What are some "Sweet" varieties? - Page 2

Tracydr · August 11, 2014

Maybe try a little rice wine vinegar. Really brings out the sweetness in cucumbers and tomatoes.

loudog · August 11, 2014

Herb Taylor's golden is very sweet for me and Holy Land yellow is also good and on the fruity side.

Sun City Linda · August 11, 2014

Goose creek seems sweet to me, as does mortgage lifter.

jflournoy · August 12, 2014

Thanks for all the replies, I'm just getting back to this thread, been so busy picking and sorting tomatoes the last few days. We planted about 425 plants of almost 90 varieties and they're nearly at "peak" harvest right now, been picking a few hundred pounds every day for almost the last week. Running out of space in my basement to store them!

I didn't realize that a truly sweet bigger tomato was such a rare thing. I am writing down all these suggestions. We're taking notes on the taste of all the tomatoes we're growing this year. So far, here are the ones where we've noted at least a little hint of sweetness.

Liz Birt, Mikado Black, Mikado Pink, Indian Stripe, JD's, Noire Charbonneuse, Vorlon, Cherokee Purple, Red Brandywine, Lithuanian, Wes, Ozark Pink.

We're growing several yellows including Aunt Gertie's Gold, KBX, Russian Persimmon, Orange Minsk and Amana Orange, all of which we have tasted by now and none of which tasted sweet to our palate. We do have a few Big Rainbow's starting to get ripe, should be able to sample here in a day or two, hoping those are something a little sweet. Also have some Anna Russian that should be ready to sample in a day or so and am eager to try those for the 1st time.

We had a booth at a local farmers market on Saturday to sell some of our bountiful harvest, and had several people ask if we had any "Red Heart", or "Mr. Stripey", several people said they were the same tomato. I've seen a lot of Mr. Stripey for sale at one of the local produce auctions. Is that variety known for sweetness? Seen some Pineapple there as well. Any thoughts on that one?

jflournoy · August 12, 2014

Here is a picture of about 3/4 of our harvest from a single day last week, and then a picture from Saturday of our table at the market. We were pleasantly surprised how well we did there, sold almost 200 lbs. of heirlooms in 4 hours. Planning to do it again this Saturday.

My 12 year old son, in both pictures, is the boss. This is his business he started this year (with a good bit of help and direction from me) and he is doing most of the picking, along with some help from some of his siblings.

harvest1.jpg

market.jpg

NarnianGarden · August 12, 2014

Looking good, congrats on your business savvy offspring!

ginger2778 · August 12, 2014

WOWEE!!! What a haul

greyghost · August 12, 2014

A really beautiful table of fruits! I'll bet people loved them. And what a great
experience for your beautiful children. Darlene

Sun City Linda · August 12, 2014

Great looking kids and maters!

lavanta · August 12, 2014

Nice tomatoes.

zipcode · August 12, 2014

In my experience most varieties can be made to taste sweet.
One year no one wanted to eat most tomatoes, they were terrible, like eating them with sugar (here in Europe we don't like sweet stuff with salty foods).
The 'secret' was non-white containers sitting on the concrete in the sun. The stress from the potting mix being always hot must have made them so sweet. Covering them in aluminium helped.
Fertilizer also plays a role. I haven't quite narrowed it down however what influences what, some people say high P makes them sweeter.
One thing for sure is that it's much easier to get them sweeter in (not self watering) containers than in open ground.

Cole_Robbie · August 13, 2014

Great pictures.

Yellow Brandywine gets my vote as a sweet tomato. Brandywine would be second. And I really liked Lucky Cross as well.

mayax68 · August 23, 2014

Tom's yellow wonder had been sweet for me and a lot less acidic compared to others.

efisakov · August 24, 2014

Berkeley Tie-Dye Heart is the best tasting heart for me. Grandfather Ashlock is sweet but complex tasting, it beats Brandywine Sudduth and Pruden’s purple for me this year. Sara black is better tasting among black varieties.
The two tomatoes that were consistently good: Cherokee Chocolate and Rosella Purple Dwarf (in container).

Last year Black Master was the best tasting tomato, this year it just does not have enough sugar in it. Our summer is colder than usual.

Just like you I keep on searching for my all time to grow tomato with complex sweet taste.

charline · August 27, 2014

try Orange Russian 117. It is my favourite tomato and I like sweet tomatoes.
But.... it needs a very sunny place . Dont pick it too soon, his full flavor is when it shows red and orange. But it is worth the wait....

