Topic: What are your favourite tomatoes and why?

[Paulines7]

I thought this would be an interesting subject, especially as many of us will be planning for next year. 

Top of my list has to be Caro Rich.  It has large deep orange-gold fruit that contains an extremely high content of beta-carotene (10 times more than other tomatoes) and is an old variety with low acid. When sliced open it is thick and fleshy with not many pips.  It is lovely when cut in half and dressed with olive oil and a sprinkling of salt. 

Second on my list is Pomodoro Cuore di Bue which I received in an A4A tomato swap.  It is ox-heart shaped and can be eaten drenched in oil, as above, but it is also good for making passata.

My third choice is Principe Borghese, a smallish tomato that, when picked, lasts longer than many others.  Evidently, according to what I have read, green tomatoes continue to ripen until February if the plant is cut and stored in a shed. I haven't tried this yet though.

So what are your favourite tomatoes and why?

[manicscousers]

oxheart which our friend, Eric brought back from South Africa before he emigrated, fantastic size, yield and taste, again, not too many pips, meaty flesh, nice raw or cooked  :)
still like tigerella, golden sunrise, orange banana and can't remember the name of the plum, they're for cooking, not a cherry tom fan  :)

[BarriedaleNick]

Sungold for salads and eating direct from the plant..
San Marzano for saucing/soups
Tigerella for slicing/frying..
Giant Spanish Yellow are really nice (thanks to digeroo's seed swap) both for the plate and for sauces..

I tried Principe Borghese this year and was a little dissapointed - not as tasty as I would like and not so sure about the whole winter storing thing as mine have pretty much all ripened..

[mpdjulie]

Top of my list would be oxheart pinks.  Delicious taste, really rich yummy.  My next would be galina.  They have that lovely sweet pop in your mouth taste.
Julie

[daveyboi]

A new one I tried for the first year was called  Maskotka
It is a cherry sized tomato and the seed company describe it as a compact variety ideal for growing in containers

It really did suprise me as the first tomatoes were being picked about ten days before the whippersnappers which I expected to be the earliest.
A really nice eating tomato as well.

[Trevor_D]

My votes go to:
Costoluto Fiorentino - for a craggy beefsteak type
Sungold - for a cherry tomato
Auriga - nearly as tasty, but bigger
Shirley - for a good, reliable greenhouse variety

[shirlton]

Shirley for good blight resistance (gh) A plum tomato that  we brought back from Tunisia 3 years ago that we save seed from and lastly a small cherry plum that we bought from Lidl and saved the seed. These stay on the plant for ages when ripe.

[northener]

Sungold- Cherry and Fantasio for anything between medium and massive.

[beanie3]

sungold for cherry toms

and my farmers special - have no idea what they are, he just turns up with them for very little money - i will have to ask him what they are one day.

[valmarg]

My original reply has gone somewhere up in the ether.  Can't be bothered (or remember) to repeat ???

[Poolcue]

Sweet Million -  small bursting with flavour

[beanie3]

I have only ever really grown sungold but what other cherry toms compares to the volume and ease to grow?

[PurpleHeather]

I like the tinned ones from ASDA.

I only like tinned tomatoes and the ones from ASDA are cheap.

[GrannieAnnie]

Black Krim for flavor, however next year we'll plant more Burpee Better Boy since they are a nice size without waste (Black Krim often has cracks and bad shoulders) and the Better Boy seems to hold up well and keeps producing and also tastes like a beefsteak type.

[BoardStupid]

First year for toms for us.

Shirley was lovely and a good cropper. Tumbling Tom was prolific but not a lot of taste.

Next year have the intention of growing more varieties, looking froward to tigerella :-)

[betula]

Shirley for good blight resistance (gh) A plum tomato that  we brought back from Tunisia 3 years ago that we save seed from and lastly a small cherry plum that we bought from Lidl and saved the seed. These stay on the plant for ages when ripe.

Do you know I found the plum tomato rotted quite quickly and has put me off growing them again.

[shirlton]

Betula, both of these plums, the large and the small last for ages. I will send you some seed when its been gathered if you want to try some

[betula]

Oh thanks shirl  ;D

[betula]

I like the tinned ones from ASDA.

I only like tinned tomatoes and the ones from ASDA are cheap.

I must admit I love tinned tomato with a sausage sandwich on the odd occasion,somehow the fresh just do not have the same lovely taste. ;D

[boydzfish]

Had an amazing crop this year after last year's disaster, only problem was I didn't support the plants enough. I use 2 varieties Moneymaker, standard size fruits and Apero, cherries - they are both really nice tasting being a little acidic (Well mine were anyway!). I tried some Tumbling Tom cherry tomatoes in a hanging basket and they were successful though watering was very critical but I notice that some people are planting their ordinary toms so they hang down instead of in the ground - again I think watering would be an issue. I am also going to try some 'plum' type next year to see how they go. Anyway will be making some 'green tomato' chutney this afternoon. Happy days ;D