Help! which tomatoes to grow?

[smallblueplanet]

I love growing tomatoes! Having reconcilled myself to also being a seed addict now comes the tough part - which toms to grow?

We've room for 3 in the greenhouse and 16 in beds. I'm not sure whether to go for (nearly) one of each variety, or more of each but less varieties....

...here's the list has anyone any thoughts please. (Besides the obvious, 'stop buying tomato seeds'! )

Red Calabash
Matina
Rief Red Heart
St Pierre
Stupice
Gardeners Delight
Bloody Butcher
Zapotec
Red Fig
Cornue de andes
San Marzano 2
Sub Artic Plenty
Teton de Venus
Eva Purple Ball
Garden Pearl (definate in pots)

Red stripey sausage (can't translate name - russian seeds)

Nyagous Black
Paul Robeson
Russian Black
Black Krim
Ananas Noire
Tomat black (another russian one - forgotten the name)
Black Prince
Japanese Trifele
Black cherry

Am trying not to buy:
Marmande
Costoluto Fiorentina


Even worse I am open to suggestion of 'must have' tomatoes to buy!

[muckdiva]

Hi SBP. Bet there are loads of grapes with the same problem, but maybe not such an extensive choice...

I'm planning to try the Japanese Trifele this year, might be interesting to compare notes at the end of the season. (Praying it's not so rubbish as last year )

Of your list, purely for sentimental reasons, I'd grow Eva (my daughter's name) and the Paul Robeson, as I love his music. Can't give you a recommendation though, as I've never grown them myself.

Good luck!

[veg4681]

Could you at least highlight the ones you've already grown before making comments. You should have asked, I already have Marmande with plenty to spare. There does appear to be too many black varieties so you may need to cut down in that category. Have you thought of growing just one plant per variety or later sowings for others to extrend the growing/harvesting season? With that many tomato variety to play with, I'd strongly advise you to refrain from buying anymore.

[muckdiva]

Oh, forgot to add - do try Orange Banana. All of my tomatos were pretty rubbish last year, but these were the best of the bunch. I could send you a few seeds if you want to add them to your collection...)

[smallblueplanet]

Hi veg4681, not put my thoughts cos I wanted others views on them. I suppose I'll use any excuse to buy or swap more seeds!

ps might be interested in some Marmande.

[smallblueplanet]

Muckdiva, you're my kinda grower! Yes indeedy you can never have too many toms or so it seems - thanks for the offer I'll do some googling!

[veg4681]

Here's what I think (my gut feeling) but don't take my word for it:

Red Calabash - dunno, isn't this a giant beefsteak
Matina - dunno
Rief Red Heart - Maybe, sounds interesting & German
St Pierre
Stupice - sounds like a winner
Gardeners Delight - worth bypassing as taste ain't worth it
Bloody Butcher - seems highly recommended
Zapotec - is this a U2 album title??
Red Fig - never heard of it
Cornue de andes - sounds French
San Marzano 2 - like you say, takes forever to crop
Sub Artic Plenty - heard it's not great on taste
Teton de Venus - because it sounds French
Eva Purple Ball - because it's purple
Garden Pearl (definate in pots)

Red stripey sausage (can't translate name - russian seeds)

Nyagous Black - dunno
Paul Robeson
Russian Black - didn't get rated well by people???
Black Krim - isn't this one of must have toms?
Ananas Noire - dunno
Tomat black (another russian one - forgotten the name)
Black Prince - my gut feeling?
Japanese Trifele - dunno
Black cherry - only black cherry, surely.

[muckdiva]

Last year I grew two from your list SBP, Sub Arctic Plenty and Garten Perle. Both became good looking, sturdy plants, and the Garten Perle set loads of fruit. Then the weird weather started, and the Sub Arctic Plenty was badly affected very quickly. The Garten Perle hung on, and I did harvest a few toms, but most of them were blighty. This year I'd like to grow them again, but ideally in a covered position - maybe a carport or somewhere would be ideal as it's covered but not a greenhouse. I don't know whether fleece would have given the plants some protection from the blight spores?

[smallblueplanet]

Last year about the only one of our many outdoor toms grown, to fruit was Stupice, good taste for an early too.

I'm not sure covering 'damp' plants in fleece would keep blight away, normally we'd remove leaves and even plants so that air could circulate, to try keep cold, damp conditions away - last year only the toms in the g/h were even vaguely good.

[muckdiva]

Last year about the only one of our many outdoor toms grown, to fruit was Stupice, good taste for an early too.

I'm not sure covering 'damp' plants in fleece would keep blight away, normally we'd remove leaves and even plants so that air could circulate, to try keep cold, damp conditions away - last year only the toms in the g/h were even vaguely good.

Yeah, I agree the fleece would only increase the humidity. I did notice that the only outdoor toms which didn't suffer from blight were the ones outside my office. They were in pots standing under the overhang of the office roof - so were not getting drenched in rain all the time. My greenhouse toms were ok, but not fantastic (all a bit mealy tasting). I think it was down to the cool weather as I've grown the same varieties before without that problem.

[pigletwillie]

We are growing

Bloody butcher
Shirley
Berry
Rio grande
Sungold

and an unamed black heritage jobbie from a french market that tasted exqusite so we saved some seeds.

In addition I may sow a few

pink brandywine
marmande
incas

I used to sow lots of varieties, same with chillies but quickly found that a few varieties cover all my kitchen requirements but I still cant resist growing a few extra of new varieties justto see what I am missing.

Green zebra were a hit last year as were Black heart which was better tham marmande, I am however growing marmande again this year to see if it stays or goes in favour of the Black heart.

With so many tomato varieties resistance is futile.

[smallblueplanet]

....
With so many tomato varieties resistance is futile.

Indeed it is.

Doesn't help that the OH favours almost any black tomato, whilst I like 'traditional' red salad toms - my favourite of the list above so far is Matina. Just a round red salad tom, but it tastes great and is prolific.

Has anyone grown Super Marmande rather than Marmande? (Its that French thing calling again! )

[Sirius]

Last year we grew some Golden Sunrise - I really liked them, so I guess we'll repeat this year as boring as it may sound. But I've just received seeds for both Yellow Tumbler and Purple Russian, so I'm keen to get started My fingers are itching - I guess I could sow some on the windowsill just now, couldn't I???

[Cutecumber]

I have similar issues with far too many seeds, but it keeps me off the streets

Tomato-wise, I try and grow a range of sizes - that's the first requirement. I prefer the largest types but my boyfriend and parents like the small ones. I am not fussed by colour, it is flavour and texture that are my holy grail.

I have never been completely happy with any tomatoes I have grown (they're ok, just nothing "perfect" yet) so I keep trying new varieties each year. I would advise growing at least two of whatever you choose, just in case one fails, but otherwise the more kinds the merrier while you are still searching for the perfect partner!

Remember that everyone's tomatoes will taste slightly different depending on the media in which they are grown and the amount of sun they get.

[shaza114]

tomatoes

I was given a tumbling tom plant last year and it did great in a pot and didn't get blight. It was easy to manage too - no pinching out required. I've bought some seeds this year and they've germinated quickly.