2010 Tomato Varieties (with photos)

[speedster7926]

with all these different tomatoes how do you keep them from cross pollinating or do you even keep the seeds? I want to grow different kinds but I want to save the seeds for next year but if they cross pollinate I can't use them right?

[wolfie]

D, they did come from you, but I don't see that on my list of what you gave me?

what are the supposed to look like when ready, do you have a picture?

thanks!!!

[TZ -OH6]

Speedster,

70%-100% of the seed in any fruit from a mixed garden will be true from self pollination. That is good enough for many people who save seeds. Others of us choose to bag blossoms to keep bees away. Get a 12 pack of organza drawstring sachets (5"x7") at the Walmart party favor/wedding stuff aisle, craft store etc or order online. You can slip them over trussses of unopened buds, but it might be easier to wait for the first flower to open, pinch it off and then bag the truss. That give the truss stem time to elongate and makes bagging easier. Take the bag off any time after you see little fruit inside.

[speedster7926]

when you bag the flower groups how do they get pollinated and do I do that to all of them

[Duh_Vinci]

Shan,

Yep, it's there, went through my sent PM's, the evening when you picked them up, in that list numbered 231. These seeds were from Bakercreek, here is the picture from their site:

https://rareseeds.com/cart/products/Violet_Jasper_or_Tzi_Bi_U_Tomato-1680-51.html

Speedster,

Since tomatoes are self pollinating, there are no bees needed, but what you could do, is tap on the cage or lightly vibrate the stem with the flowers on it to assist with pollination. How many do you bag? Well, I usually (when I do bag), try to get 3-4 tomatoes, that is generally more than enough to save seeds for your self and share with others (for most varieties). Earlier in the season, I tend to be a bit more successful with pollination while in the "bags", as the season progresses, hot and humid in VA, the less success I have. So when I see a cluster of flowers just about ready, I try to fit couple of flowers into a bag (while making sure there is plenty of room to breath for them). And so on, sometimes 2-3 bags per plant...

Regards,
D

[Ozark Lady]

Very nice, tomato photos!

I definitely want some seeds, especially the highly productive white one. But I also want seeds of your favorites... taste wise.

After looking at these, I have to go water, my green pea sized tomatoes!

Oh well, yours started that small too, I suppose... sometime or other!

Thanks for the reminder to get some blooms bagged for pure seeds!

[Duh_Vinci]

Thank you, glad you enjoy the pictures of varieties! And by all means, I'll be happy to share the seeds for next year. Indeed - all start small, but when conditions are right - yum yum!!!

Sandul Moldovian - 68 days. Huge, vigorous plant seems to set many pink beefsteaks. Very bright flavor, it's sweet, it's tart, it's meaty - great sandwich tomato! This one 1.6lbs double bloom:


[img]https://drphotography.smugmug.com/Garden/2010-Garden/2010sandulmoldovian10628/918052263_ncHcx-M.jpg[/img]


[img]https://drphotography.smugmug.com/Garden/2010-Garden/2010sandulmoldovian20628/918052508_CXTes-M.jpg[/img]


Hillbilly - 68 days. I've heard of it, I've seen it bu never tasted one until today. WOW!!! Never in my life I've tasted tomato that really doesn't really taste like tomato! More like a tropical fruit! Sweet, sweet, sweet!!! Not a mass producer by any means, but seem to be setting fruits now, in the upper 90's weather. Will see how it does later in the season, but so far - only 2 fruits, and seems like next two/three not going to be ready for couple of weeks...


[img]https://drphotography.smugmug.com/Garden/2010-Garden/2010hillbillywv10628/918060779_GnzaR-M.jpg[/img]


[img]https://drphotography.smugmug.com/Garden/2010-Garden/2010hillbillywv20628/918060950_hkszD-M.jpg[/img]


Donskoi - 68 days. Very large hearts on this plant! Few nearing a pound, but this whooper is just over 1.5lbs. Nice surprise (not that I have anything against predominately sweet tasting tomato, I love them) but this one, while retaining all the meatiness of the hearts - more on tart side. Delicious!

