Member discussion regarding the methods, varieties and merits of growing tomatoes.
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April 15, 2023 | #1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 12
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Is there a productive great tasting bi-color?
Here in the PNW I just can't seem to find a great bi-color tomato that does well. Pineapple is my favorite but I don't even try to grow it anymore due to low production. It's just too late and doesn't do well for me.
I really miss having it in the mix for a lovely Caprese salad plate. So beautiful and tasty. The last few years I have tried the following: Striped German - very low production, mealy texture Big Rainbow - same as SG Old German - same as above. Any varieties that others have good luck with in the PNW? Max of 75-78 days If anyone here in the PNW has not grown GGWT, DO! It outproduced all my other tomatoes last year, grown in a large pot!, Great taste and lovely! Last edited by Chrysos; April 15, 2023 at 07:18 PM. Reason: spacing |
April 16, 2023 | #2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Czech republic
Posts: 2,534
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For me, the two-tone Orange Russian 117 is so fertile.
Vladimír |
April 16, 2023 | #3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Sunol, CA
Posts: 2,723
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Artisan Seeds -- www.growartisan.com |
April 16, 2023 | #4 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Ontario
Posts: 3,895
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I really like Little Lucky. Brandywine is a parent, but too late for me. LL is smaller and earlier with that wonderful BW flavour .
If you don't mind something smaller, Fred's "Blush" is amazing for flavour. I grow it every year. Linda Last edited by Labradors2; April 16, 2023 at 03:36 PM. |
April 16, 2023 | #5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: West Coast, Canada
Posts: 961
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I've grown Wherokowhai (dwarf) and Virginia Sweets a number of years back here in the PNW - although I recall VS was rather late and a slug favourite
thanks for heads up on GGWT ...... grew it one year, lovely plant, but not a single blossom!!
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D. |
April 16, 2023 | #6 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Central MN, USDA Zone 3
Posts: 302
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I have little to offer because of two possibly critical differences:
I don't garden in the PNW, and have room for more tomato plants than I need When I think bicolor, the first that come to mind are the striped varieties like Big Rainbow or Pineapple. They aren't all that spectacular for me either, and some years are less colorful than others. But another class seems to be the yellow tomatoes with a pink or even red core inside. I'm trying a couple of new ones this year, and can't say how they will turn out. I successfully germinated 20-year-old seeds for a variety I received as "Amish Yellow" last year that fit the bill. That's such a generic name, it could apply to a few out there. I should have supplied seeds to Tormato and the MMMM swap, but just didn't think of it. Another that I purchased as "Gold Medal Hybrid" years ago, saved seeds, and don't actually think was a hybrid delivers a tomato with a red core, pinkish bottom and golden top. It seems quite productive for me. Finally, Azoychka often serves up yellow tomatoes with a pink blush...and lots of them. It's problematic in that it is thin-skinned and crack prone, but if one can control soil moisture will do OK. Sent from my motorola edge (2022) using Tapatalk
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April 17, 2023 | #7 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Vermont
Posts: 1,001
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I second Vladimir's recommendation of Orange Russian 117. Great heart tomato, great color, wonderful flavor, outstanding production. I like Gold Medal a lot, but it's a bit late for me here in northern Vermont.
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"Red meat is NOT bad for you. Now blue-green meat, THAT'S bad for you!" -- Tommy Smothers |
April 17, 2023 | #8 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Vancouver Island
Posts: 5,931
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If OP is what you are looking for then For the PNW climate midnight sun is probably a fair bit earlier and consequently more productive over the season.
Delicious flavour. Potato leaf indeterminate bicolour oxheart. KarenO |
April 19, 2023 | #9 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 12
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Thanks for all the suggestions!
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April 20, 2023 | #10 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Virginia, USA
Posts: 139
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I grew Oaxacan Jewel for the first time last year and loved it. Beautiful, delicious tomatoes, and the plant was very productive except that it stopped setting fruit for several weeks when temperatures were up around 90F. Tomato Growers Supply lists it as 80 days (by comparison, they list Pineapple at 85 days and Big Rainbow at 90-100 days). I got my first Oaxacan Jewel 65 days after transplant (transplanted 5/26, first tomato 7/29). This is in Virginia, in a garden that gets full sun all day. I realize that's not your climate, but for what it's worth, TomatoFifou says it performs well in cooler climates.
I've also grown Pineapple, Hillbilly PL, Big Rainbow and Armenian of the yellow/red bicolors. The only one of those four I expect to grow again is Pineapple. Armenian was very good, but I preferred Oaxacan Jewel. Hillbilly PL was late and had low/moderate productivity. Big Rainbow was a complete failure for me. |
April 21, 2023 | #11 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Long island
Posts: 456
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I have grown Oaxacan Jewel for many years. Big, sweet, delicious with great productivity
Strong Big plants. I highly recommend!! Old Chef |
April 21, 2023 | #12 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Brownville, Ne
Posts: 3,294
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A little late to the thread...sorry. Hillbilly has been a good(not great) producer. Big Rainbow was a disappointment. Virginia Sweets has been the best of the bi-colors for production. Old German has been better than average. They all have excellent flavor.
One variety stands out for me. When it is on, it is the best. Orange Russian #117 is the prettiest, best tasting and prolific bi-color ever grown in my gardens. BIG CAVEAT...the part about being on is important. One out of three years OR117 is on. The other two years I have either gotten little or no fruit or it tastes below average. But when it is on...wowwee! Weather?, Me?, Soil? Who knows. Now instead of cutting back on varieties I will be sending for Oaxacan Jewel seeds. That one sounds like a winner. Thanks a lot...said with sarcasm but anticipation.
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there's two things money can't buy; true love and home grown tomatoes. |
April 21, 2023 | #13 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Alabama
Posts: 2,250
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I tried Burpee Tye Dye hybrid a few years ago. It was developed by Doug Heath and was bred with ph3 resistance to late blight. It is an interesting tomato otherwise, but flavor was 2nd tier at best.
https://www.burpee.com/tomato-tye-dy...rod001022.html |
April 23, 2023 | #14 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Western NC
Posts: 20
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Not in the PNW but Gold Medal has been a great tomato for me in zone 7.
I've been growing it for years and hope to continue for several more. I've tried several other bicolors but never tried one that I like better. Good luck in your quest. |
April 23, 2023 | #15 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Western NC
Posts: 20
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Not in the PNW but Gold Medal has been a great tomato for me in zone 7.
I've been growing it for years and hope to continue for several more. I've tried several other bicolors colors but never tried one that I like better. Good luck in your quest. |
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