tomato garden-2014

camochef · September 7, 2014

Hey guys,

Tomato season is all but over here in my garden and all cages and tomato plants removed...except for a couple Mountain Fresh which are still producing.
I ended the season with 41 tomato plants after having lost about 20 plants earlier in the season to the horrific storms we had come through.

I had brought back Cherokee Purple this year after having eliminated it from my favorites for quite a few years. It was leading in taste for quite awhile until I finally got to taste my first German Johnson- Benton strain crossed with an unknown tomato. Its a black tomato on a P.L. plant. It is delicious! Production is good but not as great as the original R.L. German Johnson-Benton Strain.

I had lost my few Brandywine Glick's in the mentioned storms, so I only had Cowlicks Brandywines and Brandywine -Sudduth's to compare and there was no comparison to be made in taste as they are similar. the difference is in production...where Cowlicks out-produced Sudduths by what seems to be 10-1.

Earl's Faux plants did extremely well and were very tasty.
Purple Dog Creek regained its position as a favorite and produced some huge tomatoes.
Bear Creek not only produced plenty of great tasting tomatoes but they were about the prettiest ones in the garden. I also suspect them to be the other parent with the aforementioned Black German Johnson Benton Strain.
DDR was its usual great tasting and heavy producing Black tomato but they were much larger this year compared to previous years.
Terhune gave me some nice-sized tomatoes with great taste but not overly productive this year.
The production leader was a Red Brandywine plant from Homegrown Harvest via Agway. It was a P.L. plant and it gave me an enormous amount of good-sized red tomatoes with great taste.
Liz Birt was a bit of a disappointment this season as most fruits suffered with "BER" on all 3 plants. Those I managed to harvest in good condition tasted good but there weren't too many.
Sandul Moldovan was an early producer, right behind Cowlick's, but it seemed to have a much thicker skin than other years, still great tasting though.
My own DDRxBW-C was damaged early in the season and late in producing ripe fruit. The fruits were not as large as usual but tasted fine.
Pink Sweet was another that I brought back this year and a pleasant surprise in taste and not bad in production once it got going.
Barlow Jap was its usual outstanding tomato in both size and production and maintains its usual position as a great tasting tomato.
Mountain Fresh is a hybrid, determinate. Two things I usually shy away from. Which may have been a mistake on my part. I had 3 plants of this with 2 still remaining in my garden. The last two tomato plants still producing. It is a red tomato, meaty, thin skinned, very little core and great taste!
I had been buying them from a local farm stand where they were averaging about a pound and a half each. I got an opportunity to buy a few plants and decided to give them a try. Though they claim to be determinate...they produced through-out the entire season and are still producing!
Amazon Chocolate had a somewhat off year this season. Both plants were damaged and though they survived they didn't do well. Did get some huge dark tomatoes but not the usual.
Taresenko6 was a huge plant with huge tomatoes. It had been my favorite red tomato for a few years now. This year, the Red Brandywine knocked it out of that place. It also had some issues with "BER". Could have been plant placement as it was in an area that stays wetter and this was a fairly wet year here.

On a whole...this was a late season getting started with abnormal cold weather early in the spring. Once things finally began to ripen, everything seemed to ripen at once and I was eyeball deep in tomatoes. I couldn't give them away fast enough. Season also ended abruptly with a colder August than normal as well as the end of July. Our hottest weather was the 1st week of September.
That's all behind me now and although I didn't get to save as much seed as I like...I did get some from every variety, to allow me to continue next year. Also received a good amount from a close friend, varieties I've been wanting to try, such as Rebel Yell, Margaret Curtain, Dester and Not Purple Strawberry. Also Dixiewine, Texwine, Pink Berkley Tie Dye, Mckinley, Weisnicht's Ukrainian and a few others. I had also received seed from her earlier in the season for Mountain Fresh F1 along with other veggies.

Gonna make it very difficult to select only 10 tomato plants for next season. Did I mention that's my goal...10 tomato plants next year!
Enjoy!
Camo

kath · September 7, 2014

Hi, Camo- I always love to read your wonderful reviews so thanks for posting it here. It sounds like it was a great tomato year for you despite its setbacks but it's surprising to hear that all your plants are pulled already. It seems like it's a good idea to keep planting a variety of favorites each year because some will always do better than others for whatever reason. And you're all set for next season already- amazing! Hope you are able to keep to your 10 limit.

Next year the focus for us will be on tomatoes that dry/can well and less on the slicers because we don't eat all that many fresh and it's way to much work to process all the juicy/seedy ones. I'll be looking for large, dry, unseedy, easy-to-peel, dark red types that don't get BER or ripen unevenly here. Also will grow 1 Sungold and a couple blacks for DH (probably Blackberry-early- and Negrillo de Almoguera-later) and maybe Moya- a beautiful red slicer that, like Negrillo de Almoguera, is still producing perfect fruits like crazy and has had the most disease-resistant foliage.

