Tomato reviews likes & dislikes 2015 - 2020

What a great idea Scarlet.

Sungold - excellent flavour, keeps well on or off the plant. I was still eating Sungold which were picked green in October at Christmas last year, although the flavour and texture was nowhere near as good as fresh. Sungold has everything I could want - huge crops and usually the first to ripen. The outdoor Sungold have beaten everything in the greenhouse this year. Only criticism would be that the skins are slightly tough. My first choice.

Shirley - good flavour, heavy trusses of fairly large tomatoes which sometimes need supporting. Does well indoors, less prolific outdoors. Keeps well. My 2nd choice.

Balconi (red and yellow varieties) - first year growing these, starting off as a windowsill plant as they are supposed to be small. Produced a decent crop of very early tomatoes from a February sowing before having to be put outside as they had reached 18 inches tall and were leaning alarmingly. They had also stopped setting fruit. More fruit set immediately they were put outside and this is now producing a slow but steady trickle of ripe fruit. Flavour is not brilliant, especially the yellow variety, but a good choice for an early and very dwarf plant. I'll be growing the red ones again next year, but probably not the yellow.

My other varieties have not produced anything edible yet this year.

Good thread,

Apologies if this a bit long but I do like growing my toms!

In the greenhouse

Egyption (victoriana nursery)
Old fashioned looking medium round/oxheart shaped fruits, the cordon itself was a a bit spindly but to be fair it was early and produced a reasonable crop that is nearly over now, I bought these as they are supposed to be a very rich tasting tomato but for me this year they were tasteless

Healthy and vigour 6/10
taste 4/10
Will I grow next year- no

Shirley
This was my best cropper, medium red tomatoes that look like tomatoes should, I grow the tomatoes quite close together so another thing I liked about this variety is the leaf branches are quite short and stubby, the taste I would describe as good, very healthy and trouble free, just a very good, heavy cropping basic tomato.

Health and vigour 8/10
Taste 6.5/10
Will I grow next year - yes

Sungold
This was my benchmark from last season and for me is still the gold standard for me, the plants absolutely fly, this was the earliest, I was picking in early July, despite me having problems with taste this year generally with all tomatoes this one was still fantastic

Health and vigour 9/10
Taste 9/10
Will I grow next year - yes, loads!

Dr Carolyn (real seeds)
Advertised as the best tasting tomato so maybe I had my expectations set too high, it was a vigorous grower and is producing a ok crop of medium red tomatoes but I just dont find the taste that outstanding, it has a slight smokey flavour

Health and vigour 8/10
Taste 7/10
Will I grow next year -no because taste not much different to shirley which has double the fruit

Gardeners Delight
This is my first year growing this well known variety, It was a really quick grower and the amount of fruit that is set is unbelievable, for me though the taste and texture is a let down, it has a slightly mushy texture and very little sweetness.

Health and vigour 8/10
Taste 5/10
Will I grow next year - no, I think there are nicer tasting cherries nowadays.

Floridity
Baby plum variety, in the greenhouse I had real problems with this variety, the first two trusses of tomatoes were small and hard and uneatable and the later ones had a big problem with blossom end rot despite being in the quad grows with all the other tomatoes so the same conditions, the ones that did develop properly tasted nice

Health and vigour 2/10
Taste 7.5/10
Will I grow next year - no

Black Russian
Tried this variety for cooking with, I had a problem with blossom end rot and just getting the fruit to set early season but later in the cooler July and August weather they seem to set better so probably try this one outdoors next year, taste was very nice when fried.

Health and vigour 5/10
Taste 8/10- as a fried tomato
Will I grow next year - Yes- outdoors

Superb (unwins)
small sized plum tomato, very easy and good growing, a nice set of fruit that has a tangy sweet taste

Health and vigour 8/10
Taste 7/10
Will I grow next year - Yes

Big Daddy
Beefsteak variety, the stem split into 2 which I had never seen before so has to do a bit of surgery to cut one off only for the same to happen again! I dont know if this is a one off or not, have about a dozen set now and it looks like that is all I am going to get, this is the only variety I havent had any ripe fruit off yet.

Health and vigour 5/10
Taste cant tell)
Will I grow next year probably not

So the winners in the greenhouse were Sungold and Shirley

Outdoors and pics to follow when I get a minute.

