THe time it takes for a variety to form blossoms, set fruit and mature that fruit is determined by the genes in the DNA that are involved. That's ignoring all the other variables that play into that such as weather, soil, amendments, and on and on.

That's why we refer to early, midseason and late season varieties and since DTM's with numbers of days are sheer guesstimates for a number of reasons I prefer to give a day spread to define those early, midseason and late varieties.

If you look at any ONE variety in an SSE YEarbook you'll see a HUGE range of DTM's for a single variety just based on the many variables involved.

I would say that most early varieties are early b'c of the genes that they have, but I sure wouldn't say that most cherries are early season based on the number of cherry varieties that I've grown.

Carolyn, who also notes that the timeline I think you're looking at was done by Paul, who used to participate here a lot and uploaded all the new FAQ's that we did quite a few years ago. I think the variety he was following in that timeline was Big Beef, not Big Boy.

I hope I'm supporting Carolyn's input. I am growing Large Red Cherries, Early Wonders and Black Krim among others this year. They were all planted the same day. The Cherries are just starting to bloom. The Early Wonders have set quite a few fruit but are far from ripening. Once again, this year, the Black Krims win. I have one that's turning now.
John A

The simple answer to the question "Do cherry and 'early' tomatoes flower sooner, ripen faster, both?" is No.

Compared to what? An early when compared to a mid-season or late-season? That's an apples to oranges comparison. Yes the early blooms earlier. Do they ripen faster? No. Do they ripen earlier? Yes, because they set fruit earlier.

All the other variables aside (if that were possible), it would take approximately the same amount of time between fruit set and ripe for most any variety or type.

Dave

All I know is that I tend to eat cherry tomatoes sooner than many of the other tomatoes I grow. I don't have any "early" tomatoes but grow a mix of "sizes" of tomatoes. This year I've harvested 100 cherry tomatoes from 5 plants. The only other tomatoes I've harvested are 3 Jaune Flamme (1.5 oz tomatoes). None of my large tomatoes look close to being ripe, and many were placed out at the same time as the cherries.

Ugh, I don't know what happened to my reply to Dave! Thanks Dave, that's the info I was looking for. So I guess my first ripe tomatoes from the ones started in March are going to be BW! I'll keep you posted...

Dave, I'll have to dissagree on the ripening time after setting fruit issue. Cherry tomatoes will take less time from flowering to ripe fruit and because there potentially are hundreds of fruits originating from a cluster there is also the liklihood that a few more will ripen before the first of a larger fruit cluster of 5 or 6 fruits.

I've routinely planted many varieties in a high tunnel on the same day and this year 9 of the 12 cherry varieties were producing fruits 2 weeks before the first larger fruited variety was picked. Occasionally one or 2 larger fruited types might sneak an early one in but beware that it is not a development fluke like BER.

As far as BW(Brandywine)- give up on early fruits. Try Prudens Purple for consistantly earlier fruits that look and taste like BW. Prudens Purple will also out yield BW under most conditions.

The race is on! I noticed cherry tomatoes on lower trusses yesterday (they could have been there a week ago and I didn't notice the flowers til I saw flowers at the top), and I've have BW for over a week now so we'll see what ripens first. Got some Glaciers now too, Bloody Butchers are behind.

Of course the cherries have just gotten HUGE this week, and the larger branches are on the east, opposite the fence, so it's going to be fun trying to trellis them now. Time to start weaving the BB and Glacier too. My cousin's plants are 6ft tall (in his garden, not the 4 he gave me since I planted deep), he's got them in a weave but I think he planted too close together - no air circulation - looks like a jungle. I can't even tell if he has any fruit.

Not that I know much but this is the first I have heard to try Prudens Purple as a subsutute for Brandwine. I like the idea of early production.

Not that I know much but this is the first I have heard to try Prudens Purple as a subsutute for Brandwine. I like the idea of early production.

Rita,
Why don't you compare for yourself. There is another heirloom pink I like named Pink Potato Top. You might also want to compare a few hybrids like BrandyBoy or BrandyMaster. Neither is far from BW,PP or PPP in flavor but production goes up as you deviate from Brandywine. I still plant 2 BWs every year as a testimony to how poorly they produce.

I have tried all sorts of Brandywines in many years and they are just horrible for me. I grow nice plants and get almost no fruit. Now I don't mean less fruit, just almost nothing. Not worth the effort to try again on them. Looking for something else to try instead that I can have more success with.

Cherry tomatoes certainly come up faster than the regular sized ones. I get them a month earlier

OLD thread.No need to go back.

I agree with "snibb".
Because of its shear smaller size, it will take cherry tomato less time to grow and ripen (from flower to fruit) . Then of course there can be EARLY and MID cherry too. That is to say, NOT all cherries will be early.

EARLY varieties WIIL be early RELATIVE to MID and LATE season varieties, growing in the same garden.