What varieties should be more well-known?

[Andrey_BY]

I just meant you don't know about 2/3 of local tomato varieties from CIS (the whole our area still called Russia in general by the most of foreigners).

Of course, I know that tomato is an American continents native plant And it has been living there peacefully with your native tribes before and since Columbus era and immigration waves to USA/Canada mostly from Europe

Originally Posted by Gardeneer

What do you mean ? 70% of tomatoes are from CIS ?

I thought tomatoes have been native To Americas !!!

Gardeneer

[M.SeanF.]

Originally Posted by Andrey_BY

I just meant you don't know about 2/3 of local tomato varieties from CIS (the whole our area still called Russia in general by the most of foreigners).

Of course, I know that tomato is an American continents native plant

Even though the Tomato is native to the Americas, the people of CIS(Russia) have done some amazing breeding with them. They did the same with the Sunflower, also native to North America.

[b54red]

One that has surprised me for the past few years is Couilles de Taureau. At first I didn't think it would be so good down here because the first fruits usually appeared in very limited numbers fairly high on the plant and later than most other varieties; but as the season progresses they seem to do better and better. They are amazingly good at setting in the heat of summer down here and the fruit will be large especially for late summer. Most of all they are beautiful looking fruits that taste wonderful and rich. They may be the consistently best tasting red tomato I have ever grown. I have been growing it for several years now and absolutely love it. I would say it is right in the middle on production for a large fruited variety most years. For the last few years it has been in my top five for taste and I hope this continues. I love replacing top fives with new ones that are even better and of course that leaves me with more great ones in my top ten etc. etc.....

In our hot humid climate finding a large fruited variety that continues to make big tomatoes during the hottest months is a real difficult task. So far not many red ones fit that description and even fewer pinks. I would like to hear how Couilles de Taureau performs in other regions and for other gardeners.

Bill

[charline]

Russian Rose should be better known. For me it is the very best tasting pink beefsteak that exists. Even better than Dester. And that is something....

[charline]

for a super tasting dwarf there is Qiyanai Huang, a meaty orange beefsteak with sweet fruity flavor

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by Andrey_BY

It's better to avoid Amishland, because this lady is fond of renaming of original variety names and like to write extraordinary blurbs

As for my recommendations there at least several thousand of tomato varieties from our region (the former Soviet Union which has been officially called CIS from 1992). I need to know what you like and your growing conditions.

And probably you will be upset to know that Orange Russian 117 is not pure Russian variety. It is from Jeff Dawson's (Ca, USA) selection (a cross of Russian 117 and Georgia Streak). And yes, Russian 117 is a family heirloom of Russian origin
Let's wait some hours and Carolyn will wake and tell you the whole story behind this variety here. I know it for sure

yes, Carolynnis awake now, but herenonly briefly, so Russian 117 willbjust have to wait.

Carolyn, backbto bed very soon

[BigVanVader]

I hadn't heard of the de Colgar tomatoes before and they certainly sound interesting. I have seeds for a long keeper Italian variety (cant remember name atm) and plan to grow a few different long storage varieties next year to see how they fare in the south. Ilex would you agree on the description below? Which variety would you recommend for my region for use as a long keeper sauce tomato?

Tomates de Colgar are winter storage tomatoes, with a shelf life of months at room temperate. 5-9 months if picked at the right time, under proper conditions and stored in a cool, dry place.

[ilex]

There are many unknown varities from Spain. Of 3000-5000 Spanish varieties, probably about 100 are known in the US.

We like good food, so tomatoes can be amazing.

Couilles de Taureau from France came from a Spanish refugee

[BigVanVader]

Do you have a favorite?

[NarnianGarden]

I'd love to grow some Spanish varieties, sadly, the flavor often is due to the growing conditions - high heat and dryness... And here in the wet Finland, varieties that do best, are often originated in Russia. or Canada...
I wish there were more short season tomatoes widely available here for gardeners. of course many order seeds from internet, pass them around and save seeds in their gardens, but the majority that are sold in nurseries or seed sites are quite boring - often intended for greenhouse conditions.
There is a huge need to have more short season / container / determinate varieties available in Finland, and to make them more known to the general public, not just a few tomato fanatics.

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by ilex

There are many unknown varities from Spain. Of 3000-5000 Spanish varieties, probably about 100 are known in the US.

We like good food, so tomatoes can be amazing.

Couilles de Taureau from France came from a Spanish refugee

Ilex,there's much more to that.

All Tania said was

http://tatianastomatobase.com/wiki/Huevos_De_Toro

But she didn't have the whole story.I asked Terry Tassone, of Secret Seed Cartel, who has connections in France to ask about it at a french message site,she did, and got back to me with the info doing the translation for me, and I'm not sure I can remember all of it now but I'll try.

There are various colored Huevos in Spain, and a red one made its way to France, no refugee story here although you can read that at Tomatofest,not Angela Dornay in Belgium, and was renamed in France by Roland Robin,aka Diego, and it was his Spanish neighbor who renamed the red huevos to Couilles de Taureau.

I got my first seeds for it from Reinhard Kraft in Germany many years ago,loved it,and still do.

Carolyn

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by ilex

There are many unknown varities from Spain. Of 3000-5000 Spanish varieties, probably about 100 are known in the US.

We like good food, so tomatoes can be amazing.

Couilles de Taureau from France came from a Spanish refugee

There's much more to it than that,I just did a long post about it and lost it somewhere.

Tania doesn't even list it but she does list Huevos de Toro.

http://tatianastomatobase.com/wiki/Huevos_De_Toro

At the time she didn't have the whole story.

There are several Huevos deToros in Spain of different colors,a red one made its way to France,not Angela Dornay in Belgium,to Roland Robin,aka Diego,who is very active at message sites.And it was his Spanish neighbor who renamed it to French,aka Couilles de Tareau

I asked Terry Tassone of Secret Seed Cartel to find out what she could since she has connections in France.

No known refugee story here although you can find that at Tomatofest.It isn't clear who brought it to France.

Terry got back to me did the translations for me,and when she got back to the US sent me some some wonderful French pastries and chocolate,that part I remember very well.

I got my first seeds for it from Reinhard Kraft in Germany many years ago,loved it ASAP and always will.

Carolyn

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by carolyn137

yes, Carolynnis awake now, but herenonly briefly, so Russian 117 willbjust have to wait.

Carolyn, backbto bed very soon

About Russian #117

http://t.tatianastomatobase.com:88/wiki/Russian_117

You can see that I got my seeds for it from Marie,from Hawaii, b/c at the time SSE was giving seeds to others to list and distribute via the SSE Yearbook.

There's more to the history b/c I think it came from Russia to Alaska first,but I'd have to confirm that unless someone else here can do that.

Stupid Carolyn just rememered she featured it in her Tomato heirloom book,took a look,praised it very highly but no mention of Russia to Alaska but noted that it was SSE who gave it the accession # Russian #117.

Carolyn

[MarlynnMarcks]

Originally Posted by carolyn137

OK, finally found the picture I was reffering to,post 47 in this thread

http://tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=34658&page=4

Carolyn

Do you know the name of this tomato variety?

[Andrey_BY]

Every second variety in Amishland catalog is extremely "rare" or pretend "they are the only USA source for it" and almost all variety names are misspelled or have got an extra words to make you think they are unique, but they are quite known and popular under they original names...

Originally Posted by M.SeanF.

Live and Learn. I already placed my order so I will just hope for the best.