Now that I have tasted them all ('07 report)

[tomatoguy]

Somehow, despite the worst heatwave in recent memory, my garden is still producing well. I have seen some other local gardens that have completely burned up in the 100+ degree heat. I guess my radical watering schedule of twice a week has helped. Some seasons, I can get by without watering at all. I know this is in contravention to the watering philosophy of a lot of folks but it seems to work for me. I have had a taste of everything in the garden now so I guess it is time to share the results. As a side note, only the tomatoes have been really outstanding this year. Cukes were blighted early, muskmelons would split before they would ripen, cantaloupes were tough and generally yucky. My peppers while very tasty and hot were too shaded and not very productive. They will go in a new spot outside the main garden next year.

First, the container plants:

Earl's Faux

This was meant to be a main garden staple crop but the big freeze changed all that. EF has been unusually productive for a container plant. While the lower half of the plant has been defoliated by extreme heat and early blight (like most of the other plants), it still has about 18 green tomatoes on it and is about 7 1/2 feet tall. The taste of EF once again is phenomenal. I would rate it as the best tasting tomato for this year. I have a bias toward tangy tomatoes but I have had many compiments on this variety from those I share my crop with. It will return in a favored spot in the main garden next year.

Cuostralee

After all of the good reviews I have seen on this forum, I had to try it. I have not been dissappointed. Taste is very good, production moderate and the plant is in similar condition to EF.

New Big Dwarf

To those of you who said that I had the wrong NBD the last couple of years due to the 7' size, this one sure looks like the right one. It is, however, from the same seed source as last year's 7 footer. The difference is that this one was a late start by my standards, around April 28, if I recall correctly. This year's NBD is only about 3 feet tall and looks a little ragged from EB. Production is low and the tomatoes are small. They are tasty but not quite as good as I remember them from past years. NBD will go into the main garden next year. If anyone wants to volunteer yet another seed source (I have tried 2) I will be glad to give them a try.

Ashleigh (?)

A late starting volunteer that came up where Ashleigh was last year, this one appears to be true to type. The plant is much smaller and the tomatoes as well. I haven't had any that were 2 pounds plus but some have been over a pound. The taste is good but not spectacular and the texture has been variable. Production is moderate. This one is iffy for next year. A great bragger for size if grown in the main garden but harder to justify on the basis of taste.

Stick

A most interesting novelty. Best grown as an ornamental. Not very productive or tasty.

And the main garden varieties:

Berkeley Tie-Dye

This one has been a pleasant surprise. While the look of these tomatoes doesn't appeal to me, the taste certainly has. They are green on the outside with red and yellow striping. The inside is mostly green with a pink center. The only caveat to these is very short shelf life. They will probably return to the garden at some point.

Clear Pink Early

A perennial favorite in my garden. This determinate comes in early and often. The first batch of tomatoes from this plant were excellent. Very tasty and larger than usual. The second batch, I noticed, had become stinkbug magnets. I just left them hanging on the vine and the stinkbugs seemed to leave most of the other plants alone. CPE has now set a third crop despite heavy plant damage from EB. CPE will be back next year.

Polish C

The only plant from an outside source, Bigcheef my crosstown neighbor. This is a late variety, PL with very large leaves. It produces a large (1 pound+), pretty tomato and is very productive. Some of my friends and family like this one but it is a bit sweet for my taste.

Mortgage Lifter Bi-Color

This is the only plant that has shown signs of Bacterial Speck. The dry weather seems to have halted this problem, though.
MLBC has been moderately productive and the tomatoes are very good. They are tangier than I expected. As in other bi-colors, they seem to have a short shelf life, especially if you wait until their coloration is the same as in the seed catalog pictures. I will probably grow this one again at some point.

Big Red

Not everyone shares my enthusiasm for this one but it is one of my favorites. Productivity seems to know no season. It starts early and finishes late. The tomatoes average about 1 pound and are very strong tasting. I am saving seeds for these since I don't know another source and this one will be coming back for sure.

