What are the most overrated varieties?

[Moonglow]

Originally Posted by eyolf

Climate, is huge. Most of the long-season types are dissapointing in my zone, and the ones I find most pleasing are also-rans elsewhere. For example, Marianna's peace and Brandywine do taste good when you can one ripe off the vine, but no better than the Canadian "Pollack"s you've been eating for a month or more.

But nobody asked about favorites; which one was the most dissapointing to me? I have to say it was Trifele Black. Tart, almost bitter, and mostly just a bag of seeds and juice. Tried seeds from another source...just the same.

And they're probably great in Kansas or New Jersey!

I cannot agree more! If we are referring to the same tomato variety Japanese Black Trifele...I've been spreading the news that here in my garden, I like it better than Black Krim!

[recruiterg]

In my garden it has to be Goose Creek. The taste has been sour. Almost inedible. It is strange because I have read people rave about it in these forums.

[PaulF]

For me, every green when ripe is a disappointment; they don't live up to the hype. This year Craig sent me two GWR dwarf varieties (Summertime Green and Lime Twist). I grew them out and saved the seeds, but the taste was the same for both.

[AZRuss]

Regarding Goose Creek, just goes to show, different soil, different nutrients, different air, different year, different taster = way different perceptions. Goose Creek was my best tasting non-cherry variety this year. Not the most prolific, but certainly the tastiest. Birds liked 'em too, dang it!

[Tania]

Omar's Lebanese and Chris Ukrainian were both disappointing for me this year.

Tania

[AZRuss]

Originally Posted by DoubleJ

Do you just throw them in the freezer as is and pull them out when you have a batch to cook and cook them as normal? Is there any prep for putting them in the freezer before cooking?

DoubleJ--never saw your question until now. Apologies. Yes, just toss 'em into the freezer. I start a gallon zip top freezer bag. I rinse off the tomatoes, dry them cut away any bad blemishes and into the bag and freezer they go. I keep adding to the bag until it's full, then I either make sauce or start a second bag. When ready, I throw them frozen into a pot over medium-low heat until they're defrosted and then cook them into sauce. Afterwards, a pass through a food mill removes all the skins and seeds if you want to do that.

[Fert1]

Originally Posted by recruiterg

In my garden it has to be Goose Creek. The taste has been sour. Almost inedible. It is strange because I have read people rave about it in these forums.

Some people like a sour tomato, so in that case it may just be a matter of personal preference. Some people may like it for the very reason you dislike it.

I will also agree that location makes a difference. My own Cherokee Purples have a good flavor, but no hint of the "smokiness" some describe. I tried one at a tasting that had a VERY smokey flavor. If I didn't know better, I would have thought someone really had roasted it on a grill, it was so smokey tasting.

Disappointments for me:

1. Matina - Huge production of tomatoes that tasted like they came from a supermarket. In fact, I've gotten better from the supermarket.

2. Big Beef - again, almost totally flavorless in my yard

3. Black Cherry - not totally flavorless, but nothing special either. I had high expectations for this one. I gave some plants to a friend, and hers had much more flavor than mine. So I think it's an environmental issue.

[geeboss]

Being a rookie gardner I've decided to try different seed source to see if that might change my mind on a popular tomato which under performed in the taste department. The season here in Va was quite different and I'm blaming mother nature for some of the lack of flavor in my garden. Looking forward to 2010 and different seed sources to see an improvement before final judgement on Golden Queen, Big Beef, Applause, Biltmore, Spears Tenn Green, Jeff's Mystery Pink Oxheart.

George

[rnewste]

George,

That is a very nice photo!!

Congrats,

Ray

[beeman]

As a n00b on this forum I would like to offer this, surely it all depends on where you get the seed from?
We were supposed to be growing Early girl, but further from that point you can't get. These are the best looking Oxhearts I have seen. No two plants have the same shaped fruit, let alone taste!
We also are growing a paste, again different plants have different shaped fruit. Some are heart shaped, some vase shaped and others are oval. These were all bought as F1s to get VFFNT, a waste of time and money.
I will say I'm not impressed with the seed merchants ability to sell what they advertise, both in Tomatoes and other vegetables.

