Comments on these Beefsteaks

[Douglas14]

I'm trying to decide what to grow this year. I'm considering ordering seeds of some beefsteak varieties, but would like comments from those who have first hand experience with them. Hopefully I can weed out a few, to keep my overall number of tomato varieties to a manageable level.
Here's some that I'm considering:

Barlow Jap
Couilles De Taureau
Crnkovic Yugoslavian
Hege German Pink
Magnum Beefsteak
Marizol Bratka
Red Barn

[mecktom]

Definitely grow Barlow Jap....one of the best I have had. I am also planting Hege German Pink this year. Have heard very good things about it.

Good luck!

[habitat_gardener]

Marizol Bratka was one of my top-2 favorites the year I grew it (my plant was called Purple Brandy).

[carolyn137]

Douglas14;325508]I'm trying to decide what to grow this year. I'm considering ordering seeds of some beefsteak varieties, but would like comments from those who have first hand experience with them. Hopefully I can weed out a few, to keep my overall number of tomato varieties to a manageable level.
Here's some that I'm considering:

$$$$$$$

Barlow Jap, have not grown

Couilles De Taureau, an exc red beefsteak

Crnkovic Yugoslavian, one of many faves

Hege German Pink, have not grown

Magnum Beefsteak, have not grown

Marizol Bratka, bred by Joe Bratka, he initially called it Purple Brandywine and gave it a fictitious heirloom background, I convinced him to change the name and I corrected the background, which is a cross between Brandywine X Marizol Purple, and he did change the name but had already sent out seeds as Purple Brandywine, thus the confusion.

Red Barnm of the many ones bred by Joe Bratka's father, such as Mule Team and Box Car Willie and Great Divide and Pasture, I think Red Barn is the best and overlooked by many. I still wonder what the other two might have turned out to be since Joe couldn't germinate any of them and sent them to me to try.


Carolyn

[Pyrrho]

I grew Barlow Jap last year, alongside Earl's Faux, Cowlick's Brandywine and Stump of the World for comparison. It was very good, and in the same class as the other three, but I didn't like it quite as much. I will grow it again this year, and recommend it.

Hege German Pink was so-so. Not nearly as good as the other pinks mentioned above, and though I've seen it described as a good market variety because of it's production, mine didn't produce much and succumbed to foliar disease early. I'm beginning to think I should just avoid all varieties with 'German' in the name. No luck at all.

Red Barn also had disease problems, and wasn't very productive, but I recall getting a couple of very large tomatoes -- one that had to be over two pounds -- and the flavor was really excellent. I won't be growing it this year, but will again in the future.

I hope this helps!

[Tormato]

The only comment I'll make is...good luck on getting the real Magnum Beefsteak. Try to verify if it's the real thing.

[kath]

FWIW/YMMV:

Barlow Jap - this will be my 3rd year growing this one; DH fave; beautiful fruit; good production; lasted longer than most even after LB hit; don't cut this one- we liked it better than Earl's Faux, Sudduth's or SOW, so it's going to depend on your taste buds

Couille De Taureau - dense foliage; many of its huge fruits were badly cat-faced; early ones mealy and bland; it was later than many I liked better

Crynkovic Yugoslavian - lots of pretty med. size fruits that seemed to take forever to get ripe; neighbor fave but I was disappointed in the smallish size and lack of earliness; I like the taste, though

Hege German Pink - good producer of 6-14 oz. fruits that DH liked

Magnum Beefsteak - sounds familiar but if I grew it I no longer remember or have notes

Marizol Bratka - on this year's list

Red Barn - so-so producer of 7-16 oz. fruits that were too "strong" for either DH or me

[BigBrownDogHouse]

Magnum Beefsteak-
They just didn't seem to get that big. I honestly don't remember that much more about them. Guess they didn't impress us too much.

Red Barn-
Grew for the first time last year and will be a mainstay in the garden. One of the favorites with all family members and that was with 75+ varieties grown.
No disease problems here.

[beefyboy]

Crnkovic Yugoslavian was a real surprise for me this year, absolutely in my top ten now. Barlow and Hege German I would rate good but not noteworthy, at least here in Florida.

[Barbee]

Originally Posted by Douglas14

I'm trying to decide what to grow this year. I'm considering ordering seeds of some beefsteak varieties, but would like comments from those who have first hand experience with them. Hopefully I can weed out a few, to keep my overall number of tomato varieties to a manageable level.
Here's some that I'm considering:

Barlow Jap
Couilles De Taureau
Crnkovic Yugoslavian
Hege German Pink
Magnum Beefsteak
Marizol Bratka
Red Barn

From your list, I've had Hege German Pink and Marizol Bratka. Both will be in my garden again this year

[Douglas14]

Thank for all the replies. There is quite a bit of variability in the comments. I guess I'll just have to pick some that I'm most interested in, and see what I think of them. I'll likely be ordering the seeds early next week, so I'm still open to more comments.

[barefootgardener]

From your list I have growm Couilles De Taureau and Hege German Pink. Both were fantastic and did very well. CDT was a real beauty, and had fantastic flavor!! I have grown it a few times.

HGP, was very productive, and had great flavor!! Both are winners in my book for me.

[GaryStPaul]

Doug, I give high marks to Couilles de Taureau. Grow it every year.

Gary

[PA_Julia]

Magnum has been known to grow some competition sized tomatoes.
This is why I'm seriously considering adding it to my lineup this upcoming season.

[Douglas14]

Thanks again everyone. I place my seed order, and it wasn't easy, but these are the one's I chose:

Barlow Jap
Couilles De Taureau
Crnkovic Yugoslavian
Red Barn

I received a free gift from the seed company, which was Marizol Bratka(one I was considering anyway).