2015 Pics & Reviews

Cole_Robbie · June 15, 2015

I've been enjoying my first tomatoes out of the high tunnel:
http://i.imgur.com/WzuwoIo.jpg

Taxi is on top, Oranze below it, and the red tomato is Cole.

Cole was my earliest tomato by far. I got the seeds in a swap (thank you, whoever you are). But here is a random seed company's description: http://www.annapolisseeds.com/product-p/040.htm

Cole was the smallest non-dwarf in my high tunnel. It really is a compact grower, only about 3 feet tall. Fruitset is tremendous. They are mini-beefsteaks. I have not been a fan of saladettes before, but I really like this one. It has "real tomato" flavor, like a good red beefsteak from the late summer garden. It's meaty with few seeds. The shape of the fruit make them easy to slice and peel.

Cole would be an excellent candidate for a low tunnel grow. It's the perfect size. I think it would also do very well in a container as small as a 5-gallon bucket.

AKmark · June 15, 2015

Nice looking tomatoes, Cole sounds like a good one for me to try up here

Cole_Robbie · June 17, 2015

Thanks.

I tried a few more last night. Little Bells produces a small red tomato, just like Cole. The plants are a little bigger. I am liking the flavor of Cole better, though. Little Bells is ok, but has more seeds and just a touch of mealiness that I don't like.

Oranze is ok. They are big, productive plants. Maybe I just don't like orange tomatoes all that much. I haven't found any that I like more than Orange Blossom F1 from Johnny's.

Red Khaki is a never-again for me. All the fruit are getting BER. That's my only variety with that problem.

Mountain Princess is ok, but I am not seeing anything special about it. I might as well be growing Early Girl. It's a small-med red with average flavor.

BigVanVader · June 17, 2015

Quote:

Mountain Princess is ok, but I am not seeing anything special about it. I might as well be growing Early Girl. It's a small-med red with average flavor

My thoughts as well, yet I'd guess around 80-90% of market tomatoes in my area are a Mountain variety.

Cole_Robbie · June 17, 2015

I think Mountain Princess is not related to the other "Mountain" varieties:
http://t.tatianastomatobase.com:88/w...ntain_Princess

That's why I had high hopes for it.

BigVanVader · June 17, 2015

Ah my mistake, I assumed it was yet another introduction from the same line.

Cole_Robbie · June 17, 2015

The irony is, as far as I can tell, it might as well be.

Cole_Robbie · June 18, 2015

I just had my first Gribovskiy:

http://tatianastomatobase.com/wiki/G...ribovskiy_1180

It's a small round red tomato. It looks a lot like all my other reds. Cole has me spoiled for being so meaty, but Gribovskiy has excellent flavor as well. The flavor has a sharp bite to it, and my lips burn a little from eating just one of them. It is obviously high in acid.

The seedlings were my fastest growers. Fruitset and yield are good. My plants are about 4-5' tall bushes. This one may be one to grow again, as it is very unique, especially for someone wanting a saladette with a little bite to it.

Cole_Robbie · June 22, 2015

Taxi is a rock star as always:
http://i.imgur.com/71jr4kl.jpg

Those are some of the biggest fruits. I once read, on a different online forum, a grower criticize Taxi for being "ping-pong ball size." Mine are almost all baseball-size or bigger. Fruitset and yield are tremendous.

Here's what I picked just now: http://i.imgur.com/9Ec1O2v.jpg

On top, the white tomato is Huang Se Chieh, sitting on mostly Gribovskiy. Taxi is the yellow. The orange tomato on the truck bed is Qinyai Huang. The cherries are Sungold, Sun Lemon, Sun Peach, and Sun Chocola, with 3 or 4 Helsing ★★★★★★★★ Blues.

Cole_Robbie · June 26, 2015

http://i.imgur.com/zsP7vq1.jpg

Sun Chocola, Sun Gold, Sun Peach, Sun Lemon, and Sun Green

jmsieglaff · June 26, 2015

Great pictures! Very curious of your take on the taste. I love Sungold, obviously the others also interest me.

Cole_Robbie · June 26, 2015

Thanks. I need to eat them for another week or two before the verdicts are fully in. This year has been nothing but rain for me. I have a suspicion everything is going to taste a little watered-down. Plus, I have had some whitefly damage.

So far, Sun Lemon is a letdown. I like the Chang Li that I grow much better.

The surprise winner so far is Sun Peach. It has a flavor I would call "agreeable." It's easy to eat.