Outdoors

Outdoor Girl
I really loved growing this variety, it was so easy, its an old potato leaved heritage variety, it has exceptional cold tolerance, I put my tomatoes out a little early and it bothered some but not this one, others looked a little peaky but outdoor girl just stayed a fantastic dark green colour, very very early as well, a month before some of my outdoor ones, the following pic was taken on the 5th July, taste is only average but if you want early outdoor tomatoes this is the one.



Health and vigour 9/10
Taste 6/10
Will I grow next year - yes

Bloody Butcher
Very simular to outdoor girl, again a potato leaved heritage variety with the same great cold tolerance, a couple of weeks later than outdoor girl but a slightly better flavour.


Health and vigour 8/10
Taste 7/10
Will I grow next year - yes

Crimson Crush
Plug plants from suttons, I havent had any blight so far so cant comment on that but the taste is fantastic, the growth rate is slow, probably my slowest growing variety but at this point id definitely grow them again just for the flavour.


Health and vigour 6/10
Taste 9/10
Will I grow next year - yes

Ferline
Vigorous plants, suppose to have resistance to blight but as above cant comment yet on that, medium to large red fruit, quite early, a good all rounder for outdoors with a slightly better than good taste.



Health and vigour 8/10
Taste 8/10
Will I grow next year - yes


To follow

T&M 2015 exp
Fireworks
Suncherry Premium
latah
hundreds & thousands

Tumbler

I like the scoring system.

Sungold
Health and vigour 7/10 (my outdoor plants always develop frighteningly spotty leaves, but it isn't blight, this year's plants are not as good as usual)
Taste 10/10
Will I grow next year - Yes

Shirley
Health and vigour 8/10 (big plants tend to wilt at the top in hot weather. Plants in the house died after red spider mite infestation - not normally a problem)
Taste 7/10
Will I grow next year - Yes

Balconi Red
Health and vigour 8/10 (very dense foliage tended to get magnesium deficiency after a while in 3l pots)
Taste 6/10
Will I grow next year - Yes

Balconi Yellow
Health and vigour 8/10 (as for red variety)
Taste 3/10 very watery
Will I grow next year - No

To follow:
Garden Pearl
Sweet Aperitif
Totem
Belle

Ok lets start with the - not next season.

Sub-artic - I have struggled several times to get decent plants and this year is the decider of never again. It is the only one out of 20+ varieties to get BER and I also keeping have toms drop off. I haven't got a ripe one yet.

Healthy and vigour 3/10
taste n/a
Will I grow next year- no

Anna Russian - Large healthy plants, fantastic large pink oxheart toms but......it is the only tom I have ever found bland to the point of being bored eating it half way through.

Healthy and vigour 9/10
taste 2/10
Will I grow next year- no

Golden Queen - Nice and early, strong plants, good cropper. The skin is a little thick and it lacks flavour but I will grow again as it is early ( it is like a yellow moneymaker).

Healthy and vigour 9/10
taste 6/10
Will I grow next year- yes

Northern Delight - Plants were checked by a late frost but it was my first outside tom to fruit. A small salad type tom, a little on the acid side. Worth growing again. For some reason I had early ripe fruits and has stopped with loads of greens still on.

Healthy and vigour 8/10
taste 7/10
Will I grow next year- yes

Black Cherry - Mine isn't actually black, however it is lovely, sweet juicy cherry toms - yum. Not masses but enough to be worth growing again.

Healthy and vigour 7/10
taste 9/10
Will I grow next year- yes

Black Icicle - Don't know how to describe this one as the flavour is more complex but very nice. Can't comment on plant as I am having issues in GH2

Healthy and vigour n/a
taste 8/10
Will I grow next year- yes

Pantano - Fleshy juicy tom edging on the sweeter side just like you had on ya hols. Can't comment on plant as I am having issues in GH2

Healthy and vigour n/a
taste 8/10
Will I grow next year- no

Lucky Leprechaun - Love this tom, similar to pantano but better and earlier (IMO) Needs to be eaten asap as it seems to lose its flavour quickly. Dwarf cordon with 6-8 good size toms per truss with approx 4 trusses.

Healthy and vigour 8/10
taste 9/10
Will I grow next year- yes

Maverick, not long winded, excellent! I'll certainly be making notes in my growing diary to try some of your recommendations.

