What is meant by 'mild' flavor?

[roper2008]

I was not going to grow Eva Purple Ball this year, but after reading
Carolyn's description I decided to grow it. The part that sold me
was "Seems to perform well for everyone, everywhere." "Sweet,
luscious, and quite juicy" sealed the deal for me.

[feldon30]

From Pathos and patter in real estate parlance and city-data.

Charming - small
Comfortable - very small
Cozy - very, very small. Slightly more spacious than a prison cell.

Low maintenance - no lawn

Bright and sunny - venetian blinds not included

Meticulously maintained in the original condition - the appliances are 50 years old

Natural setting - forget about planting, the deer will eat everything

Storybook - the house is old and the roof is not flat

Efficiently designed kitchen - the kitchen is too small to fit two people at the same time

Secluded location - In the middle-of-nowhere - barren and desolate. Suitable film set for Mad Max 5.

Studio - You can wash the dishes, watch TV, and answer the front door
without getting up from the toilet.


And the equivalent for tomatoes:

Mild - Without flavor. Able to pass the lips without leaving an impression. Insipid.

[Lee]

One thing I've discovered in 8 years of Tomatopalooza[tm] tastings, is that
tomatoes grown in different locations will taste different.

That is another reason one person's mild is another's sweet, and not just taste bud
differences.

But yes, I agree mild = nice way of saying bland (ie. don't bother) Which of course might be perfect for those with "Tomato allergies" (ie mouth blisters from eating too many maters.)

Lee

[organichris]

Originally Posted by Lee

One thing I've discovered in 8 years of Tomatopalooza[tm] tastings, is that
tomatoes grown in different locations will taste different.

That is another reason one person's mild is another's sweet, and not just taste bud
differences.

I've wondered about this. I have also wondered how other things factor in, specifically what the tomatoes are fed and how they are grown.

The best tomatoes I have eaten have been grown organically, but that doesn't necessarily mean that organic farming was the deciding factor in flavor. There are a number of possible factors.

[Lee]

Originally Posted by organichris

I've wondered about this. I have also wondered how other things factor in, specifically what the tomatoes are fed and how they are grown.

Ask Earl what he puts in his soil before planting. You'd be amazed at how
different tasting Earl's Faux is grown by Earl compared to the same plant
grown here in NC.
If I didn't know the seed source for both plants was Earl, I would've told you
they were two different varieties.
Earl's was sweet, whereas the NC grown one was distinctly tart. Both excellent
tasting mind you, but not even close in flavor-> sweet vs tart.

So, when I say Cuostralee is the best tasting tomato hands down.... it could be
true, or it could just be my soil.

I would love for 10 people from 10 different states all come to Tomatopalooza[tm] (hint, hint!)
this year and everyone bring a Cherokee Purple. I'd bet no two would taste the
same even to the same taster.....

Lee

[organichris]

Originally Posted by Lee

Ask Earl what he puts in his soil before planting. You'd be amazed at how
different tasting Earl's Faux is grown by Earl compared to the same plant
grown here in NC.
If I didn't know the seed source for both plants was Earl, I would've told you
they were two different varieties.
Earl's was sweet, whereas the NC grown one was distinctly tart. Both excellent
tasting mind you, but not even close in flavor-> sweet vs tart.

So, when I say Cuostralee is the best tasting tomato hands down.... it could be
true, or it could just be my soil.

I would love for 10 people from 10 different states all come to Tomatopalooza[tm] (hint, hint!)
this year and everyone bring a Cherokee Purple. I'd bet no two would taste the
same even to the same taster.....

Lee

I bought what, according to Sunny Valley Organics, is a Cherokee Purple tomato. I purchased it at a local grocer. It was good - very good, in fact - but I would say mine were better. Mine had an intensely rich sweet tast that I can best describe as strong.

There's is a product of Mexico and I would venture to say are probably not vine ripened. Mine was a product of Kansas and was completely rain-fed and not fertilized at all with the exception of a Spring application of bone meal to adjust the pH a bit. But consider all the variables - climate, soil, water, fertilizer, time of harvest in relation to ripeness, etc. Which factor(s) influenced the taste? Hard to tell.

[Sunsi]

Lee

I would love for 10 people from 10 different states all come to Tomatopalooza[tm] (hint, hint!)
this year and everyone bring a Cherokee Purple. I'd bet no two would taste the same even to the same taster.....

That would be interesting, indeed.

Ask Earl what he puts in his soil before planting. [...] Earl's was sweet, whereas the NC grown one was distinctly tart.

Ok, I'm curious because I like sweet and the tomatoes from my garden all seem to have a tart after-taste. Even tomatoes everyone else is raving about if I grow them here they are not so special. I've had Darrel Jones suggest certain tomatoes to try each year telling me how absolutely wonderful they are. Then when he asks how I liked them I don't have the heart to tell him.

Right now all I use in the soil is store bought manure-compost mix. We have friends saving their rabbit manure but with only one rabbit it may take awhile. This year I was going to add Epsom Salts but organichris says add bone meal too so maybe I'll try that also.

The only tomato that tastes half decent is Purple Haze so I wonder just how much better it can taste if I were to use the proper soil additives--even one of my favorites, Mortgage Lifter, doesn't have that delicious taste here at the new house. We have raised beds with dirt brought in to fill them up--who knows where this dirt came from. I should have an analysis from the Cooperative Extension done--does everyone else here have their soil analyzed?

[organichris]

Originally Posted by Sunsi

Right now all I use in the soil is store bought manure-compost mix. We have friends saving their rabbit manure but with only one rabbit it may take awhile. This year I was going to add Epsom Salts but organichris says add bone meal too so maybe I'll try that also.

The only tomato that tastes half decent is Purple Haze so I wonder just how much better it can taste if I were to use the proper soil additives--even one of my favorites, Mortgage Lifter, doesn't have that delicious taste here at the new house. We have raised beds with dirt brought in to fill them up--who knows where this dirt came from. I should have an analysis from the Cooperative Extension done--does everyone else here have their soil analyzed?

As far as epsom salts and bone meal go, I neither recommend them or recommend against them. I've never used epsom salts, but I think they are used for calcium, and presumably there would be some calcium available in bone meal. It's a micronutrient and I never really concern myself with it - maybe I should, but I don't. I use bone meal as my primary phosphorus source and secondary lime source.

As far as Mortgage Lifter goes, I have never tried it, but I got my seeds from Remy's store, and if memory serves she describes it as mild. Now that I know what she means by mild, I can compare her description to my own experience. I'm only growing one plant ML plant.

[tam91]

Well I find Lemon Boy mild, but pleast in combination with other tomatoes. I'll do a mixed plate with Lemon Boy, a black, and a red/pink. I find it's mild taste (and looks of course) a pleasant contrast. I wouldn't eat it by itself though.

Mortgage Lifter - I grew it once. I did find it mild - which I equated to tasteless. Didn't grow that one again.