Early girl vs. Oregon spring - Page 2

RinTinTin · January 31, 2011

"Legend" is a variety that was bred by Dr. Jim Baggett while at Oregon State

As were most of his varieties, it was bred for success in the PNW climate.
Jim is to PNW growers what Æsop was to fables.

Territorial seeds grows it at their London Springs farm in Oregon, and rates it as 68 days...that's pretty early for this climate! It will give you a 3" slicer in the same time Stupice is spitting out ping pong balls here.

tgplp · January 31, 2011

Yes but does it have good flavor/texture here? Because most of the tomatoes I try taste bland. What do you think of stupice?

Taryn

tomakers · February 1, 2011

Actually after thinking it over further I would grow the Early Girl if I had to choose. I have grown it many times in the past.
Tom

Tom C zone 4/5 · February 1, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by tgplp

Okay, first things first. You will probably say something like this: " don't waste your time with those! Grow an heirloom instead!" but don't worry, I'm growing 19 varieties, and most are delicious heirlooms. But here in Seattle, I don't know if they will ripen or not so I need an early back up. Question is... Early girl or Oregon spring? Tell me what you think and why!

Thanks!
Taryn

In NH I tried both Early Girl, and Oregon Spring, Neither were early, productive, or yummy enough to remain in my seed inventory. Pick one of the early small fruited slicers or a cherry or three. I like Stupice.

beefyboy · February 2, 2011

I think most people who give early girl Improved a try will love it. It is potato leaf and much different than early girl with a firm meaty consistency and very sweet taste. It always rates in my top 3 tomatoes here!

camochef · February 2, 2011

I've grown both Early Girl and Oregon Spring in the past and didn't care for either. I don't think I've ever grown an "early" tomato yet that I found worthwhile. I do like Sun-Golds, but it's a cherry tomato and I quit growing cherry tomatoes a couple years ago as I prefer slicers.
For the past two years, Barlow Jap has been one of the first to ripen in my gardens and it's a great tasting tomato! A fairly large pink tomato thats not only tasty but quite productive. It is also more disease resistant than most. I recommend it to all that like tasty, productive tomatoes. It has thin skin, a small core similar to Brandywine and a taste that is not only well balanced but comparable to the best Brandywines.
Besides ripening early and producing ripe tomatoes consistantly it is also one of the longest producing plants in my gardens. This past year was hot and dry here and it did just as well as it did in the cool and wet year before.
Good Luck with whatever you go with.
Camo

beefyboy · February 3, 2011

Camo! You might want to try Early Girl Improved! it is not early girl whatsoever and actually not very early. Always wins people over here and I always get comments on how great they taste. I would put them over any of those Jersey tomatoes I always have to hear about here in Florida! lol

camochef · February 3, 2011

beefyboy,
Thanks for the recommendation, but... I'm cutting way back this coming season and only have room for the best of the best. Perhaps sometime in the future.
Camo

Besides the best tomatoes come from Pennsylvania, not Jersey...unless your talking about those glow in the dark varieties.

RinTinTin · February 4, 2011

Compare Legend to Stupice? From my experience, here in the PNW, there is no comparison. I will never grow Stupice here again...bland & mealy, plus tiny ping pong balls. Legend at least gave me flavor and size (3-4"). No early tomato will be much on flavor, but with our weather, Legend will perform.
Mileage may vary, but that is what I have seen.

beefyboy · February 14, 2011

Can't say what the best is until you try it!! lol

RinTinTin · February 14, 2011

Another early to consider is Siletz. Like Oregon spring, it is pathernocarpic (which means "Virgin Fruit", ie, it will set [seedless] fruit when it is too cold, or too hot for fertilization). Early fruits will not have the taste/texture of later fruits, but still beat anything in the stupermarket. In the PNW, it will produce fruits about a week earlier than O. Spring, Early Girl, or Stupice.
(Another one of Jim Baggett's varieties for this climate. Like all of his developments, it is OP.)

It also has better flavor than most earlies. Very healthy plants.

February 1, 2011	#18
tomakers Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Cranberry Country, SE MA - zone 6? Posts: 353	Actually after thinking it over further I would grow the Early Girl if I had to choose. I have grown it many times in the past. Tom __________________ I never met a fish I didn't like.

January 31, 2011	#16
RinTinTin Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Seattle Posts: 581	"Legend" is a variety that was bred by Dr. Jim Baggett while at Oregon State As were most of his varieties, it was bred for success in the PNW climate. Jim is to PNW growers what Æsop was to fables. Territorial seeds grows it at their London Springs farm in Oregon, and rates it as 68 days...that's pretty early for this climate! It will give you a 3" slicer in the same time Stupice is spitting out ping pong balls here.

January 31, 2011	#17
tgplp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Pacific North West, zone 8a Posts: 510	Yes but does it have good flavor/texture here? Because most of the tomatoes I try taste bland. What do you think of stupice? Taryn

February 2, 2011	#20
beefyboy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Pt. Charlotte fl Posts: 330	I think most people who give early girl Improved a try will love it. It is potato leaf and much different than early girl with a firm meaty consistency and very sweet taste. It always rates in my top 3 tomatoes here!

February 2, 2011	#21
camochef Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania Posts: 707	I've grown both Early Girl and Oregon Spring in the past and didn't care for either. I don't think I've ever grown an "early" tomato yet that I found worthwhile. I do like Sun-Golds, but it's a cherry tomato and I quit growing cherry tomatoes a couple years ago as I prefer slicers. For the past two years, Barlow Jap has been one of the first to ripen in my gardens and it's a great tasting tomato! A fairly large pink tomato thats not only tasty but quite productive. It is also more disease resistant than most. I recommend it to all that like tasty, productive tomatoes. It has thin skin, a small core similar to Brandywine and a taste that is not only well balanced but comparable to the best Brandywines. Besides ripening early and producing ripe tomatoes consistantly it is also one of the longest producing plants in my gardens. This past year was hot and dry here and it did just as well as it did in the cool and wet year before. Good Luck with whatever you go with. Camo

February 3, 2011	#22
beefyboy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Pt. Charlotte fl Posts: 330	Camo! You might want to try Early Girl Improved! it is not early girl whatsoever and actually not very early. Always wins people over here and I always get comments on how great they taste. I would put them over any of those Jersey tomatoes I always have to hear about here in Florida! lol

February 4, 2011	#24
RinTinTin Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Seattle Posts: 581	Compare Legend to Stupice? From my experience, here in the PNW, there is no comparison. I will never grow Stupice here again...bland & mealy, plus tiny ping pong balls. Legend at least gave me flavor and size (3-4"). No early tomato will be much on flavor, but with our weather, Legend will perform. Mileage may vary, but that is what I have seen.

February 14, 2011	#25
beefyboy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Pt. Charlotte fl Posts: 330	Can't say what the best is until you try it!! lol