Thanks penelleype and Norfolkgrey too. Your enthusiasm for tomato growing is inspiring - can't wait to try some different varieties next year

Coeur de pigeon
Small, bite sized cherry tomatoes. Lovely sweet flavour
Healthy and vigour 8/10
Taste 8/10
Will I grow next year- yes

Moneymaker
A 'utility' tomato - produces decent sized tomatoes but not amazing flavour
Healthy and vigour 8/10
taste 7/10
Will I grow next year- probably

Sungold, its all been said before, first to ripen this year.

Health & vigour 9/19

Taste 10/10

Will I grow it next year, can't find a reason to change the habit of many years.

Sweet Aperitif, Second to ripen, very prolific and good taste.

Health & vigour 8/10.

Taste, most acceptable, just a little less sweet than Sungold.

Will I grow it next year, yes.

Red Zebra, Nice zingy tomato, ideal for home made soup.

Health & vigour, 8/10, suffered with some BER but that was my fault, should have dosed with Epsom salts earlier.

Taste, not sweet at all but a good tomato bite.

Will I grow it next year, yes if I have room.

Tumbler, my hanging basket outdoor tomato, late this year but that's understandable.

Health & vigour 9/10, good strong plants that defy the wind and very prolific.

Taste, a nice firm flesh with medium sweetness.

Will I grow it next year. Yes like Sungold its one of my staples.

What did well for me this year.
Picollo, Sungold, Red Alert, Black Cherry, Manitoba, Stupice, Kimberley and Gardeners Delight. All of these are cherry type tomatoes.
New for me this year and i will grow again, Moskvich, a cmall tomato but a good producer.
Buryzten, a lovely yellow tomato with a mild flavour.
Peremoga, a beefsteak, not a big producer but a lovely juicy tomato.
Plack Prince another beefsteak with a lovely flavour.
What i wont grow are Indian Stripe, all foliage and very little toms.
Hawaiian Pineapple, a little cherry but sweet and bland.
Cosmonaut Volkov, a beefsteak but a poor producer.
One of my favourite toms has to be Kumato, alovely black tomato with a lovely flavour.

Garden Pearl
Health and vigour 6/10 bush cherry variety tends to collapse, so best in tall pots or hanging baskets. Loads of flowers but relatively few of them set (could be the weather), foliage tending to turn yellow.
Taste 5/10, very average, but may be better cooked.
Will I grow next year - No

Edit - taste is much better when cooked. Upgrade to maybe grow next year.

Fantastic reviews so far. Here's what I've been growing :-

Coastal Alicante
Large deep red fruits, which are OK in salads, though I prefer to use them for cooking. I reserved the right to rename them, since I've been saving seed from the largest tomatoes each year for 10 years now, with the largest fruits this year coming in fist size. Will be sending some the the VSP this year VC
Health & Vigour 9/10
Taste 7/10
Will I grow next year? Yes

Marmande
Been slow to ripen, but large, misshapen fruit 'meaty', as typical of Marmande. Only had three ripe fruit so far.
Health & Vigour 10/10
Taste 9/10 - one slice is enough for a tomato sandwich and is delicious
Will I grow next year? Yes

Tumbler
Beautiful oval fruit. First time I've grown them and fruit were larger than I expected - larger than the average cherry tom.
Health & Vigour 10/10 - prolific
Taste 8/10 Good taste, but skin a little thick
Will I grow next year? Yes

Sweet Million
Not quite millions, but certainly seems like hundreds of fruit on each plant. Variable size, from average cherry tom size, to little finger nail size - though that's probably down to me not looking after them properly.
Health & Vigour 8/10
Taste 8/10
Will I grow next year? Probably

Julies Sweet
Been grown and seed saved by a friend (Julie), who's been seed saving this variety for over 15 years and can't remember the original variety name, but this seems appropriate.
Health & Vigour 6/10 - plants look sickly and pathetic, as if they're on the verge of collapse pretty much from sprouting, but have been assured they always look like that
Taste 10/10 - outstanding super sweets
Will I grow next year? Yes

Unknown
Supposed to be Orange Pear, which I got from VSP to viability test, but whatever it is, it aint Orange Pear. Size and shape much more like a Roma.
Health & Vigour 7/10
Taste 7/10
Will I grow next year? Probably not.

Ailsa Craig
Good staple tom
Health & Vigour 9/10
Taste 9/10
Will I grow next year? Maybe

Had failures this year with Tigerella, African Queen, Cour de Bouef and German Lunchbox, to name but a few, who started well, but didn't progress beyond seedlings, but will try again next year.

