Productive Large Pinks

[Yak54]

As Tormato points out Sudduth is finicky for sure. I grew it for 4 years then replaced it with Cowlick's which I grew for another 4 years but have replaced both of them with SOTW which is way more productive and very close in taste. With that being said I'm scheduled to try Cowlick's again this year after a 5 year lay off. My tomato preferences lean strongly toward pink beefsteaks, but if I can't get at least 20 tomatoes from a plant I stop growing it after several attempts. And speaking of Craig, the Polish variety he talks about in his book and blog has been excellent for me both in taste & productivity. One more reason for me to bypass Brandywine.

[Tormahto]

Not a pink, but i tried Black Brandywine and it did really, really well in our weather. It was productive and it wasn't mealy in the cold.

That "sweaty horse" (flavor profile not my own, but wish it was) of a tomato, is just wrong to be mentioned in a pink thread.

[Julianna]

Not a pink, but i tried Black Brandywine and it did really, really well in our weather. It was productive and it wasn't mealy in the cold.

That "sweaty horse" (flavor profile not my own, but wish it was) of a tomato, is just wrong to be mentioned in a pink thread.

Lol! I expected the worst out of it (like a purple calabash plus major BO), but it just tasted fine and more like a Cherokee Purple. No promises in another area where people actually get heat.

[Cornelius_Gotchberg]

Despite planting too closely, we had a marvelous experience (vine vigor/yield/size/taste) with Giant Pink Belgium in 2019.

https://www.burpee.com/vegetables/tomat ... 00990.html

The Gotch

[Tormahto]

Not a pink, but i tried Black Brandywine and it did really, really well in our weather. It was productive and it wasn't mealy in the cold.

That "sweaty horse" (flavor profile not my own, but wish it was) of a tomato, is just wrong to be mentioned in a pink thread.

Lol! I expected the worst out of it (like a purple calabash plus major BO), but it just tasted fine and more like a Cherokee Purple. No promises in another area where people actually get heat.

There are a few Black Brandywines out here. I don't know what the "real" one tastes like, but at least you weren't saddled with the lousy one.

[Julianna]

There are a few Black Brandywines out here. I don't know what the "real" one tastes like, but at least you weren't saddled with the lousy one.

I could have had it. This climate makes for mostly underwhelming flavors. I was thinking about it, and it may even make purple calabash tolerable.... Although i am not sure if that could happen. My old favorites mostly came out bland and mealy. No warmth, really.

[Tormahto]

There are a few Black Brandywines out here. I don't know what the "real" one tastes like, but at least you weren't saddled with the lousy one.

I could have had it. This climate makes for mostly underwhelming flavors. I was thinking about it, and it may even make purple calabash tolerable.... Although i am not sure if that could happen. My old favorites mostly came out bland and mealy. No warmth, really.

And SunGold?

[root_grow]

Even Craig L wrote in his book that Brandywine Sudduth is the most finicky tomato that he knows. I have no experience with 70 degree summers, so I don't know if BS would do well, tastewise in those conditions. If it were me, I'd have to trial it no matter where I lived. One solution may be to mound up the soil so that you have a small hill outward from the main stem for about 2 feet, or more. When the rains come, cover the mound with plastic. Cut a large enough circle, with a cut from the outer edge to the center, slide the plastic to the stem, and overlap, so that rain runs off.

Very clever solution. Personally I think I'll stick to varieties that can do well either in my tunnels or outside without so much fussing. I'm happy to do the work up front, but by the time September rolls around I'm more in the mood to just enjoy the harvest in any remaining sunshine before it's gone for 6 months, not much patience left for fussy annuals.

I haven't really had flavor consistently wash out in my own garden (at least not before the rains), though I have had plenty of of peak-season super washed out tomatoes from the farm I used to work on. He had his plants on drip irrigation that ran daily, no idea why. I've had a few varieties come out bland, but not the majority. I almost never water my plants, once or mayyybe twice a month if it's been warmer than usual, even in the tunnels, and I believe that makes all the difference.

[Cole_Robbie]

That "sweaty horse" (flavor profile not my own, but wish it was) of a tomato, is just wrong to be mentioned in a pink thread.

Idk what weirdo came up with that description.

One of my favorite pinks was Anna Maria's heart, one of Carolyn's varieties. It had productivity just shy of the level that reduces flavor.

[Julianna]

@Tormato i have never tried Sungold. I figured i maybe should. Everyone always seems to love it.

In "regular" areas, my favorite has always been Stump of the World. I tried to try it last year here and it had the audacity to up and die.

