MissS wrote: ↑Sat Jun 22, 2024 9:33 pm Wisconsin you say. My list of favorites that I have grown in SE Wisconsin is longer than 10.

Brandywine
Dester
Cherokee Purple
Brandywine from Croatia
Elgin Pink
Stump of the World
Rebel Yell
Rose
Marianna's Peace
Daniel Burson
Black Krim
Terhune
Winsall
Polish C
Barlow Jap
Sakharnyi Pudviochok
Black Cherry
SunGold
SunSugar

maxjohnson wrote: ↑Sat Jun 22, 2024 10:48 pm I have to give Marianna's Peace another try. I tried it once in Florida but wasn't productive and has slightly woody core. I suspect it doesn't like that climate, same as Brandywine.

maxjohnson wrote: ↑Sat Jun 22, 2024 10:48 pm I have to give Marianna's Peace another try. I tried it once in Florida but wasn't productive and has slightly woody core. I suspect it doesn't like that climate, same as Brandywine.

bboomer wrote: ↑Sun Jun 23, 2024 8:04 pm Thanks!! I have limited space in which to grow. Cherokee Purple is a regular in my small patch. Black Krim did ok. Black Cherry is a favorite. However, I see Stump of the Earth as a common favorite with you and Tormato. On my list for next year.
Any "must try" recommendations for a small time gardener?
Ben

bboomer wrote: ↑Sun Jun 23, 2024 8:04 pm Thanks!! I have limited space in which to grow. Cherokee Purple is a regular in my small patch. Black Krim did ok. Black Cherry is a favorite. However, I see Stump of the Earth as a common favorite with you and Tormato. On my list for next year.
Any "must try" recommendations for a small time gardener?
Ben

bboomer wrote: ↑Mon Jun 24, 2024 9:32 am
Bolgaraskoe Chudo (Great taste! Determinate or indeterminate?)

Any recommendations? Thanks!

Tormato wrote: ↑Mon Jun 24, 2024 9:54 am

bboomer wrote: ↑Sun Jun 23, 2024 8:04 pm Thanks!! I have limited space in which to grow. Cherokee Purple is a regular in my small patch. Black Krim did ok. Black Cherry is a favorite. However, I see Stump of the Earth as a common favorite with you and Tormato. On my list for next year.
Any "must try" recommendations for a small time gardener?
Ben

What do you like, as far as tomato flavors go? Sweet? Balanced? Tart?

Traditional red "tomatoey? Fruity? Citrusy? Melony? Earthy? Herby? Astringenty?

WoodSprite wrote: ↑Sun Jun 23, 2024 5:41 pm Over the last approx. 27 years, I've grown 106 different tomato varieties (mostly open-pollinated, a few hybrid) and have tasted others when my garden club did tomato taste comparisons several years. So far my favorites for flavor are:

Black From Tula
Black Krim
Margaret Curtain
Matina
Eva Purple Ball
Goose Creek
Juane Flamme**
Green Zebra
Moskvich
Gardener's Delight

I generally don't like yellow tomatoes and have tried about 15 kinds but I do love Azoychka. It doesn't make my top 10 list but is close.

Cherry: I do love Sungold but don't like how they split and no longer grow it.

Paste: Not as flavorful as "slicers" but if you are looking for a great paste tomato, try Cow's Tit. It's my favorite in that category. Excellent raw in pico de gallo, bruschetta, etc. as well as for making canned salsa, sauce and tomato soup.

**Note for Juane Flamme: The first few times I grew it, it had wonderful fruity flavor that I loved! However the last few times I grew it, from purchased plants and and seeds from different sources, I didn't like it. It lacked the fruitiness and sweetness even when I let them get really ripe. I wonder if the plants/seeds were no longer the original or if it was environmental changes. I'd love to grow the fruity flavored version again.

Toomanymatoes wrote: ↑Tue Jun 25, 2024 8:24 pm Dester and Stump of the World are in my top 10. I see that many share that view so I will definitely be trying the others you listed. At this rate I am going to have 50 different pink beefsteak tomatoes next growing season!

I am surprised I didn't see any pink oxhearts listed (or I missed them). Many of my favorites are pink oxhearts. Can't really go wrong with any of them.

bboomer wrote: ↑Tue Jun 25, 2024 9:43 am

Tormato wrote: ↑Mon Jun 24, 2024 9:54 am

bboomer wrote: ↑Sun Jun 23, 2024 8:04 pm Thanks!! I have limited space in which to grow. Cherokee Purple is a regular in my small patch. Black Krim did ok. Black Cherry is a favorite. However, I see Stump of the Earth as a common favorite with you and Tormato. On my list for next year.
Any "must try" recommendations for a small time gardener?
Ben

What do you like, as far as tomato flavors go? Sweet? Balanced? Tart?

Traditional red "tomatoey? Fruity? Citrusy? Melony? Earthy? Herby? Astringenty?

I love Cherokee Purple for its lush full spectrum taste. It oozes (no pun intended) tomato flavor. I will have to refresh my memory this season for Black Krim. It will only be the second time I try it. Black Cherry is awesome! It is sweeter and filled with more juice than Cherokee Purple but with the same full spectrum flavor. The only drawback, in my mind, is that the tomatoes are small. I think about that when the temperature and humidity are in the 90s, something that regularly happens in Wisconsin.
San Marzano is a very good single note tomato. It has less gel than most but balances sweetness and astringency well. If I can figure out how to make a pizza on the grill without burning the bottom I will use them for that purpose. Or freezing.
Juliet Hybrid is a kids favorite. It is a single note, tart grape tomato. My grand kids love it and that is reason enough to plant one or two of those monsters every year. They steer away from purple or black tomatoes. Too strange looking for them.
We also love Mortgage Lifter. It is a sit down and enjoy tomato experience, full of tomato flavor, balanced sweet and tart flavor, with a fruity aftertaste. I think herby might be a good description too. If it wasn't for a small but noticeable core, it would be perfect. I guess Mortgage Lifter is my gold standard. I just wish it was more productive. I will try Stump of the World next year and compare.