Take care,
kath

salix · September 7, 2014

Thanks for the great report, Mike. Glad you had such a good experience with Mountain Fresh. I have been picking loads of mature green and blushing tomatoes and must get all of them off the plants in the next two days. The weather is finally changing and we expect a good freeze Monday night and for the following several days. It has been a lovely growing season for us, and have found several new favourites - Indian Stripe PL (thanks Kath!) and Pineapple leading the pack. Good luck in sticking to your goal of 10 plants.

amideutch · September 7, 2014

Quote:

Once things finally began to ripen, everything seemed to ripen at once and I was eyeball deep in tomatoes.

Camo, not bad for a late season start.

Quote:

Did I mention that's my goal...10 tomato plants next year!

You be talking the the impossible dream.

I'm glad you got seed for Margaret Curtain as you won't be disappointed. Grew Dester alongside Brandywine From Croatia last year and was more impressed with BFC. If you manage to squeeze in Margaret next year make sure you give her good support as she really loads up with fruit.

Ami

AKmark · September 7, 2014

Thanks for the report Mike, everything tomato I have tried that you suggest is awesome.

JamesL · September 7, 2014

Camo,
Great write up as always. Thanks for sharing.

MissS · September 7, 2014

I always look forward to reading your reviews. As always I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you for posting this each an every year.

I have a questing about Taresenko 6. Some of us got seeds for this in last years swap and what was grown out did not fit the description. Some of us got pinks or blacks. Someone mentioned that it was a hybrid. Do you save your seeds and grow them out or are you getting your seed out of the same packet each year? I am just wondering if we got crossed seed or are we growing out hybrid seed.

Thank you.

guruofgardens · September 7, 2014

Hey Mike,
Good to hear from you and your garden. I always love your tomato reviews and look at them closely to pick which varieties I might want to try in the next season.

Your season is coming to an end and my tomatoes are finally starting to ripen. Finally.

10 tomatoes. I just can't see your garden with only 10 tomato plants. Let us know which varieties you decide to plant! 10 plants - a good goal, but that's just what it is - a goal.

Keep in touch with us all. We all really love to hear about your garden and cooking.

PaulF · September 8, 2014

Thanks for the report. As always, there are several that will make next year's list. I will also reduce numbers next year from 35 to 25. (I think that has been said before....but next year for sure this time)

dustdevil · September 8, 2014

Hi Camo. Sounds like you had a real good year. Are you still using the bear for tasting?

camochef · September 8, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by kath

Hi, Camo- I always love to read your wonderful reviews so thanks for posting it here. It sounds like it was a great tomato year for you despite its setbacks but it's surprising to hear that all your plants are pulled already. It seems like it's a good idea to keep planting a variety of favorites each year because some will always do better than others for whatever reason. And you're all set for next season already- amazing! Hope you are able to keep to your 10 limit.

Next year the focus for us will be on tomatoes that dry/can well and less on the slicers because we don't eat all that many fresh and it's way to much work to process all the juicy/seedy ones. I'll be looking for large, dry, unseedy, easy-to-peel, dark red types that don't get BER or ripen unevenly here. Also will grow 1 Sungold and a couple blacks for DH (probably Blackberry-early- and Negrillo de Almoguera-later) and maybe Moya- a beautiful red slicer that, like Negrillo de Almoguera, is still producing perfect fruits like crazy and has had the most disease-resistant foliage.

Take care,
kath

Kath,
Thanks for such kind words! Most plants were about done, but I also had other things in mind. I had planted another batch of spinach as well as squash and green beans for the fall, but wanted to start even more spinach. So as plants and cagers were removed, I tilled and planted lots of spinach. (added 25 rows).
Although I haven't grown it in 5-7 years, I've found Wessel's Purple Pride to be the best tomato for dehydrating. I no longer have seed for it, but if you can find some, give it a try. It even did well on a very wet year, when Opalka balloned for me.
Enjoy!
Camo

camochef · September 8, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by salix

Thanks for the great report, Mike. Glad you had such a good experience with Mountain Fresh. I have been picking loads of mature green and blushing tomatoes and must get all of them off the plants in the next two days. The weather is finally changing and we expect a good freeze Monday night and for the following several days. It has been a lovely growing season for us, and have found several new favourites - Indian Stripe PL (thanks Kath!) and Pineapple leading the pack. Good luck in sticking to your goal of 10 plants.

