choices, an early tomato

wally mcgee · June 26, 2013

Could some of you seasoned tomato growers recommend an early heirloom variety for me to try.

I am new to growing heirlooms and am growing: German Pink, Cherokee Purple, and Brandy Wine this year. I thought an earlier producer might be nice in the mix.

I must have the bug as I'm already thinking next year

Redbaron · June 26, 2013

Does it have to be heirloom? Shadow boxing is my earliest this year.

KathyDC · June 26, 2013

I've never grown it myself, but you could try Earliana. It was introduced in ~1900 and is supposed to be an earlier variety (not as early as others though - I think it's around 65 days). But if you're looking for an early heirloom, as opposed to just something that's open pollenated, you might consider it.

Kathy

Tania · June 26, 2013

Stupice, Kimberley, Glacier, Kotlas are great and reliable early varieties.

tnkrer · June 26, 2013

Wally .. here is a thread I am watching, (early tomato thread) I also want to pick one or two early tomatoes for next year. (I have early girl this year. Its F1 hybrid and depending on its taste, it may/not stay)

That Fish Lake Oxheart seems interesting.

Tania · June 26, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by tnkrer

Wally .. here is a thread I am watching, (early tomato thread) I also want to pick one or two early tomatoes for next year. (I have early girl this year. Its F1 hybrid and depending on its taste, it may/not stay)

That Fish Lake Oxheart seems interesting.

I am growing Fish Lake Oxheart this year, and so far no, it does not look too early in my garden. Tsar-Kolokol and Larisa tomatoes (that are also hearts) already have large green fruits, but not Fish Lake Oxheart, which has no fruit set yet. All were planted at about the same time.

Although it could be just luck with early fruit set

Tormato · June 26, 2013

So far, Kimberley has been the earliest and best tasting of the few very early varieties I've tried. Best tasting means good, but not great.

This year it's going up against Stupice, Early Wonder, Early Annie, Moskvich,
Sophie's Choice, Beaverlodge Slicer, Early Treat F1, and Mountain Princess (although MP is likely out of the running as I've heard it is not as early as advertised).

Only greenies at this point, but I'll try to post when things are ripe.

Dr. L

ve Apple

TightenUp · June 26, 2013

i have one kimberley plant but i kinda use early cherries like sungold to hold me over till the big boys start producing ripe tomatoes. big beef and brandy boy set fruit the same week as kimberley and a bunch of cherries so i should have some relatively early tomatoes.

habitat_gardener · June 26, 2013

My strategy is also to count on cherries for good-tasting early tomatoes, though this year I didn't plant the cherry tomatoes as early as I would have liked to.

The earliest great-tasting tomato is usually Pruden's Purple. There's a thread that says it's 100 days from seed to ripe fruit.

kath · June 26, 2013

This is my 4th year growing Amazon Chocolate (PL version) and it's always the earliest one I grow besides Sungold.

kath

Heritage · June 26, 2013

So far, my early season surprise has been the small yellow determinate 'V. Desjatku'. The flavor was impressive (for an early tomato) and I will add it to my fall garden. Thanks Clara!

Steve

Father'sDaughter · June 27, 2013

I'll cast another vote for Kimberley which I'm growing for a second year. I started all my tomato seeds on 3/17, planted out on 5/11, and it looks like I may have my first ripe Kimberley within the next week or two (fingers crossed). Flavor is quite good for an early tomato.

The big surprise, however, is Italian Heirloom. It has two decent sized fruit that are also developing that shiny, darker green, almost-ready-to-start-turning-red look to them. It's listed as a "mid-season," but it sure is behaving like an "early" for me this year.

nathan125 · June 27, 2013

I picked a Beaverlodge Slicer on the 23rd of May, very early for my area. it weighed 3 oz and tasted nice.

Alfredo · June 27, 2013

Sophie's Choice.

nancyruhl · June 27, 2013

I think you'll find your Cherokee Purple to be one of the earliest in a full size tomato. At least it has been for me. I like Matina, which has won for the last 2 years. I think it has better taste than many earlies I have tried.