Thanks Skeggi!
Shame about the Orange Pear - wonder whether anyone else is growing it?
Your Coastal Alicante sounds interesting. Well done with the selection over the years.

Ok, here's mine so far.

Purple Ukraine
Spindly plants that look ill - with limp long leaves. However the tomatoes are HUGE paste tomatoes, ready when they look brown-ish. They taste fantastic as long as they haven't gone over, in which case they are really mealy. Huge yields on each plant and the trusses need supporting.
Health & Vigour 6/10
Taste 9/10
Will I grow next year? Yes, definitely

Orange Banana
Another tall and spindly plant, with large orange paste tomatoes which have green spots on their shoulders. Very nice fresh tasting tomato.
Health & Vigour 7/10
Taste 8/10
Will I grow next year? Yes

Black Cherry
Lovely tomatoes, with a really deep tomato flavour. Mine are intent on growing sideshoots and have split into many vines. Those have nearly all hit the roof of the greenhouse. Yield is pretty good, though better on one plant on the west of the greenhouse than the one on the east.
Health & Vigour 8/10
Taste 9/10
Will I grow next year? Yes

Ildi
Massive trusses on a fairly sturdy plant. The trusses don't need supporting indoors though. Am not sure the flavour is all that, but you definitely get a lot of tomatoes from one plant.
Health & Vigour 8/10
Taste 7/10
Will I grow next year? Yes, but in a corner at the back.

Katya
Beefsteak pink tomatoes. They are a nice size, slice well and don't have many seeds. The tomatoes are a bit bland though, I like more bite. The plants are also keen on multiplying and I have a 2-stemmed cordon.
Health & Vigour 8/10
Taste 6-7/10
Will I grow next year? Probably not.

Blush
It's not the strongest of growers, indoors or out. But the tomatoes are beautiful to look at and you get 7-10 per truss. Elongated yellow plum, with streaks of red. They taste lovely.
Health & Vigour 7/10
Taste 9/10
Will I grow next year? Yes.

Sandpoint
Ultra early bush tomato that I stupidly thought was a cordon so I have small plants with not many fruit. Doing well inside and out. Small tomatoes, but the whole plant ripens almost at once. The tomatoes aren't good keepers but taste good.
Health & Vigour 6/10
Taste 8/10
Will I grow next year? Maybe, just for early tomatoes.

Red Zebra
I LOVE these. Beautiful colours on the tomatoes. I like them a little underripe just for the extra zing to them. There are about 8 tomatoes to a truss and they are a large salad size.
Health & Vigour 8/10
Taste 9/10
Will I grow next year? Hell yes!

Rainbow F1
Large plant, slightly obsessed with developing sideshoots. Nice trusses of 12-ish baby plum fruits with a pinkish red rather than pillar-box. Nice flavour, but doesn't knock your socks off.
Health & Vigour 9/10
Taste 7/10
Will I grow next year? No - mainly because I try not to grow many F1s.

Gardener's Delight
I didn't think I'd like this, but I really do. Plants are now 7ft high in the greenhouse and showing no sign of stopping. Large trusses, large cherry fruit, am saving seeds from this.
Health & Vigour 8/10
Taste 8/10
Will I grow next year? Maybe

Sweet Million F1
Huge trusses on this, with large cherry tomatoes which are nicely balanced in flavour. When I grew these last year, they and the Black Cherry were the last to get blight.
Health & Vigour 8/10
Taste 9/10
Will I grow next year? Yes

Dancing with Smurfs
I have one inside and one out. Both very sturdy plants with curly leaves and trusses of 7-11 fruits. Tastes nicel.
Health & Vigour 9/10
Taste 6/10
Will I grow next year? Maybe, just for the colour.

Crimson Crush
I got 2 free plants from an offer through another forum. One is a good size plant, the other is rubbish. Both set trusses with few fruits and of variable size, though they taste good. The variety in size makes me think it might not yet be stable as a cross - some are beefsteak in girth...
Health & Vigour 6/10
Taste 8/10
Will I grow next year? Yes, if the sideshoots live.

100s&1000s
This is my only tumbler and I love the tiny, intense, acidy tomatoes. It needs a bit of cossetting to grow massive and I haven't managed to get that right this year, but it's still chucking out lots of tomatoes
Health & Vigour 7/10
Taste 9/10
Will I grow next year? Yes

No Black Russians yet.