Heirloom Newbie

[HoosierDaddy]

Oh how I wish I found this site last winter. I am growing nothing like you seasoned veterans are growing.
But after a few years of dealing with the store bought or mail order tomato plants and dealing with diseases and fungus I switched to something completely different.
This all started last year after a down right wet and cool summer here in SE Michigan. Of the 6 hybrids plants, 2 died by mid June. The others withered along but made it through the season. They were terribly late to ripen.
After the growing season I sought the advice of a very chatty owner of our feed and seed store. I applied lime and chicken manure and copper sulphate to the soil. I also prepped a second completely new area for tomatoes.
This year I started 12 different varieties from seeds in order to find out which ones grew best, tasted best and suffered the least from diseases and blights. I planted a few that were supposed to be good for cool wet areas in case we had another unusual summer. I also installed drip irrigation. I transplanted my starts earlier than most using Kozy Kuffs (Water Walls). I transplanted on April 23rd and most residential growers in Michigan don't plant until May 15 - 25th. Most of my plants are caged but I experimented with stringing up on 3 of them and I may use only the stringing up approach next year.
My neighbors think I am nuts and they are possibly right but I'm having fun.
Anyway here are my results so far and it has not been wet and cool here this summer.
BRANDYWINE - SUDDUTHS: Suffering a bit from fungus. About 20 inches of the bottom leaves have been cut off to remove fungus damage leaves. Wife picked the first tomato while I was gone this weekend.More are turning pink now. A steady supply is anticipated.
STUPICE: One of my cool wet weather picks. Doing great in the hot and dry summer. Been producing steady for two weeks now.
DONA: My wife likes to make bruchetta and she likes a roma Tomato. I asked her why and she thinks the roma is meaty with few seeds. Dona's description fits this spec. None have ripened yet.
PURPLE PASSION: Started producing almost ripened fruit this week. Hope they taste as great as Diane from Diane's seeds stated.
BIG BEEF: I know, not an Heirloom but had to try it. Waiting on it to ripen.
CAMP JOY cherry tomato: Hugh plant. Loaded with green cherry tomatoes. This thing is going to feed my neighborhood .
SUN GOLD cherry tomato: What a fantastic tasting cherry tomato. A bit of fungus causing me to snip off some leaves but nothing serious,,,,yet.
MARMANDE: Another french contender for the bruschetta tomato. Not ripe yet.
AUNT LUCY'S ITALIAN PASTE: Smaller fruit than I expected. Another bruschetta trial variety. None ripe yet.
JUNE PINK: A cool wet plant choice. Did not look good at all in the hot June weather. Plant took on an unhealthy looking yellow color. I cut it out to spare any contagious actions.
ITALIAN HEIRLOOM: Had two ripen early. Love the taste of this variety.
MRS. MAXWELL'S BIG ITALIAN: Mrs Maxwell lived in Mexico, MO. I lived there for a few years. I didn't need anyother reason to try this. None ripe yet. Lots of big fruit being produced.
RUSSIAN BIG ROMA: This plant is not very big, does not have a lot of foliage and few fruits. Not sure what is wrong, if anything, or just a natural trait.
BLACK CRIMSON: Lots of fruit just starting to turn pink. Told the wife it is a purple/black and wait on it.

Sorry this is so long. I look forward to learning a lot from this group. I already see tomato names I've never heard of before and will have to try a few next season.

[Wi-sunflower]

BRANDYWINE - SUDDUTHS: She pikced it pink not knowing it was a purple/black tomato.

I don't know where you got that idea, but Sudduths is a dark pink, not purple at all.

Check this page http://tatianastomatobase.com/wiki/B...e,_Sudduth%27s

Welcome to the wide world of Heirloom and OP tomatoes.

Carol

[HoosierDaddy]

Thank you for getting me back on track. I got it confused with something else.
Yippee! I've got some ready to be picked in a day or two.

[kath]

Welcome, hoosierdaddy! You have a very impressive list for one just starting out with heirlooms! Picking tomatoes with any blushing will result in a nice ripe tomato if you can keep from eating it; have been picking that way to avoid splitting from rain showers and still getting wonderful tasting maters.

Found this site in January this year and am growing some on your list- Sungold, always- gotta love it- perfect snacks in the garden, day after day. Purple Passion- I bought the hype, too- guess we'll see. Brandywine, Suddeth's- very, very good! June Pink- all "ugly" fruits so far and not a taste yet. Camp Joy- used to be my fav cherry until I found Sungold- am growing again this year to remember why, but no ripe ones yet. Black Crimson- guess that's different from Black Krim, which I've grown before and liked and am growing again this year to compare it with the other blacks I'm trying.

No problems with disease yet here(can't believe I just typed this), but that's sure not to last. Planted on May 6th and again on June 10 to replace the ones lost in the frost May 10th but we have had hot and dry this year and they seem happy and so am I. Lost all to late blight by July 27 in last year's cold wet excuse for a summer.

Hope you find lots to your liking and the diseases allow you to taste everything and get your fill. Plenty to learn and many to learn from- this site is the best. Yeah, the neighbors think you're crazy until you start to supply them with the best maters they've ever had! Mine are keeping their own lists of their favorites!