June 26, 2013	#1
wally mcgee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: peru, Iowa zone 5a Posts: 167	choices, an early tomato Could some of you seasoned tomato growers recommend an early heirloom variety for me to try. I am new to growing heirlooms and am growing: German Pink, Cherokee Purple, and Brandy Wine this year. I thought an earlier producer might be nice in the mix. I must have the bug as I'm already thinking next year

June 26, 2013	#2
Redbaron Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 4,488	Does it have to be heirloom? Shadow boxing is my earliest this year. __________________ Scott AKA The Redbaron "Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted & thoughtful observation rather than protracted & thoughtless labour; & of looking at plants & animals in all their functions, rather than treating any area as a single-product system." Bill Mollison co-founder of permaculture

June 26, 2013	#4
Tania Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Anmore, BC, Canada Posts: 3,970	Stupice, Kimberley, Glacier, Kotlas are great and reliable early varieties. __________________ Tatiana's TOMATObase

June 26, 2013	#7
Tormato Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MA Posts: 4,971	So far, Kimberley has been the earliest and best tasting of the few very early varieties I've tried. Best tasting means good, but not great. This year it's going up against Stupice, Early Wonder, Early Annie, Moskvich, Sophie's Choice, Beaverlodge Slicer, Early Treat F1, and Mountain Princess (although MP is likely out of the running as I've heard it is not as early as advertised). Only greenies at this point, but I'll try to post when things are ripe. Dr. Lve Apple

June 26, 2013	#8
TightenUp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Jersey Posts: 1,183	i have one kimberley plant but i kinda use early cherries like sungold to hold me over till the big boys start producing ripe tomatoes. big beef and brandy boy set fruit the same week as kimberley and a bunch of cherries so i should have some relatively early tomatoes. __________________

June 26, 2013	#3
KathyDC Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Suburban Washington, DC (Zone 7A) Posts: 347	I've never grown it myself, but you could try Earliana. It was introduced in ~1900 and is supposed to be an earlier variety (not as early as others though - I think it's around 65 days). But if you're looking for an early heirloom, as opposed to just something that's open pollenated, you might consider it. Kathy

June 26, 2013	#5
tnkrer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: MA 6a/b Posts: 352	Wally .. here is a thread I am watching, (early tomato thread) I also want to pick one or two early tomatoes for next year. (I have early girl this year. Its F1 hybrid and depending on its taste, it may/not stay) That Fish Lake Oxheart seems interesting.

June 26, 2013	#9
habitat_gardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: California Central Valley Posts: 2,543	My strategy is also to count on cherries for good-tasting early tomatoes, though this year I didn't plant the cherry tomatoes as early as I would have liked to. The earliest great-tasting tomato is usually Pruden's Purple. There's a thread that says it's 100 days from seed to ripe fruit.

June 26, 2013	#10
kath Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: zone 6b, PA Posts: 5,664	This is my 4th year growing Amazon Chocolate (PL version) and it's always the earliest one I grow besides Sungold. kath

June 26, 2013	#11
Heritage Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: San Diego Posts: 1,255	So far, my early season surprise has been the small yellow determinate 'V. Desjatku'. The flavor was impressive (for an early tomato) and I will add it to my fall garden. Thanks Clara! Steve

June 27, 2013	#12
Father'sDaughter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: MA/NH Border Posts: 4,919	I'll cast another vote for Kimberley which I'm growing for a second year. I started all my tomato seeds on 3/17, planted out on 5/11, and it looks like I may have my first ripe Kimberley within the next week or two (fingers crossed). Flavor is quite good for an early tomato. The big surprise, however, is Italian Heirloom. It has two decent sized fruit that are also developing that shiny, darker green, almost-ready-to-start-turning-red look to them. It's listed as a "mid-season," but it sure is behaving like an "early" for me this year.

June 27, 2013	#13
nathan125 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Idaho Posts: 111	I picked a Beaverlodge Slicer on the 23rd of May, very early for my area. it weighed 3 oz and tasted nice.

June 27, 2013	#14
Alfredo Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Clifton, NJ Posts: 554	Sophie's Choice.

June 27, 2013	#15
nancyruhl Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Metro Detroit, Michigan Posts: 1,051	I think you'll find your Cherokee Purple to be one of the earliest in a full size tomato. At least it has been for me. I like Matina, which has won for the last 2 years. I think it has better taste than many earlies I have tried.