Opalkas....am i the only one that LOVES this tomato ?..hehe

Gimme3 · May 16, 2006

How come none of yall talk about it too often ? I swear, short of a GRSB or a nice BW or a Big Beef,....in fact...quite often in times i'd rate it's taste on par with any of the afore-mentioned.

Folks think i'm crazy, cause i got 10 Beautiful Opalkas, this year....to me, it's a tomato i can eat, entirely, right off the vine, it tastes so Wonderfull. i caint wait to see what it can do...in a Good Season.

im jus tryin to stir up a little Opalka talk...yall...)))

Mantis · May 16, 2006

Lots of views and no replies yet, maybe you are the only one that likes it Gimme

Seriously , I have never tried it.
For an eater straight off the vine I reckon Momataro was my fav last year. Sweet and full of flavour.

Rena · May 16, 2006

I really liked it as well, there are just tooo many others I would like to try!!!!

**carolyn137** · May 16, 2006

No Gimme, you are NOT the only person who likes Opalka.

Ever since I got the original seeds from Carl Swidorski and grew it I've loved it and think it's a fine variety for both paste and fresh eating.

There are a couple of newer varieties that I also think are similar in some ways, but not shape, that are just as good, and those varieties are Prue and Matt D' Imperio and I urge you to try them some season in the future.

Another one that I think very highly of is almost the same shape as Opalka and that's Sarnowski Polish Plum which I listed in the SSE Yearbook two years ago.

Lots of great varieties out there for the trialing.

But I'm so glad that Opalka has made such a good impression on so many folks. You know, when one of the varieties I've introduced makes it "big time" I'm the proud mama and since I didn't have human kids at least I can "pretend" with tomato kids, since my cat kids aren't in contention.

**nctomatoman** · May 16, 2006

Opalka is a great tomato. Being red and regular leaf and fairly common, it suffers the fate of many other superb heirlooms in not being the latest and greatest and rarest, hence gets forgotten or overlooked!

HeirloomNewb · May 16, 2006

I'll weigh in once my first fruits are ready to eat, but I bought the seeds for Opalka because I read such great reviews of it. If it is as good as people write I will sing its praises across the forum

I know the seed saver hate it for not having many seads, but there are people I know who can't handle seeds, but love toms so I'm looking forward to that aspect of this mater.

GreenThumbGal_07 · May 16, 2006

I'm trying Opalka this year and am looking forward to tasting it.

GTG

creister · May 16, 2006

It is on next year's grow list, and if I order more seed, I may try this fall, but looking more like next spring.

barkeater · May 16, 2006

Because of the good reviews I'm trying it too this year, Gimme. Hope it lives up to its billing here in zone 3.

Sorellina · May 16, 2006

Ciao Gimme-

Seems you and I are kindred spirits of sorts. Opalka is my very favourite tomato and not just because I use it as a machine for my various sauces. I'm growing 12 plants, the only variety that gets more than 2 in my garden. I love to cook with them but they're gorgeous for salads and just regular eating. I wouldn't be without them and I've distributed seeds to anyone and everyone I can find, including strangers on airplanes!

Maybe it's because I grew up with Sicilian San Marzanos that I prefer tomatoes on the drier side. I've never been a tomato dribbling down the chin kinda girl. I'm going to try making sundried Opalkas this year as well.

Buona Fortuna with your Opalkas, Gimme, and let me know your favourite way to cook or eat them.

KCMO_Don · May 16, 2006

My ONE plant was sheared in two by hail.....
It has bounced back health wise but Iam not sure it has grown any taller.
I will be CRUSHED if it doesn't prosper!!
I may have the bushiest one foot tall Opalka in town!!

From a few weeks ago....

Tomstrees · May 16, 2006

don't have to sell me on Opalka ~
I wish Opalka was my last name I love it so much !!!

~ Tom

Cecilia_MD7a · May 16, 2006

I grew Opalka a few years ago. The fruits it produced were tasty, but suffered greatly from blossom-end rot; however, every paste or plum tomato I have ever tried to grow has had blossom-end rot!

I am giving it another another try this year, though. We'll see if I have any better luck.

travis · May 16, 2006

"I wish Opalka was my last name I love it so much !!!" [Tom ]

What does the name mean?
Last Name: Opalka
Polish (Opałka): nickname for a sunburnt individual (see Opal).
Czech (Opálka): metonymic occupational name for a basket maker, from opálka ‘woven basket’.

Oh, and Tom, here's a family photo album of some folks who beat you to the surname: http://opalkas.com/cgi-bin/photos.cgi (click on the individual photos to expand the album)

PV

HeirloomNewb · May 16, 2006

Does BER ruin the whole tomato or is the tomato minus the end still good?

