howard german vs long tom

temora · January 17, 2013

I grew both of these last year with only marginal production. Granted they were not in my best bed which still needs amending. But this year they will be in a better location.
Has anybody grown both with a preference for one over the other? I wasn't sure about howard as he wasn't the shape I expected.

**carolyn137** · January 17, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by temora

I grew both of these last year with only marginal production. Granted they were not in my best bed which still needs amending. But this year they will be in a better location.
Has anybody grown both with a preference for one over the other? I wasn't sure about howard as he wasn't the shape I expected.

I've grown Howard German:

http://t.tatianastomatobase.com/wiki/Howard_German

but not Long Tom:

http://t.tatianastomatobase.com/wiki/Long_Tom

And I ghave grown many other long red paste varieties, some with a knob at the blossom end, some not.

And In geneal I don't see all that much different between the shapes, but often some taste differences, but the only way I'd confirm that would be to grow them all out in the same to do a direct comparison.

My preference? I feel a bit guilyy saying it in a post where you'rfe askingaboutpaste tomatoes, but it would be to not use paste varieties for sauce, with few exceptions,rather use some great tasting varieties, often hearts which are meaty with few seeds to get a great tasting sauce.

Carolyn

Fusion_power · January 17, 2013

My preference for the general category of tomato is George O'Brien and then Opalka. I have never had good production from Howard German. I have not grown Long Tom.

DarJones

Boutique Tomatoes · January 17, 2013

DarJones, George O'Brian is as variety I've not seen before. What characteristics of it make it a standout for you? I keep trying new ones of this type, I like to use them for salsas.

Fusion_power · January 17, 2013

Flavor.

Moshou · January 18, 2013

I have no experience with Long Tom and Howard German, but my 2013 tomato project in related to paste varieties with oblate fruits or pepper shaped. Later this summer I could share my experience.

Looking to have some George O'Brian seeds, if it is possible.

**carolyn137** · January 18, 2013

As I recall it was Keith M who got the seeds for George O Brian from someone who lives here in NYS. It isn't listed at Tania's site and I don't have time to Google it this AM.

But I'm pretty sure Darrel got seeds from Keith and the seeds have been passed around from time to time here and there.

Right Darrel?

Carolyn

temora · January 18, 2013

Okay, I've not heard of george O'brian and I have grown opalka and liked it, but there wasn't much fruit.
Long tom was really meaty and great for grilling, but I only got a few, so this year a new location and maybe more production.
I had amazing success with orange strawberry, dagma's perfection, pantano romanesco and franchi giant pear last year. This year I'm adding kosovo, gigant pelino, guido pietroboni, and cuneo gt. pear from tatiana's. Somehow I'm thinking the italians got it right for sauce varieties.

Fusion_power · January 18, 2013

Keith originally mentioned George O'Brien about 5 years ago describing it as the best flavored tomato he had grown. That got my interest up. Delving into it, he had received the seed from a grower and had grown out a pink beefsteak tomato with exceptional flavor. The correct description should be for an elongated tomato, not a beefsteak. So what Keith had was not George O'Brien. There is more to this story, but it is Keith's to tell.

When a gardener in California mentioned having it a couple of years ago, I requested seed. It turned out to be a large elongated tomato with nicely balanced flavor. It is just about right for sweetness, tartness, and has very nice tomato aroma.

This is old, but relevant to the discussion.
http://kdcomm.net/~tomato/tg98.htm

DarJones

**carolyn137** · January 18, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fusion_power

Keith originally mentioned George O'Brien about 5 years ago describing it as the best flavored tomato he had grown. That got my interest up. Delving into it, he had received the seed from a grower and had grown out a pink beefsteak tomato with exceptional flavor. The correct description should be for an elongated tomato, not a beefsteak. So what Keith had was not George O'Brien. There is more to this story, but it is Keith's to tell.

When a gardener in California mentioned having it a couple of years ago, I requested seed. It turned out to be a large elongated tomato with nicely balanced flavor. It is just about right for sweetness, tartness, and has very nice tomato aroma.

