Suggestions for a brown beefsteak tomato

gardenmermaid · October 9, 2016

Hello all,
Years ago, the first year I had a real garden, a friend and I bought heirloom tomatoes from some guy who was selling plants out of the back of a truck, who I have not seen again. Anyway, there was one that we lost the tag from that was the real standout. We only remembered that it was labeled as a black tomato. It was a fairly big beefsteak, super productive, meaty, and a reddish brown color. It was a solid color on the outside, no green shoulder, and I don't remember if there was any color variation on the inside. The color was not like any of the ’blacks' I have grown since. Definitely more of a brown –red. When sliced horizontally the seeds were in thin lines mostly around the outer area.
If this sounds familiar to anyone, I would love suggestions of varieties to grow out to try to find this one again. Thank you!

b54red · October 10, 2016

The color of the black varieties can vary greatly from season to season. Some years they are almost pink and other times they can go to almost black and everything in between. The large beefsteak black varieties that I am familiar with are JDs Special C Tex, Gary O' Sena, Paul Robeson, and Spudakee. Other blacks that I really like are Indian Stripe RL & PL, Margaret Curtain, Carbon, Berkley Tie Dye Pink, Big Cheef, and Black Krim.

Bill

gardenmermaid · October 11, 2016

Thank you, I will try some of those. Good to know about the color

KarenO · October 11, 2016

A brown tomato is a black that has a yellow epidermis imo. Cherokee chocolate, Tasmanian chocolate, black Krim all good examples.

Urbanheirlooms · October 11, 2016

My favorite Browns this year were: Tsindao & Bordovyi. Tsindao does have slightly green shoulders, but Bordovyi did not.

October 13, 2016

Black Krim does sound like a good one from everything I've heard about it. It sounds like an equal to Cherokee Purple in taste, and hardier in dry areas, too. There are bigger black tomatoes, though. I haven't grown it, yet. I know it's not a Beefsteak, but Japanese Black Trifele is supposed to be a great one.

You might try Black Giant, Black from Tula, Paul Robeson, Black, Amazon Chocolate, and such. I've grown all those, but only had good results with Black Giant, although the first fruits were seedless, as far as mature seeds went. Paul Robeson had great taste. Black was the earliest.

Maybe those aren't all pure brown, but Paul Robeson was for me, and Amazon Chocolate is supposed to be.

I'm curious about African Brown Beefsteak.

Cheryl2017 · October 13, 2016

My favorite brown to date is Grandma Oliver chocolate. Has that wonderful it factor-at least for me!!

Gardeneer · October 13, 2016

I grew 4 varieties this year. They were ;
Cherokee Purple, Indian Stripe, Black from Tula and an unknown variety.
If I had to pick one it would be BFT. Second choice the unknown variety. Third Choice IS.

Gardeneer · November 17, 2016

Talking about color, a picture can speak A LOT

sep 3- mystry.jpg
This was my "mystery" variety.
I picked them early. As the fruits get more ripe, the color gets darker.

Here is one on the very right side.
Sep 1 - mystery 2.jpg

ginger2778 · November 17, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cheryl2017

My favorite brown to date is Grandma Oliver chocolate. Has that wonderful it factor-at least for me!!

I must get some seeds of that!

efisakov · November 18, 2016

It could have being a Cherokee Chocolate tomato.

habitat_gardener · November 18, 2016

Vorlon may be another possibility.

I had my first Vorlon today. It was great! Could be that end-of-season wishing-for-summer thing, though. I got only 2 tomatoes from the plant -- planted late, in not enough sun, then picked green before I left town for a week, then sat for another week. Solid, sweet, balanced flavor. The best last real tomato sandwich of the season!

Jimbotomateo · November 19, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by habitat_gardener

Vorlon may be another possibility.

I had my first Vorlon today. It was great! Could be that end-of-season wishing-for-summer thing, though. I got only 2 tomatoes from the plant -- planted late, in not enough sun, then picked green before I left town for a week, then sat for another week. Solid, sweet, balanced flavor. The best last real tomato sandwich of the season!

I hear ya. Still gettin brandywines every couple days. Seems like they taste much better. Prolly all in my head!

.

Gerardo · November 19, 2016

Tasmanian Chocolate fits the bill.

MissS · November 20, 2016

Purple Calabash has a very distinctive flavor that would stand apart from the rest of the pack. Perhaps that was "it".