August 12, 2014	#19
jflournoy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Ohio Posts: 118	Thanks for all the replies, I'm just getting back to this thread, been so busy picking and sorting tomatoes the last few days. We planted about 425 plants of almost 90 varieties and they're nearly at "peak" harvest right now, been picking a few hundred pounds every day for almost the last week. Running out of space in my basement to store them! I didn't realize that a truly sweet bigger tomato was such a rare thing. I am writing down all these suggestions. We're taking notes on the taste of all the tomatoes we're growing this year. So far, here are the ones where we've noted at least a little hint of sweetness. Liz Birt, Mikado Black, Mikado Pink, Indian Stripe, JD's, Noire Charbonneuse, Vorlon, Cherokee Purple, Red Brandywine, Lithuanian, Wes, Ozark Pink. We're growing several yellows including Aunt Gertie's Gold, KBX, Russian Persimmon, Orange Minsk and Amana Orange, all of which we have tasted by now and none of which tasted sweet to our palate. We do have a few Big Rainbow's starting to get ripe, should be able to sample here in a day or two, hoping those are something a little sweet. Also have some Anna Russian that should be ready to sample in a day or so and am eager to try those for the 1st time. We had a booth at a local farmers market on Saturday to sell some of our bountiful harvest, and had several people ask if we had any "Red Heart", or "Mr. Stripey", several people said they were the same tomato. I've seen a lot of Mr. Stripey for sale at one of the local produce auctions. Is that variety known for sweetness? Seen some Pineapple there as well. Any thoughts on that one? Last edited by jflournoy; August 12, 2014 at 07:35 AM.

August 12, 2014	#20
jflournoy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Ohio Posts: 118	pictures Here is a picture of about 3/4 of our harvest from a single day last week, and then a picture from Saturday of our table at the market. We were pleasantly surprised how well we did there, sold almost 200 lbs. of heirlooms in 4 hours. Planning to do it again this Saturday. My 12 year old son, in both pictures, is the boss. This is his business he started this year (with a good bit of help and direction from me) and he is doing most of the picking, along with some help from some of his siblings. harvest1.jpg market.jpg

August 12, 2014	#25
lavanta Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 68	Nice tomatoes. Last edited by lavanta; August 12, 2014 at 01:19 PM.

August 24, 2014	#29
efisakov Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: NJ, zone 7 Posts: 3,162	Berkeley Tie-Dye Heart is the best tasting heart for me. Grandfather Ashlock is sweet but complex tasting, it beats Brandywine Sudduth and Pruden’s purple for me this year. Sara black is better tasting among black varieties. The two tomatoes that were consistently good: Cherokee Chocolate and Rosella Purple Dwarf (in container). Last year Black Master was the best tasting tomato, this year it just does not have enough sugar in it. Our summer is colder than usual. Just like you I keep on searching for my all time to grow tomato with complex sweet taste. __________________ Ella God comes along and says, "I think I'm going to create THE tomato!” Last edited by efisakov; August 24, 2014 at 04:50 PM.

August 27, 2014	#30
charline Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: France Posts: 688	try Orange Russian 117. It is my favourite tomato and I like sweet tomatoes. But.... it needs a very sunny place . Dont pick it too soon, his full flavor is when it shows red and orange. But it is worth the wait.... Last edited by charline; August 27, 2014 at 02:40 PM.

August 11, 2014	#16
Tracydr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2011 Location: Laurinburg, North Carolina, zone 7 Posts: 3,207	Maybe try a little rice wine vinegar. Really brings out the sweetness in cucumbers and tomatoes.

August 11, 2014	#17
loudog Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: west central ohio Posts: 172	Herb Taylor's golden is very sweet for me and Holy Land yellow is also good and on the fruity side.

August 11, 2014	#18
Sun City Linda Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: SoCal Inland Posts: 2,705	Goose creek seems sweet to me, as does mortgage lifter.

August 12, 2014	#21
NarnianGarden Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Finland, EU Posts: 2,550	Looking good, congrats on your business savvy offspring!

August 12, 2014	#22
ginger2778 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Plantation, Florida zone 10 Posts: 9,283	WOWEE!!! What a haul

August 12, 2014	#23
greyghost Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: southeastern PA Posts: 760	A really beautiful table of fruits! I'll bet people loved them. And what a great experience for your beautiful children. Darlene

August 12, 2014	#26
zipcode Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Romania/Germany , z 4-6 Posts: 1,582	In my experience most varieties can be made to taste sweet. One year no one wanted to eat most tomatoes, they were terrible, like eating them with sugar (here in Europe we don't like sweet stuff with salty foods). The 'secret' was non-white containers sitting on the concrete in the sun. The stress from the potting mix being always hot must have made them so sweet. Covering them in aluminium helped. Fertilizer also plays a role. I haven't quite narrowed it down however what influences what, some people say high P makes them sweeter. One thing for sure is that it's much easier to get them sweeter in (not self watering) containers than in open ground.

August 13, 2014	#27
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	Great pictures. Yellow Brandywine gets my vote as a sweet tomato. Brandywine would be second. And I really liked Lucky Cross as well.

August 23, 2014	#28
mayax68 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: USA, CT Posts: 106	Tom's yellow wonder had been sweet for me and a lot less acidic compared to others.