Best large tomato varieties?

[ameno]

I've been growing some large tomatoes and beefsteak tomatoes in my new greenhouse this year, but they are all rather bland and a bit flavourless. I don't think it's my growing conditions, since I am growing them in rich clay soil, feed them weekly, and the greenhouse is in full sun (although admittedly the weather could have been better), so I can only assume it's a variety issue. My outdoor blight resistant tomatoes all taste better, for example.
One of the varieties I am growing is Country Taste, which I specifically bought because it was recommended for good flavour, so it's rather disappointing.

That being the case, I'd like some recommendations for large tomato varieties which taste good raw. They don't necessarily need to be beefsteak; just any variety which produces fruit at least tennis ball sized on average. Heavy cropping is a bonus but not required (just as long as they are not really light cropping).

[Penellype]

The one I like best for large tomatoes is Ferline, which usurped Sungold as my favourite variety for taste (not in the least easy!). It grows indoors or outdoors and usually makes a variety of sizes of tomatoes, the first ones can be really big. It is a really fussy variety though - this year it has refused to play ball, being difficult to germinate, sulky to grow and then aborting fruits when it feels like it. The fruit bruise very easily and don't keep, tending to rot from the stalk end. However, I think it is worth the trouble.

Another nice tasting variety worth trying is Brandy Boy, although I have failed to grow a decent crop in my greenhouse as it is too shady.

[Bren In Pots]

Ameno have a read at this thread from last year it mentions a few large varieties.

https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...ting-toms-2022

I'll start a new thread for this year.

[annie8]

I grow two plum types - Roma and black icicle. The latter is a favourite for flavour. I don’t usually grow beefsteak as I’m in Edinburgh so don’t have such a long growing season. I’m trying crimson blush this year though so will let you know how that tastes.

[Jungle Jane]

I only grow heirloom varieties to save seeds,some F1 hybrid varieties might be more prolific but less tasty. Black krim & Black sea man are both large tasty tomatoes. Large plum varieties black icicle,orange banana & cream sausage all taste great. Mountain princess plant hasn’t been as productive as usual this year,the lack of sun this summer has affected the plants. I’ve grown others over the years but these are my main favourites

[Bren In Pots]

Link to Tastiest toms 2023

https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...-toms-for-2023

[ameno]

I grow two plum types - Roma and black icicle. The latter is a favourite for flavour. I don’t usually grow beefsteak as I’m in Edinburgh so don’t have such a long growing season. I’m trying crimson blush this year though so will let you know how that tastes.

I'm already growing Crimson Blush this year, actually. I've never grown it before, but I liked its sister variety Crimson Crush, so I thought I'd give it a go. It's outdoors, since it's a blight resistant variety, and has not produced any ripe tomatoes yet (they're obviously slower than Crimson Crush and Mountain Magic, which I've been picking for a week now). They're starting to colour up, though, so it shouldn't be too much longer.

Also, are plum varieties actually good to eat raw? I always assumed they were basically just for cooking.

[annie8]

Well we shall see how the crimson blush taste, I’m just pleased to get a beefsteak to ripen in my conditions. I do like the plum tomatoes raw, particularly the black icicle. They are less sweet than ones like sungold but I like the contrast of flavour and colour.

[mrsbusy]

Pleased with my Black Russian toms - heavy crop in cold greenhouse

[bramble]

The black tomatoes seem to have a good flavour.
I grow Black Triffle, Black Russian and Black Seaman.
Crimson Crush and Shirley as well.
I grow Roma but just for sauce and soup making.

[smallblueplanet]

We've grown Ananas Noire most years, it's very tasty (but not grown this as we were messing about with the garden). It will grow outside well and sizeably with a longer season, and the green toms are good for chutney also. Big thumbs up.
Although we mostly don't bother with large tomatoes this year we are trying Super Marmande, albeit outside. It was planted out late (along with the other bits of the garden!) but has done well, the first ripe fruit was eaten by a muntjac, unfortunately so I'm not sure of the taste. I'll get back to you on that.

[smallblueplanet]

Just tasted one of the Super Marmande, yeah have a decent taste. But it's difficult to be sure as everything has had so much water this summer. Going to grow it again next year though.

[ameno]

Well we shall see how the crimson blush taste, I’m just pleased to get a beefsteak to ripen in my conditions. I do like the plum tomatoes raw, particularly the black icicle. They are less sweet than ones like sungold but I like the contrast of flavour and colour.

I had the first Crimson Blush yesterday, and it was pretty good. Certainly much better than the flavourless varieties I have growing in my greenhouse.

[Snoop Puss]

Rosado de Barbastro (I've looked online and Simpson's Seeds in the UK sell them as Rosa de Barbastro). Pinkish when ripe but amazing flavour and texture. Barbastro is up in the Pyrenean foothills and they really do come from there, so they won't be expecting southern Med conditions. Skins slip off really easily when ripe (no need to do the boiling water trick to skin).