October 9, 2016	#1
gardenmermaid Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: In the snowy desert of SE Idaho Posts: 111	Suggestions for a brown beefsteak tomato Hello all, Years ago, the first year I had a real garden, a friend and I bought heirloom tomatoes from some guy who was selling plants out of the back of a truck, who I have not seen again. Anyway, there was one that we lost the tag from that was the real standout. We only remembered that it was labeled as a black tomato. It was a fairly big beefsteak, super productive, meaty, and a reddish brown color. It was a solid color on the outside, no green shoulder, and I don't remember if there was any color variation on the inside. The color was not like any of the ’blacks' I have grown since. Definitely more of a brown –red. When sliced horizontally the seeds were in thin lines mostly around the outer area. If this sounds familiar to anyone, I would love suggestions of varieties to grow out to try to find this one again. Thank you!

October 13, 2016	#6
shule1 Guest Posts: n/a	Black Krim does sound like a good one from everything I've heard about it. It sounds like an equal to Cherokee Purple in taste, and hardier in dry areas, too. There are bigger black tomatoes, though. I haven't grown it, yet. I know it's not a Beefsteak, but Japanese Black Trifele is supposed to be a great one. You might try Black Giant, Black from Tula, Paul Robeson, Black, Amazon Chocolate, and such. I've grown all those, but only had good results with Black Giant, although the first fruits were seedless, as far as mature seeds went. Paul Robeson had great taste. Black was the earliest. Maybe those aren't all pure brown, but Paul Robeson was for me, and Amazon Chocolate is supposed to be. I'm curious about African Brown Beefsteak. Last edited by shule1; October 13, 2016 at 11:54 AM.

October 13, 2016	#8
Gardeneer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7 Posts: 4,919	I grew 4 varieties this year. They were ; Cherokee Purple, Indian Stripe, Black from Tula and an unknown variety. If I had to pick one it would be BFT. Second choice the unknown variety. Third Choice IS. __________________ Gardeneer Happy Gardening !

November 17, 2016	#9
Gardeneer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7 Posts: 4,919	Talking about color, a picture can speak A LOT sep 3- mystry.jpg This was my "mystery" variety. I picked them early. As the fruits get more ripe, the color gets darker. Here is one on the very right side. Sep 1 - mystery 2.jpg __________________ Gardeneer Happy Gardening !

November 18, 2016	#11
efisakov Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: NJ, zone 7 Posts: 3,162	It could have being a Cherokee Chocolate tomato. __________________ Ella God comes along and says, "I think I'm going to create THE tomato!”

October 10, 2016	#2
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	The color of the black varieties can vary greatly from season to season. Some years they are almost pink and other times they can go to almost black and everything in between. The large beefsteak black varieties that I am familiar with are JDs Special C Tex, Gary O' Sena, Paul Robeson, and Spudakee. Other blacks that I really like are Indian Stripe RL & PL, Margaret Curtain, Carbon, Berkley Tie Dye Pink, Big Cheef, and Black Krim. Bill

October 11, 2016	#3
gardenmermaid Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: In the snowy desert of SE Idaho Posts: 111	Thank you, I will try some of those. Good to know about the color

October 11, 2016	#4
KarenO Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Island Posts: 5,931	A brown tomato is a black that has a yellow epidermis imo. Cherokee chocolate, Tasmanian chocolate, black Krim all good examples.

October 11, 2016	#5
Urbanheirlooms Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: New Castle, Virginia Posts: 205	My favorite Browns this year were: Tsindao & Bordovyi. Tsindao does have slightly green shoulders, but Bordovyi did not.

October 13, 2016	#7
Cheryl2017 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: san antonio, texas Posts: 174	My favorite brown to date is Grandma Oliver chocolate. Has that wonderful it factor-at least for me!!

November 18, 2016	#12
habitat_gardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: California Central Valley Posts: 2,543	Vorlon may be another possibility. I had my first Vorlon today. It was great! Could be that end-of-season wishing-for-summer thing, though. I got only 2 tomatoes from the plant -- planted late, in not enough sun, then picked green before I left town for a week, then sat for another week. Solid, sweet, balanced flavor. The best last real tomato sandwich of the season!

November 19, 2016	#14
Gerardo Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: San Diego-Tijuana Posts: 2,598	Tasmanian Chocolate fits the bill.

November 20, 2016	#15
MissS Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 3,150	Purple Calabash has a very distinctive flavor that would stand apart from the rest of the pack. Perhaps that was "it". __________________ ~ Patti ~