[cottonpicker]

To me, Big Beef, hyb. just didn't have any taste except bland.

[OmahaJB]

I've been my own worst enemy these past two years I've had an outdoor garden. Last year it was erratic watering - not often enough, but too much when I did. That resulted in heavy losses due to BER. This year I watered every 2 or 3 days when it didn't rain. Either I watered too often, or I watered too heavily when I did. We also had stretches of steady rains for a couple of days at a time. I'm positive water has been the key ingredient in my tomatoes tasting slightly better than bland this year. Also need to amend the soil for next year, which was not done for 2009. So I can't blame the varieties, only myself and mother nature.

The hybrids I had last year that did not get BER, were absolutely tasteless. Big Beef was one and I believe the other was Better Boy. If I try hybrids again it'll be the two others raved about that were re-introduced on a limited basis this year. That reminds me that I need to write their names down in case I buy seeds this year. I need more seeds like I need another hole in my head, but each year I end up buying something anyways.

I will say I was disappointed with the numbers of tomatoes Pruden's Purple & Kellogg's Breakfast put out, but again I have to blame myself as they were in soil that was not amended. KB only put out 1 tomato and Pruden's only a few. The fact they were 2 of the 3 that survived the seedling disaster, they must have been weakened from what killed the others (mold spores). PP was a stronger plant than KB but neither did well.

Wonder how many others who have posted can point to things that may have affected the flavor of their tomatoes. Too much rain and so forth. That's not an accusation by any means, only thinking out loud. Tomatoes can be fickle fruit. I actually miss being able to grow indoors where I could control the environment. True, I could not produce light as efficient as the sun's, or even use the best that's available artificially - expensive growlights, but I had some advantages. A greenhouse is the way to go for those who can afford it and who also have the space.

I'm not exactly on topic but I thought it was relevant to the thread.

[cecilsgarden1958]

Originally Posted by OmahaJB

............The hybrids I had last year that did not get BER, were absolutely tasteless. Big Beef was one and I believe the other was Better Boy. If I try hybrids again it'll be the two others raved about that were re-introduced on a limited basis this year.........................

I will say I was disappointed with the numbers of tomatoes Pruden's Purple & Kellogg's Breakfast put out, but again I have to blame myself as they were in soil that was not amended. KB only put out 1 tomato and Pruden's only a few..........

I think anyone will tell you that you will never find a hybrid that tastes like an heirloom. Although you may find an heirloom that tastes like a hybrid. Lucky for me, I prefer hybrids.

I had problems too. I grew Beauty because all the raves last year and I had two plants and maybe 4 tomatoes, which were so small. Same thing for Dakota Gold, Lemon Boy, Jet Star. You know Jet Star just hates me and I may never grow it again. Not sure if I included it, but add Jet Star as over rated-here anyway

CECIL-Who just baked an apple pie and 24 cinnimon rolls...YUMMY-hot hot

[OmahaJB]

Interesting you prefer hybrids, Cecil. Is it due to reliable production & disease resistance? Guessing it is. I'm still fairly new to growing tomatoes and have had less than decent results overall. If I can get my hands on Moreton seeds for next year I may try them.

Jeff

[cecilsgarden1958]

Originally Posted by OmahaJB

Interesting you prefer hybrids, Cecil. Is it due to reliable production & disease resistance? Guessing it is. I'm still fairly new to growing tomatoes and have had less than decent results overall. If I can get my hands on Moreton seeds for next year I may try them.

Jeff

Actually, I prefer the flavor of the hybrids I like, on my sandwiches over most heirlooms I've tried. There is of course a bonus as they produce better for me than heirlooms I've tried so far.
I do like these heirlooms/OPs...
Bonny Best, Hilltop, Dixie Golden Giant, Riesentraube & Rostova(tomatofest version) Below is the page I have been keeping track on, of everything I have grown since 2002. I thought there was a link box for urls, after you preview the page, but it isn't here, but here is the url's addy..
http://community-2.webtv.net/Tomatotime/gardennotebook/
CECIL