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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: the_snail on July 29, 2005, 17:06:03

Title: What is the best variaty of tomatoe to grow?
Post by: the_snail on July 29, 2005, 17:06:03
I am thinking of trying a different variety of tomato next year. I would like to know what variety gives the bigest truss and the most tomatoes with a good flavour.

Indoor and outdoor variates
Title: Re: What is the best variaty of tomatoe to grow?
Post by: tim on July 29, 2005, 17:15:21
Which of the 300 opinions will you take?? And standard, beef, cherry or plum? Each with a different use.

(See Growing under Glass 'yippee')
Title: Re: What is the best variaty of tomatoe to grow?
Post by: wardy on July 29, 2005, 17:30:57
The best tomato I ever tasted came with a salad in McDonalds!  It was a cherry type and was delish.  Pity they didn't have a clue what it was. Tt!

Title: Re: What is the best variaty of tomatoe to grow?
Post by: the_snail on July 29, 2005, 17:38:38
Ok let me clarify my question a little better. I am looking for a greenhouse type of tomatoe, cordon variety standard type. Not cherry or plum but the standard type of tomatoe.
Title: Re: What is the best variaty of tomatoe to grow?
Post by: tim on July 29, 2005, 17:55:33
Clear!!

One of the well-used ones is Shirley. Especially large bottom truss & good all-rounder. Cavendish is prolific. Harbinger is HDRA's choice.
Title: Re: What is the best variaty of tomatoe to grow?
Post by: redimp on July 29, 2005, 19:16:18
Quote from: wardy on July 29, 2005, 17:30:57
The best tomato I ever tasted came with a salad in McDonalds!  It was a cherry type and was delish.  Pity they didn't have a clue what it was. Tt!


Are you sure it was a real tomato?  Knowing McD's it was genetically modified and contained fish genes.  It was then irradiated six times before being packaged in a sterile environment.  And before all that, they probably had to cut down virgin rainforest to grow it.

Yes I do have a big downer with McDonalds.
Title: Re: What is the best variaty of tomatoe to grow?
Post by: Vez1 on July 29, 2005, 20:05:31
I have only started this year so grew what I got from others. however i tasted the best cherry tomato I have ever come across last week. it is a yellow/orange cherry and it is called sungold. It was beautifully sweet. i know it's one i'm growing next year.
Title: Re: What is the best variaty of tomatoe to grow?
Post by: tim on July 29, 2005, 20:33:18
Yes. But SexyS doesn't want Cherries!
Title: Re: What is the best variaty of tomatoe to grow?
Post by: teresa on July 29, 2005, 22:48:27
Hi,
Mine are outdoor toms and my fav for cropping is Moneymaker I hear the others say oh no but its not let me down and crops well. Trying Roma and Gardeners Delight as well as a basket tom not Tiny Tim forgoten the name.
Do think its what you feed them on me its fish poo water and comphrey going organic its cheeper if you have these to hand.
Title: Re: What is the best variaty of tomatoe to grow?
Post by: Vez1 on July 29, 2005, 22:54:20
Quote from: tim on July 29, 2005, 20:33:18
Yes. But SexyS doesn't want Cherries!

just noticed that on second reading of this whole thread. OOoops :)
Title: Re: What is the best variaty of tomatoe to grow?
Post by: linesman on July 29, 2005, 23:25:34
I'm finding ALICANTE is a very good cropper for me this year every truss has loads of toms
Title: Re: What is the best variaty of tomatoe to grow?
Post by: the_snail on July 30, 2005, 01:13:47
Thanks for the reply tim and everone else I will be taking you advice and be trying those next year! I like to try something different every now and again. My theory is if you do not try you do not know. So lets have a go!

I remember trying the plum variety and got about 24 small dry tomatoes. So will not be trying them again in the near future.

Again thanks for the reply's
Title: Re: What is the best variaty of tomatoe to grow?
Post by: jennym on July 30, 2005, 06:38:31
I have tried Craigella this year and the taste is very bland and disappointing. Won't bother again.
Title: Re: What is the best variaty of tomatoe to grow?
Post by: moonbells on July 30, 2005, 08:08:27
I'm growing sungella outdoors, and it's supposed to be a large mid-size version of sungold though not quite full size. Certainly looks ok so far, and it's cordon and can be grown indoors too.

