Various Cherry Tomatoes, taste and ease

[NarnianGarden]

Those who have grown currant varieties: How does the taste differ from cherries or other tomatoes?
Already the seed collection on my shelf is growing, but I am thinking of adding a currant to next year's list. Either Sara's Galapagos, or the Pimpinellifolium variety.

Thanks again for answers

[livinonfaith]

After growing a fairly small tomato for a few years, (White Rabbit) I would say that a currant tomato would only appeal to me if it grew in large sprays that could be cut off and picked later. (So maybe you could grab a truss to pick on as a snack while you're watching TV.)

I love my White Rabbits, but it does get tiresome sometimes picking all those little guys! (Also, you have to pick those with the caps still on or they will split. The cap can make a difference of having to use them that day or having them last for full week.)

I'm also pretty sure that it has been said the currants are more likely to cross pollinate with your other tomatoes. So you would probably want to have them separate if you plan to save seeds. I believe one site said you should plant them at least 50 ft. from your other tomatoes?

If anyone has heard differently, please correct me.

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by NarnianGarden

Those who have grown currant varieties: How does the taste differ from cherries or other tomatoes?
Already the seed collection on my shelf is growing, but I am thinking of adding a currant to next year's list. Either Sara's Galapagos, or the Pimpinellifolium variety.

Thanks again for answers

I've grown many named and unnamed true currants, the red ones mainly,and you ask about taste.

The wee fruits are a bag of seeds and it's hard to describe the taste, so I'll just say that I love the taste of some of them but find that Sara's Galapagos, although not a true currant, has the best taste of all.

It used to be thought that the true currant ones all had exerted stigmas which could lead to Xpollinations,but it turns out that only about a half do and one person says he's more worried about the currants X pollinating his regular varieties,not the opposite.

I never used any specific isolation distances when growing the true currants and I suredidn't when growing Sara's Galapagos.

I think it was Dr, Jeff McCormack who used to own SESE who spoke to a 50 ft isolation distance, but Jeff was commercial so had more of a vested interest and he also is the epitome of conservative isolation distances.

Carolyn

[RobinB]

Some of the varieties mentioned in this thread are way too large for a pot, at least in my experience. Green Zebra Cherry is always tall AND wide for me. Mine this year had to be topped at 7' so I could have a chance to reach the fruit. Same with Black Cherry. It's always tall for me, and I didn't like that nearly every fruit cracked. If you're talking about something that can be grown in a pot, I'm really loving Chadwick's Cherry (aka Camp Joy) this year. Wonderful flavor, prolific, and not too tall. I've got a couple others new to me this year that are just wonderful and not so tall. Both are from J & L Gardens (not sure if they will ship to Finland, though.) They are Submarine Blush (small yellow/red pear) and Starfire Isis (red/yellow striped). Neither plant is really huge and both are very sweet and quite prolific.

[Kazfam]

Large red Cherry. Excellent plants, excellent size, excellent taste.

Just made a huge batch of chili sauce out of mine.

Kazfam,

I.m growing Large Red Cherry for the first time this fall and plan on growing it again next spring. It has been my understanding it is a bright red cherry tomato.. Your photo shows them to be more of an orange/red variety. Were yours picked before they were fully ripe?

Ted

[NarnianGarden]

Thanks all. Most likely, I would not attempt to harvest seeds, so cross-pollination avoidance would not be an issue. (although it would be fun to see if I can get an accidental cross... do not tempt me )

All of my tomato gardening will be in pots, just like this year, and all my container babies have lots of fruit. (just waiting for the first blush...)
Already got seeds for Balck Cherry as the general consensus at various gardening sites seems to hold it in a very high esteem. Also have a couple dwarf/patio varieties, Red Robin and a Cranberry Sugar (from Russia) that will be fun to grow and pass around as gifts to friends and neighbors.

Still curious how different a currant may taste compared to a 'normal' tomato. (then, what is normal?) I was thinking the pimpinellifolium might have a more 'wild', 'original' sort of taste, but a higher lycopene amount would be great as well..

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by NarnianGarden

Thanks all. Most likely, I would not attempt to harvest seeds, so cross-pollination avoidance would not be an issue. (although it would be fun to see if I can get an accidental cross... do not tempt me )

All of my tomato gardening will be in pots, just like this year, and all my container babies have lots of fruit. (just waiting for the first blush...)
Already got seeds for Balck Cherry as the general consensus at various gardening sites seems to hold it in a very high esteem. Also have a couple dwarf/patio varieties, Red Robin and a Cranberry Sugar (from Russia) that will be fun to grow and pass around as gifts to friends and neighbors.

Still curious how different a currant may taste compared to a 'normal' tomato. (then, what is normal?) I was thinking the pimpinellifolium might have a more 'wild', 'original' sort of taste, but a higher lycopene amount would be great as well..

There is no normal taste IMO b/c there are many variables associated with the taste of tomatoes, including a human genetic compnent.

From the SSE Yearbooks I've grown several accessions that have the word wild as part of then ame and since I don't know what a wild taste is, all I can say is that.

Carolyn

[Kazfam]

Ted - the tomatoes were redder in reality than the picture showed...here is another picture of another batch ready to be eaten. A close up, if you will.

They taste wonderful and sweet. I love the size - great for salsa.

It's a big plant - needs good staking or caging.

[zipcode]

From what 'almost currant' tomatoes I tried, they all have really low production. I plant them for late blight resistance, but they're not terribly worth it. Taste is quite good however.
I think in the cherry department the hybrids offer a lot more than most OP. Better taste and much much better production. Try Cherrola F1 for example. There are also some awesome tasting hybrids for mass producers, unfortunately not really available to poor mortals.