Anyone else growing Golden Cherokee and or Barlow Jap for the first time?

[SmartAlex]

I'm glad to see the Jap is being grown so much this year. I was always nervous that I would be responsible for losing it, and now it seems I've managed to spread it all over the place! I recognise a couple of you from seed trades. Howdy.

I have 8 of them started, and as usual, they gave me 100% germination and are the hardiest of the bunch. I always obsess so much over growing my little samples of this and that, I looked at those 8 happy little plants and thought "gee, I ought to just grow a flat of them every year and give up on fiddling with everything else."



Anyway, good luck to all of you and I hope they don't disappoint. I know everyone's tastes and growing conditions are uniquely different but I hope you all receive and enjoy a little taste from my childhood.

[b54red]

Originally Posted by camochef

Barlow Jap has been one of my favorite tomatoes for a few years now. It's one of my first slicers to ripen, is quite disease resistant, produces very well throughout the season... irreguardless of weather conditions. and keeps producing right up to a killing frost. Did I mention it's taste?
While it's not a Brandywine or Brandywine cross, which many know I favor, it was my #1 pink slicer this past season which was very hot and dry here. The year before was extremely wet and it still came in high on my list. (#6). It's a great tomato! Both in taste and production.
I've grown Golden Cherokee in the past, also. Not near as impressive. I think I rated it at #50 the year I grew it. Not one that was invited back.
Grew Cherokee Green the same year. It was ranked at #25 and was much more superior in both taste and production over Golden Cherokee. Good Luck with them both.
Camo

Camo we will definitely see how disease resistant Barlow Jap is because I'm growing it this year. So far I have lost one tomato plant to TSWV and one to fusarium with two more sick right now. So far Barlow is hanging in there but I usually lose close to 50% of all new varieties before even getting any ripe fruit from them. One of the ones dying right now of fusarium is Donskoi which is one of what I consider to be in that 'have to grow for the taste' category. I'm kicking myself right now for only planting one; but I had so many new ones to try. I guess I'll start some more seed of it and the others that are dying and try for fall with them. Maybe I'll find another heart that is just as good.
I'm not trying Golden Cherokee but I do have a Cherokee Green planted and hopefully it will live longer this year.

[Gobig_or_Gohome_toms]

Originally Posted by SmartAlex

I'm glad to see the Jap is being grown so much this year. I was always nervous that I would be responsible for losing it, and now it seems I've managed to spread it all over the place! I recognise a couple of you from seed trades. Howdy.

I have 8 of them started, and as usual, they gave me 100% germination and are the hardiest of the bunch. I always obsess so much over growing my little samples of this and that, I looked at those 8 happy little plants and thought "gee, I ought to just grow a flat of them every year and give up on fiddling with everything else."



Anyway, good luck to all of you and I hope they don't disappoint. I know everyone's tastes and growing conditions are uniquely different but I hope you all receive and enjoy a little taste from my childhood.

I have 6 plants growing thanks to a fellow tviller one for me and 5 to send off to freinds.

Craig

[camochef]

Originally Posted by b54red

Camo we will definitely see how disease resistant Barlow Jap is because I'm growing it this year. So far I have lost one tomato plant to TSWV and one to fusarium with two more sick right now. So far Barlow is hanging in there but I usually lose close to 50% of all new varieties before even getting any ripe fruit from them. One of the ones dying right now of fusarium is Donskoi which is one of what I consider to be in that 'have to grow for the taste' category. I'm kicking myself right now for only planting one; but I had so many new ones to try. I guess I'll start some more seed of it and the others that are dying and try for fall with them. Maybe I'll find another heart that is just as good.
I'm not trying Golden Cherokee but I do have a Cherokee Green planted and hopefully it will live longer this year.

