HELP: Any MUST GROW tomatoes suggestions

[MissS]

My must-haves are Jaune Flamme, Paul Robeson, Ananas Noire and Black from Tula. Earl's Faux would be must-have if it were earlier, a little warmer here, or if I had a tunnel. For cherries I have to have Rosella and Chocolate Pear. Also, I haven't grown it yet thinking it wouldn't produce enough here, but I ate a Cherokee Green tomato 5 years ago and have been dreaming of it ever since, so there's that. I finally decided it's on the 2020 grow list, I don't care if I only get one!

I like all of those mentioned. Cherokee Green tomato is very prolific. It is quite likely that you will have more than one and since it stays green, the critters are more likely to leave it alone. So, enjoy.

[Sue_CT]

Brandywine seems to do best in the North in zones 5-6. Sometimes I only get a few tomatoes and sometimes more, depending on the year and the weather. It famously does not seem to do well in most Southern gardens. So in zone 10 you probably did pretty good with it. I have heard others in your climate say they were lucky to get one tomato. I generally grow for taste not productivity, but only one tomato would not be acceptable if that happened 2 or 3 years in a row. Not sure I would even give it more than 2 years.

Estler's ML I feel is much better than other "strains" of ML. I thought previous ML plants I had grown were unremarkable. I got my first seeds of the Estler strain from Carolyn Male and found the taste to be much better than others I had tried. I tried it based on her recommendation, and was really surprised how much better it tasted and it has been a constant in my garden ever since. I find it to be a large healthy plant with large 1+ pound tomatoes with good production and excellent taste. I guard what few seeds I have left from Carolyn and try to save seeds myself from my growouts of her original seeds so I always have seeds no more than a few years old.

I have a small garden with only room for about 12-16 plants, and I always include one of Estler's, as well as BW Sudduth, Stump of the World and most recently, GGWT. Since I am in such a different climate than you, I would ask others growning in more similar climates how the other tomatoes I mentioned would likely do for you. I doubt anyone would want to devote garden space to a large plant that only yields a single tomato.

[Ginger2778]

Brad's Atomic Grape, as mentioned by Marsh above, is unique in looks and flavour which is all sweet and savory. Thank-You! Marsha.

You're welcome!

[Ginger2778]

My must-haves are Jaune Flamme, Paul Robeson, Ananas Noire and Black from Tula. Earl's Faux would be must-have if it were earlier, a little warmer here, or if I had a tunnel. For cherries I have to have Rosella and Chocolate Pear. Also, I haven't grown it yet thinking it wouldn't produce enough here, but I ate a Cherokee Green tomato 5 years ago and have been dreaming of it ever since, so there's that. I finally decided it's on the 2020 grow list, I don't care if I only get one!

I like all of those mentioned. Cherokee Green tomato is very prolific. It is quite likely that you will have more than one and since it stays green, the critters are more likely to leave it alone. So, enjoy.

My South Florida critters go by smell rather than color, most are nocturnal, rats and possums.

[reginaann2]

+1 on Big Cheef. Must haves are Captain Lucky, Brandywine OTV and Stump of The World. I moved and the new yard holds about half of my usual garden. The selection process is going to be interesting.

Congratulations on your large number of options. It's fun to have choices.

[Tormahto]

Hmmm, if we don't have overlapping varieties, I can get you to 4,000+ varieties.

Aunt Ginny's Purple, Stump of the World, and Aunt Gertie's Gold, that's it. Sweet, balanced, and tart.

[TheDante]

Hmmm, if we don't have overlapping varieties, I can get you to 4,000+ varieties.

Don´t even encourage me! I might just take up your offer on it.

I think I will even reach the 3,000 mark in no time soon too!

Would love to be able to share seeds with you and everyone else too

[TheDante]

+1 on Big Cheef. Must haves are Captain Lucky, Brandywine OTV and Stump of The World. I moved and the new yard holds about half of my usual garden. The selection process is going to be interesting.

Congratulations on your large number of options. It's fun to have choices.

thanks reginaann2, I am EXTREME when it comes to our garden. And my inane curiosity also got me where I am. Knowing myself too well.. I will still be collecting and hunting down more varieties.

Our garden is about an acre (4,000 sqm) big for me to indulge in my current madness. I intend to focus and concentrate on tomatoes in the years ahead and other vegetables will be reduced or taking a backseat.

I am just so glad to be around everyone who has a shared interest

[TheDante]

When you decide from which of your 2,000 you are going to grow next year, I really don't think most should be picked by variety name. Selecting tomatoes in many different colors, shapes, sizes, types, etc.. will hopefully give you the widest assortment of flavors to try. The key is how they taste in your garden to you. And, your weather can have a huge effect on the taste, from year to year.

Thanks Tormato, this is very sound advice from the other thread - The Taste of Tomatoes that you suggested.

It just occurred to me that I need to grow at least 400 varieties per year to be able to get through 2000 varieties within 5 years! Oh golly! What was I thinking!

I think I actually have more than 2000 varieties, I am too afraid to double check now.

[Tormahto]

My must grows are Estler's Mortgage Lifter (the Estler's strain is important), Stump of the World, Girl Girl's Weird Thing (see Marsha if you need seeds), Brandywine Sudduth (again, the Sudduth strain is important) and for hearts Reif Red Heart, and Fish Lake Oxheart.

I have always done a drive by of the Mortgage Lifters but have never partaken. Am I missing out?

What makes the Estler's the one?

I have tried Brandywine Sudduth several times now, and I only get a few ripe tomatoes. It doesn't produce much for me. Is this to be expected? I think I got five fruits on my EB plant this year.

