Any Must-Try OP/Heirloom Variety Suggestions for a Newbie Gardener?

emzybo · February 9, 2011

Hey all,

Sorry if this topic is already covered in another thread; I looked and couldn't find it!

Okay, I must say that I'm very new to tomato gardening, and I am completely fascinated at the sheer amount of varieties (esp. heirloom varieties) of tomatoes that are available to the home gardener! I have found it a little overwhelming and very exciting to scour seed catalogs, books, and the internet in an attempt to research what types of tomatoes I want to test out this year.

I'm planning on growing a few hybrids, but OP and heirloom tomatoes are what I'm mostly interested in testing out.

So... do y'all have any suggestions on tried & true good performing, good tasting heirlooms that would be good for a beginner to attempt? The climate here gets hot and humid in the summers! I live on a mountain where it's a little cooler than the surounding areas, but I need plants that might grow well here in zone 7.

Thanks in advance. (Oh, and I know opinions vary on whether a tomato tastes good, but I mostly want to make sure the variety has a specific taste--no cardboard tomatoes, please!)

Stepheninky · February 9, 2011

I would check out this post of peoples favorites:
http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=16829

emzybo · February 9, 2011

Thanks! I knew something like that had to be around here.

tam91 · February 9, 2011

Hi and welcome.

For cherries, I love Black Cherry and Sungold.
Black Krim is another favorite of mine.
The big Brandywine style pinks - I had good luck with Brandy Boy actually.
Red Brandywine regular leaf was excellent.

As for tolerating the heat, I'm up more north, so hopefully someone else will say if these varieties mind the heat.

Indyartist · February 9, 2011

Cherry: Black Cherry
Black: Paul Robeson
Yellow: Azoychka << This is a big hit with my family, early and delicious.

oc tony · February 9, 2011

Fusion Power should be able to help you. Heirloom tomato plants, old fashioned tomato flavor, acid tomato,selected plants

**carolyn137** · February 9, 2011

And since this Forum is about Legacy varieties, those varieties of yore and you can see the kinds of threads here about Legacy varieties, not current day varieties, would you like me to transfer this thread to the General Discussion Forum where I think it fits better with all the other threads about what to grow and what does best where, etc. and more folks will see it there than here I'm pretty sure

Your choice. If you're pleased with it here and the responses to date then it can stay here,not a problem at all.

emzybo · February 10, 2011

Sure, Carolyn. Sorry I'm so new to this I didn't even think about that. :S
Thanks!

OneoftheEarls · February 10, 2011

Cherokee Purple
Spudatula
Sungold
Ildi
Anna Aasa
Black Cherry
Brandywine
Paul Robeson
Mr.Stripey
Amazon Chocolate

Those on my counter all summer would make me happy...I just like trying and tasting the other thousands....

almost forgot...best big tom was from Darth's garden...Stump of the World x Bear Claw cross...which I got seeds for. Don't think it's commercial....not sure if it was an intentional cross but I suspect it was...ate it right there....no chance for a BLT.

OneoftheEarls · February 10, 2011

I think this Mr. Stripey is from 2008, out of a raised bed....hidden, buddy said you have a squash down there...I pulled this off of a lower branch...dang!!!! was it good. Little production.......flavor out of the world!

GunnarSK · February 10, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by OneoftheEarls

almost forgot...best big tom was from Darth's garden...Stump of the World x Bear Claw cross...which I got seeds for. Don't think it's commercial....not sure if it was an intentional cross but I suspect it was...ate it right there....no chance for a BLT.

You can probaby not get the cross, but there is nothing wrong with growing Stump of the World or Bear Claw. Bama Mater can better answer your original climate-related question, as he lives closer, and he'll probably chime in, if the thread is moved.

**carolyn137** · February 10, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by emzybo

Sure, Carolyn. Sorry I'm so new to this I didn't even think about that. :S
Thanks!

You have many responses to date so maybe it's best to just leave it here , so I will, to avoid any confusion if it flies from here to the General Discussion Forum.

February 9, 2011	#1
emzybo Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: NE Alabama Posts: 28	Any Must-Try OP/Heirloom Variety Suggestions for a Newbie Gardener? Hey all, Sorry if this topic is already covered in another thread; I looked and couldn't find it! Okay, I must say that I'm very new to tomato gardening, and I am completely fascinated at the sheer amount of varieties (esp. heirloom varieties) of tomatoes that are available to the home gardener! I have found it a little overwhelming and very exciting to scour seed catalogs, books, and the internet in an attempt to research what types of tomatoes I want to test out this year. I'm planning on growing a few hybrids, but OP and heirloom tomatoes are what I'm mostly interested in testing out. So... do y'all have any suggestions on tried & true good performing, good tasting heirlooms that would be good for a beginner to attempt? The climate here gets hot and humid in the summers! I live on a mountain where it's a little cooler than the surounding areas, but I need plants that might grow well here in zone 7. Thanks in advance. (Oh, and I know opinions vary on whether a tomato tastes good, but I mostly want to make sure the variety has a specific taste--no cardboard tomatoes, please!)

February 9, 2011	#2
Stepheninky Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Kentucky Posts: 682	I would check out this post of peoples favorites: http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=16829 __________________ tomatoprojects.blogspot.com

February 9, 2011	#5
Indyartist Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Indiana Posts: 229	Cherry: Black Cherry Black: Paul Robeson Yellow: Azoychka << This is a big hit with my family, early and delicious. __________________ Indyartist Zone 5b, NE Indiana -------------------------- “Men should stop fighting among themselves and start fighting insects” Luther Burbank

February 9, 2011	#7
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	And since this Forum is about Legacy varieties, those varieties of yore and you can see the kinds of threads here about Legacy varieties, not current day varieties, would you like me to transfer this thread to the General Discussion Forum where I think it fits better with all the other threads about what to grow and what does best where, etc. and more folks will see it there than here I'm pretty sure Your choice. If you're pleased with it here and the responses to date then it can stay here,not a problem at all. __________________ Carolyn

February 10, 2011	#9
OneoftheEarls Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Up North Posts: 660	Cherokee Purple Spudatula Sungold Ildi Anna Aasa Black Cherry Brandywine Paul Robeson Mr.Stripey Amazon Chocolate Those on my counter all summer would make me happy...I just like trying and tasting the other thousands.... almost forgot...best big tom was from Darth's garden...Stump of the World x Bear Claw cross...which I got seeds for. Don't think it's commercial....not sure if it was an intentional cross but I suspect it was...ate it right there....no chance for a BLT. Last edited by OneoftheEarls; February 10, 2011 at 07:07 AM. Reason: typing error

February 9, 2011	#4
tam91 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Crystal Lake IL Posts: 2,484	Hi and welcome. For cherries, I love Black Cherry and Sungold. Black Krim is another favorite of mine. The big Brandywine style pinks - I had good luck with Brandy Boy actually. Red Brandywine regular leaf was excellent. As for tolerating the heat, I'm up more north, so hopefully someone else will say if these varieties mind the heat.

February 9, 2011	#6
oc tony Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: oc ca. Posts: 173	Fusion Power should be able to help you. Heirloom tomato plants, old fashioned tomato flavor, acid tomato,selected plants