Mountain Fresh was one of the more pleasant surprises this year. A great tasting tomato, good size, small core, thin skin...would almost think it to be one of my favorite Brandywines.
Even though I've said it before...I'm certainly going to make a serious effort to cut back to only 10 tomato plants.
Enjoy!
Camo

Dutch · September 8, 2014

Hi Camo,
I just wanted to let you know that I too look forward to your reviews every year. Thank you also for giving us the other reports and info that you write here from time to time. I really do appreciate it! Thanks!
Dutch

camochef · September 8, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by amideutch

Camo, not bad for a late season start.

You be talking the the impossible dream.

I'm glad you got seed for Margaret Curtain as you won't be disappointed. Grew Dester alongside Brandywine From Croatia last year and was more impressed with BFC. If you manage to squeeze in Margaret next year make sure you give her good support as she really loads up with fruit.

Ami

Ami,
Thanks!
I know, it's been said time and time again, but...

Looking forward to trying Margaret Curtain as well as some others.
Will it need more support than Cowlick's? I use CRW on most of my heavy producers, American cattle wire on others.
Enjoy!
Camo

camochef · September 8, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissS

I always look forward to reading your reviews. As always I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you for posting this each an every year.

I have a questing about Taresenko 6. Some of us got seeds for this in last years swap and what was grown out did not fit the description. Some of us got pinks or blacks. Someone mentioned that it was a hybrid. Do you save your seeds and grow them out or are you getting your seed out of the same packet each year? I am just wondering if we got crossed seed or are we growing out hybrid seed.

Thank you.

I've been saving my own seed for at least the past 7 years or more, My Tarasenko6 have always been red, huge red tomatoes... usually on the tallest plant in the gardens.
I would assume you received crossed seed, this is a problem with swapping seeds as most don't bag blossoms or try to preserve seed integrity.
Better luck in the future.
Enjoy!
Camo
Did they at least taste good?

September 7, 2014	#1
camochef Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania Posts: 707	tomato garden-2014 Hey guys, Tomato season is all but over here in my garden and all cages and tomato plants removed...except for a couple Mountain Fresh which are still producing. I ended the season with 41 tomato plants after having lost about 20 plants earlier in the season to the horrific storms we had come through. I had brought back Cherokee Purple this year after having eliminated it from my favorites for quite a few years. It was leading in taste for quite awhile until I finally got to taste my first German Johnson- Benton strain crossed with an unknown tomato. Its a black tomato on a P.L. plant. It is delicious! Production is good but not as great as the original R.L. German Johnson-Benton Strain. I had lost my few Brandywine Glick's in the mentioned storms, so I only had Cowlicks Brandywines and Brandywine -Sudduth's to compare and there was no comparison to be made in taste as they are similar. the difference is in production...where Cowlicks out-produced Sudduths by what seems to be 10-1. Earl's Faux plants did extremely well and were very tasty. Purple Dog Creek regained its position as a favorite and produced some huge tomatoes. Bear Creek not only produced plenty of great tasting tomatoes but they were about the prettiest ones in the garden. I also suspect them to be the other parent with the aforementioned Black German Johnson Benton Strain. DDR was its usual great tasting and heavy producing Black tomato but they were much larger this year compared to previous years. Terhune gave me some nice-sized tomatoes with great taste but not overly productive this year. The production leader was a Red Brandywine plant from Homegrown Harvest via Agway. It was a P.L. plant and it gave me an enormous amount of good-sized red tomatoes with great taste. Liz Birt was a bit of a disappointment this season as most fruits suffered with "BER" on all 3 plants. Those I managed to harvest in good condition tasted good but there weren't too many. Sandul Moldovan was an early producer, right behind Cowlick's, but it seemed to have a much thicker skin than other years, still great tasting though. My own DDRxBW-C was damaged early in the season and late in producing ripe fruit. The fruits were not as large as usual but tasted fine. Pink Sweet was another that I brought back this year and a pleasant surprise in taste and not bad in production once it got going. Barlow Jap was its usual outstanding tomato in both size and production and maintains its usual position as a great tasting tomato. Mountain Fresh is a hybrid, determinate. Two things I usually shy away from. Which may have been a mistake on my part. I had 3 plants of this with 2 still remaining in my garden. The last two tomato plants still producing. It is a red tomato, meaty, thin skinned, very little core and great taste! I had been buying them from a local farm stand where they were averaging about a pound and a half each. I got an opportunity to buy a few plants and decided to give them a try. Though they claim to be determinate...they produced through-out the entire season and are still producing! Amazon Chocolate had a somewhat off year this season. Both plants were damaged and though they survived they didn't do well. Did get some huge dark tomatoes but not the usual. Taresenko6 was a huge plant with huge tomatoes. It had been my favorite red tomato for a few years now. This year, the Red Brandywine knocked it out of that place. It also had some issues with "BER". Could have been plant placement as it was in an area that stays wetter and this was a fairly wet year here. On a whole...this was a late season getting started with abnormal cold weather early in the spring. Once things finally began to ripen, everything seemed to ripen at once and I was eyeball deep in tomatoes. I couldn't give them away fast enough. Season also ended abruptly with a colder August than normal as well as the end of July. Our hottest weather was the 1st week of September. That's all behind me now and although I didn't get to save as much seed as I like...I did get some from every variety, to allow me to continue next year. Also received a good amount from a close friend, varieties I've been wanting to try, such as Rebel Yell, Margaret Curtain, Dester and Not Purple Strawberry. Also Dixiewine, Texwine, Pink Berkley Tie Dye, Mckinley, Weisnicht's Ukrainian and a few others. I had also received seed from her earlier in the season for Mountain Fresh F1 along with other veggies. Gonna make it very difficult to select only 10 tomato plants for next season. Did I mention that's my goal...10 tomato plants next year! Enjoy! Camo