[Doffer]

First, I do not recommend picking Brandywine Sudduth until you understand this cruel master. About one in five years, it is the most intense flavored tomato that I've ever trialed. In the other 4 years, almost any large pink will easily beat it. I hear that some people get zero production, so they don't even get a taste. 2021 was the single wettest year in all my years of gardening. I don't expect back-to-back years like that, so BS is getting a spot this year.

I don't know of any large pink that is consistently productive. One can hope for increased size and production, like 40 plus tomatoes weighing 40 plus pounds on a plant. This is achieved by watering the plant for maximize size and health. What that amount of watering achieves is 40 plus pounds of bland tomatoes. I'll take two raggedy, near death plants, each with 20 tomatoes weighing 15 pounds, having fantastic flavor, any day.

I've trialed most on your list, each rating about an 8 to 9, with Brandywine Sudduth in the rare 5th year at 9.5, and the one and only Aunt Ginny's at 9.9 in near perfect weather.

Shaking plants and flicking a finger on flower trusses also may help in production. In the end, we're at the mercy of the weather.

In 2022 i will grow some tomatoes in the greenhouse. What climate, temperature, water etc. does Brandywine Sudduth need to get perfect taste?

[Tormahto]

Even Craig L wrote in his book that Brandywine Sudduth is the most finicky tomato that he knows. I have no experience with 70 degree summers, so I don't know if BS would do well, tastewise in those conditions. If it were me, I'd have to trial it no matter where I lived. One solution may be to mound up the soil so that you have a small hill outward from the main stem for about 2 feet, or more. When the rains come, cover the mound with plastic. Cut a large enough circle, with a cut from the outer edge to the center, slide the plastic to the stem, and overlap, so that rain runs off.

Very clever solution. Personally I think I'll stick to varieties that can do well either in my tunnels or outside without so much fussing. I'm happy to do the work up front, but by the time September rolls around I'm more in the mood to just enjoy the harvest in any remaining sunshine before it's gone for 6 months, not much patience left for fussy annuals.

I haven't really had flavor consistently wash out in my own garden (at least not before the rains), though I have had plenty of of peak-season super washed out tomatoes from the farm I used to work on. He had his plants on drip irrigation that ran daily, no idea why. I've had a few varieties come out bland, but not the majority. I almost never water my plants, once or mayyybe twice a month if it's been warmer than usual, even in the tunnels, and I believe that makes all the difference.

With 150 + plants, I'd only consider tarping Brandywine Sudduth, Aunt Ginny's Purple, and Stump of the World. The lessers can suffer. And, SunGold can split all it wants, as it doesn't effect the flavor.

[maxjohnson]

Cowlick's Brandywine gets my vote. Most productive pink I have grown.

[Tormahto]

That "sweaty horse" (flavor profile not my own, but wish it was) of a tomato, is just wrong to be mentioned in a pink thread.

Idk what weirdo came up with that description.

One of my favorite pinks was Anna Maria's heart, one of Carolyn's varieties. It had productivity just shy of the level that reduces flavor.

The shadow knows...the weirdo.

[mama_lor]

All the big pinks I tried are well above average production. Crnkovic, Omar, Caspian Pink, even Barlow Jap.

[karstopography]

Where do y’all put Giant Syrian. Most seed vendors say it’s a pinkish red.

[Setec Astronomy]

I don't know what I'm talking about, but I've been surprised no one has mentioned Pink Berkeley Tie Dye...is that not considered productive? Or pink? I grew it last year but I didn't really get any fruit; I had problems last year. I'm trying it again this year.

[Tormahto]

Where do y’all put Giant Syrian. Most seed vendors say it’s a pinkish red.

Tatiana's lists it as a pink, and she basically doesn't get anything wrong that she grows out.

Simply, clear skin with pink to dark red interior, is a pink tomato.

Yellow skin with pink to dark red interior, is a red tomato.

[Tormahto]

I don't know what I'm talking about, but I've been surprised no one has mentioned Pink Berkeley Tie Dye...is that not considered productive? Or pink? I grew it last year but I didn't really get any fruit; I had problems last year. I'm trying it again this year.

It's considered a "striped" tomato, not a pink.

[karstopography]

Interesting, yes, I’ve recently read about tomatoes with clear skin and ones with yellow skin. Does the skin color of the tomato drag along any other noticeable differences such as thickness, crack resistance, flavor, or anything else or is it sort of a stand alone genetic difference that doesn’t associate with other differences in the tomato?