Question regarding Opalka

[BR]

As compared to other indeterminate tomatoes in my garden Opalka seems kinda short and stocky. They are among the most healthy looking plants but they are only about three feet tall when many others are nearly twice as tall. Is this normal?

[barkeater]

It was for me, too. Plus, they were one of the last varieties I planted last year to ripen, out of 33.

[Ruth_10]

I haven't grown Opalka in several years, but when I did the plant was pretty good sized, not small at all.

[keithaxis]

Mine are good sized, not as large as an Aunt Ruby's or or Black Cherry but good sized. My Opalka are always the most yellow as far as the plant color goes but that must be normal as they are planted in the same conditions as all other 50 plants. They always look so darn sad with the way the wispy leaves look...but they fruit well and taste great...

Hope you actually have Opalka...

Keith

[lindapf]

Opalka ia one of the heirlooms I was given. 3 tomatoes seem to have rot not at the blossom end.... but the bottom of the tomato. What might it be?

This is not happening to any of the other tomatoes growing in the bed. [can you tell I'm new to this]

[korney19]

blossom end = bottom end... sounds like you have BER (Blossom End Rot.)

[neoguy]

Sorry, off subject for a moment,

Barkeater, Where in VT are you? I went to school in a tiny town called Saxtons River, just outside Bellows Falls, just north of .... you get the picture. I hope to be attending my 30 year high school reunion in about 7 weeks.

[Angelo Dorny]

Normally a think that 'Opalka' is a determinate tomato variety...
I grow this variety this year and here 's the plant over 1.50m high.
On that high the plant stop growing .
Here in Flemish language we say 'Korte klimmer' and translated to English that will be: 'Short grower' .
Here's a picture of the Opalka fruits:


Friendly greetings
Angelo

[Tania]

I am growing Opalka this year - the plants are indet., not huge but good height (5-6' tall), the foliage is of a lighter shade of green and somewhat wispy. It is not a stocky plant for me. No ripe fruit yet, but a few seem to be close. I am so looking forward to tasting a ripe fruit, as this variety has been referred to as one of the best paste tomatoes.

BR, what does the fruit shape look like on your Opalka plant?

[carolyn137]

Since I'm the one who introduced Opalka, from a colleague at work, I've been growing it longer than any of you.

It is indeterminate, I can't tell you how tall it grows b'c I never grew it in a cage and I never staked tomatoes; all the many varieties I grew were grown by sprawling.

There's a good picture of what the fruits should look like in my book and the picture of it at Tomato Growers is also correct.

Angelo, the fruits you show are not quite what I'd expect since they look barrel shaped or like a torpedo, although I see one in the background that does taper a bit. And along with your comment that it's determinate for you I begin to wonder if you have authentic Opalka.

Another one that I recently introduced, Sarnowski Polish Plum, has all the traits I love about Opalka, so you might wish to put that one on the list as a future possibility as well.

[DeanRIowa]

Carolyn137

Sarnowski Polish Plum, has all the traits I love about Opalka

What are some of the traits you love about these?

Dean

[feldon30]

I will say that Sarnowski Polish Plum is productive and unlike some plum varieties, a fantastic tomato for fresh eating. When allowed to get dead ripe (the blossom end almost rotten), I find them to be juicy, sweet, and wonderful. But I can say the same about Kalman's Hungarian Pink and Tony's Italian, with the different that Tony's Italian has less of that "whack you over the head" Prue flavor and more balanced flavor which is why it's my new favorite. But I wouldn't turn down any of these 3 tomatoes if offered.

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by DeanRIowa

Carolyn137What are some of the traits you love about these?

Dean

Dean, I've grown many different long reds and I would say that despite the name being Sarnowki Polish Plum, and that's what they wanted it called, that it isn't strictly speaking plum shaped, and I find most that I've grown, whether it be Sausage or Howard German or on and on, that they don't have very good taste and are more often than not very susceptible to BER and Early Blight.

Both Opalka and SPPlum are very productive, both , in my experience are not that susceptible to Early Blight ( A. solani), both are relstively tolerant of BER, meaning they don't show it every year, and to the point, they have some taste to them so that one can use them for fresh eating if wanted. And I can't say that about most of the long paste types that I've grown .

But it's only by growing out different paste types that an individual can discover what works best.

For instance, I feel very positive about Heidi and Martino's Roma for the same reasons I like the long reds mentioned above.