SC Tomato tasting 2007
 

The second annual SC tomato tasting will be on July 21 at noon in Little Mountain SC at the reunion park. I am expecting a big crowd this year and need help from the SC tomato growers to fill the tables. I would also like input for a catchy name. I have thought of SPLAT! for South carolina Piedmont Lycospersicum annual tasting. We could eventually have a tomato tossing using bland hybrids to generate some funds to offset cost. Let me hear your Ideas. Rodger

Rodger, good luck and best wishes with your get-together!

Looks like you had a great time last year:

[URL="http://www.feldoncentral.com/garden/photos/v/sctf2006/rodger/"]2006 South Carolina Tomato Fest[/URL]

[quote=rodger;57165]The second annual SC tomato tasting will be on July 21 at noon in Little Mountain SC at the reunion park. I am expecting a big crowd this year and need help from the SC tomato growers to fill the tables. I would also like input for a catchy name. I have thought of SPLAT! for South carolina Piedmont Lycospersicum annual tasting. We could eventually have a tomato tossing using bland hybrids to generate some funds to offset cost. Let me hear your Ideas. Rodger[/quote]

If you'd like a forum here to plan and discuss your get-together, let me know and I'll set it up for you. :)

South Carolina Tomato Tasting
 

Rodger, Depending on our health, if we are able to travel to visit family in SC/NC, I would love to be present for your Tomato Tasting! I will let you know if we are able to travel. If not, I look forward to hearing all about it in October at the [B]Appalachian Heirloom Seed Conservancy[/B] Fall Conference.
Best of wishes on a successful gathering!
Gary (an old SC boy!)

Rodger,
You're going to have to work on that name.
Seriously, let me know if I can do anything to help.
Gary,
I hope you can make it down that weekend. I'd love to see you again.
Jim

I'll try to come! I don't know how many tomatoes I will have (I'm moving unexpectedly and have to dig up and transplant my tomatoes...and I'm hoping they don't die!) Hopefully I will have a few samples of the varieties I'm growing:

Aunt Ruby's GG, Marvelous, Jeff Davis, Tom's Yellow Wonder, Wuhib, Neves Azorean Red, Matt's Wild Cherry, Orange Heirloom, Omar's Lebanese...

Possibly some others that I'll be starting for a fall crop. I don't know if they'll have time to start up by then but we shall see!

Jennifer

Jenn, did you attend the Pee Dee plant and flower show. I was there selling my tomato plants.
Gary it is always good to hear from you. I have your kentucky heirlooms growing and I shared several of the plants at the 10th annual Southern seed Legacy project seed swap in Crawford Ga. I also have the scaly bark watermelon growing.
Jim hope you can make and yes the name needs some work but I am open for suggestions.
Mischka it wiould be great if you could set us up a spot to discuss this years get together.
Look forward to seeing everyone and tasting some good SCtomatoes. Rodger

Hi, Rodger.
I look forward to attending the Little Mtn. reunion/tomato festival.
I bought "Black From Tula", "Druzba", and "Stupice" from you at SC State Farmers' Market, Cola. in April. So far, all are doing well. We live on the lake in Chapin, so we're lucky to have H2O.... it would be nice to get some rain. I'm sure I won't have enough tomatoes for a table/stand, but I'd be happy to help others.
Slightly off toppic, I'm growing some tomatoes in containers on my deck; several of them have leaves that look diseased. It begins with a brown/grey spot usually near a vein. Then it spreads causing the edges of the leaf to curl up or under and dry out. also, around the cages I have seen very, very fine spider webbing. Not knowing what the problem is, I've sprayed with all purpose bug spray (malathion) and daconil. Whatever is causing the damage is also eating the herbs (basil, oregano) and lettuce in one of pots with my Sweet Million cherry. I really don't like spraying, but since I've started, they look better.
Interestingly, the plants in the ground have not been affected. Any ideas? Thanks, Beth

Shoot, came by several of you today, I reckon, on the way back from Savannah ( Skidaway) ... ate burgers at Hardees in Florence at 2 pm!
I'm going to try and make this. It takes me 2 hrs to get to the cellular tower ( that's what I do) at Little Mnt exit ... #85 I think??
I have a good friend that lives between there and Chapin that I'll try to get to show as well. Smallwood comes to mind ... not sure if that is the road, subdivision or both?
I've given him plants the last couple of years and it's close ... so he will probably go.
But ya gotta work on the name!
You have S.L.E.D ( I think) that folks are familiar with so skipping the "C" is possible ... but would be nice to include???
S.C.A.M.P ( South Carolina Annual 'Mater Presentation, Perusal, Picnic)??
Hmmm, "Picnic" sounds "family" ... S.P.O.T ( South carolina ( "Southern" even) Picnic Of Tomatoes)??
S.C.O.T.T. ( South Carolina Organized Tomato Tasting)???
Just random thoughts ;)

and ya also have S.H.E.P. ... so skipping the "C" is doable

You are familiar with the area. Look forward to seeing you in July and Little Mt is only 7miles from Chapin. Rodger

Yup, hopefully ... 'course with anything you want to do, contingencies attack. Just talked to my friend from Chapin and he will attend but the wife has informed me that this week will be the only chance for all of the family ( daughter in college, 2nd one starting this Fall, #3 daughter and #1 son in band) to camping ... and they want Pigeon Forge this year. But I have a pending job in Hilton around that time so we may be there ... crazy for sure but so it is.
Anyway, Jeff and I have resolved to cruise the Farmers Market in Columbia this weekend to see what is up ;)

Rodger,

I am going to make it to the Tomato Tasting this year. I'm really looking forward to it. Hopefully I will have something to contribute.