Will comment further when one deigns to ripen and I can test it!

moonbells
Title: Re: What is the best variaty of tomatoe to grow?
Post by: tim on July 30, 2005, 17:01:37
SexyS - I've now given Nectar long enough to comment on it. RHS gave it good marks in their trial & it is certainly one that I shall grow again. 1" fruit, so almost a 'standard', a substantial flavour & good trusses - shown again here.

Don't be put off all plums by a bad year. I know they're only cherry size, but Santa have an intense flavour - they're in the s/markets now - they have a dense flesh, great in rice dishes, casseroles, & they freeze well. The childrens' favourite, which we have grown for 5-6 years now.


PS later - & of course, certainly for us, cherries are weeks earlier.
Title: Re: What is the best variaty of tomatoe to grow?
Post by: wattapain on July 30, 2005, 18:53:26
Well, like Wardy, the tastiest tomato I have ever eaten came from Sainsbury's earler this year, (against everything I thought  previously). It was  a Sicilian variety called (appropriately) Delizia and was indeed absolutely delicious.
I tried googling it and have found the variety in ecipes and restaurant sites, but no seeds can i find for sale. A friend of mine, recently back from Brindisi told me about this tasty tomato she bought in a market there andit sounds like the same one. Coincidence or what?
It's a marmande type , yellow/red ridged.
In Sainsbury's it was bl***y expensive so I'm now on a mission to find some for next year. Any ideas anyone?
Terri
Title: Re: What is the best variaty of tomatoe to grow?
Post by: terrace max on July 30, 2005, 19:47:20
I'm by no means a tomato success story, but, like linesman, I'm having great results with Alicante...

Title: Re: What is the best variaty of tomatoe to grow?
Post by: real food on July 30, 2005, 19:49:56
:(I grew Sungella last year and will not grow it again as it is much overhyped. It has several problems which do not seem to affect its parents(sungold and tangella) to the same degree. I was growing all three varieties in the same conditions, and could directly compare them. Sungella is not as tasty as its parents and is rather prone to blight.
At the moment, my favourite tomato is Sungold, which has just the correct balance of sweetness and acidity.
Title: Re: What is the best variaty of tomatoe to grow?
Post by: Mrs Ava on July 31, 2005, 22:28:34
The first 'cherry' I have tasted this year is a yellow called 'Peacevine' and it is devine!  Sweet, thin skinned, but thick enough for that texture of tomatos that I like.  Stood in the greenhouse chatting to daughter number one....and I ate all 5 that were ripe! 
Title: Re: What is the best variaty of tomatoe to grow?
Post by: fraser on August 01, 2005, 08:49:26
I've grown marglobe this year. Have cropped a dozen so far the largest being 6oz. Lovely fleshy tromato with a flavour to match.
Title: Re: What is the best variaty of tomatoe to grow?
Post by: tim on August 01, 2005, 09:06:13
We'll get to 300 soon!!
Title: Re: What is the best variaty of tomatoe to grow?
Post by: westsussexlottie on August 01, 2005, 09:09:06
i recommend totem. The tomatoes vary in size from cherry to larger ones but the plants crop heavily and the taste is good too. These can happily be grown in tubs.
Title: Re: What is the best variaty of tomatoe to grow?
Post by: tim on August 03, 2005, 09:52:49
Today's offering.
John Hawkins in the middle, then Antoi Romanov (unripe pepper)/Santa/ Red Debarao/ Galina/ Nectar.
Title: Re: What is the best variaty of tomatoe to grow?
Post by: wardy on August 03, 2005, 10:07:29
They look a tasty bunch Tim  :)  You're lucky to have some ripe ones at the mo.  On mine the toms are only pea size but I'm expecting great things from them - "Mortgage Lifter" and G Delight. 

