV community for their honest appraisals and evaluations of the varieties they have selected. Also, really appreciate the feedback and suggestions provided by my friend Tatiana...