Member discussion regarding the methods, varieties and merits of growing tomatoes.
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July 23, 2021 | #1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Northern California
Posts: 300
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Super Sweet Tiny Pink Cherry
This was one of the Romanian heirloom tomato seeds given to me by someone about eight years ago. This is the first year I grew them out.
I picked the first ripe fruits today from a plant started from seed on February 17 and set out in the garden (2-gallon container) April 27. Not early, but the first of the plants to bloom and the first to offer ripe fruit. Small, yes, about 1/2 to 3/4 inch across, and juicy. Pink in color, more of a light coral pink than a purple pink. I would not call it SUPER sweet but it is sweet, with a strong tomato flavor and smell (almost umami). Not mild at all. The flavor lingers in the mouth. Waiting on a few more fruit to try. I didn't put the plant in an optimal location and it's hidden behind a bunch of beans and corn (all pots). Glad I was able to grow it to maturity, as the seed sample I was given was very small (only about eight sees). |
August 2, 2021 | #2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Northern California
Posts: 300
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Follow up on this.
I fermented the seeds out of one of the ripe fruits. The seeds are far and away some of the tiniest tomato seeds I have ever seen. Plants of the nightshade family can have a wide range of seed sizes. Pepper seeds are pretty large. Nicotiana seeds are as tiny as ground black pepper. When I'd first planted this variety I thought the tiny seed size was an anomaly. No, it is not. Less than 1 mm wide. I'll have to be careful about saving these. |
August 9, 2021 | #3 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Chicago-land & SO-cal
Posts: 583
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Quote:
I'd be interested to try to grow those out if you're offering seed. I'm always intrigued by currant sized tomatoes. |
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August 9, 2021 | #4 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Northern California
Posts: 300
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Quote:
Hi Scooty, Thanks for the feedback on seed size. I would like to try these for one more summer and grow them under better conditions before offering seed. As it is, the plant (with very tight space and resource constraints this year) was an afterthought, I I stuck it in a 2-gallon pot behind some taller-growing plants, so it didn't get the full benefit of root space (all plants are in containers) or sunlight, and as a result I don't have a really accurate idea of days to maturity, or yield. That said, I can tell you this: It is an indeterminate, early, very tall-growing plant, with regular leaves, not leaves of the typical currant tomato type. Fruits are small, perhaps 1/2" in diameter. Light coral pink in color. Transparent skin. And the taste. Well, I picked my first Gardener's Delight (a.k.a. Sugar Lump) (yum) this afternoon, and tried to squeeze out enough juice for a reading on my new Brix refractometer. Not enough juice, will have to wait for more fruit. I popped GD in my mouth for a taste and then tried the SSTPC, wow, it is sweeter than Gardener's Delight. I'd love to have enough juicy fruit a bit later for a comparison. GTG |
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August 13, 2021 | #5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Northern California
Posts: 300
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How sweet it is! Was able to pick five little berries and gave them a good squeeze for juice. Brix reading on the refractometer is 10.0.
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