Are Hearts typically Sweet?

lakelady · November 25, 2011

I have been modifying my grow list for 2012 over and over and noticed I had a lot of hearts. I know Carolyn loves hearts

. In reviewing because I'm trying to have a good mix of early, mid, late, red, pink, black, some highly productive, some exceptional taste, and on and on and on....I noticed most hearts or at least the ones I have are described as "sweet". Is that typical for hearts, or is it just the varieties I have?

Maybe I'm just going overboard trying to analyze and make sure I got all my bases covered

. I don't want too many sweet tomatoes and not enough other varieties.

**carolyn137** · November 25, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by lakelady

I have been modifying my grow list for 2012 over and over and noticed I had a lot of hearts. I know Carolyn loves hearts

. In reviewing because I'm trying to have a good mix of early, mid, late, red, pink, black, some highly productive, some exceptional taste, and on and on and on....I noticed most hearts or at least the ones I have are described as "sweet". Is that typical for hearts, or is it just the varieties I have?

Maybe I'm just going overboard trying to analyze and make sure I got all my bases covered

. I don't want too many sweet tomatoes and not enough other varieties.

Which heart varieties are you considering?

No, I don't think all hearts are sweet, but it's good to remember that taste is personal and perceptual and is also dependent on the weather in any one season, how plants are grown, if amendments are used and if so which ones and how often, what is the soil like or the mix in a container and on and on.

So are you over analyzing?

Considering all the variables I just mentioned do you think so yourself?

sprtsguy76 · November 26, 2011

I agree with Carolyn 100%. I like to grow alot of my tomatoes such as hearts and other types in containers and the soil I use is built by me which I considered to be a very fast soil, thats is one thats drains very well and dries out very quickly. The end result for me usually is smaller, sweeter, and more intense tasting tomatoes. Compared to the few but same varieties I grow in the ground where the soil structure is completely different, its much more water retentive and completely different amendments used which result in bigger and less sweet fruit but still good tasting. I've grown a few tomatoes known to be on the acidic side and not very sweet in my own built soil only to have them turn out to be really sweet.

Damon

lakelady · November 26, 2011

You got me. I really don't think about the soil structure as affecting taste (or didn't until recently that is) so yep, probably not something to really be concerned about. I keep cross checking and changing my list and perhaps I should just stick with what I have because it's fairly broad and covers a decent variety of tomatoes. Since my space is so limited it's really hard to narrow all this down ! Last night I went through it again, took a few out, put a few different types in. I'm just going to have to find more room because I'm saving one spot near the lake that gets good sun for the Dwarf Project, if I am allowed to grow out some of those seeds for 2012.

Damon, with all my new leaf mold I'm making these days, my soil sure will be more freely draining, so I'll keep your comments in mind, thanks!

ContainerTed · November 26, 2011

Nothing scientific and no data to prove or disprove, but I always felt like the tomatoes were "sweeter" when I mixed in a little bit of red clay dirt to the growing medium. Perhaps the plant biologists here can say whether or not the iron-rich clay could possobly change the taste.

Again, it was just an impression I had. I know my dad always made sure there was some red clay around his tomatoes and mom always put a few rusty nails around her roses.

sprtsguy76 · November 26, 2011

Antoniette -every year I go through several 'narrowing down' processes. My space is limited too but I do manage to squeeze stuff in pretty well. Now back to narrowing my list for 2012......

Damon

FILMNET · November 26, 2011

Last year terrible growing year, too much rain in June. It took to late August before i could leave fruits on plants, because the rain cracks them open. I had one of Brads Black Heart on the plant with nice color.I had my Italy friend, he is 92 years so me and him cut it open it was a 1 lbs one. He loved it, and me also,I told him my first on from outside, he was happy he told me about stories about growing tomato all his years ago in his home but the trees are to big now,no sun.
What a nice day, i love give him tomatoes, with this 6 kids giving him tomato all summer, he wast for mine!!!!!! Any of Brads

November 25, 2011	#1
lakelady Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: northern NJ zone 6b Posts: 1,862	Are Hearts typically Sweet? I have been modifying my grow list for 2012 over and over and noticed I had a lot of hearts. I know Carolyn loves hearts . In reviewing because I'm trying to have a good mix of early, mid, late, red, pink, black, some highly productive, some exceptional taste, and on and on and on....I noticed most hearts or at least the ones I have are described as "sweet". Is that typical for hearts, or is it just the varieties I have? Maybe I'm just going overboard trying to analyze and make sure I got all my bases covered . I don't want too many sweet tomatoes and not enough other varieties. __________________ Antoniette

November 26, 2011	#4
lakelady Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: northern NJ zone 6b Posts: 1,862	You got me. I really don't think about the soil structure as affecting taste (or didn't until recently that is) so yep, probably not something to really be concerned about. I keep cross checking and changing my list and perhaps I should just stick with what I have because it's fairly broad and covers a decent variety of tomatoes. Since my space is so limited it's really hard to narrow all this down ! Last night I went through it again, took a few out, put a few different types in. I'm just going to have to find more room because I'm saving one spot near the lake that gets good sun for the Dwarf Project, if I am allowed to grow out some of those seeds for 2012. Damon, with all my new leaf mold I'm making these days, my soil sure will be more freely draining, so I'll keep your comments in mind, thanks! __________________ Antoniette

November 26, 2011	#5
ContainerTed Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: 6a - NE Tennessee Posts: 4,538	Nothing scientific and no data to prove or disprove, but I always felt like the tomatoes were "sweeter" when I mixed in a little bit of red clay dirt to the growing medium. Perhaps the plant biologists here can say whether or not the iron-rich clay could possobly change the taste. Again, it was just an impression I had. I know my dad always made sure there was some red clay around his tomatoes and mom always put a few rusty nails around her roses. __________________ Ted ________________________ Owner & Sole Operator Of The Muddy Bucket Farm and Tomato Ranch

November 26, 2011	#3
sprtsguy76 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2007 Location: Santa Clara CA Posts: 1,125	I agree with Carolyn 100%. I like to grow alot of my tomatoes such as hearts and other types in containers and the soil I use is built by me which I considered to be a very fast soil, thats is one thats drains very well and dries out very quickly. The end result for me usually is smaller, sweeter, and more intense tasting tomatoes. Compared to the few but same varieties I grow in the ground where the soil structure is completely different, its much more water retentive and completely different amendments used which result in bigger and less sweet fruit but still good tasting. I've grown a few tomatoes known to be on the acidic side and not very sweet in my own built soil only to have them turn out to be really sweet. Damon

November 26, 2011	#7
FILMNET Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: North Charleston,South Carolina, USA Posts: 1,803	Last year terrible growing year, too much rain in June. It took to late August before i could leave fruits on plants, because the rain cracks them open. I had one of Brads Black Heart on the plant with nice color.I had my Italy friend, he is 92 years so me and him cut it open it was a 1 lbs one. He loved it, and me also,I told him my first on from outside, he was happy he told me about stories about growing tomato all his years ago in his home but the trees are to big now,no sun. What a nice day, i love give him tomatoes, with this 6 kids giving him tomato all summer, he wast for mine!!!!!! Any of Brads