Grow list advice - major cutback on number of plants this year!

gryffin · April 7, 2015

I have to limit myself to 6 large tomato plants (for my community garden plot) and 1-2 cherry-type tomato plants (for containers at home). After growing 30-40 plants of 20-30 varieties for the last several years, I am having trouble narrowing down my grow list!

However, in past years, I have grown so many that it got hard for me to keep them picked at the peak of ripeness and there were, unfortunately, some plants for which I never tried a single fruit. In additon, I couldn't give them all the care they needed, so some didn't grow as well as they might have with more attention. So, at least with fewer plants, I should really get a chance to enjoy what I plant.

So here is what I am thinking of.

Community Garden Plot:
1. Bulgarian Triumph
2. KBX
3. Indian Stripe
4. Anna Russian
5. Red Brandywine
6. TBD

(Slight cheat here, my friend who I share the plot with is growing 2 each of Jaune Flamme and Japanese Black Trifele so I will also have access to these varieties grown under the same conditions as my own.)

Containers at Home:
7. Matt's Wild Cherry
8. Sweet Orange II

Others I am considering (either for the TBD slot or instead of one of the others):

Pruden's Purple
Cuostralee
Eva Purple Ball
Aunt Ginny's Purple
Aunt Ruby's German Green
Cowlick Brandywine
Maya & Sion’s Airdrie Classic
Hays
Little Lucky
Blush
Malakhitovaya Shkatulka

I'd appreciate others thoughts on what I should (or shouldn't) grow. I'm in Zone 5, New Hampshire.

Thanks!

efisakov · April 7, 2015

I am not sure what TBD is. Pruden's Purple and Cowlick were great tomatoes for me, Produced more than 10 pounds each, but mostly at the end of the season. Pruden's Purple and Cowlick are both Potato Leaf plants. Will look different than the rest of the plants. I would use one of them instead of Red Brandywine.
Generally your list is pretty good.

TightenUp · April 7, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by efisakov

I am not sure what TBD is.

To be determined = TBD

**Lee** · April 7, 2015

Cuostralee.... definitely!

bughunter99 · April 8, 2015

You are in New Hampshire and are still getting out of a horrid winter. Your season is likely going to be shorter so I would dump everything that has longer seasons. Dump the Brandywines for sure. Definitely keep Indian Stripe.

b54red · April 8, 2015

I would definitely add Pruden's Purple. It is a very productive fairly early great tasting tomato. As a matter of fact I think I would plant at least two of them. Since you are so far north you might want to consider a couple of blacks that do really well down here in the fall and they are Carbon and Pink Berkley Tie Dye.

Since you have such a short season I would eliminate any that didn't produce a decent crop of vine ripe fruit before frost. I like Red Brandywine but even down here in our oppressive heat it can be really late. Cowlick's on the other hand is not especially late and would fall in the middle as to DTM.

Bill

Cole_Robbie · April 8, 2015

I think Red Brandywine is multiple varieties, depending on what seed company you get it from. I am trying the Landis Valley strain this year.

gryffin · April 9, 2015

Thanks for your advice so far. I am definitely concerned about productivity and quality (e.g., great taste) in my climate, given that I am limited to only a few plants. I can't waste space on something that could be marginal.

Berkeley Tie Die sounds especially good, but I'm worried about not being able to get seed quickly enough. I really should be starting them this weekend. I may order some seed anyway and use it next year.

It sounds like I should drop both Brandywines, as well as KBX and Bulgarian Triumph since all can be on the later side (I'm finding it hard to tell in some cases, since DTM varies so much based on climate). We can have some pretty wet/blustery weather in early June, so I need varieties that won't get set back too much. At the same time, we can have some stretches of 90 degree weather and my plot gets direct sun.

Here are my latest thoughts (all varieties for which I have seed on hand):

Main Crop:
1. Anna Russian
2. Prudens Purple
3. Indian Stripe
4. ?
5. ?
6. ?

Home in Pots
1. Matt's Wild Cherry
2. Blush

I'd like a Yellow or Orange with good flavor, besides KBX, I have seed for Orange Minsk and Casey's Pure Yellow. I'd also like at least one red, I know tha I have seed for Ludmillas's Red Plum and Maya and Sion's Airdrie Classic.

habitat_gardener · April 9, 2015

I thought Bulgarian Triumph was an early-midseason tomato that can take cooler temps! I'm growing it this year, really for the first time. (I grew it once before in a container, but didn't start seeds until late June, so got only a few tomatoes before it got cold in October.) I'm also growing Maya & Sion's Airdrie Classic, which is supposed to be even earlier.

gryffin · April 9, 2015

I saw it listed as late on a few different sites.

parah · April 10, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by b54red

I would definitely add Pruden's Purple. It is a very productive fairly early great tasting tomato. As a matter of fact I think I would plant at least two of them.
Bill

Yes, YES. Early, big, and tasty.... maybe plant three.

Bill, have you tried Liz Birt? I thought it was a little tastier than Pruden's Purple and just as big, early, tough and productive, but I need to compare a few more seasons to be sure. How did it tolerate your heat and humidity?

b54red · April 10, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by parah

Yes, YES. Early, big, and tasty.... maybe plant three.

Bill, have you tried Liz Birt? I thought it was a little tastier than Pruden's Purple and just as big, early, tough and productive, but I need to compare a few more seasons to be sure. How did it tolerate your heat and humidity?

I've never grown it but it sounds great. If it is tastier and tougher than Pruden's it should be a good one.