By the way Wattapain - could you buy one of those yummy toms from Sainsbury which you liked and then save the seed?  You can scrape the seed onto kitchen paper and let the paper absorb all that liquid.  When dry you'll be able to lift the dry seeds off the paper and store in the fridge until next year  :)
Title: Re: What is the best variaty of tomatoe to grow?
Post by: Sketty on August 03, 2005, 10:39:40
Must admit, this was a question I was going to ask? ;D
Title: Re: What is the best variaty of tomatoe to grow?
Post by: redimp on August 03, 2005, 11:54:07
This is the advice on http://www.realseeds.co.uk/tomatoes.html

Saving Tomato Seed:

(http://www.realseeds.co.uk/images/tomato%20seed1.jpg) (http://www.realseeds.co.uk/images/tomato%20seed2%20.jpg) (http://www.realseeds.co.uk/images/tomato%20seed3.jpg) (http://www.realseeds.co.uk/images/tomato%203.jpg)

Here you can seed the seed and juice squeezeed into a jar & let ferment for 3 days (no more, no less!)

Good seeds sink and bad ones float.

Water is added and poured off several times to clean them, the seed is rinsed in a seive and put on a plate to dry.

Detailed seed-saving instructions are included with your seeds, so you can do this yourself.
Title: Re: What is the best variaty of tomatoe to grow?
Post by: ken (69) on August 03, 2005, 12:50:17
Growing yellow Tumbling Tom as outdoor cherry, this year, sweet, but not as sweet as Gardeners Delight. Indoors Moneymakers and Ailsa something. Have grown Shirley, a huge cropper.Did you see last night's TV Supermarkets, apparently we are the only country not to include TASTE as a criteria.Best vote (in Spain I think) was a beefsteak type (probably Brandywine)
Title: Re: What is the best variaty of tomatoe to grow?
Post by: tim on August 05, 2005, 17:42:01
Just sampled the first Galina - not over-productive but very rich in flavour.
Title: Re: What is the best variaty of tomatoe to grow?
Post by: the_snail on August 06, 2005, 01:04:34
Tim those trusses in you picture are great! Might try them in my border in the greenhouse! With loads a muck under them! Next year of course! :D
Title: Re: What is the best variaty of tomatoe to grow?
Post by: the_snail on August 06, 2005, 01:05:25
Also like the Idea of saving the seeds! My late grandfarther used to do that.
Title: Re: What is the best variaty of tomatoe to grow?
Post by: supernan on August 06, 2005, 07:04:41
I have Marmande - large beef, with ribs - Gardeners Delight - cherry - and Roma - plum for sauces, all in very large tubs in the hot front garden. Also Allicante which is usually a green house cordon.

All have a lot of toms on. GD has ripe ones, others are coming. All are healty and trouble free. Watered daily and fed weekly alternate Chempak no 4 High Potash and Tomato feed.

In the green house for FUN I am trying unusual varieties. Most so far look like they will not be coming back. Late to fruit, slow to grow, tried everything to solve yellow leaves. Brandywine is doing the best very, very large fruit, followed by Thesselonaka a greek one. I think the others may be ready for Christmas!!!
Title: Re: What is the best variaty of tomatoe to grow?
Post by: wardy on August 06, 2005, 12:29:09
Supernan     I think outdoor toms are really good as they don't get pests on  (or have I just been lucky?)  :)
Title: Re: What is the best variaty of tomatoe to grow?
Post by: tim on August 07, 2005, 10:55:28
This is what we mean by beef!

Why waste space with water??

Title: Re: What is the best variaty of tomatoe to grow?
Post by: ken (69) on August 07, 2005, 16:27:05
WOW, Tim....global knife...£100 a set.....the toms look nice too.
Title: Re: What is the best variaty of tomatoe to grow?
Post by: tim on August 16, 2005, 17:37:44
Just love the colouration of Red Debarao - despite their tendency to leaf curl. Very prolific too.
Title: Re: What is the best variaty of tomatoe to grow?
Post by: Merry Tiller on August 16, 2005, 22:07:25
Anyone tried "Tschernomor Black"? WOW
Title: Re: What is the best variaty of tomatoe to grow?
Post by: keef on August 17, 2005, 11:10:12
I've got some gardener's delight - they're very nice. But not very big (but a bit bigger than most cherry's though) about golf ball size.

Sweet million are very sweet cherries.