Brandywine Sudduth needs help to produce more fruit. The same goes for some other large fruited varieties. The help is in getting the pollen to move. Some use electric tooth brushes on the unopened blossoms. I shake each plant, humming to the tune of K.C. and the Sunshine Band - "Shake Shake Shake...Shake Shake Shake...Shake Your Blossoms".

[Tormahto]

When you decide from which of your 2,000 you are going to grow next year, I really don't think most should be picked by variety name. Selecting tomatoes in many different colors, shapes, sizes, types, etc.. will hopefully give you the widest assortment of flavors to try. The key is how they taste in your garden to you. And, your weather can have a huge effect on the taste, from year to year.

Thanks Tormato, this is very sound advice from the other thread - The Taste of Tomatoes that you suggested.

It just occurred to me that I need to grow at least 400 varieties per year to be able to get through 2000 varieties within 5 years! Oh golly! What was I thinking!

I think I actually have more than 2000 varieties, I am too afraid to double check now.

Because I'm not hosting a swap this year, many of the seeds in the "No Man Is A Svalbard Seed Suppository" (suppository, depository, is there a difference, and does it matter?) are going out with few coming in. I might get down to less than 1,000 in about a month. I've rarely known (within +/- 1,000) the number of varieties I've had on hand at one time. I think I peaked at about 6 to 7 thousand 5 to 6 years ago. I've never considered any of them MY seeds, except for my first year growing tomatoes. I got over that mistake.

[TheDante]

Because I'm not hosting a swap this year, many of the seeds in the "No Man Is A Svalbard Seed Suppository" (suppository, depository, is there a difference, and does it matter?) are going out with few coming in. I might get down to less than 1,000 in about a month. I've rarely known (within +/- 1,000) the number of varieties I've had on hand at one time. I think I peaked at about 6 to 7 thousand 5 to 6 years ago. I've never considered any of them MY seeds, except for my first year growing tomatoes. I got over that mistake.

still trying to decipher the actual ´secret´ message… but I think I am getting there

[TheDante]

My must have, never be without pink beefs are :Wild Thyme Pink, Elgin Pink, Pruden's Purple, Olive Hill, African Queen, Pink Pioneer
My always dwarfs are:Dwarf Beauty King, Dwarf Mr.Snow
My must for striped: Red Lithium, Girl Girl's Weird Thing, Marsha's Starfighter Beefsteak
Must green when ripe: Green Gables, Cherokee Green or Lime(interchangeable)
Must cherries:SunGoldF1, Sunorange F1, Sungreen F1, Candy Sweet Icicle, Garnet, Brad's Atomic Grape, the entire KARMA series, honorable mention for Iva's Red Berry
Must Hearts: Jewish, Curtis Cheek, Grightmire's Pride, Heart of Ashgabat
Must orange: KBX

Thank you so much Marsha for sharing your detailed list (btw, did you mean Cherokee Lime and/or Cherokee Lime Stripes - or they are actually the same variety), will have to hunt down especially some of the pinks and everyone else´s must grow tomatoes too.

Have written all of them down and no doubt many will be in my 2020 list as well as continuous hunting list. Cannot wait for March to start sowing. The big question is still how many and how many I can cope and manage with

And do keep posting and suggesting as I am sure this helps me as much as everyone else too

[MissS]

Tormato, the waters are stirring. Beware. I think that there is another shark lurking here...

[TheDante]

Tormato, the waters are stirring. Beware. I think that there is another shark lurking here...

Should I be afraid too?

[Nan6b]

I have Post Office Spoonful seeds, and will likely continue to have them, if you'd like them, PM me.

[MissS]

Tormato, the waters are stirring. Beware. I think that there is another shark lurking here...

Should I be afraid too?

Oh yes. Swim away...

[TheDante]

Tormato, the waters are stirring. Beware. I think that there is another shark lurking here...

Should I be afraid too?

Oh yes. Swim away...

Crikey! You mentioned another shark… how many are there actually! Thanks Steven Spielberg!

[TheDante]

I have Post Office Spoonful seeds, and will likely continue to have them, if you'd like them, PM me.

Thanks Nan for the generous offer, I will keep that in mind. cheers!

[Ginger2778]

My must have, never be without pink beefs are :Wild Thyme Pink, Elgin Pink, Pruden's Purple, Olive Hill, African Queen, Pink Pioneer
My always dwarfs are:Dwarf Beauty King, Dwarf Mr.Snow
My must for striped: Red Lithium, Girl Girl's Weird Thing, Marsha's Starfighter Beefsteak
Must green when ripe: Green Gables, Cherokee Green or Lime(interchangeable)
Must cherries:SunGoldF1, Sunorange F1, Sungreen F1, Candy Sweet Icicle, Garnet, Brad's Atomic Grape, the entire KARMA series, honorable mention for Iva's Red Berry
Must Hearts: Jewish, Curtis Cheek, Grightmire's Pride, Heart of Ashgabat
Must orange: KBX

Thank you so much Marsha for sharing your detailed list (btw, did you mean Cherokee Lime and/or Cherokee Lime Stripes - or they are actually the same variety), will have to hunt down especially some of the pinks and everyone else´s must grow tomatoes too.

Have written all of them down and no doubt many will be in my 2020 list as well as continuous hunting list. Cannot wait for March to start sowing. The big question is still how many and how many I can cope and manage with

And do keep posting and suggesting as I am sure this helps me as much as everyone else too

C.Lime is not the same as C.Lime Stripes. My 2(3) GWR are as listed above, and I like Green and Lime equally, so I switch off on them from year to year. I always also grow Green Gables, a PL green Beefsteak.