Carbon Copy thoughts and observations for 2016

[imp]

It is a cherry tomato, not a beef steak type. And a darn tasty one! I'll grow Ron's Carbon Copy again.

[charline]

I tasted my first Carbon Copy a few days ago and what a shock! a real explosion of flavor in my mouth !
sure I will save seeds! this one will come back for ever! and I will distribute seeds to all my tomatofriends here in France !

[BigVanVader]

Mine have performed well and are producing some fine tasting tomatoes. One of the more resistant varieties to splitting so far this year as well.

[dipchip2000]

The concentric cracking has not been a huge problem this year or even last year. The radial cracking seems to happen after fruit is ripe and a rain or heavy shower happens before they are picked. I personally have solved this by picking them at first blush and ripening inside on counter. Flavor still remains sensational even ripening inside the house.

Just an added bit of something I have learned this year.I grow in raised beds and do not till ever. Last year after season was over and all plants and cages pulled, I sprayed the beds with 10 percent bleach water very thoroughly. I let them set all winter and added manure compost in spring on top and still no tilling. I sprayed once more with Bills bleach spray formula and covered each bed with weed cloth.
I planted 4 plants per 12 foot bed by cutting small X where the plant goes into ground. After planting mulching entire bed with wheat straw.
The four plants have filled up the 12 foot bed and are well over 6 feet tall and very productive.
It is mid July and daily temps at 100 degrees and still NO SIGN OF DISEASE OF ANY KIND. a first for me. Luck or my extra effort , I don't know but definitely worth trying again.

ron

[imp]

Ron, no cracking here, even when we had the torrential rain storms, *sigh* that just knocked everything back. No cracking and so far, no diseases.

The flavor is surprising and just terrific. It's just a big burst of flavor and especially for a cherry!

It's still blooming like mad, though with this heat here, another week in/at 100 +/- a degree or two, I don't expect fruit set. I'll shake it about in the morning again- ever hopeful as all gardeners must be, LOL- and will check it.

This variety will have an ongoing spot in my gardens from now on.

You did good, Ron, real good with this one!

[JRinPA]

Originally Posted by dipchip2000

I have 20 Carbon Copy plants that are producing more than can be picked, The hot and dry season has kicked them into mass production. I really would like to hear about other peoples growing experience with them.
Due to my health limitations, this is probably my last year to grow many plants. I can not take care of them properly anymore. I will try to grow 2 or 3 plants for personal consumption if I can manage it.
Anyone growing Carbon Copy and liking it please save your own seeds and pass them on to others.

thanks

ron

I have one plant, one at an elderly friends, and some at my brothers. I can speak for the first two that they have done well in CRW cages. Some splits when nearing ripe but nothing unusual. The taste is atypical. It is a very smooth taste, not super sweet. Not dry, but not dripping with juice running down the chin like most cherries. Firm and full. My 6yo nephew said it was like a plum, and I thought he meant the color. But thinking about it, and eating more for the last couple weeks, both the flavor and texture/consistency really do approximate a plum. A mild sweet and even little sour. A very unique taste for a tomato.

[Scooty]

Radial cracking has been an issue as well. Taste is best described as mildly sweet with strong savory or umami component, which makes sense given its Carbon parentage.

Brix comes in around 7.0 ish for me. But PH is slightly higher than a lot if not most of the other varieties I'm trialing this year (4.40-4.50 range).

If I get time to miniaturize Black Krim, I'll either have a micro-beefsteak or another cherry to go with this Carbon Copy.

[Old chef]

Originally Posted by imp

Ron, no cracking here, even when we had the torrential rain storms, *sigh* that just knocked everything back. No cracking and so far, no diseases.

The flavor is surprising and just terrific. It's just a big burst of flavor and especially for a cherry!

It's still blooming like mad, though with this heat here, another week in/at 100 +/- a degree or two, I don't expect fruit set. I'll shake it about in the morning again- ever hopeful as all gardeners must be, LOL- and will check it.

This variety will have an ongoing spot in my gardens from now on.

You did good, Ron, real good with this one!

Ron
Ditto for me. Love the big tomato robust flavor in this cherry sized jewel
It will be a staple for me!!

Thank you for your efforts
You be well
Old,chef

[SharonRossy]

It's the most prolific plant I have. It just keeps producing tons of tomatoes. Actually it's gone crazy in my garden. Love it. Will save seed for sure. Thanks Ron, it's a winner.
Sharon