Better than KBX?
- peebee
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- Location: So. Calif zone 10
Better than KBX?
I've been growing KBX forever it seems, and lately I find myself dreaming of other potential good oranges out there. I've tried Amana O, O Jazz, and Russian O 117. They were ok, just not any better than KBX. Upon doing a search here, I came across Kizami but I can't find it online. Has anyone grown it, thoughts please?
And any other suggestions for a good orange beefsteak.
Also if you're reading this & have Polish seeds please peek at my post under Wants, thanks! I lost my seeds I pulled out yesterday
And any other suggestions for a good orange beefsteak.
Also if you're reading this & have Polish seeds please peek at my post under Wants, thanks! I lost my seeds I pulled out yesterday
Zone 10, Southern California
Will eat anything once before I judge.
Anything meaning any foods of course.
Will eat anything once before I judge.
Anything meaning any foods of course.
- Tormahto
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Re: Better than KBX?
For several years, orange tomatoes have been mostly lousy in my garden. So, I rarely trial new, to me, varieties. Other than KBX and Kellogg's Breakfast, Persimmon has been the best, and Altai Orange next. I cannot recommend any of the duds. Many people really like Sweet Ozark Orange, but I'm not of the many.
- peebee
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- Location: So. Calif zone 10
Re: Better than KBX?
I know, so many duds... I'm beginning to think maybe I shouldn't grow any oranges at all this year. I mainly grow them to add color to salads & salsa but I'll only be growing in my 6 x 8 cage from now on due to the critters. So I can sadly only grow around 10, & I have to really downsize my enthusiasm *sigh*.
Zone 10, Southern California
Will eat anything once before I judge.
Anything meaning any foods of course.
Will eat anything once before I judge.
Anything meaning any foods of course.
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- Location: Arlington, VA - zone 7A
Re: Better than KBX?
@peebee are you possibly thinking of Nizami, the gold colored heart? If so, I may have seed but just need to check.
Of the of the beefsteak-sized yellow/oranges I've tried, I've found Brandywine Yellow to be the best tasting. It is richer and generally better tasting that KBX to me which I find a bit bland. But it isn't as productive and more prone to irregular shaped fruit than KBX which is more consistent.
For a lighter yellow, I grew T. C. Jones this year from seed given to me from another member. It doesn't have the zing I prefer, but was pretty tasty, very attactive and rivaled KBX for production, although not as big as some of the huge KBX I usually get. I also enjoyed Midnight Sun and put it up there with Nizami for flavor.
Of the of the beefsteak-sized yellow/oranges I've tried, I've found Brandywine Yellow to be the best tasting. It is richer and generally better tasting that KBX to me which I find a bit bland. But it isn't as productive and more prone to irregular shaped fruit than KBX which is more consistent.
For a lighter yellow, I grew T. C. Jones this year from seed given to me from another member. It doesn't have the zing I prefer, but was pretty tasty, very attactive and rivaled KBX for production, although not as big as some of the huge KBX I usually get. I also enjoyed Midnight Sun and put it up there with Nizami for flavor.
- ddsack
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- peebee
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- Joined: Tue Dec 10, 2019 6:48 pm
- Location: So. Calif zone 10
Re: Better than KBX?
@ddsack , I just cannot grow ANY dwarf tomato well! I've tried 5 times...no they don't like me lol. But thank you for replying & your gorgeous pics.
@zendog , haha yes you're right I meant Nizami. I'm interested in trying any you've mentioned except the Brandywine. They don't do well in my hot dry climate. I'll PM you.
Thanks!
@zendog , haha yes you're right I meant Nizami. I'm interested in trying any you've mentioned except the Brandywine. They don't do well in my hot dry climate. I'll PM you.
Thanks!
Zone 10, Southern California
Will eat anything once before I judge.
Anything meaning any foods of course.
Will eat anything once before I judge.
Anything meaning any foods of course.
- jmsieglaff
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- Location: Southern Wisconsin
Re: Better than KBX?
I also love KBX, it is a tomato I grow every year. While not orange, but yellow, last year I tried Lillian's Yellow Heirloom and it was fall out of the chair delicious. I've read LHY can be very late or stingy, but it was not either in my garden last year. Now maybe it was just the year, but both KBX and LYH will be grown in my garden in 2022.
Fred of Artisan Seeds has new hybrid orange beefsteak, Amalfi Orange F1. We did a swap of my KBX seed and his F1, we'll both be growing them in 2022 for comparison--that should be interesting.
Fred of Artisan Seeds has new hybrid orange beefsteak, Amalfi Orange F1. We did a swap of my KBX seed and his F1, we'll both be growing them in 2022 for comparison--that should be interesting.
