WISHING for THE PERFECT TOMATO

[mensplace]

With the seemingly endless number of tomato varieties sometimes I find myself wishing for the ONE variety that would be my 'go to" variety for all things that would represent the perfect tomato. Realizing that we all have different tastes, for me this would be a reliable, consistent producer of medium sized fruits with a taste that would be just loaded with flavor; meaning a lot of sweetness, just enough bite/acidity, but not so much as to make the mouth and lips burn or break out with those painful but short term little bumps or rashes that come with too much acidity. OP. Not too large and absolutely not mushy or mealy, but with evenly distributed locules with plenty of juice and even the balance of seeds that make the perfect sandwich. NOT like a beefsteak either in size or texture. Beautiful red color and shape without a deep, large core to cut out. Three or four inch max. Good disease and virus resistance that will just keep on producing over a long period, even if a couple at a time. Lots of leaf cover. Non splitting, with no cat-facing. Before everyone screams it's too much to ask in one tomato, maybe just a few ideas of what comes closest. So far, my Biltmore has done well, but even it doesn't have the depth of flavor I want. Any ideas as to crosses of other OP's towards my idea of perfection. I would rather have a garden of all working towards this goal than dozens of varieties that leave me wanting. Sweet Perfection would be really something to work towards if there is not another that already fills the bill. This one would be a photographer's delight and the perfect one for fresh eating ...even without salt and pepper. No monster sizes and no Beefsteak mush for me, just beautiful, sweet perfection.

[Irv Wiseguy]

Your description sounds like my experience with Sioux, quite possibly the closest thing to a "Perfect" tomato I'll ever grow.

Irv

[daninpd]

As soon as you threw in the "red provisio", you threw out my top 3 candidates for the job: Cherokee Green, Kellogg's Breakfast and Vorlon. For reds I guess it would come down to Sheyenne and Murray Smith that fit your requirements fairly well and do well in my climate.

[feldon30]

Originally Posted by mensplace

Beautiful red color and shape without a deep, large core to cut out.

You lost me with "red". Red is commonplace. It's everywhere. It's what people expect. And there are few red tomatoes that knock my socks off.

My "perfect" tomato is either Cherokee Purple or Earl's Faux.

[Fiishergurl]

Beefsteak mush? I love me some beefsteaks!!

Ginny

[mensplace]

Not wanting to debate individual preferences in texture or color, just stating my own preferences...differences are what make us interesting.

[feldon30]

Maybe a better thread title would have been "Looking for a medium red slicer with these characteristics".

[aclum]

Hi Mensplace,

Feels a little like Deja Vu

http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=32424

But even if it might be a bit of a repeat, it's always fun to hear what people like best .

Anne

[Worth1]

Its out there and it is called Break O' Day.
Im not saying it is for everyone but if you haven't grown it you should.
Worth

[mensplace]

Aclum,

Actually this is a bit different in that I'm not so much looking for a replacement for my Spring plantings so much as what of the many, many, many varieties that have been developed, both heirloom and hybrid, might meet what was a considerably shorter list of prerequisites. Maybe I am over simplifying this, but it would seem that the list I just compiled should, after so many years of development and crossing, would be almost a standard. In fact, in communicating with one man at Rutgers I was told that he is working on something similar along the lines of such a sweeter, disease resistant producer. I am probably somewhat different now that I have tested hundreds, and this year for my Fall crop am already revisiting the older varieties. Too, that is precisely why I had wanted to distribute the seed for the Biltmore. At some point, I would like to think that one variety would fit what I thought this time was a fairly modest list of traits. With each passing month I am rapidly losing mobility and know that when I get to the point that I can only put twelve plants into the ground, I would like to think that one variety will fill the bill. Too, the heat resistance is becoming less of an issue as I can no longer go out into this heat that already has passed a heat index of 105 and risk a third stroke and even walking to the back is now a real undertaking. Comprende?

[peppero]

There is more than likely nothing that will meet your expectations but, if I were going to dream I would like to have the "perfect tomato" in every catagory of coloer, size, shape, taste and earliness. What is wrong with that?

jon

[JLJ_]

Originally Posted by Worth1

Its out there and it is called Break O' Day.
Im not saying it is for everyone but if you haven't grown it you should.
Worth

If you decide to grow Break O Day in your search for the perfect red tomato, you should grow its parent, Marglobe, the same season(s) for comparison. My view is that Break O Day *is* a nice tomato, but not quite as good as its parent. But differing tastes and differing conditions . . .

FWIW, Marglobe was produced by selection from a cross between the French derived Marvel and Livingstone's Globe. Marvana was produced by selection from a cross between the French derived Marvel and Earliana. Break O Day was produced by selection from a cross between Marglobe and Marvana.

So I suppose one would have to say that both Marglobe and Break O Day are 'Marvel'ous tomatoes.

[Barbee]

Lynwood would fit the bill. Note the spelling is different from Tania's but it came to me via Selected Plants spelled with one N. I had ordered a NAR plant and he sent me Lynwood as a replacement since he was out of NAR. It is my go to tomato every year.
http://t.tatianastomatobase.com:88/wiki/Lynnwood

[ABlindHog]

I have been going through the same process of searching for my go to tomato. Break O Day is on my list of tomatoes to try but I have been unable to find a seed source. Sand Hill is the only one I have found, and he is out. Does anyone know of an alternative source?

[ginger2778]

Originally Posted by ABlindHog

I have been going through the same process of searching for my go to tomato. Break O Day is on my list of tomatoes to try but I have been unable to find a seed source. Sand Hill is the only one I have found, and he is out. Does anyone know of an alternative source?

Here's one:http://www.heritageharvestseed.com/t...html#breakoday