Tomato reviews likes & dislikes 2015 - 2020

[Earthgirl Jen]

I've grown tomatoes for the first time, in a blow-away. They are now ripening so had a taste test with the OH. One plant each of three varieties: Totem - fairly bland and tasteless; Red Alert - much sharper and tastier; Gardener's Delight - very sweet and tasty. Gardener's Delight also started ripening first, a couple of weeks ago, and have so far have had a dozen of them, compared with one each from the other two.

No comparison really.

We've had a really good summer so far here in Edinburgh, but not the scorching temperatures I think many of you have had down south. This is probably as good a crop as I could ever hope to get, though I'll have my greenhouse up for next year, which will mean I may be able to start earlier.

I have loads of green tomatoes, I hope lots of them ripen up. I took the tops off them a few days ago, as recommended elsewhere on this forum, which I hope may help.

Babru it's not so much the sun as heat that get tomatoes to turn. Last year my greenhouse got a 'bit out of control' to much foliage competing with each other and not huge amounts of sunlight on the toms. Red tomatoes ripened fine, the orange ones seemed to prefer much more sun and as such took a lot longer to ripen in the 'forest' and because of it they ripened unevenly.

I hope you get your greenhouse, much easier to grow in x

[Babru]

Are we the only people who find Sungold rather dull and bland?

Really! I have this on my list for next year, as everyone seems to get great results. I hear what EarthgirlJen says about coloured tomatoes needing more light though, and will make sure they are in the sunniest spot.

[Small pumpkin]

Are we the only people who find Sungold rather dull and bland?

Yes..........

[veggiechicken]

I don't grow Sungold because its too sweet for me.
I also won't grow Rosella again - too sweet and the skins split easily.

Good job we don't all have the same tastebuds.

[1Bee]

Sungold last year wasn't sweet at all, but I think it just never had enough heat/sun to develop the sugars. This year I'm getting a taste of how it should be, and it's lovely.

[Thelma Sanders]

I don't grow Sungold because its too sweet for me.
I also won't grow Rosella again - too sweet and the skins split easily.

Good job we don't all have the same tastebuds.

Agree about Sungold, but found Rosellas (like Black Cherry) are best before they look properly ripe, less likely to split then, as well

[robbra]

All my tomatoes were green a few days ago and as soon as the temperature dropped many started to turn orange, is this coincidence? My most orange is cuor di bue which has surprised me as I thought it would be later.
Three questions.
How do you tell a yellow tomato(ildi) is ripe apart from eating it?
Do tigerella go completely red with stripes or just dark orange?
Do black cherry start off green and turn black when ripe?
Thanks
Rob

[Thelma Sanders]

You'll notice yellow toms change from greeny yellow to yellow as they ripen.
Tigerella is best IMO when it is orangey red with stripes, by the time it is dark red with stripes I think it is past its best.
Same with Black Cherry, when it gets greeny/brown (I've never thought they go black at all) it is best, any darker and it is less to my taste.
I'll admit to liking tomatoes with a little acid, rather than totally sweet/bland, so suggest you try them when they look a little under-ripe, through to fully ripe, to see at what stage you prefer them

[robbra]

Thank you Thelma, it's my first year with those varieties and previously always stuck with Ailsa Craig or similar.
My first Tigerella has just gone to orangy so will wait a for a few more to ripen and compare red to orange.
Thanks again
Rob

[rambleberry]

Today's pickings. First year successfully growing tomatoes from seed, so I'm pretty pleased with how it's going and nearly all the plants are doing well. These are all greenhouse-grown; I'm just waiting for the outdoors ones to kick-into production now.

Top to bottom:

Lotos
Black Krim (an errant plant throwing orange tomatoes!)
Marmande de Montpellier
Sugar Gloss F1
Paul Robeson
Black Krim
Black Vernissage

[Scarlet]

I don't grow Sungold because its too sweet for me.
I also won't grow Rosella again - too sweet and the skins split easily.

Good job we don't all have the same tastebuds.

Same here...I think it tastes artificial. It certainly doesn't no well with a glass of white

[gringo]

My first year with Sungold, and while they're really pretty to look at, I prefer my tried and tested Gardener's Delight.

My favourite ever yellow tomato was a type called 'Taiko' that I got in one of those over-the-top-priced variety boxes for Christmas a few years back. Gorgeous peppery taste. Unfortuantely I've never been able to find the seeds to buy on their own, and I didn't save any

[Kirk]

My Red Pear is doing OK, nothing red yet however, also nothing yellow or any other colour, just green.

[Chris11]

My favourite ever yellow tomato was a type called 'Taiko' that I got in one of those over-the-top-priced variety boxes for Christmas a few years back. Gorgeous peppery taste. Unfortuantely I've never been able to find the seeds to buy on their own, and I didn't save any

I remember Jungle Jane grew these and wrote a nice review of them here:

Taiko Tomato

[gringo]

I remember Jungle Jane grew these and wrote a nice review of them here:

Taiko Tomato

I think it was 2015 that I grew them too.

'Wacky Tomatoes Plant Theatre"