16,949 Garden Web Discussions | Growing Tomatoes
"I prefer black from Tula or black Krim."
Yeah but black krim has it's own problems. But thanks much for chiming in. I have seeds to both BK and TBR, I will try both myself, but only one next year. It sounds like Black Tula may be the one to go for. As another endorsement in this thread from someone who wont be growing black krim anymore. I may look for that one too!
I am not very happy with my BK, It took so long. Now maybe getting ready to color break. But the reason could be that first my seedling was quite small when I planted it. The there was a period of cool and rainy weeks. Since I like the flavor of BK and already have it , I can save seeds and try to start from seeds myself early. I will also do Cherokee Purple. I understand that these are MID season. For the early season I will plant Stupice and Early Girl. I have found out the EG is VERY productive though not the best tasting. So there is a trade off. It has been ripening since mid July and now is loaded with close to 100 more. It is a HUGE double main plant.
Wow! Thanks for much for the advice Vine.
I've been excited because this was a real treat as a first-year gardener. I never thought the plants would grow let alone develop such an interesting looking fruit.
Also, thanks for everyone explaining SSE. I get why it's difficult to narrow down which variety it is, but, all of the responses have been immensely helpful as the original grower said he just threw in some seeds and forgot about what's what. Whomp, whomp.
Thank goodness these are growing in the ground so I've been very careful not to overwater and simply prune daily to keep on top of (potential) diseases.
I agree with Vine, I grow San Marzano Redorta and it looks just like it. I also just tried the oven roast method of sauce making with some of mine and I can say the flavor is just out of this world. Throw a sliced onion and a clove or two of garlic in the roasting pan and then just chop em up in a food processor after they are all roasted and soft for a perfect sauce.
CH
"Growing tomatoes in Minnesota must be challenging. What techniques do you use to help speed up the growing?" - In all honesty the only technique I have found to work is patience and acceptance of the fact that the tomatoes will come when they come. And to never fertilize tomato plants with a high nitrogen fertilizer unless you like giant tomato shrubs with poor fruit production. ;) A little bit of neglect in strategic areas can help in overall success and quality.
IMHO as much as I have experimented in the past I now accept that you simply cannot do anything to speed up the process of getting (good quality) ripe tomatoes, as much as I would dearly love to do so. All the more reason to appreciate and enjoy them when in season.
Btw, making sauce with non-paste tomatoes and taking all that time to reduce it until it thickens? My sister does that, best sauce I have ever tasted. IMO a simple method of achieving excellent results of which many people are not aware. As for me, I simply do not have that kind of patience in the kitchen...
The crate of pastes contains Incas, Classica, my own sausage-type, and other crosses.
The crate of beefsteaks include Zarnitsa, Earl's Faux, Big Boy, Oregon, Black from Tula, Mortgage Lifter, Tomesol White, a medium yellow/orange off-type from Kellogg's Breakfast that I saved and stabilized, and one or two crosses.
oh my gosh t-bird, I know! I actually did check the 10 day, a well as the monthly... and I did not see that. But at any rate, I used boxes to cover them, so hopefully they will survive. Last night was the last of it so I'm hoping that wasn't too much for them.
just an update in case anyone comes across this and wonders what happened:
the vine-type tomatoes did great on the pallets. I had to tie them up a few times, but overall they functioned well enough for what I hoped. The bush tomatoes did not do so well on them. Luckily I only had one of those.
I probably won't do this again next year unless I have to though, I think there are definitely better solutions to be had.
these tomatoes are supposed to be "slicers" but I cooked some today and they made very good tomato soup so I will be able to use them at least.
They were grown in huge planters - about 20 L.- have been well fertilized and watered. I am growing 3 other varieties in the same manner that are very successful - lots of fruits and nice flavor and texture
Agree that you don't want them on the window, don't want them in direct sun. When we say ripen on the counter that doesn't mean in the window or the direct sun.
Can't say why your Grandmother thought the window sun was needed.
Dave
I planted 6 seeds this year and got 5 RL seedlings and 1 PL. I planted the PL and 1 RL. The RL produced 3 big, beautiful, tasty toms that look exactly like the photos on Taniana's website. The PL toms aren't ready yet. It looks like they need another 2 weeks at least. Admittedly, I got the seed in an exchange.
John A
I've been getting both PL and RL seedlings from Stump of the World since 2003. Saved PL seed and saved RL seed each produce PL and RL seedlings. Tomatoes from PL and RL plants tasted the same. My source for seed was Chuck Wyatt.
If one runs across a tomato called Perpetual Change, it's this PL and RL version of Stump of the World.
Gary
Try variety Cherry Falls from Livingston Seed Co. Cascading cherry tomato type, best to place on some kind of plant stand. I put three plants in one 15 gallon pot. Incredibly heavy production, got more tomatoes than I could use. Ended up pulling the loaded plants when garden plants started producing. Decent flavor, thin skin. Not a fan of cherry tomatoes in general but I want early tomatoes, and container cherries are my best chance of achieving this goal.
Have been growing Red Robins for many years. Cherry Falls beats Red Robin hands down.
Hi Linda,
The seeds came from Baker's Creek which is a very reputable source. I think it was a labeling error by the student grower rather than a breeding error. My own labels fall out and get mixed up sometimes so I sympathize. I looked through the orange tomato varieties in the catalog and this is the one that sounded like the best match. I have attached the photo from the catalog. They don't show one in profile so it is hard to say. I guess the thing to do is order some from the catalog next year and see if they come out the same. I also intend to save seeds from this beautiful tomato. Blight or septoria set in mid season this year. I still got lots of tomatoes though the plants are mostly dead now. Some of the tomato varieties get blemishes on the fruit but this one came though spotlessly.
Browning leaves, at this time of season, in zone 4 should be normal. Even temps in mid 50s is more like fall weather.
Another factor is inherited in container gardening. Normally you would want to cut back on fertilizing at this point. This should be fine for in ground plants but in case of potted plants it can mean nitrogen deficiency. But IMO, that is ok. You want the fruits ripen and not any foliage anymore.
T...mine are actually winding down a bit in zone 10! The above comments seem fair...also your point of becoming rootbound by now are accurate. There are definite advantages to container growing...but a few pitfalls, as well.