Earliest to Bear GREAT Heirlooms

[greggf]

What are the earliest-to-produce, truly GREAT-tasting heirlooms?

I'm not talking super-earlies, like Kimberly. I'm not talking plain OP's like Stupice. I mean TASTE, not an early-season compromise, yet still early enough to make them possible in cooler climates. I mean heirlooms that you could live with as your only heirlooms all season long.

I'll toss out Anna Russian and Pruden's Purple as two that people seem to repeatedly toss out as ones that are superior to the Stupices of the world, but are still no later than mid-season.

I know that what ripens early-ish or mid-ish in your climate may not ripen early-ish or mid-ish in mine or any other, etc. But play along. The catalogs are starting to come, so I have to make my lists. And I'm very unhappy that Brandywine Sudduth has ripened properly only one season out of many. This is the year to find a replacement or six! 8)

=gregg=

[barkeater]

Prudens and Anna were lousy for me, as was Gregori Altai. But Moskvich is a standout for season long flavor, good size, and earliness in my zone 3 climate.

[Andrey_BY]

If we consider only heirlooms Moskvich is probably not a case since it could be the same Moskvich which had been developed by Vavilov Genetic Institute (IOGEN, Moscow) in early 1970s. So it is a Russian CV and has got a history of less than 50 years :wink:

If not from heirlooms but just OPs I'm nominating Cosmonaut Volkov which is usually quite early (70-75 days) and very productive with beefsteak size very tasty fruits.

[greggf]

Waaaa, no fair, Barkeater. I think Andrey is right. Moskvich is just O.P.

But that's okay. Very good inside tips on Pruden's Purple and Anna Russian in our climate.

And Moskvich is one I've eyed for a decade. Maybe time to try it. I see it in Johnny's catalog every season. That and "Scotia" from Vesey's or Stokes. (Also a non-heirloom, I'm afraid.)

And maybe it's time to try "New Yorker" again. It was good.

I'll call New Yorker an heirloom. I read that it was developed in Geneva, NY, in 1943. That's old enough for me.

=gregg=

[Tomatovator]

Tomatodor
Have you grown both Moskvich and Cosmonaut Volkov? How do they compair?

[feldon30]

and yet, Gregori's Altai is a main cropper for some in Houston with supposed good flavor.

I had my first Stupice yesterday. Pretty devoid of flavor for me. Silvery Fir Tree might not have a full tomato flavor, but it at least has that acidity and tartness. Stupice didn't really have any flavor profile for me. This was the first off the plant so I'll get to try out more. In other news, I have one big Black Krim and one big Azoychka in the light green-dark green stage which indicates ripening is not too far off.

[greggf]

Feldon,

Make sure you tell us what the Black Krim (which some find early) and Azoychka taste like down your way as fall croppers.........

=gregg=

[gardengalrn]

I have to say that I loved Gregori's Altai this year. It was early and very very tasty. I could live with it if it were my only tomato but I hope it never comes to that, LOL.

[Tomstrees]

I've read alot of good things about
Matina ... early - good production -
Ind - good favor ~

I wish Silvery Fir Tree was Ind. ...

Tom

[feldon30]

Matina and Stupice are sort of brothers if you will.

Some more super-early Russian vars I have seen posted before.

Alba
Beli Naliv 241
Betta
Boney M
Early 83 (Ranny 83)
Kimberly
Paw
Polyarnik
Polyarny Skorospely
Praleska
Orange-1
Snow Bars
Tamina (Matina)
Shchelkovski Early
Stupice


Some year I will try Orange-1 if I don't have results with Persimmon or KB.

[Mantis]

Aunt Ginny has been my first this year but it was sown very early. I would have to throw in my vote for Gregoris Altai. Early, large and very tasty. Its my most vigourous plant so far this year but was sown much later than AG.

[Andrey_BY]

Originally Posted by feldon27

Matina and Stupice are sort of brothers if you will.

Some more super-early Russian vars I have seen posted before.

Alba
Beli Naliv 241
Betta
Boney M
Early 83 (Ranny 83)
Kimberly
Paw
Polyarnik
Polyarny Skorospely
Praleska
Orange-1
Snow Bars
Tamina (Matina)
Shchelkovski Early
Stupice


Some year I will try Orange-1 if I don't have results with Persimmon or KB.

I can easily double or even triple this list with all our early and super early tomato varieties, but most of them bear rather small to medium size fruits (50-100 g) and they are commercial OPs :wink:
I think Persimmon (Khurma) and Orange-1 are not on the same league since the first one is a midseason Russian heirloom with small/normal beefsteak fruits and we can grow it only in greenhouse here in Zone 4a and the second one is a mid-early Belarusian CV specially developed for open soil growing in Zone 3-5 with medium size fruits. Try both since they are flavourfull! :wink:

[feldon30]

I guess maybe Orange-1 and Azoychka are closer together as far as scheduling?

[carolyn137]

Andrey sent me Orange-1 and it is early and it does have small fruits that are a nice dark orange and it does taste good. Good, not great as I see it.

I listed it in the SSE Yearbook with credits to Andrey.

And I believe Barkeater on the Canadian border, not that far from you Gregg, also liked Orange-1.

I'll have to think of other earlies that I like. As Earl knows, Silvery Fir Tree, nee Carrot-like it's original name, is not one of them.

But what one person sees as a GREAT tasting EARLY OP my well not be that to another person, as we all know.

[Andrey_BY]

Not at all Azoychka (which is known in Russian as Zolotoy Barago or Azochka) has much taller vines and larger lemon yellow fruits with the sweet taste with the hint of citrus. Orange-1 is more compact and bears medium size orange fruits with excellent for such early variety sweet, but no bland flavour...