EDIT: Donskoi, with all the heat loosing the yellow and greenish shoulders, picked up a bit more sweetness and SIZE! All the fruits are in 1.5lbs range, few were 2lbs and the largest yet is a whooping 37oz!!! What a pleasure to hold that fruit (with 2 hands)


[img]https://drphotography.smugmug.com/Garden/2010-Garden/2010donskoi10715/936008759_w9DBY-M.jpg[/img]


[img]https://drphotography.smugmug.com/Garden/2010-Garden/2010donskoi10628/918051725_mYp6a-M.jpg[/img]


[img]https://drphotography.smugmug.com/Garden/2010-Garden/2010donskoi20628/918052033_vRLbs-M.jpg[/img]


Three of us at dinner, sliced it up - and still have few slices left after dinner. No worries, will finish with a sandwich (late night snack)


Regards,
D

[hockeymom519]

@ Duh_Vinci...where in VA are you? I can't believe you've had so many tomatoes already. I'm on the Eastern Shore of MD and my tomatoes haven't even started to blush yet. I had my plants in the ground the first of May. I'm so anxious. It's only my second year of gardening and I had terrible luck last year. So far this year my plants are thriving and have tons of tomatoes on them. I cannot wait for my first homegrown tomato I think DH and I are going to fight over the first one

[wolfie]

D, you are right of course lol I did pick it and am going to try and save seeds. The yellow sausage ones are ripe as well, and the chocolate cherry ones.

I am already excited about all the seedling varietys that will be waiting for me next march at starbucks!!!

Oh and on a side note, the cukes are doing well too!!!

YOU are amazing D_V!

[Duh_Vinci]

hockeymom - I'm west of Frederickbsurg, somewhere between Culpeper and Orange area. Don't worry, your tomatoes will grow!

Wolfie - glad to hear that the cukes are doing well. We pickled about 30 jars by now (in the fall/winter - we tend to go quickly through them)

Few more varieties of this year...

Dagestanski - 70 days. Seems to be a very good producer of medium size elongated hearts. Sweetness is there, but on the tart size. Meaty, few seeds:


[img]https://drphotography.smugmug.com/Garden/2010-Garden/2010dagestanski20701/921848441_aQ6hb-L.jpg[/img]


[img]https://drphotography.smugmug.com/Garden/2010-Garden/2010dagestansk30701/921847909_mruCz-M.jpg[/img]


[img]https://drphotography.smugmug.com/Garden/2010-Garden/2010dagestansk40701/921847985_EwaXo-M.jpg[/img]


Beauty King - 70 days. Nice size, very pretty imo, bold, assertive flavor on the tart side. Mostly larger size beefsteaks on the vines so far.


[img]https://drphotography.smugmug.com/Garden/2010-Garden/2010beautyking10701/921847606_XUPVy-M.jpg[/img]


[img]https://drphotography.smugmug.com/Garden/2010-Garden/2010beautyking20701/921847764_mZkhe-M.jpg[/img]


EDIT:We are now well into production, and even larger fruits! Flesh has acquired sweetness, while the gel is still very tart - very bold flavor! And almost like eating two different tomatoes at the same time, that much contrast! Lovely fruit from every perspective!

[img]https://drphotography.smugmug.com/Garden/2010-Garden/2010beautyking10711/930710894_jywqc-M.jpg[/img]



1884 Purple - 70 days. Mostly blunt heart shaped fruits so far (probably due to the weather). Smoky, rich flavor, sweetness in present. Very good tasting tomato, seems to be rather productive, larger size fruit mostly (so far)


[img]https://drphotography.smugmug.com/Garden/2010-Garden/201018484purple10701/921847355_2mMam-M.jpg[/img]


[img]https://drphotography.smugmug.com/Garden/2010-Garden/201018484purple20701/921847542_fAYjp-M.jpg[/img]


Orange Strawberry - 70 days. Deep, gorgeous orange fruits, mostly meat, very juicy, sweetness predominately. Huge indeterminate plant! Fruit size so far is allover the place, smallest 4oz, largest 24oz. On the list to re-grow next year again, love it!