- Tormahto
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Re: Better than KBX?
LYH has always been late, 78 DTM at it's earliest, in my garden. As my favorite yellow, it is well worth any wait, whatever it be.
- Gthegardener
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Re: Better than KBX?
I really enjoyed Limmony and Orange Strawberry this past year! Limmony was an early yellow that was shorter plant than many of my other indeterminates and had an acidic but juicy and tasty flavor. It was very productive for me and was my earliest to ripen. Orange strawberry was a big orange tomato with great juicy flavor it’s a good slicing tomato on a tall and vigorous plant. It was more mid season for me.
I have also enjoyed Nizami which was the least productive for me but was tasty and produced from mid season until first frost.
I have also enjoyed Nizami which was the least productive for me but was tasty and produced from mid season until first frost.
“Life begins the day you start a garden” - Chinese proverb
- jmsieglaff
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Re: Better than KBX?
I guess it was a bit later than I recall, my notes show 77 days from transplant in 2021. But it was surprisingly very productive, very heathy plant.
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Re: Better than KBX?
Sounds like I need to try LYH and Orange Strawberry now.
- Tormahto
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- peebee
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- Location: So. Calif zone 10
Re: Better than KBX?
OS did not do well for me. I tried it several years ago in fact I gave it 2 tries. Nope KBX was better. KBX is a good tomato, maybe my taste buds changed but I find it tastes blander & blander the more I grow it.
Zone 10, Southern California
Will eat anything once before I judge.
Anything meaning any foods of course.
Will eat anything once before I judge.
Anything meaning any foods of course.
- habitat-gardener
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- Location: central california, Sunset zone 14
Re: Better than KBX?
I asked around locally to find out what did well for people last year. One person said Woodle Orange always does well in her garden and is a favorite. Another person touted Chef’s Choice Orange F1 as a productive (more than 50 big tomatoes) plant.
- WoodSprite
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- Location: center of Pennsylvania, USA, Zone 6b
Re: Better than KBX?
It's far from a beefstake but if you want a gorgeous sunny orange with great flavor, try Jaune Flamme. I love it and have grown it many times. It normally has a slightly fruity undertone to my taste buds, however, last year I purchased a plant since I didn't have any viable seeds on hand to start it and it didn't taste as good that time. It may not have been a real Jaune Flamme or it may have just been the year. The tomatoes aren't very big but they are always plentiful for me and so brightly colored. And they are gorgeous in pico de gallo / salsa, pasta salad, etc. When I was trying different orange and yellow tomatoes years ago, it was the only one that I truly loved. The rest were bland in comparison.
~ Darlene ~
I garden in 19 raised beds made from 6' diameter x 24" tall round stock tanks located in a small clearing in our woods in central Pennsylvania. Hardiness zone 6b (updated). Heat zone 4.
I garden in 19 raised beds made from 6' diameter x 24" tall round stock tanks located in a small clearing in our woods in central Pennsylvania. Hardiness zone 6b (updated). Heat zone 4.
- jmsieglaff
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Re: Better than KBX?
Jaune Flamme is a good suggestion. I do find it a bit polarizing on these boards with tomato enthusiasts. I love that tomato--it is brightly tart, with some sweetness, tomato flavor and hints of fruitiness as well. I also like the texture. A bold flavored tomato--which I like best (I find KBX also to be boldly flavored, but in a different way)
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Re: Better than KBX?
I know Fred was talking about the Mary Reynolds orange beefsteak a year ago, he seemed impressed with it; he must have been checking out the competition.jmsieglaff wrote: ↑Sun Jan 23, 2022 9:38 amFred of Artisan Seeds has new hybrid orange beefsteak, Amalfi Orange F1.
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Re: Better than KBX?
Yellow Brandywine is definitely one to try. I don't think it has anything to do with brandywine except the name, so you won't know how it performs until you test it.
- JosephineRose
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Re: Better than KBX?
I never had any success with Yellow Brandywine in my area, but I found the Apricot Brandywine variety from Delectation of Tomatoes outperformed both KB and KBX for me. It is a must grow for me here in the Bay Area.
https://www.delectationoftomatoes.com/s ... ricot.html
Plus, Dale has been absolutely wonderful to work with.
https://www.delectationoftomatoes.com/s ... ricot.html
Plus, Dale has been absolutely wonderful to work with.
Melissa
Zone: 10A
Climate: Warm Summer Mediterranean
Avg annual rainfall: 23.96"
Zone: 10A
Climate: Warm Summer Mediterranean
Avg annual rainfall: 23.96"