We All Have Our Favourite, Whats Yours?

[Adam Fletcher]

Hi everyone,

Everyone has their own favourite tomatoes, right?? Well I am selecting tomato seeds for next year (already, don't ask) and I want your advice.

What are your favourite varieties of tomatoes and why?

Cheers

[valmarg]

Very, very difficult!!

I suppose, given the choice, my favourites are the beefsteak varieties, and best of these is Brandywine. Although it is classed as a variety which needs the sideshoots taking out (determinate/indeterminate?) we find we get better crops if you just let them grow!! Other beefsteak varieties we love are Supersteak (T&M), Ferline, Costoluto Fiorentino.

We also love the plum tomatoes. Olivade, San Marzano, are two wonderful examples of these.

Then we get down to the 'cherry' varieties. I think the yellow varieties have more taste, and are sweeter. I think Gardener's Delight is somewhat overrated, but we grow it anyway.

There are so many varieties out there. When reading the catalogues I think 'that sounds fantastic', and am very tempted to 'add to basket'.

I would stick to heritage varieties, rather than F1s, that way you can save your own seed.

I don't know what catalogue you are looking at for next year's seed, but it is one of the most difficult decisions to make. What tomato seed to buy!!

valmarg

[leona]

rose de bearne all the way

[Grandpadragon]

I grew tomatoes for the first time for 20 years last year Gardeners delight was any thing but, tasteless and not particularly good crop. Marmande was tasty but six plants only set 2 trusses each. Alicante was a star! 5 trusses per plant, 6 toms per truss, and wonderful flavour. These were all grown out side which might explain first 2 varieties failure. You may like to do a search as I asked exactly the same question as you back in Jan/Feb with a good response

[stigoftheplot]

I tried a golden grape cherry tom last year called Ildi. Like the name suggests it's grape size and yellow. It also has a deliciously sweet flavour But (there's always a but) it has quite a tough thick skin, not a problem for me but my neighbour who doesn't wear his dentures wasn't so impressed. I think they're lovely and now a firm favourite.

[g51065]

My other half likes Sungella, I like bambino cherry toms, put them whole in a stir fry at last minute and each one freshens the pallet for the next mouthfull.....ooer went a bit Ainsley Harriet then....

[Flummery]

I love green zebra and tigerella because of the flavour/balance of sweet and sharp. My favourite small tom is sungold although it has slightly tougher skins than some and a tendency to split if you don't harvest them as soon as they're ready. Don't rate gardeners' delight either. Blandish to my taste.

[TPeers]

Any variety that the family might try! None of them will eat a tomato boring lot!

Got Moneymaker and a tumbling variety which I can't remember off the top of my head.

Would love to try a beefsteak type, but if none of them are going to eat the friut, what's the point.

Terry

[shirlthegirl43]

Can't eat tomatoes - allergy! But this year growing for Madmax: Brandywine, Sophie's Choice and Golden Sunrise (or is that Sunshine). On his insistence we also have one Shirley (ah isn't he sweet). 10 tom plants for one guy who eats the fruit!! Will report back as to which ones he enjoys.

[Snadger]

Can't eat tomatoes - allergy! But this year growing for Madmax: Brandywine, Sophie's Choice and Golden Sunrise (or is that Sunshine). On his insistence we also have one Shirley (ah isn't he sweet). 10 tom plants for one guy who eats the fruit!! Will report back as to which ones he enjoys.

Your namesake is a damm good tomato!! I once did a tomato trial of my own a few years back and at the time, it came out top!

[Biscombe]

Black Cherry are goooooood!!

[valmarg]

My favourites are Bloody Butcher, First In The Field, Inca and Pink Brandywine.

LJ, where do you get your seed of Bloody Butcher? We grew them from a packet of Suttons 'heritage' varieties (apparently no longer available). Being a heritage variety, we have saved seed from our plants, but have been unable to find any seed supplier of this variety.

In our experience it is the first to fruit

valmarg

[User Removed]

Thanks for your replies everyone.

Your replies have been a real help for me Thanks.

I think I got Lesley's Bloody Butcher seeds from either SeedFest or Seeds-By-Size. They both have stocks of the seeds which can be sold however they never have enough to put on there site. If you email them I am sure they would be happy to send you some out.

Lesley is right though, Nickys Seeds and Burpee now sell them.

Thanks everyone

[Flummery]

I try to grow at least one new one each year - this year it's Berry (F1) and I wasn't impressed with germination. A high proportion of the seedlings came up with the seed still stuck and either aborted or distorted. I can see that I'm going to have to try some more heritage varieties Your replies here are realy interesting - Ta.

[valmarg]

I cannot have too many tomatoes. I find the catalogues, and their 'new' varieties so addictive.

I buy the seeds, hubby has the job of growing them.

This year I had some 'new' varieties from last year. I opened the packets, screwed them up a bit, and put them in amongst the 'old' seeds for hubby to grow, problem is, I can't remember which varieties they were.

Some of the above posts have commented on the toughness of the skins of homegrown tomatoes. Well, its all roughage, and good for you.

I would rather have a tough skinned homegrown tomato, than something that has been flown halfway round the globe!!!

valmarg