[img]https://drphotography.smugmug.com/Garden/2010-Garden/2010orangestrawbery10701/921848657_dchzS-M.jpg[/img]


[img]https://drphotography.smugmug.com/Garden/2010-Garden/2010orangestrawbery20701/921848871_E7z6Q-M.jpg[/img]


Iraquische Hertzformige 65 days. "Heart Of Iraq" - very pleasantly flavored, elongated dark pink tomato, good producer of medium size hearts. Mild, sweet, full of juicy flesh and very few seeds:


[img]https://drphotography.smugmug.com/Garden/2010-Garden/2010Iraquische/921848635_f6Tgj-M.jpg[/img]


Regards,
D

[applestar]

Amazing! I'd love to stroll through your garden, DV!
for some reason, I'm attracted to the yellow and orange ones. Definitely putting Hillbilly on my next year's list -- Orange Strawberry looks gorgeous too, color looks similar to Valencia, maybe a bit more intense... And I seem to remember Valencia didn't rate very high in your comparison? (My yellows/orange varieties this year are Yellow Bell and Valencia plus the Polish Cream Sausage)

So far, those two and Grubbs Mystery Green have my attention, as do
Black Cherry, though I AM growing Japanese Black Trifele. Do you think if I have that I won't need the other?

You know if you keep this up, I'm going to end up asking for all kinds of seeds, and I'll be planting even MORE tomatoes next year instead of less!

[Duh_Vinci]

Apple - anytime you in VA, more than welcome to stop by!!!

Valencia - it was tasty just fine, but what sold me, I was told that it had intense sweet fruity taste. Well - sweet notes? Yes, but not enough based on my expectation... And so far - much prefer the sweetness domination of Orange Strawberry and Zloty Jubileusz.

Japanese Black Trifle - some love it, some say it is just an average from the "black" tomatoes. I've not yet to try it, looks like will have a first fruit in few days (which is no indication for the final taste) Will see later in the season.

And as for growing more varieties... With thousands of known, and God knows how many more out there - why not to try a "few" new each year, along the side of those "permanent" residents?

Regards,
D

P.S. Oh, and Apple - make a room for one more next year, you will be growing Spudakee Great taste of Cherokee Purple, just PL and more productive by far! Sweet, meaty, melts in your mouth!!! Need to develop pics and organize, will post tomorrow...

[Duh_Vinci]

Few more varieties (now that I've sorted out the pictures)...

Spudakee - 65 days. If you haven't grown Cherokee Purple - you should. If you've grown Cherokee Purple and loved it - you should give Spudakee a try! Same great, sweet taste, meaty, juicy, just delicious imo, but PL and far more productive!

[img]https://drphotography.smugmug.com/Garden/2010-Garden/2010spudakee20704/922705708_ZwCps-L.jpg[/img]


[img]https://drphotography.smugmug.com/Garden/2010-Garden/2010spudakee10704/922705491_NEQDr-L.jpg[/img]


[img]https://drphotography.smugmug.com/Garden/2010-Garden/2010spudakee30704/922705919_3ztTc-M.jpg[/img]


[img]https://drphotography.smugmug.com/Garden/2010-Garden/2010spudakee40704/922706073_Taa5w-M.jpg[/img]


Sorrento - 70 days, very attractive, large beefsteaks on the strong, but somewhat compact vine. Firm, good mild taste, good producer.

[img]https://drphotography.smugmug.com/Garden/2010-Garden/2010sorrento10704/922705134_mHq75-M.jpg[/img]


[img]https://drphotography.smugmug.com/Garden/2010-Garden/2010sorrento20704/922705373_ffDV5-M.jpg[/img]


Japanese Black Trifle - 75 days. Looks like a good producer of medium size fruits, early fruits tend to have smoother, plum like shape, later fruits taking shape of a pear (as they should), Attractive, juicy, but not going to comment of flavor details yet (just ok)

[img]https://drphotography.smugmug.com/Garden/2010-Garden/2010japaneseblktrifle0704/922706351_6yp5o-M.jpg[/img]


German Queen - 75 days. Huge PL plant, delicious large pink beefsteaks. Imagine if you take Brandywine and add some sweetness to it, that's my story and on the list to go back next year. Similar growth habit to BW Sudduth's and Cowlick's (all 3 sitting in the same part of the garden)

[img]https://drphotography.smugmug.com/Garden/2010-Garden/2010germanqueen10704/922704712_GSs7K-M.jpg[/img]


[img]https://drphotography.smugmug.com/Garden/2010-Garden/2010germanqueen20704/922704942_kxLUh-M.jpg[/img]


Regards,
D

[MaryDel]

Duh_Vinci,

Thank You for posting all of those incredible photos. The diversity of tomato varieties you have is astounding. You have inspired me for next year. Thanks again.