B54red,
Barlow Jap has been disease resistant to things like early blight and septoria up here. I've never had a problem with TSWV or Fusarium Wilt here, knock on wood. Have you tried re-locating your garden area? If that's not possible you may have to resort to growing varieties that are breed to be V,F, and N resistant. While this will eliminate many heirloom varieties from your grow list, there are some that have a natural ability to survive such problems. Perhaps someone could take the time to publish such a listing in the future, but I am unaware of any such works existing presently.
I hope Barlow Jap survives for you and manages to give you plenty of tasty tomatoes. Although I wouldn't expect miracles, it has been very hardy up here. I believe extended heat and humidity down your way lead to Fusarium Wilt and other problems more so than up here. Best Wishes for success.
Camo

[cottonpicker]

I'm growing Barlow Jap for the first time this year. Have 2 nice transplants waiting on the weather to settle & dry out.

LarryD

[camochef]

Originally Posted by cottonpicker

I'm growing Barlow Jap for the first time this year. Have 2 nice transplants waiting on the weather to settle & dry out.

LarryD

Larry,
I think your gonna like Barlow Jap. It was the first slicer to ripen two years in a row here and produces well, right up to a killing frost. It was my #1 in pinks this past year, which as you know was pretty hot and dry here. The year before it was cold and wet for most of the season up until August rolled around and it still did very well ending up at #6 for me. Hope it does very well for you on your end of the state.
Enjoy!
Camo

[b54red]

Camo, I won't go back to growing those same old same old hybrids. Been there, done that. I grew almost exclusively hybrids with high tolerance to fusaruim and other diseases for 25 years and became totally bored with growing tomatoes. I had a little luck with a few OPs and so I started trying more and more of them with very limited success until I had a couple of plants of Marianna's Peace have a very long and productive season and even got a fair number from a Brandy Boy(yes it's a hybrid but with heirloom flavor). That was all it took for me to go hog wild with the heirlooms searching for more great tasting tomatoes. Naturally I lose most of them but the few that succeed make it all worth while. I still plant a couple of hybrids whose flavor is pretty good for insurance. From what you have said about Barlow Jap it is one I'm hoping can run the gauntlet down here.

[camochef]

Originally Posted by b54red

Camo, I won't go back to growing those same old same old hybrids. Been there, done that. I grew almost exclusively hybrids with high tolerance to fusaruim and other diseases for 25 years and became totally bored with growing tomatoes. I had a little luck with a few OPs and so I started trying more and more of them with very limited success until I had a couple of plants of Marianna's Peace have a very long and productive season and even got a fair number from a Brandy Boy(yes it's a hybrid but with heirloom flavor). That was all it took for me to go hog wild with the heirlooms searching for more great tasting tomatoes. Naturally I lose most of them but the few that succeed make it all worth while. I still plant a couple of hybrids whose flavor is pretty good for insurance. From what you have said about Barlow Jap it is one I'm hoping can run the gauntlet down here.

B54red,
I understand, I know I'd rather give up growing tomatoes entirely than to stop growing my favorite heirlooms. I hope that Barlow Jap becomes one that survives for you down there. If I discover any others that seem better than most for disease resistance I'll be sure to let you know.
Wishing you the best of luck.
Camo

[Mark0820]

I don't have any ripe Barlow Jap tomatoes to taste, but I must say I am impressed with the fruit set on the two plants I have. At this point, it looks like it will be the most productive variety in my garden. The plants are loaded.

[kygreg]

Growing Barlow Jap for the first time. The plant is approximatelyl 5 ft high with some green fruits on - a couple of them in the 8-10 oz range already. Maybe will get to taste in a couple of weeks.

[b54red]

I planted a Barlow Jap out in mid March but it died of fusarium before any of the tomatoes got mature. I set out two more in early May and am hoping one or both will produce for me; but it has been very hot and that is a late set out date down here for most varieties. I'm hoping it will be one that can handle the heat and humidity. Now if only the fusarium will hold off long enough.

[shatbox]

Any sources for Barlow Jap packs? There still time for me to start it for this fall.

[frankkj]

I guess I should have reported back before now. Both Barlow Jap plants that I put out in 18 gallon pots have done extremely well. Both well over 6' tall and still producing even in the heat. Taste is absolutely wonderful. In fact, I think this is one of the top 3 for taste this year.

Frank

[sprtsguy76]

shatbox- Shoot me a PM and I'll get you a few seeds.


Damon

[shatbox]

Thanks sprtsguy! Look forward to sharing!