First Tomatoes!

[GoDawgs]

The first tomatoes! Out of 30 different tomatoes, these won the race. Of course, they were set before the heat wave hit so there aren't many more on either plant right now. Both are new to me and thanks to whoever sent them in to the MMMM.

This is Pink Passion and it weighs 4 oz. That fits the 4-7 ounce description. It also came in at 60 days.



These are Honey Drop. After I took the pic I picked the few ripe ones on this truss and a few more on another. We're also growing Gardener's Sweetheart and by far Honey Drop has more trusses than the GS.The GS is in a different location with a bit more shade but despite the heat the HD is also setting little cherries!

[Amateurinawe]

@GoDawgs those do look delicious !

[Shule]

That 4oz tomato is huge!

[worth1]

The perfect tomato.

[GoDawgs]

I think tomorrow I'll pick the first Fish lake Oxheart and Kosovo. They're both nice size and about 1/2 to 2/3 ripe but I don't want any marauding critters to get them. They can finish up in the house.

[AKgardener]

Amazing!! I’m close behind you some are starting to turn .. way too go

[GoDawgs]

Three days ago I picked the first Kosovo. By yesterday it had ripened enough to take a pick and consume. This one was 9.0 oz (255 grams).



Since then I've gotten several others. Fish Lake Oxheart (L) 14.9 oz, SOTW (R) 13.4 oz, Rosella Crimson (front) 6.6 oz:



Sleeping Lady (L) 2.2 oz, Costoluto Genovese (R) 3.4 oz. Both of these are undersized compared to the descriptions I've found, especially the Costoluto. maybe it's the heat.



Lots of new and different tomatoes this year thanks to MMMM! It's kind of like Christmas, waiting to see what's under the tree or in this case, what's hanging on the vines.

[AKgardener]

I’ll be picking mine later today !!! Has anyone grown the dark green and red striped tomato there are so many to choose from from

[karstopography]

What did you think of Kosovo? Good, bad, indifferent? Looks pretty enough. I’ve got seeds for Kosovo, just wondering how motivated I should be to grow it?

Are your SOTW all about that shape, flattened, instead of a deeper oblate type? Another one I have seeds for.

Funny when tomatoes deviate from the advertised size and shape.

[slugworth]

I picked up a couple of genuwine plants today.
They are a cross between brandywine and the costoluto genovese.
I already have 2 in the ground.

[CrazyAboutOrchids]

What did you think of Kosovo? Good, bad, indifferent? Looks pretty enough. I’ve got seeds for Kosovo, just wondering how motivated I should be to grow it?

Not directed to me, and I will be interested in the response from who it was directed to, but Kosovo is a staple in my CT garden and has been for years. It isn't the biggest, nor the smallest. It isn't the first, but often is one of the last. It isn't the tastiest, but def not the worst. It is a heart so does not have that beautiful fresh from the garden, here's an incredible slice of an outstanding heirloom look to it. For me, it is dependable and produces well every year so it returns every year.

[Amateurinawe]

@CrazyAboutOrchids I think we all choose a dependable or two alongside the riskier "chance it ones and see how it goes". Wouldn't bare thinking about coming out of the backend of a season with nothing to show for it.

[GoDawgs]

What did you think of Kosovo? Good, bad, indifferent? Looks pretty enough. I’ve got seeds for Kosovo, just wondering how motivated I should be to grow it?

Are your SOTW all about that shape, flattened, instead of a deeper oblate type? Another one I have seeds for.

Funny when tomatoes deviate from the advertised size and shape.

@karstopography , that SOTW was the first one and was picked during that 100+ heat wave and I'm tempted to say the development was affected by the heat. The one I picked two days ago was a lot more round and full at 10.3 oz



Last year was the Year Of The Micros. Having scratched that itch, this year is the Year Of The Hearts so that's what I asked for in the MMMM. The jury is still out due to insufficient evidence so far. I'll know more later but so far Kosovo seems rather tasteless to me. Very dense and very few seeds. I like Fish Lake Oxheart better; nice flavor with a lot more juice. Fish Lake is setting more tomatoes than Kosovo too I don't think I'll grow Kosovo again.

I'm also growing EM Champion (a dwarf heart) this year and will be interested in seeing how it tastes. Like Kosovo it's also setting few tomatoes. Big tomato, though.



Based not only on this year, I'm starting to wonder if there's a trend for tomatoes originating in Russia/eastern Europe not to do well in this climate.The one exception seems to be Purple Russian (Ukraine) which tastes fine and is prolific. I grew it for the first time last year (a freebie from Baker Creek) and it's a keeper for me.

[CrazyAboutOrchids]

I'll know more later but so far Kosovo seems rather tasteless to me. Very dense and very few seeds. I like Fish Lake Oxheart better; nice flavor with a lot more juice. Fish Lake is setting more tomatoes than Kosovo too I don't think I'll grow Kosovo again.

I'm also growing EM Champion (a dwarf heart) this year and will be interested in seeing how it tastes. Like Kosovo it's also setting few tomatoes. Big tomato, though.

I've grown FLO a few times, plant always looks like it's on its death bed but still produces. Good tasting tomatoes too, really, really good.

I love hearts and always used to have many varieties; missed them last year when I grew a number of newbies so they are back with a few new hearts for me to try; Rozoyvi Myod, German Red Strawberry and Anna Maria. I like hearts for my salsa and marinara.

Will be looking forward to posts on EM Champion!

[Amateurinawe]

@CrazyAboutOrchids I'm glad that you mentioned that about FLO. It's my first year of growing these and it looks a bit of a gentle butterfly before getting establised, too whimsy and looks like it will fall over any second. I look forward to it fruiting though...

[GoDawgs]

@Amateurinawe and @CrazyAboutOrchids , when I first looked up descriptions for the MMMM seeds I got, I read a note from Carolyn about FLO being "one of the best hearts I've run across lately." Another source said it has wispy foliage and sometimes those types don't do well for me. Climate? So one strike for and one against. I decided to try it anyway and so far so good. The plant isn't as pretty as others but it's the tomatoes that count!

[Amateurinawe]

@GoDawgs Ah, I'd agree about the whispy foliage, seems a shame I've subjected it to the cross winds we get here.

[AKgardener]

When does everyone pick there tomatoes?? I noticed some of mine are really ready over ripe on parts and then not underneath.. do I leave it or pick it?? Just wanted to see Whst everyone else does

[PlainJane]

@AKgardener I pick as soon as I notice any color break anywhere on the fruit.

[GoDawgs]

I do like @PlainJane does. I let 'em get a bit of blush on them and then into the safekeeping of the house they go. They sit on the now-empty wire shelves of my plant light stand until ready to use.