Lets Talk Tomatoes

Yahoo March is here.. and that means I can start my tomato seedlings. This year I am going to try and start all my tomatoes from seed. Last year I started them way to early (end of January) and boy was that a mistake. I learned the hard way what  unpredictable April weather in Zone 6 can do to Tomatoes.

Anyway lets start with a recap of what I grew last season:

1) San Marzano Redorta tomatoes: I was the most excited about growing these and also the most disappointed.  They had the worst germination rate only 2 out of 12 seeds sprouted. What I learned is that these plants like it hot and dry. We had a very wet rainy summer last year so the plant grew really well but the tomatoes didn't ripen.... on or off the plant! I got maybe 1 or 2 tomatoes and they weren't fully ripe. (I don't think I even took a picture). Source: Franchi Sementi brand seed from the local Agway in town (anyone interested in growing Italian vegetables they carry a large assortment of Italian vegetable seed)

2) Sungold Cherry Tomatoes- These are really the best cherry tomatoes in my opinion.   These are sweet, prolific and the taste never disappoints. This year I did not prune or sucker this plant till September and boy did it produce. I am eager to try these from seed this year. Source: Transplant from Brock Farm.

3) Mighty Sweet Hybrid grape tomato-This was a surprise hit in my house. I needed one red mini tomato because my kids sometimes get in the mood of needing something that looks normal.. not the odd colored ones.  This plant is supposed to be a determinate but really this one was as unruly as my indeterminates. Highly prolific and I was able to consistently get 2oz fruits out of this plant (a real workhouse plant). They also taste great.... not as sweet as sungolds but good.. my daugter loved them.  I am going to try these from seed this year. Source: transplant purchased online here: Mighty Sweet Hybrid

4) Black Cherry Tomato- Overall this did well, however I thought the taste was too bland especially compared to the mighty sweet and sungold tomatoes. I won't be growing these again. I bought this on a whim because it was an heirloom (and I had a coupon). Lesson learned with "odd colored" tomatoes: you need to make sure you are letting them ripen fully because unlike a traditional red tomato it can be difficult to figure out when these are ripe. Even when they were ripe they were still bland. Source: Transplant from Brock Farm.

5) Brandywine- I did everything wrong with this plant and yet it still produced (I even had a few almost 2 lb fruits.)

So this year I have room for 6 tomato plants and I am starting 10 different varieties. I am going to try starting all from seed (no transplants). Some I will give to my parents (and any leftover may be my first giveaway :)  )

1) Sungold - Yellow/orange hybrid cherry

2) Cherokee Chocolate- A stabilized version of Cherokee Purple, it is a mahogany-colored beefsteak (I think this counts as a Heirloom). Cherokee purple are known to have great flavor.

3) Kelloggs Breakfast (potato leaf version)- Orange heirloom beefsteak. Last year I bought a orange tomato from a farmers market and it was so tasty. I am hoping that this is the same tomato.

4) Opalka- Red heirloom past. My goal is to can with this one. 

5)Mighty Sweet Hybrid Cherry- Red hybrid grape

6)Indian Strip- Burgundy-purple heirloom beefsteak. This is related to the cherokee purple but supposed to be slightly better producing.

7)Rutgers- Red medium sized heirloom beefsteak. Some people use this for canning as well.

8) Roma- Red paste

9) Bush beefsteak- red beefsteak

10) Brandywine- red/pink heirloom beefsteak. Hopefully this year I will do right by this plant.


I'd like to grow the first six in my garden. If I can find room I'd like to try the rutgers as well.