Early Varieties that taste good

[hardwaterbob]

Two questions
( 1 ) I would like help choosing one or two early varieties of tomatoes that taste good. Color in not as important as early results. I live by Chicago so the planting season is a week or two away.

( 2 ) Can two rotations of early tomatoes of the same variety be planted after the first one is removed. Or would you just nurse the first planting along till the season ends.
Based on experience would you prune the first plant, force the fruit to ripen, then start a new plant which should be more vigorous, or just plant a second early right next to the first one. Has anyone tried this who can share their results.

Here is a list that I compiled from this post so far.
( 1 ) Siberian Pink 48 days Det.
( 2 ) Sophie's Choice 50 days Det.
( 3 ) Stupice 50 days, ind
( 4 ) Sun Gold 55 days IND.
( 5 ) BLOODY BUTCHER (55 days) IND.
( 6) Glacier Tomato 55 days DET.
( 7 ) Buckbee's 50 Days: 55 Ind
( 8 ) Belye Nochi 55-60 days det.
( 9 ) Matina 58 days IND.
( 10 ) Isis Candy 60 days IND.
( 11) Momotaro 62 days IND.
( 12 ) Sibirskiy Skorospelyi 68 days, det.
( 13 ) Yamal 68 days, det.
( 14 ) Mountain Princess 68 days Det
( 15 ) Kimberly 69 days, inde

[cottonpicker]

IF your plants are Indeterminant, they can last thru the entire season and continue producing until disease or a freeze kills them They simply begin production earlier. Some good varieties are: Kimberly, Jaune Flamme, Sungold F1 and Siberian. There are many others. Hope this helps.
LarryD

[matilda'skid]

I can't answer most of your questions, but some early tomatoes just keep going. I don't think the very early ones taste as good, so after the main tomatoes start I don't eat the early tomatoes fresh. I do make salsa or give them away. They are good tomatoes but when you get a nice Cherokee Purple or Granny Cantrell or Eva Purple Ball, you will eat those instead. Glacier is one that keeps going. Matina is one usually mentioned. These are small tomatoes.

http://t.tatianastomatobase.com:88/wiki/Matina Look at this link and you will see a list of similar varieties then you can search those.

[barkeater]

Best tasting and the earliest I've grown is Bloody Butcher. Fruit ripens at 50 days and keeps pumping out 1 1/2-2 ounce salad tomatoes until the frost gets it. Every year I try different early varieties here in zone 3 and most aren't early or don't have much flavor. I am trying Moravsky Div and Red Siberian this year.

[MikeInCypress]

Kimberley is always the first non cherry for me. Not growing it this year due to bad seeds(my own) but in my garden it looks like Siberian and Demidov will be the first non-cherries this year.

MikeInCypress

[barkeater]

Mike,

Are Siberian and Red Siberian (which is actually pink) different varieties?

[Sherry_AK]

Hmm. I thought there is 'Siberian' which is red, and 'Siberian Pink' which is pink.

[MikeInCypress]

I made a mistake. Should be Siberia which I got from Victory Seeds who say.....
50 days, determinate — This tomato variety sets fruit early. They are bright red and weigh up to five ounce. Reported as being capable of setting fruits at 38°F, however, 'Siberia', like any other tomato, is not frost hardy.

The undocumented lore is that this variety was smuggled out of the Soviet Union in 1975. Each packet contains approximately 20 seeds

Sorry for the confusion.

MikeInCypress

[cleo88]

According to Tatiana:

Siberian is a red determinate, small fruit
Siberia is a red determinate, small fruit, rugosa leaves, not the same as Siberian
Red Siberian is a pink indeterminate, large fruit (I am growing this one this year)
Siberian Pink is a pink determinate, small fruit

The last two are listed as midseason, but I believe them all to be relatively early.

[tam91]

Hi Bob, you live pretty much near me. Are you talking about planting tomatoes out in a week or two? Just wondered, unless they're under shelter or something, I'd think we're over a month away from planting.

Or did you mean planting the seeds? I've got a bunch going myself.

Black Krim is fairly early for me, and I love them. Also, Black Cherry and Sungold. Not sure those are officially early ones though.

[OneoftheEarls]

Matina....do something cool for Chicago

[David Marek]

Greetings from down-river!

Originally Posted by hardwaterbob

Based on experience would you prune the first plant, force the fruit to ripen, then start a new plant which should be more vigorous, or just plant a second early right next to the first one.

I have thought of doing this with cherries that seem to get out of control. But for some reason I never seem to have a shortage of tomatoes later in the year.

I have been growing Buckbee's 50 day from Underwood Gardens since 2007. It was one of my favorites last year, but not every year. I remember it being kind of pinkish fruit on an open habit plant.
http://t.tatianastomatobase.com:88/w..._New_Fifty_Day

[simmran1]

Bob,

Some early varieties I like are Mountain Princess and Glacier. I think they taste good. Just read Earl’s reply, Matina is certainly early and has good taste also. I have plenty of saved seeds of Matina if you need. (PM me if interested)

I seldom prune- except suckers.
On rotations: Yes , you can do that, but your new plants should be ready by 8/1.

I actually re-plant in early- mid August, but not exactly like your describtion. I will pull determinates or plants that have little or no production left. Then plant Longkeeper, Keepsake, Yellow out Red in, something with a long shelf life to extend the tomato season. -Randy

[barkeater]

Siberian is a red determinate, small fruit
Siberia is a red determinate, small fruit, rugosa leaves, not the same as Siberian
Red Siberian is a pink indeterminate, large fruit (I am growing this one this year)
Siberian Pink is a pink determinate, small fruit

Thanks Cleo! Sure can be confusing - almost as bad as all the Brandywines! Anyway, I'm trying Red Siberian too which is why I asked.

[cushman350]

Last year I tried longer season Mr Stripey, Ch Purple, Orange Oxhearts. Their taste nearly spoiled me for the other hybrids, but just as they are producing their first fruits in June, the temperate is already above 95 and pollination stops. Barely enough time with the 85-95 day varieties. This year I am trying short season heirlooms, germinated early, Jan. 25 for planting pre last frost date ( April 1 approx.) and protected as needed for cold night temps. Working great, they are up and covered with little green flower buds before I even planted last year. I hope the taste is worth it. These are the ones I trying.

Stupice
50 days, indeterminate — Potato-leaf, four foot tall plants loaded with 2½ inch by two inch diameter fruits borne in clusters. Extremely early, great flavor. Heavy yields all season. Introduced here in the U.S. from Czechoslovakia in about 1976. Pronounced "stu-peek-a."
Moskvich
60 days, indeterminate An heirloom variety said to have originated in Eastern Siberia. The indeterminate vines produce flavorful, four to six ounce, deep red, smooth, globe-shaped fruits. Tolerant of cooler temperatures and starts producing early.
Siberian
48 days determinate A very early medium sized red tomato. Flavor is average but great if you are limited to a very short growing season. Russian origin. This variety was reported to be smuggled out of Russia in the 70's.
　
Early Annie
65 days, determinate , regular leaf, 3-3.5", beautiful, productive, a favorite. A short heirloom variety that produces 3-inch, round, meaty fruits with few seeds. Particularly good for canning. Fruit sets all at once.
　
Sun Gold 57 days
This variety has proven itself to be the best flavored small tomato with the highest brix sugar level of all. A small golden cherry tomato with flavor that is very sweet and fruity. A bright orange color make these a great mix with Grape tomatoes in salads.

I've included my master list, pdf.