One Tomato To Live By !

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by Suze

Break O'Day might be a good one to try for what you're wanting. Picardy might be another one.

I will have to stand next to that, it and Zogola are real winners this year for me, they are just loaded with blooms.

Like Carolyn said, "A real work horse.

Suze, I am so glad I saved seed from that one last year.

Worth

[FlipTX]

At this point, I'd have to go with Arkansas Traveler. It did so well for me last year. Tasted great, was productive longer in the heat than any other of my other plants.

That said, I'm growing Eva Purple Ball for the first time this year thanks to Feldon. If it does even better in the heat than AT, I might change my answer.

[ddsack]

Another vote for Earl's Faux. Maybe not the most productive for me, but I wouldn't be without that exquisite flavor. I grow four plants of it every year, and it has a permanent place in the lineup of 35-45 varieties I have room for. I have room for about 60 plants and ideally grow 2 of each variety, but I find myself limiting a few to just one specimen so that I can have more Earl's Faux!

[Glenn 50]

"There can be only one"
The Highlander. Good movie. Sequels stunk.
For my one it would have to be Russian Red because it is a survivor that will thrive on little or no attention.

[duajones]

Break O Day is on my to grow list as well as Moskvich or Bloody Butcher. If Cherokee Purple would give me at least 20 fruit per plant I think I could live with just one variety.

[Raymondo]

Cherokee Pu ... no, Fritsche, no, no, hang on, err ... College Challenger, wait, no, not red, uh cherries, yeah, no wait, I've got it, Jaune Flammée, yes, that's the one, but Dr Carolyn's good too ........... arrrrrrrrgh!

[rxkeith]

no clear cut winner for me. my most productive, year in and out could be matina, but its not what i would use for canning. sentimental favorite is my uncle steve italian plum. even though its not the best tomato for my climate, it is a good canner, slicer, and taster, however you want to eat it. growth, and productivity is good in southern michigan, not as productive in the north. i'd just have to grow more is all.
zone 5 here, but a cooler summer due to lake affect.
it takes longer for the ground to warm up, because the snow isn't gone till mid april.

keith

[Ruth_10]

I'm not through trialing them yet. I will let you know in another twenty to thirty years.

[arlinek]

Here's another vote for Better Boy!! I've grown toms in about three seasons so far, including several heirlooms. But for me, if I only could pick ONE, hands down it's the Better Boy. It's very reliable, easy to grow and most important, the taste is superb and consistent for us. I love the tangy flavor - not too sweet and sugary - just right. Love, love, love 'em. (Keep in mind the "old hands" here likely cringe when this tomato is praised - they typically go for the heirlooms.) Almost forgot, zone 9, San Diego.

arline

[gardengalrn]

I really had to think about this. Productive? Taste? It came down to me thinking about which variety I would be most upset by if I had a crop failure of any kind. Earl's Faux is my favorite tomato, did well for me in KY, and I would be HIGHLY upset if I didn't get at least a few plants in the ground.

[Lomatia]

I agree with Raymondo. There are some very hard decisions to make. I have seed of Eva Purple Ball to try next season but I also have Betterboy as well as friend of mine grew it in the past and I thought it was a perfectly formed/shaped good flavoured tom with a good yield.
Zogola did well this past season for me as well so there seems to be a good trend happening.

[HarvestTime]

I'd have to mix up a bag of sticks, half labeled "Black Krim", half labeled "Cherokee Purple" n stick my hand in n pull one out.

I love them both. Pick one, n make me live off it

Harvest

[Elliot]

Ilove Myracle sweet

[Sorellina]

Ciao all-

Easy peasy..Opalka, hands down. I AM a canner and in fact, in these parts I'm known as the Queen of Canning, putting up over 50 cases of various tomato products each year and Opalka wins in every single category. It makes fabulous sauce, salsa, ketchup, paste, V8 juice, bruschetta..it's tops in salads from Insalata Caprese with fresh mozzarella and basil to Panzanella with cubes of stale Italian bread to eating fresh and hot out of the garden sans salt. It's productive, it's healthy, it tolerates humidity or rain. I love it love it love it. Probably as much as Lee loves Cuostralee.

[jcmorse33]

Only my second year seriously growing tomatoes... ask me again in four or five years and I might have an answer for you.