Larger Tomatoes With Real Taste

[Suze]

Don, I think your list is just fine. Maybe consider switching out one of those reds for a yellow/orange/bicolor variety just to mix things up a bit.

[TomatoDon]

Well, C, yes it has been a good thread. But it ain't over yet. I had no idea that it would lead to 1,100+ hits and 70+ replies.

Isn't this a good forum M has? Best I've seen. I am a pure novice, but M's team is an All-Star team of tomato experts, and that's why I came here, and that's why I stay.

I think I have my 2006 list ready now. Time to order seeds. Am a week late. I wish I could cull two off the list, to save space. I wish I could add 25 more for fun.

Now, you Heirloom experts...I gotta quit talking and start planting. Stop tempting me with all this other old/new stuff.

Don

"all I know 'bout maters is...you plant em and you eat em...

[TomatoDon]

Suze...which one would you take off the list, and what would you add?

Don

"when a woman gets to pointing her finger in the garden you don't know how long it will take..." Pompado

[Suze]

Suze...which one would you take off the list, and what would you add?

Remove? Better Boy or Rutgers.
(you asked -- my opinion)

Add? Lucky Cross. But again, I think your overall list is fine, just a gentle suggestion.

I think the most important factor at this point is that, in regards to ordering and starting seeds for a 7b climate, you need to:



So, I'd recommend that you not let any further suggestions distract you at this point. 8) Time to order...

[TomatoDon]

Suze,

How many plants do you grow each year?

Don

Down in Miss-is-sippi....down in Miss-IS-sippi....down in Mississ-is-sippi where-ah I was bawn....down in Miss-is-sippi where-ah I come frawm...down in Miss-is-sippi...

[coronabarb]

I'm really enjoying this thread. One comment caught my eye, Don.

"I used to do some field trialing over in that area."

What kind of dogs? I have field trial springers.

Sorry, everyone, carry on....

[TomatoDon]

Hi Barb,

I had bird dogs. Pointers and a Brittany. I was in MS, but our region was called the Alabama Region. Ran trials mostly in north MS and Alabama. Those were some fun days, back in the late 80's, and I met some great friends that way. Just like here!

Don

[lumierefrere]

What about one of those Virginia Sweets Carolyn is quite fond of ?

[TomatoDon]

hi umierefrere,

I've about driven my self nuts over this list, and hope I can leave it alone now. I've never preferred the sweet ones anyway, but maybe that's one reason I should try some. But still, unless something truly outstanding jumps out, I'm planning to get the seeds ordered.

Stopped at a nursery down state today to see if they had any plants yet, but no luck. My niece used to live in Slidell, LA (Katrina got it and messed up their house so bad they had to move), and I was there last Valentine's Day and her neighbor had already planted his. I hope I can get seeds by next week and start them. Are styroform cups as good as anything to start them in? I see a lot of pictures of them here. I have a large stack of some jumbo size.

Thanks for the suggestion! Happy planting!

Don

[Plantersville]

Don
I noticed that Wally World had some mater plants the other day when I drove by. Didnt stop to look and I also noticed Lowes had some out tooo. I did stop at lowes and they had Better Bush, I think it was for $9.95....I'm in the wrong business.
Chuck B

[TomatoDon]

Plantersville, I imagine you are a couple of weeks ahead of us. And we still cold snaps until mid April.

Thanks for the tip. I'll check anyway.

Don

[BillP]

Don, Mark made a good point! Besides, in your quest for the holy grail of a real tomato taste, perhaps you should take into consideration that taste is subjective, not everyone likes the same things, and not every ones taste is the same. Were you ever in a class room where they passed out litmus paper strips for people to taste ?

A majority may agree that one tomato taste better than another, but the minority do not agree with their assessment. All those other factors DO come into play, the same variety may not taste quite the same coming from the same garden next year due to so many variables.
From the postings, it would seem that most agree that Neves Azorian taste good, and it is a big tomato. I agree, I was throughly impressed with it last year, not just the size and taste, but such a big sturdy plant with lots of folliage and loaded with tomatoes. Yet, it still has not replaced the big red beefsteak at the top of my list. Other good ones that I recommend are Mortgage lifter, SuperSteak, Brandy Boy, Cherokee Purple (not as big) and a few others, but I do not want to confuse you further. ":^)
Bill P.

[TomatoDon]

Hi Bill, and thanks,

Yes, I've asked a lot of questions here about size and taste, but remember I have no experience with Heirlooms. Never saw one, never tasted one. I did try a couple of Brandy's in barrels last year, but the heat got them.

I knew if I asked such questions that I would get some pretty diverse suggestions, but that a few varieties would keep coming up over and over as generally well trusted favorites for me to try, and they did.

When I looked through the seed catalogs in January I was picking plants by picture and description, without truly knowing much about them at all. "Mexico" is a good example. Naturally, every seed seller wants to make them all sound good. So I turned to the real tomato growers here who do it for enjoyment and taste, and who would give me more accurate answers, in accordance with my likes and needs.

My first list, composed from the catalogs, doesn't even resemble my list now. I know that a lot depends on location, conditions, soil, and on and on...but I've gotten enough feedback now to come up with a list that seems to meet the general approval of the real experts here. All things being equal, I don't think there's a dud in the batch. Every time someone had concerns and doubts about a variety I had chosen, I culled it off the list. Therefore I came up with a list of about fifteen, and all but two are those I've never grown.

As I learn this Heirloom game I can try more and more different varieties in the future, and with experience I can, hopefully, start knowing for myself what does and does not work for me. At that point 80% of it would be sticking with my proven winners, and a little experimentation with new ones for fun. I've probably saved many, many growing seasons experimenting with varieties to find what I like, just by asking questions here. Thanks M!

Thanks!

Don

[TomatoDon]

Are any of you finding plants at Wally World now? I know some are, in Zone 8. We are bracing for an ice storm, which hasn't come yet. I doubt we'll see plants at WW for another month.

Don

[TomatoDon]

I was looking back over this post. Wow, it has brought on almost 90 replies and 1,600 reads. The most Tomatoville has had. We've had so much fun with this crazy thing!

In one of the earliest replies markferon posted:

don what do mean when you say real taste?

It reminded me of an old Louis Armstrong comment. Someone axed that master of jazz, "Just what is jazz?"
Louie said, "If you gotta axe, you will never know."

Same with all things, including tomato taste.

Don