More dreaming of spring......I've bought my tomato seeds and that's it. No more! Unless I find another variety I absolutely cannot live without.
Last year I was given free seeds for Chocolate Cherry Tomato. They were richly flavored, sweet, delicious and also made a great addition to one of our wines. I didn't really want to grow it again (just because I like to try new varieties) but my hubby convinced me to include them in the 2010 garden. They did ripen early and produce well through the summer. That was a pretty good feat since last summer wasn't great for my other tomatoes.
I wanted to try the Black Plum Tomato this year. I haven't grown it before. The description of the sweet tangy flavor sounds tempting and we have never been disappointed with the dark colored tomatoes.
The Cour di Bue tomato was a free sample that came with a seed order. I wasn't sure if I would keep them or give them away. However, the mention of them being good for saucing convinced me to give them a try.
I would love to hear about your favorite tomatoes. I've thought of trying a green variety and I'm sure I can always find just the right spot for a cherry tomato or another tomato for sauce. Any suggestions? A larger garden might be the first place to start!
14 comments:
Last year was the first time I ever grew tomatoes. I had three varieties but I can't remember one of them. I had early girl and big boy though. I had a pretty good showing considering how chilly it was AND the fact that I didn't know what the heck I was doing in the first place, not to mention the slugs.
I'm glad to hear the black cherry tomatoes are delicious...I ordered some recently because they look so pretty in the catalog. What type of wine did you make with them?
Last year ALL my tomatoes got zapped with some kind of leaf fungus. There was different varities but all purchased from one vender. This year I am going to buy from different suppliers and watch for this and try to catch it earlier.
I LOVE tomatoes, I ate so many when pregnant with my daughter China that she HATES them lol.... x
Ruby, Your blog is beautiful! Love your layout and colors. Last year I grew (in Iowa) Mortgage Lifter, Beefsteak, Early girl bush, standard Early girl, and Sugar Snack cherry tomatoes. The Mortgage Lifter are heirloom and they did well, except the vines were blighty. The Early girl bush was a real treat because it's a determinate variety as well as producing in less than 60 days - gave me lots of tomatoes early on. My stepfather's favorite is Jet Star and I decided to try that this year as well as several others including a purple heirloom (I don't know the name, I saved the seeds from a tomato I purchased.)
I would be interested in hearing more about your winemaking and seeing pics of the process and finished products. How did you get started? You've piqued my interest in possibly doing this.
Best wishes in the garden (and the kitchen),
Beth
http://beyondthegardengate-beth.blogspot.com
http://foodasart-beth.blogspot.com
I grew Black Cherry tomatoes last year and will do so again this year....they were wonderful! You might try Green Zebra for a green tomato, they were pretty good, and beautiful, as well, with their green stripes.
My favorite black tomato so far is Nyagous, a salad size one that grows in clusters. Do you want me to send you a few seeds?
Hi Connie- Green Zebra was one I was looking at and decided not to get just because I already had my tomatoes picked out (they are on the list for next year). The Nyagous is on my list too as one I would like to try. Dear hubby especially loves the black tomatoes although I enjoy them too. Yes, I would love to have a few seeds if you have extra. Otherwise they will be on next year's list. It is great to hear that it is one worth trying.
Like Cinj, last year was my first time growing tomatoes. I only planted Wisconsin 55. They looked pretty but didn't taste good.
Read about these in the newspaper last Sunday -- Tiffen Mennonite and Pink Beauty. Do you know them?
The article also mentioned Chocolate Cherry tomatoes as being a good choice. Also Sugary.
donna
Donna- We have been very pleased with the chocolate cherry tomato. I hope it does as well this year as it did last year. I have heard good things about sugary. I'm not familiar with Tiffen Mennonite or Pink Beauty. The description of the "sweet but tangy flavor of the Tiffen Mennonite sounds especially good. We have had a lot of fun experimenting with different varieties. The flavors differ so much from one type to the next.
There are just so many wonderful tomatoes to try! We try to rotate our crops around the garden but I would love to just fill it up with every variety of tomato and potato!
Forgot to mention Aunt RUBY's German Green tomato, which I grew last year, as well. Sounds like something Ruby in the Garden should try. Ha.
Connie- definitely sounds like a tomato fitting for this blog! What did you think of that tomato?
Have you tried the Black Krim? I grew those last year (here in Oregon) and they are the most delicious tomato along with Pineapple and both were purchased at Territorial. Happy tomato raising. ;)
I haven't tried the Black Krim yet. It is on my "someday list". There are so many I would like to grow. I already have my Territorial order which is probably for the best. I don't NEED any more seeds although that seldom stops me!
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