Few Good Fellows.. for 2018

Gardeneer · August 31, 2017

I am going cut back drastically in 2018. My plan is to stay under 15 varieties and 30 plants.
This year I had about 32 vars over 60 plants. Lots of disappointments and disease magnets.

here are my picks so far:
-- Dark / Purple >>>
a) Not Sara Black
b) IS-PL : Beats the heat of the south. Amazingly. Thanks , Bill.
c) Brown Heart ( my own )
d) CP ( recall from retirement )

-- Saladett :
a) Stupice : Cause it is early, productive, practically no cracking/splitting.

---Cherry
a) Esterina F2 /F3
b) Sungold : Amazing It Has been the earliest and continues to fruit in the heat of south, disease resistant.
c) Tiger grape/heart ( my own )
d) Indigo Cherry Drops; Fruity flavor.

-- Bi Color
a) Big Rainbow: Productive. One of the few to continue fruiting.
b) Hillbilly: Because I like the color. Not productive though.

-- GWR
ARGG: Because it is tasty. AND its fairly heat tolerant.

--Reds :
a) Cuostralee : Beats the heat, productive. Only it is a bit late.

So far 13 varieties ? I can take 2 more red and pink beefsteak/slicer.

WHAT I NEED :
couple of reds and pinks that can stand the heat. Big Beef shut down completely. So did Brandy Boy.
I will grow German Queen , prolly.
Any recommendations for red/pink that will beat the heat of the south ? Better Boy ( from my second season planting ) seems to be doing fine w/decent fruit set.

AlittleSalt · August 31, 2017

Rebel Yell is one that tastes great but might shut down early too. But the taste is wonderful.

A must-grow to experience it (That I have grown) is Bradley. It has a sort shelf life, so pick it and eat it that day or soon. It is classified as a determinant and as a semi-determinate. The good thing about this tomato is that it tastes really good and will grow and produce even when the rains won't stop. We all know how messed up the weather has been the past few years - you can toss weather averages out-the-window.

wxcrawler · August 31, 2017

Aunt Ginny's Purple has done great for me the past two years here in Tulsa. It's a dark pink beefsteak with outstanding flavor. It is on my "must grow" list now.

Gardeneer · September 2, 2017

Thanks much, wxc and Robert.
Have read good things about Bradley and its performance in the heat of the south. That is going to be in my 2018 grow list. I like its det/semi-det growth habit as well.

wcx, I will study AGP more. If it does well in OK, it should do fine down here too.
Thanks for commenting.

We are still long way from 2018. I have still few plants that are producing. My season will probably end sometime in November. Then I will have 2 months to get started germinating for 2018. But planning ahead won't hurt.

marc_groleau · September 3, 2017

Aunt Ginny's Purple, Gregori's Altai.
Two fanstastic Beefsteaks for taste and production!

August 31, 2017	#1
Gardeneer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7 Posts: 4,919	Few Good Fellows.. for 2018 I am going cut back drastically in 2018. My plan is to stay under 15 varieties and 30 plants. This year I had about 32 vars over 60 plants. Lots of disappointments and disease magnets. here are my picks so far: -- Dark / Purple >>> a) Not Sara Black b) IS-PL : Beats the heat of the south. Amazingly. Thanks , Bill. c) Brown Heart ( my own ) d) CP ( recall from retirement ) -- Saladett : a) Stupice : Cause it is early, productive, practically no cracking/splitting. ---Cherry a) Esterina F2 /F3 b) Sungold : Amazing It Has been the earliest and continues to fruit in the heat of south, disease resistant. c) Tiger grape/heart ( my own ) d) Indigo Cherry Drops; Fruity flavor. -- Bi Color a) Big Rainbow: Productive. One of the few to continue fruiting. b) Hillbilly: Because I like the color. Not productive though. -- GWR ARGG: Because it is tasty. AND its fairly heat tolerant. --Reds : a) Cuostralee : Beats the heat, productive. Only it is a bit late. So far 13 varieties ? I can take 2 more red and pink beefsteak/slicer. WHAT I NEED : couple of reds and pinks that can stand the heat. Big Beef shut down completely. So did Brandy Boy. I will grow German Queen , prolly. Any recommendations for red/pink that will beat the heat of the south ? Better Boy ( from my second season planting ) seems to be doing fine w/decent fruit set. __________________ Gardeneer Happy Gardening !

September 2, 2017	#4
Gardeneer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7 Posts: 4,919	Thanks much, wxc and Robert. Have read good things about Bradley and its performance in the heat of the south. That is going to be in my 2018 grow list. I like its det/semi-det growth habit as well. wcx, I will study AGP more. If it does well in OK, it should do fine down here too. Thanks for commenting. We are still long way from 2018. I have still few plants that are producing. My season will probably end sometime in November. Then I will have 2 months to get started germinating for 2018. But planning ahead won't hurt. __________________ Gardeneer Happy Gardening !

August 31, 2017	#2
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	Rebel Yell is one that tastes great but might shut down early too. But the taste is wonderful. A must-grow to experience it (That I have grown) is Bradley. It has a sort shelf life, so pick it and eat it that day or soon. It is classified as a determinant and as a semi-determinate. The good thing about this tomato is that it tastes really good and will grow and produce even when the rains won't stop. We all know how messed up the weather has been the past few years - you can toss weather averages out-the-window.

August 31, 2017	#3
wxcrawler Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 115	Aunt Ginny's Purple has done great for me the past two years here in Tulsa. It's a dark pink beefsteak with outstanding flavor. It is on my "must grow" list now.

September 3, 2017	#5
marc_groleau Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 444	Aunt Ginny's Purple, Gregori's Altai. Two fanstastic Beefsteaks for taste and production!