None of them have the extreme sweetness of Sun Gold, though, at least not yet. I have not had very many of the Sun Green and Sun Chocola yet.

jmsieglaff · June 26, 2015

I see what you mean about the rainfall, the entire state of Illinois is 150-600%+ above normal in the last 2 weeks. In far southern Wisconsin we've been close to normal. Hopefully things dry out somewhat and more tastings an commence!

nancyruhl · June 26, 2015

That is such an interesting map. My 200% seems kinda minor.

bjbebs · June 26, 2015

Just emptied 3/4 inch from the gauge. That makes 10 plus inches since June 7.
Cole is in Southern Illinois, more in line with St. Louis. One of my kids lives in St. Louis.
His wife has not watered the garden at all, not once. Central Illinois is under water.
This year was my first for growing plants in various types of containers. Peppers, eggplant
and tomatoes will start producing next week. This is 2 weeks ahead of my big gardens.
Do you container gardeners find this to be the norm? Earlier picking from above ground verses in ground.

June 15, 2015	#1
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	2015 Pics & Reviews I've been enjoying my first tomatoes out of the high tunnel: http://i.imgur.com/WzuwoIo.jpg Taxi is on top, Oranze below it, and the red tomato is Cole. Cole was my earliest tomato by far. I got the seeds in a swap (thank you, whoever you are). But here is a random seed company's description: http://www.annapolisseeds.com/product-p/040.htm Cole was the smallest non-dwarf in my high tunnel. It really is a compact grower, only about 3 feet tall. Fruitset is tremendous. They are mini-beefsteaks. I have not been a fan of saladettes before, but I really like this one. It has "real tomato" flavor, like a good red beefsteak from the late summer garden. It's meaty with few seeds. The shape of the fruit make them easy to slice and peel. Cole would be an excellent candidate for a low tunnel grow. It's the perfect size. I think it would also do very well in a container as small as a 5-gallon bucket.

June 15, 2015	#2
AKmark Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Wasilla Alaska Posts: 2,010	Nice looking tomatoes, Cole sounds like a good one for me to try up here

June 17, 2015	#3
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	Thanks. I tried a few more last night. Little Bells produces a small red tomato, just like Cole. The plants are a little bigger. I am liking the flavor of Cole better, though. Little Bells is ok, but has more seeds and just a touch of mealiness that I don't like. Oranze is ok. They are big, productive plants. Maybe I just don't like orange tomatoes all that much. I haven't found any that I like more than Orange Blossom F1 from Johnny's. Red Khaki is a never-again for me. All the fruit are getting BER. That's my only variety with that problem. Mountain Princess is ok, but I am not seeing anything special about it. I might as well be growing Early Girl. It's a small-med red with average flavor.

June 17, 2015	#6
BigVanVader Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Greenville, South Carolina Posts: 3,099	Ah my mistake, I assumed it was yet another introduction from the same line.

June 18, 2015	#8
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	I just had my first Gribovskiy: http://tatianastomatobase.com/wiki/G...ribovskiy_1180 It's a small round red tomato. It looks a lot like all my other reds. Cole has me spoiled for being so meaty, but Gribovskiy has excellent flavor as well. The flavor has a sharp bite to it, and my lips burn a little from eating just one of them. It is obviously high in acid. The seedlings were my fastest growers. Fruitset and yield are good. My plants are about 4-5' tall bushes. This one may be one to grow again, as it is very unique, especially for someone wanting a saladette with a little bite to it.

June 22, 2015	#9
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	Taxi is a rock star as always: http://i.imgur.com/71jr4kl.jpg Those are some of the biggest fruits. I once read, on a different online forum, a grower criticize Taxi for being "ping-pong ball size." Mine are almost all baseball-size or bigger. Fruitset and yield are tremendous. Here's what I picked just now: http://i.imgur.com/9Ec1O2v.jpg On top, the white tomato is Huang Se Chieh, sitting on mostly Gribovskiy. Taxi is the yellow. The orange tomato on the truck bed is Qinyai Huang. The cherries are Sungold, Sun Lemon, Sun Peach, and Sun Chocola, with 3 or 4 Helsing ★★★★★★★★ Blues.

June 26, 2015	#10
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	http://i.imgur.com/zsP7vq1.jpg Sun Chocola, Sun Gold, Sun Peach, Sun Lemon, and Sun Green

June 26, 2015	#11
jmsieglaff Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Southern WI Posts: 2,742	Great pictures! Very curious of your take on the taste. I love Sungold, obviously the others also interest me.

June 26, 2015	#14
nancyruhl Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Metro Detroit, Michigan Posts: 1,051	That is such an interesting map. My 200% seems kinda minor.

June 26, 2015	#15
bjbebs Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2014 Location: illinois Posts: 281	Just emptied 3/4 inch from the gauge. That makes 10 plus inches since June 7. Cole is in Southern Illinois, more in line with St. Louis. One of my kids lives in St. Louis. His wife has not watered the garden at all, not once. Central Illinois is under water. This year was my first for growing plants in various types of containers. Peppers, eggplant and tomatoes will start producing next week. This is 2 weeks ahead of my big gardens. Do you container gardeners find this to be the norm? Earlier picking from above ground verses in ground.