[Ozark Lady]

I am beginning to see some interesting things in my tiny tomatoes.

This is OSU Blue, beginning to show some color, these photos were Saturday? Anyhow today they show a bit more color. I was hoping for purple foliage, but, I will settle for blue tomatoes.

[img]https://i728.photobucket.com/albums/ww281/Ozark_Lady/100_2668_phixr.jpg[/img]

I ordered tomatoes from the seed program the government has, and I got one called Grueso, it is beginning to have baby tomatoes, has anyone grown this one or know anything about it? I can't find any information on it beyond the fact that it was originally spanish.

[applestar]

Thanks DV!
Making note of (and room for) Spudakee

OL -- next to DV, I don't know of anyone else except TZ that comes up with all these unusual tomato varieties! Let us know how they turn out.

[Duh_Vinci]

That's a true gardener, Apple, there is always room for one more

OSU - never grown it, so can't speak from the personal experience (hopefully TZ can), I do know that during the cross, two wild South American tomatoes.

Trudi, a lady who's responsible for wintersown.org refers to it as such:

It's very peculiar in that its skin doesn't turn entirely dark purple--like a Black Beauty eggplant. Only the areas of the ripening fruit's skin which are exposed to sunlight turn this dark color. The leaves on the plant will shade the fruit and so you can have OSU Blues with some red areas (which were shaded by the leaves) and some dark purple areas where the skin was exposed to the sun.

It's kinda like a person in summertime, you take your watch off and you can see on your arm the outline of where the watch is because your skin under the watch isn't exposed to sunlight--it doesn't tan. The action of the darkening skin on OSU is just like our own skin tanning from sunlight. Not only is it a good eating tomato, it's also a good teaching tomato--pigmentation is the lesson to learn."

Hope this helps...

Regards,
D

[TZ -OH6]

What I know of the OSU Blue (P20) comes from watching the forums.

It "escaped" from Oregon State Breeding program several years ago through one or a few people that were given seeds and didn't know they were not supposed to trade them. It was unstable upon escape. When making crosses you haev to plant a lot of sees and pick out seedlings with the best color by looking for a bluish tint on the seedling parts. The flavor is not worth eating unless all you have are store rocks, but some people have been playing with it (crosses maybe) and have good taste with some decent blue color.

The blue is only on the skin of green fruit and more or less goes away upon ripening, which is maybe why it doesn't excite me too much so I don't have any plans to grow it.

[Ozark Lady]

Thanks for the input on OSU Blue.
Unstable could be not so bad, it means a big enough genepool to have some selection yet!

I also grew out some hybrids that performed well for me in 2009, I have no idea what the progeny will be but they volunteered, and they showed lots of blue in the stems as did Old German when they were young.
Burpee's Long Keepers are now in bloom.

Wonder how long a long keeper will keep? Any fact in it or just a sales point? I had fresh tomatoes still in January, that I had brought in green and let ripen on the counter, these were the hybrids. Those weren't great, but no worse than the store tomatoes!

I want to learn to breed garden vegetables and establish my very own signature tomatoes, that grow especially well here. Big dreams I know, but hey, at least I have a goal!

[TZ -OH6]

I think that the Long Keepers are probably not hype because there are several heirloom long keeping varieties, like Garden Peach. I'm so sick of eating fresh tomatoes by the end of the season that I just can't make myself eat inferior things post season. I let others eat the post season ones that ripen in the garage and happily go cold turkey for the winter/spring.

[1chichi]

Orange Strawberry - 70 days. Deep, gorgeous orange fruits, mostly meat, very juicy, sweetness predominately. Huge indeterminate plant! Fruit size so far is allover the place, smallest 4oz, largest 24oz. On the list to re-grow next year again, love it!