May 16, 2006	#1
Gimme3 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Northeast Georgia, USA Posts: 348	Opalkas....am i the only one that LOVES this tomato ?..hehe How come none of yall talk about it too often ? I swear, short of a GRSB or a nice BW or a Big Beef,....in fact...quite often in times i'd rate it's taste on par with any of the afore-mentioned. Folks think i'm crazy, cause i got 10 Beautiful Opalkas, this year....to me, it's a tomato i can eat, entirely, right off the vine, it tastes so Wonderfull. i caint wait to see what it can do...in a Good Season. im jus tryin to stir up a little Opalka talk...yall...))) __________________ ....Can you tell a green Field.....from a cold steel rail ? Roger Waters, David Gilmour

May 16, 2006	#4
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	No Gimme, you are NOT the only person who likes Opalka. Ever since I got the original seeds from Carl Swidorski and grew it I've loved it and think it's a fine variety for both paste and fresh eating. There are a couple of newer varieties that I also think are similar in some ways, but not shape, that are just as good, and those varieties are Prue and Matt D' Imperio and I urge you to try them some season in the future. Another one that I think very highly of is almost the same shape as Opalka and that's Sarnowski Polish Plum which I listed in the SSE Yearbook two years ago. Lots of great varieties out there for the trialing. But I'm so glad that Opalka has made such a good impression on so many folks. You know, when one of the varieties I've introduced makes it "big time" I'm the proud mama and since I didn't have human kids at least I can "pretend" with tomato kids, since my cat kids aren't in contention. __________________ Carolyn

May 16, 2006	#5
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	Opalka is a great tomato. Being red and regular leaf and fairly common, it suffers the fate of many other superb heirlooms in not being the latest and greatest and rarest, hence gets forgotten or overlooked! __________________ Craig

May 16, 2006	#10
Sorellina Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Victoria, BC Posts: 300	Ciao Gimme- Seems you and I are kindred spirits of sorts. Opalka is my very favourite tomato and not just because I use it as a machine for my various sauces. I'm growing 12 plants, the only variety that gets more than 2 in my garden. I love to cook with them but they're gorgeous for salads and just regular eating. I wouldn't be without them and I've distributed seeds to anyone and everyone I can find, including strangers on airplanes! Maybe it's because I grew up with Sicilian San Marzanos that I prefer tomatoes on the drier side. I've never been a tomato dribbling down the chin kinda girl. I'm going to try making sundried Opalkas this year as well. Buona Fortuna with your Opalkas, Gimme, and let me know your favourite way to cook or eat them. __________________ Grazie a tutti, Julianna

May 16, 2006	#11
KCMO_Don Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: KANSAS Posts: 223	My ONE plant was sheared in two by hail..... It has bounced back health wise but Iam not sure it has grown any taller. I will be CRUSHED if it doesn't prosper!! I may have the bushiest one foot tall Opalka in town!! From a few weeks ago.... __________________ GIGGITY - GIGGITY

May 16, 2006	#2
Mantis Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Oz Posts: 1,241	Lots of views and no replies yet, maybe you are the only one that likes it Gimme Seriously , I have never tried it. For an eater straight off the vine I reckon Momataro was my fav last year. Sweet and full of flavour.

May 16, 2006	#3
Rena Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Warm Springs, GA Posts: 1,421	I really liked it as well, there are just tooo many others I would like to try!!!!

May 16, 2006	#6
HeirloomNewb Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Elwood, IL Posts: 53	I'll weigh in once my first fruits are ready to eat, but I bought the seeds for Opalka because I read such great reviews of it. If it is as good as people write I will sing its praises across the forum I know the seed saver hate it for not having many seads, but there are people I know who can't handle seeds, but love toms so I'm looking forward to that aspect of this mater.

May 16, 2006	#7
GreenThumbGal_07 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Northern California Posts: 300	I'm trying Opalka this year and am looking forward to tasting it. GTG

May 16, 2006	#8
creister Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Abilene, TX zone 7 Posts: 1,478	It is on next year's grow list, and if I order more seed, I may try this fall, but looking more like next spring.

May 16, 2006	#9
barkeater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NE Kingdom, VT - Zone 3b Posts: 1,439	Because of the good reviews I'm trying it too this year, Gimme. Hope it lives up to its billing here in zone 3.

May 16, 2006	#12
Tomstrees Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NJ Bayshore Posts: 3,848	don't have to sell me on Opalka ~ I wish Opalka was my last name I love it so much !!! ~ Tom __________________ My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view. ~ H. Fred Ale

May 16, 2006	#13
Cecilia_MD7a MAGTAG™ Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 400	I grew Opalka a few years ago. The fruits it produced were tasty, but suffered greatly from blossom-end rot; however, every paste or plum tomato I have ever tried to grow has had blossom-end rot! I am giving it another another try this year, though. We'll see if I have any better luck.

May 16, 2006	#14
travis Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 2,984	"I wish Opalka was my last name I love it so much !!!" [Tom ] What does the name mean? Last Name: Opalka Polish (Opałka): nickname for a sunburnt individual (see Opal). Czech (Opálka): metonymic occupational name for a basket maker, from opálka ‘woven basket’. Oh, and Tom, here's a family photo album of some folks who beat you to the surname: http://opalkas.com/cgi-bin/photos.cgi (click on the individual photos to expand the album) PV