September 7, 2014	#3
salix Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: north central B.C. Posts: 2,310	Thanks for the great report, Mike. Glad you had such a good experience with Mountain Fresh. I have been picking loads of mature green and blushing tomatoes and must get all of them off the plants in the next two days. The weather is finally changing and we expect a good freeze Monday night and for the following several days. It has been a lovely growing season for us, and have found several new favourites - Indian Stripe PL (thanks Kath!) and Pineapple leading the pack. Good luck in sticking to your goal of 10 plants. __________________ "He who has a library and a garden wants for nothing." -Cicero

September 7, 2014	#7
MissS Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 3,150	I always look forward to reading your reviews. As always I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you for posting this each an every year. I have a questing about Taresenko 6. Some of us got seeds for this in last years swap and what was grown out did not fit the description. Some of us got pinks or blacks. Someone mentioned that it was a hybrid. Do you save your seeds and grow them out or are you getting your seed out of the same packet each year? I am just wondering if we got crossed seed or are we growing out hybrid seed. Thank you. __________________ ~ Patti ~

September 8, 2014	#9
PaulF Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brownville, Ne Posts: 3,296	Thanks for the report. As always, there are several that will make next year's list. I will also reduce numbers next year from 35 to 25. (I think that has been said before....but next year for sure this time) __________________ there's two things money can't buy; true love and home grown tomatoes.

September 8, 2014	#13
Dutch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: S.E. Wisconsin Zone 5b Posts: 1,831	Hi Camo, I just wanted to let you know that I too look forward to your reviews every year. Thank you also for giving us the other reports and info that you write here from time to time. I really do appreciate it! Thanks! Dutch __________________ "Discretion is the better part of valor" Charles Churchill The intuitive mind is a gift, and the rational mind is a faithful servant. But we have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift. (paraphrased) Albert Einstein I come from a long line of sod busters, spanning back several centuries.

September 7, 2014	#2
kath Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: zone 6b, PA Posts: 5,664	Hi, Camo- I always love to read your wonderful reviews so thanks for posting it here. It sounds like it was a great tomato year for you despite its setbacks but it's surprising to hear that all your plants are pulled already. It seems like it's a good idea to keep planting a variety of favorites each year because some will always do better than others for whatever reason. And you're all set for next season already- amazing! Hope you are able to keep to your 10 limit. Next year the focus for us will be on tomatoes that dry/can well and less on the slicers because we don't eat all that many fresh and it's way to much work to process all the juicy/seedy ones. I'll be looking for large, dry, unseedy, easy-to-peel, dark red types that don't get BER or ripen unevenly here. Also will grow 1 Sungold and a couple blacks for DH (probably Blackberry-early- and Negrillo de Almoguera-later) and maybe Moya- a beautiful red slicer that, like Negrillo de Almoguera, is still producing perfect fruits like crazy and has had the most disease-resistant foliage. Take care, kath

September 7, 2014	#5
AKmark Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Wasilla Alaska Posts: 2,010	Thanks for the report Mike, everything tomato I have tried that you suggest is awesome.

September 7, 2014	#6
JamesL Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 1,992	Camo, Great write up as always. Thanks for sharing.

September 7, 2014	#8
guruofgardens Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2008 Location: zone 5 Colorado Posts: 942	Hey Mike, Good to hear from you and your garden. I always love your tomato reviews and look at them closely to pick which varieties I might want to try in the next season. Your season is coming to an end and my tomatoes are finally starting to ripen. Finally. 10 tomatoes. I just can't see your garden with only 10 tomato plants. Let us know which varieties you decide to plant! 10 plants - a good goal, but that's just what it is - a goal. Keep in touch with us all. We all really love to hear about your garden and cooking.

September 8, 2014	#10
dustdevil Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: WI, USA Zone4 Posts: 1,887	Hi Camo. Sounds like you had a real good year. Are you still using the bear for tasting?