Mr. Stripey?

[jflournoy]

I'm helping my son with his tomato growing business this year (1st year) and part of that help has entailed taking tomatoes hither and yon to various locations to sell them. We've been doing good business at a farmers market, but keep getting asked if we have any Mr. Stripey. At one of the produce auctions we've been selling at, we have noticed a definite trend that Mr. Stripey seem to draw a premium price, even among heirlooms, at least at this particular auction.

Mr. Stripey is not one of the varieties we grew this year, although we did grow one that looks similar, Big Rainbow. I have never tried Mr. Stripey and I have read a lot of comments on both ends of the spectrum about it. But my feelings are that, if we are growing tomatoes to sell, and Mr. Stripey is in large demand where we are selling, then we'd best "give the people what they want".

My questions are, what is Mr. Stripey like, both to grow and to eat? Any comments would be appreciated as we start to think about next year.

Thanks!

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by jflournoy

I'm helping my son with his tomato growing business this year (1st year) and part of that help has entailed taking tomatoes hither and yon to various locations to sell them. We've been doing good business at a farmers market, but keep getting asked if we have any Mr. Stripey. At one of the produce auctions we've been selling at, we have noticed a definite trend that Mr. Stripey seem to draw a premium price, even among heirlooms, at least at this particular auction.

Mr. Stripey is not one of the varieties we grew this year, although we did grow one that looks similar, Big Rainbow. I have never tried Mr. Stripey and I have read a lot of comments on both ends of the spectrum about it. But my feelings are that, if we are growing tomatoes to sell, and Mr. Stripey is in large demand where we are selling, then we'd best "give the people what they want".

My questions are, what is Mr. Stripey like, both to grow and to eat? Any comments would be appreciated as we start to think about next year.

Thanks!

Mr. Stripey is well known since plants for it are offered at almost all the big box stores.

Here's some background information

http://tatianastomatobase.com/wiki/Mr._Stripey

Having grown many gold/red bicolors I would place this variety close to the bottom of my list based on poor production, spindly plant and not always good taste. And I know some would agree with me, and not others

Fact is, that almost all the bicolors of this type are very finicky with respect to weather in any one season and in a good season, sweet and delicious, grown the next year mealy and bland,

There are well over a hundred gold/red bicolors listed in the SSE YEarbooks, for members only, and Tania also lists many of them as well/ So lots to chose from

Carolyn, and one of the ones she does like is Big Rainbow mentioned above.

[Cole_Robbie]

I don't like it, either. I like Lucky Cross a lot better.

[marc_groleau]

I found it very tasty and a nice fruit but extremely low production in my garden.

[jflournoy]

Thanks for the comments. I am planning to try Lucky Cross and a few other bi-colors as well, but I'm thinking I might need to plant Mr. Stripey as well just because it is such a favored variety at several of the places we've been selling this year.

[KarenO]

Berkeley tie-dye pink, black and red boar and many of the other striped offerings from the Wild Boar Farms breeding program are much better than Mr. Stripey in my opinion. Good luck to you and your son with the business
KarenO

[daninpd]

I usually grow 30 plants every year, 25 in the garden and 5 on the deck as "insurance" in case we have a cold year, this year I have 31 because someone gave me a Mr Stripey in April. Many of the plants are absolutely loaded with fruit, some varieties are producing heavier than I have ever seen. Mr Stripey has the distinction of having ZERO fruit set. I won't be growing it again, even as a gift.

I agree about Pink Berkeley Tie Dye. For years Kelloggs Breakfast has been my favorite for a combination of taste and texture, PBTD is, at least, tied with KB this year and may be headed to first place. Plus it's a beautiful tomato and even prettier when sliced.