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My tomato updates and thoughts

Posted by CaraRose 5b Chicago (My Page) on
Wed, Jul 9, 14 at 14:48

Just a run down of all the tom varieties I'm trying and how they're doing.

Bloody Butcher (1 plant in raised bed, pruned to 2 stems in 1 square foot; one plant in a 5 gallon nursery pot since I didn't have ground space and caged, no pruning) - I'm pretty delighted with this guy. It's been a vigorous grower, both plants are covered with fruits. Picked two tomatoes so far and more are color breaking. It's not a large tomato but has good flavor. It was my replacement for early girl and has not disappointed.

4th of July (1 plant in raised bed, pruned to 2 stems in 1 square foot; one plant in a 3 gallon nursery pot... wasn't intending to keep the one in the container, but it's got a good amount of fruit on it despite the small container) - Nice plants, have been very healthy. The one in my raised bed has several long trusses of small fruit and continues to set fruit well. No sign of color break yet.

Brandywine (1 plant in raised bed, pruned to 2 stems in 1 square foot; one plant in a 5 gallon nursery pot since I didn't have ground space and caged, no pruning) - Brandywines were a little lanky as seedlings, but have grown into pretty healthy plants. Fruitset has been pretty poor on both of mine with lots of blossom drop. Not sure if it's the weather conditions or lack of nutrients, though after a liqiud foliar feed I noticed the one in the raised bed has set several fruit. The container one has a very large fruit that just started to color break, which surprised me since it seems a bit early.

Cherokee Purple (1 plant in raised bed pruned to 2 stems in 1 square foot)- Better fruitset than brandywine but also has had a lot of blossom drop. Plant is healthy although has grown at a bit of a slower pace than some of the other plants. It's flowering well. No sign of color break yet.

Big Beef (1 plant in raised bed pruned to 1 stem in 1 square foot) - Wow, is this guy covered in fruit. Every truss has at least 5 fruits on there, with some large ones at the bottom. Growing great and is a big, sturdy plant. No sign of color break yet.

Orange Roma (1 plant in raised bed, pruned to three stems, in 1 square foot) - This was free seed that came from my order with Tomato Fest, so I decided what the heck and started some... only 1 seed germinated (I planted three in three cells in a seedling pack). It's a very wispy, lanky plant and was slow to flower but is now setting fruit and flowering pretty well. Did see what looked like blossom end rot on one of the fruits, but none of the others seem to show it. Keeping the jury out on this guy.

Black Cherry (2 plants in a raised bed, 1 sf each, pruned to 2-3 stems)- I started these guys a bit late, so they were playing catch up. They're doing quite well, somewhat lanky plants though. Kind of slow between setting flower clusters, but have several trusses of green fruit.

Tumbling Tom (Reds) (3 plants, 2 in one hanging basket, 1 in the other but sharing the basket with an upside down Megabite)-- I'm rather liking these guys. I've heard mixed reviews on flavor, none of mine have ripened yet so I can't comment on that. Plants are healthy and vigorous and covered in fruit.

Megabite -- I had two in upside down hanging baskets. The one with the tumblers. One died after all the rain. I think the basket didn't have enough drainage, and we had a solid week of rain and the pot was always damp. The other is dwarfed by the tumbler it's sharing a pot with. Setting fruit but not huge plants. Might have been happier upright.

Bushsteak- Have it upside down in a hanging 5 gallon bucket. I think it's maybe 2 1/2 - 3'. Growing well and setting fruit. Has one really nice cluster of good size fruit. No color break yet.

Patio Princess (2 plants, in ground, worked into landscaping) - I like these plants. They're short and very neat, 2' high and mine are maybe 18" wide. They don't look like they're going to be too productive though (each only has 1-2 fruit clusters). They look good in the landscaping and are going to give me fruit, so I'm not going to complain. Also Burpee classifies them as a cherry, I wouldn't. They are more of a saladette type. Small but not tiny.

Red Robin (1 plant, in ground, worked into landscaping)- I had poor germination for Red Robin and only had one. It's adorably tiny, maybe 8" tall, forming a little round globe of rugose leaves. I think this is on the small side for a red robin though. Setting fruit well. No color break yet. I think it's a very pretty little tomato and works well in the landscaping.

Minibel (3 plants in shoe organizer pockets) - Narrow plants about 1' tall. They are a bit lanky, but that might be do to being in part shade. Flowering and setting some fruit, though not much (wasn't expecting much from these, they're more of a novelty). Seem to like the shoe organizers and not mind the small rootspace.


Follow-Up Postings:

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RE: My tomato updates and thoughts

  • Posted by LKZZ 7b (My Page) on
    Thu, Jul 10, 14 at 11:05

Nice info CaraRose.

I always find it interesting to read of folks planting tomatoes in a variety if ways - not limited to a strict plot of garden.

The hanging basket method is interesting...keep us posted how those do.


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RE: My tomato updates and thoughts

Better post pictures. Folks do not have time to read a whole page... Good luck.


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RE: My tomato updates and thoughts

  • Posted by NBM81 Zone 5b (Denver/Boul (My Page) on
    Thu, Jul 10, 14 at 14:05

First and foremost, achang's post is unnecessary and also untrue. Perhaps a forum is not the place to be if all YOU'RE looking for is a photo gallery. I feel confident people have time to read whatever they want if the topic interests them.

CaraRose, nice selection and information!

Can you elaborate on why you chose to replace the Early Girl with Bloody Butcher? Were you having issues with your EGs? I ask because this is my second year growing them and they confuse me a bit..

This post was edited by NBM81 on Thu, Jul 10, 14 at 14:13


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RE: My tomato updates and thoughts

CaraRose, I am not familiar with most of the plants you grow, I grow very few hybrids, but my experience there is nothing can be done if real estate is not prime and sun is lacking. Black cherry was always among first and very prolific for me, and I am North Suburb Chicago, I´ve grown Minibel early indoor and it is slightly over 1 ft tall now


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RE: My tomato updates and thoughts

I love the Early Girls, been growing them for years along with other varieties. EGs are always the first ripe. Mine have been in the ground for 48 days and I fully expect ripe EGs in about 10 days.

My all around favorites.


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RE: My tomato updates and thoughts

I found early girl to be a vigorous, healthy, early and long producer of very meh tasting tomatoes. My search was for a replacement that my household found a bit more to our tastebuds liking :)


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RE: My tomato updates and thoughts

Well the flavor of any variety has everything to do with soil and growing conditions. And it varies year to year do to same.


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RE: My tomato updates and thoughts

  • Posted by NBM81 Zone 5b (Denver/Boul (My Page) on
    Thu, Jul 10, 14 at 17:14

Okay, thanks for the info! I just didn't know if you had any particular issues/problems with EG or not, so thought I'd ask! Glad to know it's more of a personal flavor preference. :)


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RE: My tomato updates and thoughts

Achang, speak for yourself. I thought it made a very good read. Great job, CaraRose !


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RE: My tomato updates and thoughts

Thanks Deeby :)

My dad liked early girl since it produced so well. He grew it for years. He's the only one in my family who liked it.

He also liked Romas for fresh eating, not sauces. The man was strange, LOL.


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