Bill

parah · April 10, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by b54red

I've never grown it but it sounds great. If it is tastier and tougher than Pruden's it should be a good one.

Bill

Camochef kept mentioning it, and mentioning it,
and listed it in his Top 3 for pinks, above Barlow Jap!

Well, I should have tried it years ago, it seemes to have a richer umami flavor than Pruden's Purple
It set fruit well in in the hot dry 100 degree heat, I hope it can handle the summer humidity.

Strange name, but good pedigree: Brandywine X Cherokee Purple by Keith Mueller
http://tatianastomatobase.com/wiki/Liz_Birt

April 7, 2015	#1
gryffin Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 229	Grow list advice - major cutback on number of plants this year! I have to limit myself to 6 large tomato plants (for my community garden plot) and 1-2 cherry-type tomato plants (for containers at home). After growing 30-40 plants of 20-30 varieties for the last several years, I am having trouble narrowing down my grow list! However, in past years, I have grown so many that it got hard for me to keep them picked at the peak of ripeness and there were, unfortunately, some plants for which I never tried a single fruit. In additon, I couldn't give them all the care they needed, so some didn't grow as well as they might have with more attention. So, at least with fewer plants, I should really get a chance to enjoy what I plant. So here is what I am thinking of. Community Garden Plot: 1. Bulgarian Triumph 2. KBX 3. Indian Stripe 4. Anna Russian 5. Red Brandywine 6. TBD (Slight cheat here, my friend who I share the plot with is growing 2 each of Jaune Flamme and Japanese Black Trifele so I will also have access to these varieties grown under the same conditions as my own.) Containers at Home: 7. Matt's Wild Cherry 8. Sweet Orange II Others I am considering (either for the TBD slot or instead of one of the others): Pruden's Purple Cuostralee Eva Purple Ball Aunt Ginny's Purple Aunt Ruby's German Green Cowlick Brandywine Maya & Sion’s Airdrie Classic Hays Little Lucky Blush Malakhitovaya Shkatulka I'd appreciate others thoughts on what I should (or shouldn't) grow. I'm in Zone 5, New Hampshire. Thanks!

April 7, 2015	#2
efisakov Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: NJ, zone 7 Posts: 3,162	I am not sure what TBD is. Pruden's Purple and Cowlick were great tomatoes for me, Produced more than 10 pounds each, but mostly at the end of the season. Pruden's Purple and Cowlick are both Potato Leaf plants. Will look different than the rest of the plants. I would use one of them instead of Red Brandywine. Generally your list is pretty good. __________________ Ella God comes along and says, "I think I'm going to create THE tomato!”

April 7, 2015	#4
Lee Tomatopalooza™ Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NC-Zone 7 Posts: 2,188	Cuostralee.... definitely! __________________ Intelligence is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put one in a fruit salad. Cuostralee - The best thing on sliced bread.

April 8, 2015	#5
bughunter99 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: zone 5 Posts: 821	You are in New Hampshire and are still getting out of a horrid winter. Your season is likely going to be shorter so I would dump everything that has longer seasons. Dump the Brandywines for sure. Definitely keep Indian Stripe.

April 8, 2015	#6
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	I would definitely add Pruden's Purple. It is a very productive fairly early great tasting tomato. As a matter of fact I think I would plant at least two of them. Since you are so far north you might want to consider a couple of blacks that do really well down here in the fall and they are Carbon and Pink Berkley Tie Dye. Since you have such a short season I would eliminate any that didn't produce a decent crop of vine ripe fruit before frost. I like Red Brandywine but even down here in our oppressive heat it can be really late. Cowlick's on the other hand is not especially late and would fall in the middle as to DTM. Bill

April 8, 2015	#7
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	I think Red Brandywine is multiple varieties, depending on what seed company you get it from. I am trying the Landis Valley strain this year.

April 9, 2015	#8
gryffin Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 229	Thanks for your advice so far. I am definitely concerned about productivity and quality (e.g., great taste) in my climate, given that I am limited to only a few plants. I can't waste space on something that could be marginal. Berkeley Tie Die sounds especially good, but I'm worried about not being able to get seed quickly enough. I really should be starting them this weekend. I may order some seed anyway and use it next year. It sounds like I should drop both Brandywines, as well as KBX and Bulgarian Triumph since all can be on the later side (I'm finding it hard to tell in some cases, since DTM varies so much based on climate). We can have some pretty wet/blustery weather in early June, so I need varieties that won't get set back too much. At the same time, we can have some stretches of 90 degree weather and my plot gets direct sun. Here are my latest thoughts (all varieties for which I have seed on hand): Main Crop: 1. Anna Russian 2. Prudens Purple 3. Indian Stripe 4. ? 5. ? 6. ? Home in Pots 1. Matt's Wild Cherry 2. Blush I'd like a Yellow or Orange with good flavor, besides KBX, I have seed for Orange Minsk and Casey's Pure Yellow. I'd also like at least one red, I know tha I have seed for Ludmillas's Red Plum and Maya and Sion's Airdrie Classic.

April 9, 2015	#9
habitat_gardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: California Central Valley Posts: 2,543	I thought Bulgarian Triumph was an early-midseason tomato that can take cooler temps! I'm growing it this year, really for the first time. (I grew it once before in a container, but didn't start seeds until late June, so got only a few tomatoes before it got cold in October.) I'm also growing Maya & Sion's Airdrie Classic, which is supposed to be even earlier.