This is old, but relevant to the discussion.
http://kdcomm.net/~tomato/tg98.htm

DarJones

Darrel, I thought I remembered correctly that Ketih got it from NYS and here's a link where he states that he got it from a garlic grower in central NYS:

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/l...334415473.html

So why is it not G O Brian as he states?

Me be confused.

Did Keith ever say he was wrong and what he got was not that variety?

If so,which I've not seen,what was the original source of the variety.

I've not seen Keith posting at any of the messagesites where I post lately but those are few these days, so he can't answer per your comment above, bu tyou can, and I know you're not shy.

Carolyn

Me be confused.

Carolyn

Fusion_power · January 18, 2013

Keith told me that he had grown the original plants several years ago but had lost his seed through one mishap or another. He later found another person growing it and got seed but this time it was the elongated variety. After investigating it a couple of years ago, I found that the oldest description was for elongated. If you care to look, you might find it in the SSE yearbooks back in the mid 1990's.

Keith is having serious health problems so he is not showing up on message sites.

Darrel Jones

**carolyn137** · January 18, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fusion_power

Keith told me that he had grown the original plants several years ago but had lost his seed through one mishap or another. He later found another person growing it and got seed but this time it was the elongated variety. After investigating it a couple of years ago, I found that the oldest description was for elongated. If you care to look, you might find it in the SSE yearbooks back in the mid 1990's.

Keith is having serious health problems so he is not showing up on message sites.

Darrel Jones

Darrel, when I have time I will look in some of my 90's yearbooks but right now I'm so behind on sending seeds out for my seed offer that I just can't take the time to do that.

When I do, what color are the fruits so I know which section of the tomato listings to look at which saves lots of searching?

Carolyn, and really sorry to hear that Keith is having health problems.

January 17, 2013	#1
temora Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Port Perry, Ont 5b/5a Posts: 8	howard german vs long tom I grew both of these last year with only marginal production. Granted they were not in my best bed which still needs amending. But this year they will be in a better location. Has anybody grown both with a preference for one over the other? I wasn't sure about howard as he wasn't the shape I expected.

January 18, 2013	#6
Moshou Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Romania Posts: 470	I have no experience with Long Tom and Howard German, but my 2013 tomato project in related to paste varieties with oblate fruits or pepper shaped. Later this summer I could share my experience. Looking to have some George O'Brian seeds, if it is possible. __________________ Knowledge is knowing the tomato is a fruit, wisdom is not putting in your fruit salad

January 18, 2013	#7
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	As I recall it was Keith M who got the seeds for George O Brian from someone who lives here in NYS. It isn't listed at Tania's site and I don't have time to Google it this AM. But I'm pretty sure Darrel got seeds from Keith and the seeds have been passed around from time to time here and there. Right Darrel? Carolyn __________________ Carolyn

January 18, 2013	#9
Fusion_power Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,250	Keith originally mentioned George O'Brien about 5 years ago describing it as the best flavored tomato he had grown. That got my interest up. Delving into it, he had received the seed from a grower and had grown out a pink beefsteak tomato with exceptional flavor. The correct description should be for an elongated tomato, not a beefsteak. So what Keith had was not George O'Brien. There is more to this story, but it is Keith's to tell. When a gardener in California mentioned having it a couple of years ago, I requested seed. It turned out to be a large elongated tomato with nicely balanced flavor. It is just about right for sweetness, tartness, and has very nice tomato aroma. This is old, but relevant to the discussion. http://kdcomm.net/~tomato/tg98.htm DarJones Last edited by Fusion_power; January 18, 2013 at 01:41 PM.

January 17, 2013	#4
Boutique Tomatoes Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Northeast Wisconsin, Zone 5a Posts: 1,109	DarJones, George O'Brian is as variety I've not seen before. What characteristics of it make it a standout for you? I keep trying new ones of this type, I like to use them for salsas.