Is this the same as German Orange Strawberry?
[img]https://farm5.static.flickr.com/4074/4767956122_76a765786c_m.jpg[/img]

[img]https://farm5.static.flickr.com/4073/4767955546_e658fa83e9_m.jpg[/img]

[Duh_Vinci]

I believe these are of the same, I noticed some places called Orange Strawberry, some German Orange Strawberry (wondering is it because the red one is called German Strawberry?)

And yes, looks like these are well ready to for slicing - yum!!! Nice size too!

Regards,
D

[gixxerific]

First off, big man hug for D_V, You rule bro. Thanks for starting this thread.

Here is my first of the season, well not tomato but picture contribution to this thread.

Giant Syrian - 80 Days, Bright red, very sweet (I was surprised how sweet it was), little tang but mostly sweet sweet sweet. Very meaty with little seeds. This one may be a keeper. Seems to be productive this is the first ripe fruit but there are several more ready, not quite as monstrous, but at least one is blushing. They say quite a bit of the fruit is over a lb. Heart shaped.

I can't wait to finish this one off tomorrow at lunch.

[img]https://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj185/gixxerific/Gardening/DSC03928.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj185/gixxerific/Gardening/DSC03930.jpg[/img]

This thread will be my deciding factor on what to get next year. Great job D_V and everyone else as well of course.

[TZ -OH6]

Gixx,

Would you consider your Giant Syrian to be more or less an oxheart variety, and where did you get your seed?

I ask because I think that not all of them on the market are the original thing, and the one I got from Tomatofest only had one plant that survived to adulthood (only two germinated from the whole pack), and that one grew up off type so I don't know if it was a stray seed or if Tomatofest was selling the wrong thing.

[garden5]

DV, this thread is better than a tomato catalog! Best yet, it's interactive!

[gixxerific]

Gixx,

Would you consider your Giant Syrian to be more or less an oxheart variety, and where did you get your seed?

I ask because I think that not all of them on the market are the original thing, and the one I got from Tomatofest only had one plant that survived to adulthood (only two germinated from the whole pack), and that one grew up off type so I don't know if it was a stray seed or if Tomatofest was selling the wrong thing.

It is from Seed Savers Exchange TZ. As far as calling an ox heart I wouldn't know I just know it's a great tasting tomato.

By the way I ate a slice out of the center of this the yesterday after the photo shoot. Today at work I let 2 coworkers take what they would for their sandwiches ( they were amazed at how good it was) than I ate a big chunk during lunch. For dinner tonight I made 2 tuna melts and they both had dual layers of this same tomato. Now that is one big tomato.

[Duh_Vinci]

Dono - not only it's a big one, but sweet and meaty - my kind of mater! Great looking fruit!

How is Brandywine Sudduth's doing in your neck of the woods? I'm growing Cowlick's and Sudduth's side by side, Sudduth's is kicking Cowlik's butt so far, steady 2 - 4 large beefsteaks per week for 3rd week now. Cowlicks (while a little earlier, not setting the fruit as well for some reason)

Regards,
D

[gixxerific]

D_V - Not so well yet, I have some brandywine seed from you. I'm not sure what it is other than that. But I haven't had a fruit off of them yet. But they are growing. Only time will tell.

I will post some moire shots when they come to fruition.

I do have some Cherokee Purple that are sitting in paper bags right now. They are close. I ate on today it was good but still a little green on the top.

[wolfie]

D-V, I am going to go through this thread when I have time and pick out the ones I want for next year LOL

[stella1751]

This is a great thread; thanks to Duh_Vinci and everyone else who has contributed photos! I can't remember the name of the one I liked the best, but DV compared it to a Cherokee Purple. If you tomato growers take requests, I'd like to see some of your Cherokee Purple shots. As an added benefit, DV included on-the-vine shots of the one I'm thinking about

Lovely, lovely photos, guys!

[stella1751]

Spudakee. That's my favorite, aesthetically speaking.

[TZ -OH6]

Don't wait around for heirlooms/OPs to get ripe on the shoulders, most can't be relied on to do that by the time the good part of the fruit is ready to eat, especially the blacks. Get used to just slicing the top off of them and tossing it. The even ripening was bred into the modern hybrids along with perfect shape etc.

