Identifying a flavor...

[Lancer525]

Sounds odd, I know.

Many years ago, I worked for a place that maintained an heirloom vegetable garden. My predecessor in the position knew even less than I did, and had a scraggly little, underperforming garden underneath a huge black walnut tree. That should explain everything.

I moved the garden away from the tree, into a more open place, and acquired the services of a visitor, who also happened to be a Master Gardener. That's a whole 'nother story unto itself. Suffice it to say that working with him for five growing seasons took me from a nearly-hapless amateur into a fairly knowledgeable, if not inexperienced gardener. I've grown some pretty good stuff over the years thanks to the education I got from Gene, rest his soul...

The third year he and I were doing the garden, he brought a single tomato plant (we had saved seed from previous years to keep growing them) that was completely new to me. He said he'd gotten it at a garden show, and didn't have room at his place. For the life of me, I cannot remember, if I ever even knew it, the name of that tomato. I do remember a few things about it. It was indeterminate. It had ribbed shoulders. A very, very red tomato. It was fairly prolific in fruit production, as I gave away a lot of them to visitors. I honestly don't remember if it was a beefsteak variety or not, but it probably was, because it was fairly meaty, and firm without clear lobes internally. I do know it wasn't long, like a Roma or San Marzano, it wasn't a globe like a Rugters or Better Boy, and it wasn't pointy like an Oxheart. I do remember that it had the sharpest, most *tomato* flavor I have ever tasted in my life. I did not even like tomatoes all that much before I tasted this one.

And now, I am getting ready, in Zone 8a, to start putting plants into my raised beds. I'd like to find out what this tomato was, but as Gene is no longer with us, I can't ask him.

So, I'd like to ask all the Lycopersians out there, to tell me about the heirloom varieties you've grown, that were similar to the one I've described. It wasn't one of the common varieties I've seen on any of the vegetable-plant selling websites, so it might have just been a one-off from someone's personal garden. Oh, I wish I knew what it was!

Can anyone suggest your personal favorites that tick all the descriptive boxes?

Thanks!

[Labradors]

Could it have been Costoluto Genovese? https://tatianastomatobase.com/wiki/Costoluto_Genovese

I grew it once and it was incredibly productive as well as tasty. Unfortunately, it was very susceptible to BER in my garden, which put me off growing it again.

[Lancer525]

Could it have been Costoluto Genovese? https://tatianastomatobase.com/wiki/Costoluto_Genovese

I grew it once and it was incredibly productive as well as tasty. Unfortunately, it was very susceptible to BER in my garden, which put me off growing it again.

That's possible, but it doesn't quite 'look' right. The ribbing in the shoulders of the fruit was far less bulbous, if memory serves.

I might have to look into that, although it is a little late in the game for me to start seeds.

Thanks!

[MissS]

It would be hard for any of us to identify your tomato with this description. May I suggest that you start your search by looking at Tatiana's tomatobase under the red varieties. There are photos and descriptions to go with each tomato. It will take some time though.
https://tatianastomatobase.com/wiki/Cat ... d_Tomatoes

[leftylogan]

Cuostralee? https://www.edenbrothers.com/products/c ... mato-seeds

[Lancer525]

It would be hard for any of us to identify your tomato with this description. May I suggest that you start your search by looking at Tatiana's tomatobase under the red varieties. There are photos and descriptions to go with each tomato. It will take some time though.
https://tatianastomatobase.com/wiki/Cat ... d_Tomatoes

That's a great idea, except for the fact that I started there, so as to not bother anyone. It was like looking for the proverbial needle in the haystack, since all I have to go by is a memory of the mental image of the thing, and the memory of the flavor. There are literally hundreds of them there, listed by name, which doesn't help alot.

Thanks anyway.

[Lancer525]

Cuostralee? https://www.edenbrothers.com/products/c ... mato-seeds

That one is also a possibility. I like the way that one looks, although I don't think that's exactly what I remember. Thanks! I'll have to look into that one as well...

[rdback]

Zapotec is another possibility.

Others (Google image search)

https://www.google.com/search?newwindow ... 6&dpr=1.09