Mortgage Lifter

This is just the standard ML offered by TGS. It has been a pleasant surprise this year. The taste has been great this year but the texture has been superb, comparable to EF and BW. Size is down a little, averaging just under a pound but I will continue to grow these as a staple crop.

Brandywine Sudduth's

BWS ran a little late this year but has been worth waiting for. This is the only BW I have found to be productive in our hot summers. It is still producing well. Taste and texture are both excellent. I will continue to give these a prime spot in the garden.

Delicious

My daughter's favorite and one of mine as well. Since she was relocating and didn't have a garden this year, I grew this one for her. DE is a late variety but produces well. No really big ones this year but most are over a pound. I will continue to grow Delicious from Weeks' Seeds but I am suspicious of some of the other offerings since one produced a midsize orange determinate for me.

Burgundy Traveler (not)

This one was supposed to be a deep pink, medium size tomato. Deep pink, yes, but it produced large cherries. I am not a cherry fancier but these are very good for what they are. They are also very attractive looking with light colored streaks coming from the bottom. I have saved seeds from these and will have Bigcheef and others grow these out next year to see what we get. If we can come up with a stable variety, it will be called Big Burgundy Cherry. It would be most ironic if I, a beefsteak guy, have my name affixed in perpetuity to a cherry variety.

Granny Cantrell's German (or German Red if you prefer)

I hear there is some debate over the correct name for these. Just like last year, mine are pink. If I grew tomatoes just for the awesomeness of the plants, I would grow these every year. These are humongous plants. This year's was 10 feet tall before the top of the plants started loaded up and bending down. The one I had last year reached 15 1/2' in length. These are very good tomatoes, but like Polish C, a bit sweet for my taste. This was not one of my first choices but wound up in the garden due to the freeze.

Rose Quartz Multi-Flora

Got these seeds from Bigcheef. Awesomely productive in the early season and very popular with cherry fanciers. Unlike Sweet Quartz (hybrid) they tend to play out a bit in the heat. If you want a nonstop production of small to medium cherries (I don't) I would suggesting growing one of each. Heat and EB has taken more of a toll on this plant than any of the others in the main garden.

Golden Queen USDA Strain

This is my favorite yellow. Has a fullbodied taste for a yellow and good texture. Comes in late and production is moderate. May try a new yellow next year to see if it can be beaten. If not, I will go back to GQ.

It has been a most interesting season so far. First my very early start was destroyed by a 22 degree freeze. Then we had a drought in late May and early June. Now we are in drought and heat wave conditions again. Predicted high for today is 104 and this ain't Houston, folks. I will be having some friends over for a cookout and taste test during Labor Day weekend so hopefully Bigcheef and I will still have some tomatoes to taste by then. At that point I will report on the majority opinion.

Problems:

BER - none so far
Stinkbugs - not many except on CPE
Aphids - moderate in the early season
Bacterial Speck - just one plant, love this dry weather
Hornworm - average infestation in early to mid-season
Early Blight - average but plants seem to stay ahead of it
Blister Beetles - none yet but I keep an eye out
Septoria - none
Late Blight - none
Southern Bacterial Wilt - none
Corn Borer Caterpillars - just a few in the early season

I have used NO pesticides or fungicides at all this year. I saw my first lacewings ever this year and they and the ladybugs were very helpful with the aphids.

mater

[Rena]

Wow great summary!!! I always love to compare notes.

[Tomatovator]

Mater
Heirloom Seeds sells seeds for "Big Red". I wonder if it is the same one you have?
http://www.heirloomseeds.com/tomatoes.htm

[tomatoguy]

Thanks, Tomatovator. Sure sounds like it. Guess I'll have to order some and grow them side by side with the ones I save. I did a search for them a couple of times but "big red tomato" produces quite a few superfluous results.

mater

[Ruth_10]

Mater, thanks for the summary. Sounds like you've been having basically the same weather as we're having here. I don't water my tomato plants, but rely on heavy mulching. Production has been good for me, but my general impression is that plant size is down a bit this year from previous years. EF and BWS have been tops in taste and productive here as well.

[Douglas14]

Very informative review! Much appreciated. I may have to give Big Red a try next year.