[applestar]

My earliest Cherokee Purple has turned extra-pale in color, which I hope is a sign that it's going to start blushing. Can't wait! Very first 2 are pretty badly cat-faced (not rupturing the skin as far as I can see). There is a small Yellow Bell that is a little darker than pale yellow. Some of the hot peppers I thought would take much longer and the sweet peppers are fruiting earlier than the tomatoes (Well, I DID start the peppers earlier, but I didn't think that would make a difference. Of course they're not changing color yet....)

[wolfie]

Thanks for that info TZ, I was wondering because this is my first time growing Heirloom and the tops were not ripening as much as the rest. so thanks!

[gixxerific]

My earliest Cherokee Purple has turned extra-pale in color, which I hope is a sign that it's going to start blushing. Can't wait! Very first 2 are pretty badly cat-faced (not rupturing the skin as far as I can see).

Mine catfaced pretty bad as well. I have picked maybe 10 or so and probably 3-4 have been trashed they were so tore up. So I have been picking them early instead of waiting on them.

[applestar]

Last year I noticed that the Principe Borghesi fruits that were well buried in the foliage were less prone to green/yellow shoulders and ripened solid red. Is green shoulder caused by excess exposure to sun or heat?

[TZ -OH6]

I'm pretty sure it is heat. Google "tomato yellow shoulder" for the specifics.

That is different from slow to ripen green shoulders, which happens under most condidions for some varieties.

[Duh_Vinci]

Gixx,

Rather disappointing that BW is not doing as well for you... It is thriving here (again). What is it about BW that makes is productive in some gardens and far from it in others... Oh wait, no one knows

Stella,

I have few almost ripe once coming up off Cherokees. But to be honest with you, much like Gixx said - early fruits are very odd shaped, plenty of cat facing and just moderately productive. Spudakee (Spud leaf Cherokee) while retains the flavor of Cherokee, produces very well, almost all perfect fruit!

Today - some yellows. Though I must admit, one variety didn't even make it into the shots - KBX. And absolute favorite this year! Few more are on the way, will post more details and a photo...


Ludmila's Yellow Giant- 80 days. Nearly blemish free, nice size, firm, attractive fruit with very nice, on the sweet side flavor:


[img]https://drphotography.smugmug.com/Garden/2010-Garden/2010ludmilasyellowgiant10711/930711178_UqvUB-M.jpg[/img]


[img]https://drphotography.smugmug.com/Garden/2010-Garden/2010ludmilasyellowgiant20711/930711326_ftqZL-M.jpg[/img]


Yellow Triefel - 75 days. Beautiful fruits, seems to be very good production from this plant, sizes vary, 2-6oz. Blemish free, mild flavor on the sweet side. This fruit is from a double bloom:


[img]https://drphotography.smugmug.com/Garden/2010-Garden/2010yellowtriefel10711/930711425_5vXnR-M.jpg[/img]


[img]https://drphotography.smugmug.com/Garden/2010-Garden/2010yellowtriefel20711/930711496_5trnp-M.jpg[/img]


Orlov Yellow 80 days. Vigorous, PL leaf plant setting good amount of bright yellow beefsteaks, nicely balance flavor, plenty of sweetness with somewhat tart gel.


[img]https://drphotography.smugmug.com/Garden/2010-Garden/2010orlovyellow10711/930710993_sTwTi-M.jpg[/img]


[img]https://drphotography.smugmug.com/Garden/2010-Garden/2010orlovyellow20711/930711142_qm2TG-M.jpg[/img]


Regards,
D

[TZ -OH6]

That is the first I have seen a picture of Yellow Triffel. the story goes that at some point the Russians got their hands on a pear shaped fruit from Japan, and either that got bred into red, yellow and black, or they imported more colors because of the populatiry. That is why the Russian triffel tomatoes have names like Japanese Black Triffel.


Is the yellow one a potato leaf?

[Duh_Vinci]

And the "Japanese" part in the name of the variety confuses many who are not familiar with these.

Yellow Triefel is regular leaf (unlike the black) and somewhat on the compact side in comparison.

Regards,
D