Really good Reds

[tam91]

Already plotting for next year, I've discovered I have various tomatoes I either love already or want to try - but almost none of them are red. I have Pineapple, several blacks, some pinks... but not enough good 'ol reds.

I usually do a few hybrids, just in case something goes wrong - Delicious and Supersteak weren't bad, and I'd like to try Big Beef.

Red Brandywine was ok too - but small. This is a bad hot year though, so probably not a fair trial.

Any nice reds that anyone particularly recommends? I don't care if they're huge, just slicers and tasty.

Also, I like to have a trio of cherry tomatoes that both taste good, and look pretty together. So far I have Black Cherry and Sungold for sure. I've been growing red pear, and they're fine - but I would consider an alternative. I like the size of red pear, and of course they're cute. But - any alternatives I should consider, that are maybe a bit more tasty?

[Lee]

Cuostralee.... See my sig for the reason why!

Lee

[oc tony]

For reds Sioux and Break of Day both are abut 8 oz. plus or minus 2 oz. I don't like cherrys so I can't help you there.

[Tania]

Yamal and Sibirskiy Skorospelyi for early and yummy small/medium red. My absolute favorites this year

Tania

[skiezo]

Both Cuostralee and brandywine otv have been good for the last few years.

[Marko]

NAR and Chapman.

[TZ-OH6]

Red Barn, Red Penna

[carolyn137]

Large red slicers:

Red Penna
Neves Azorean Red
Chapman
OTV Brandywine
Russian Bogatyr
Milka's Red Bulgarian
Coulilles d'Taureau
Ludmilla's Red Plum
Cuostralee
Red Barn
Aker's West Virginia

.......to name a few and not in any particular order

Medium Sized Red Slicers

Druzba
Break O Day
Bulgarian #7
Box Car Willie
Lida Ukrainian
Sophie's Choice, early and med size fruits

...... again, not in any order but I can star the ones I'd start with but I think all of them are worthy of trialing in the future.

[fortyonenorth]

Originally Posted by tam91

Also, I like to have a trio of cherry tomatoes that both taste good, and look pretty together. So far I have Black Cherry and Sungold for sure. I've been growing red pear, and they're fine - but I would consider an alternative. I like the size of red pear, and of course they're cute. But - any alternatives I should consider, that are maybe a bit more tasty?

Green Doctors with Black Cherry has been a winning combo for me this year. They look great together and I find their flavors to be very complimentary.

[tam91]

Thanks for all the ideas! A green cherry instead of a red one, now that's something I hadn't thought of. I'm not a real red cherry lover, but they do look nice in a combo, and I have a few recipes I like them for.

As far as the slicers, I am gradually becoming a lover of the pinks as well as the blacks - but some friends etc. seem to want the reds also.

Cuostralee and OTV Brandywine seem to be recommended by quite a few. I was looking up that Neves Azorean Red also.

Carolyn, wow, lots of choices, thank you. I'd love to hear which are your personal favorites.

Sadly, I'm going to have to pick just a couple. I currently only have space for 16 plants, although I'm considering sacrificing growing peppers next year and adding a few more tomatoes. As I'm in containers, and only a small spot that gets reasonable sun, I have a very limited number. If I were turned loose further in the country - it'd be one of EACH for sure!

Oh yes - should have said - one criteria for me is reasonable production. Since I have a limited number of plants, I'd prefer plants that put out more than a few fruit.

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by tam91

Thanks for all the ideas! A green cherry instead of a red one, now that's something I hadn't thought of. I'm not a real red cherry lover, but they do look nice in a combo, and I have a few recipes I like them for.

As far as the slicers, I am gradually becoming a lover of the pinks as well as the blacks - but some friends etc. seem to want the reds also.

Cuostralee and OTV Brandywine seem to be recommended by quite a few. I was looking up that Neves Azorean Red also.

Carolyn, wow, lots of choices, thank you. I'd love to hear which are your personal favorites.

Sadly, I'm going to have to pick just a couple. I currently only have space for 16 plants, although I'm considering sacrificing growing peppers next year and adding a few more tomatoes. As I'm in containers, and only a small spot that gets reasonable sun, I have a very limited number. If I were turned loose further in the country - it'd be one of EACH for sure!

Oh yes - should have said - one criteria for me is reasonable production. Since I have a limited number of plants, I'd prefer plants that put out more than a few fruit.

Tam, ALL that I listed are my favorites but if I were to pick two from the large red slicers based on taste AND production to start with I'd pick Neves Azorean Red and OTV Brandywine. And then work through the others in following years.

As for cherries, which I didn't address above, I'd dump the Red Pear, grow the Sungold F1 and Black Cherry ones you mentioned and also suggest adding the green when ripe cherry called Green Doctors.

[tam91]

Thanks - I've saved the list.

[barkeater]

Ramapo - Either the Hybrid or the OP version.

[b54red]

NAR is the most productive and beautiful red slicer that I have ever grown. It has the additional benefits of good disease tolerance, setting in the heat, and great taste.

[feldon30]

Originally Posted by tam91

I've discovered I have various tomatoes I either love already or want to try - but almost none of them are red.

Welcome to my world.

I don't know if I have a predilection against red tomatoes, but I find few impress me.

Outside of oxhearts, I can think of only Jet Star, Levino, Druzba (from a farmer's market), an F1 from the dwarf project, and a few others that escape my memory.

I've grown but never tasted a proper Cuostralee. I've tasted a single Red Penna off a weak plant, so it may have made this a super variety. I have yet to grow Neves Azorean Red.