Tomato plants as gifts

[lumierefrere]

I'm thinking of sending someone 2 or 3 plants this spring. She's on Long Island Sound in CT so that would be pretty warm zone 6 maybe. I think she has limited gardening skills and the plants probably wouldn't be babied but she and her family would get a kick out of having a few heirlooms or less available hybrids like Momotaro perhaps.

I'm looking for suggestions. Something that can be ignored, won't get huge and yet is delightful. I was thinking Eva Purple Ball but I didn't have good luck with that last year and I've heard there's a tendency for the fruit to drop off when ripe.

A Brandywine? Sudduth perhaps?

A pink, a black/purple and maybe something yellow or orange or bicolor?


Barb

[giardiniere]

Since she has limited gardening skills, perhaps she wouldn't be so overwhelmed, if you sent her a determinate variety. Most heirlooms are indeterminate, but there are a few to choose from. Cosmonaut Volkov, Czech's Bush, Luck Leprechaun, and Martino's Roma, are a few choices.

[lumierefrere]

A determinate is something to consider.

[seeker]

Barb,
New Big Dwarf would be a good choice, IMHO---strong central stem, needs minimal support, gets about 3' tall, beautiful rugose foliage, and the fruit is delicious. For a yellow, Azoychka has done very well for me, and tends to stay a manageable size.
Paula

[lumierefrere]

NBD is an interesting suggestion.

What are the flavor characteristics of Azoychka? I've heard it was more on the tart side.

I'm starting to think the size is too limiting and leaves out too many interesting choices. She has a husband. Let him go out and drive a couple stakes into the ground.

[Dunkel]

I'm in zone 6 here. I grew German Johnson last year. They didn't get full sun and still produced plenty of great tomatoes. They do get kind of tall though.

[lumierefrere]

What about Earl's Faux? Is that more productive generally than what's usually said about Brandywines? I want her to have more than 4 tomatoes off the plant.

[jenn_sc]

What about a cherry? If there are kids, they would probably love them. And for me, cherries are always lower maintenance...and easy is good for beginners!

Jennifer

[lumierefrere]

I thought about that, too. I know most people would choose Sungold or Black Cherry. How about Rainbow Bicolor Cherry?

[seeker]

Barb,
I thought Azoychka tasted great, but, yes, it was slightly on the tart side. I liked it a lot. However, keep in mind that I LOVE Silvery Fir Tree, LOL.
I wouldn't give up on the size thing. There are plenty of small-size plants with good fruit. Quarter Century is very good, as is Lime Green Salad. Czech's Bush is nice. And Bush Big Boy. Oh...I almost forgot Kimberly---it's terrific, and super-early. All of those could be grown with a store-bought cage (anchored with a stake or two).
I'm sure they'll love whatever you pick!
Paula

[lumierefrere]

I was trying to come up with 1 representative of each coloration--a pink, a black, a yellow/orange/bicolor. What we might consider very appealing for all sorts of reasons I think comes from being involved in it. For a newcomer to this seeing Golden Queen for example is going to be a knock-out experience. You'd never have seen something like that or heard of anything like that.

Maybe I'm trying to do too much all in 3 plants, but I think it can be done. I could make it real easy and say Golden Queen, Magnus and Black Cherry. Except I wasn't crazy about Black Cherry. So Dr. Carolyn, Momotaro and Noir de Crimee? Altho it would be excellent to have an American tomato. So Golden Queen, Momotaro and Noir de Crimee. But then there's no cherry. Lucky Cross, Besser and Noir de Crimee. None of which I've grown. Little Lucky Heart (that takes care of unusual shape and unusual coloration) Magnus and Black from Tula. Still no cherry in there.

Barb