Garden Pearl tomato

[Suky]

Is anyone else growing this tom? I had some free seed so have several plants but I am not happy with it. The fruit go from under ripe to mushy seemingly in a few hours and the fruit split almost as I pick them. Not much flavour either. I have composted the ones I had in tubs and just kept the couple in baskets but I wondered what thoughts the other grapes had.

[Jeanied]

I'm growing this too - I have one that is just starting to ripen and wondered when to pick it as it is a very pinky red at the moment - not a tomato red at all. Is that how they are?

[Flummery]

I don't like it either. My son in law grew it last year - rubbish and no flavour.

[womble]

They are quite pink. They aren't the best tasting tomato in the world, that's for sure, but easy to grow and they grow into lovely little bushes.
Every year I say I'm not going to grow them, but until I hear of a better tiny bush tomato, I suspect I will keep growing them.

[Suky]

I'm growing this too - I have one that is just starting to ripen and wondered when to pick it as it is a very pinky red at the moment - not a tomato red at all. Is that how they are?

They are not quite ripe when pink - over ripe when red!
I picked all I could manage from the vines before I threw the plants in the compost bin, about 2lb ripe, nearly ripe and not quite ripe, and they are all cooking in the slow cooker to be used as a pasta sauce base with lots of seasoning.

[pjh75]

Not growing them this year but I have done in the past... think they are okay, but not the best. Mine split very easily when I grew them.

[Two_Sheds]

This was discussed last year: the consensus was "yuk"

[rustylady]

I don't like the taste of them, but please don't tell my daughters. They both wanted to grow tomatoes this year, so I sowed the free seeds I got with GYO, and they both now have two large pots full of the bladdy things. I didn't keep any for myself - I'm growing Sungold and Gardener's Delight!!!

[Suky]

This was discussed last year: the consensus was "yuk"

I don't like it either. My son in law grew it last year - rubbish and no flavour.

Good to know that it's not just me

[ladylottie]

I don't like them either - this year I'm growing a variety called 100's and 1000's by Sutton's Seeds. There are millions of tiny tomatoes all over the plants - I've already picked over 80 tomatoes and they are really tasty. In fact I've started to eat them like sweets there are so many. Yum.

I'll be growing them again next year too!

[Florence Fennel]

I grew masses of these last year and daughter turned them into wonderful soup with basil and garlic, salsa, chutney and sauce. The children also snacked on them straight from the vine and there were no complaints, so I was quite happy with them.

[MalUK]

D'oh. I was planning to try Garden Pearl next year, I have seven Minibel plants growing this year and they look fine - only sowed them at the beginning of June, so they've still got green tomatoes on them.

What other bush / dwarf bush plants do people recommend? This web page, although not in English, seems good for visually comparing the varieties.

[trish60]

Have had quite a few tomatoes from them & find them a strange colour & not amazing flavour but OK when mixed with other tomatoes.
Will probably not grow them next year although they were early to pick.
Saved seed from a baby plum tomato from my local greengrocers last year & that one is amazing.
Has 8 trusses each with at least 50 toms & have had about 20 ripen so far.
Will save seed again so watch the seed swap site.

[falkon]

This was discussed last year: the consensus was "yuk"

hmmm hmmm ho ho..

we need tomato consensus thread with listing

Sub Artic Plenty Yuk, tasteless
Garden Pearl Yuk, tasteless

more to follow

[Gurberly]

We have about 15 Garden Pearl on the go. They certainly don't go as red as other varieties, but they have been very prolific. Probably got about 5kg of them in the freezer, so I hope they make good sauce/soup!!

As to taste.... well I've not had any complaints, but they are probably other varieties that people like better.

Comparing the taste of tomatoes is like comparing the taste and texture of chedder cheeses.... some like 'em strong