I like the name SPLATT - it wouldn't be confused with any other tomato "get togethers".

and as a money raiser, you could get a large laminated photo of whomever is the current governor and use icky grocery store tomatoes to throw at it.

This is the Official notice and invitation to the 2nd annual Tomato tasting in Little Mounatin SC. Little Mountain is located in the center of the state approximately 30miles NW of Columbia SC off interstate 26. Take Exit #85 on I-26 and go right one mile to the stop sign at the end of the road . Take a right onto Hwy -76 go one block and just past the Little Mountain Convience store /Exxon station and turn left onto MIll Rd. The park and tasting will be on your right approximately one block down. This is a large park with rest room facilities baseball fields amplitheater covered picknic areas etc and home to the Little Mountain reunion, Oldest folk festival in SC held the first Saturday in Aug each year. If anyone is interested and would like to help outv I would appreciate it, I put this on all by myself and wouldn't mind the help. My house is located about 1.5 miles from the park and I could use some help picking the tomatoes, labeling and setting up at the park. If interested please send me an e-mail. Those showing get a behind the scene look at my garden and the current deseases which are inflicting it. (Smile). I'm sure it will be a good time and for lunch. The Newberry Master Gardeners will be selling tomato and BLT sandwiches to raise money for their scholarship fund. I am expecting lots of non tomato growers. People interested in heirloom tomatoes but have never grown them. If you are familiar with the Lake Murray magazine you may have noted an article on me and my tomatoes in the July issue which came out last week in June. This also advertized the tasting and I have had several people call about it and to come out to my house for tomatoes. I can't say what will be availble I am picking lots of tomatoes now hopeing some will hold off to ripen for the tasting. If anyone comes please bring some tomatoes to add to what I may have and if you don't have any no worry please come anyways. I would love to meet you and talk about this years growing season and what is planned for next year. Rodger Winn

Hey, Rodger.
Hope all went well with your son's wedding.
Please clarify for me the date of the SPLAT festival (oooooh.. we gotta' work on that name). Is it July 21 st or is it combined with Little Mtn's Reunion Aug. 4th. Our family will be at the beach on 8/4. So, I'm hoping it's 7/21. Please let me know.
Enjoyed seeing you at Newberry's farmers' mkt. I served your tomatoes at our grandson's B'day. We had a tasting contest 1st place "Black from Tula". 2nd the green one (forget the name), 3rd the deeply convoluted red. Thanks for the great deal on the price. I'll look forward to hearing from you. Bethy

I could have sworn I put the date on my post. It is July 21st from 1200 noon till 2:00 pm. Bethy need to come by the house this week I have lots of ripe tomatoes some Reif red hearts and Bulls heart are close to 2 lbs. Unfortunatley they are riping now I wanted to have some for the tasting. I also have lots of Beans eggplant peppers etc. Rodger

Hey Rodger,
When will you need help picking the toms. I just started growing OP toms this year and have not had a bumper crop yet ( they have just gotten started setting lots of fruit this week). I might be able to come early Friday. I would love to come and help.
Let me know!
Tim

Tim, I will be picking tomatoes , doing the labeling and setting up tables on Saturday morning. If you can make it I will be at the park around 11:00am and starting around 0800am at the house picking and labeling. Send me a e-mail if you would like to come out and help. Rodger
e-mail [EMAIL="rdwinn@hughes.net"]rdwinn@hughes.net[/EMAIL]

Hi, Rodger.
I'm really looking forward to the festival Sat. You had advised me before to be at the park 11ish to help set up, so that's my plan. But reading the rest of the letters, etc. I can come earlier to help pick and label if you'd like. Just let me know.

Hi Roger,
I really enjoyed the tasting, I think my favorite tom was dr carolyns cherry, so as soon as I got home I started fermenting some seeds for next year. Your garden is very impressive! I don't know how you find time to keep up with all that you grow. Just wish I had more time to talk to you, maybe next year. I hope to be there next year if you decide to do it again. Thanks, Tim

So, is it possible to compile the full list of tomatoes represented?

Also, some notes on how some of them tasted - people's favorites, any disappointments???

Okay, maybe I'll have time to enter the varieties before my break is up. I have been working nights since the tomato tasting and I work 12 hr shifts. so here it goes.

1 Reif Red Heart
2 Earls Faux (a disapointment really lacked flavor, early blight small fruit) Maybe next year?
3 Super Choice once again a super choice
4 Stupice always reliable
5 Lucky cross good taste but not spectatucalr this year had some very large fruit 2lb
6 Grace Lathran outstanding a work horse beautiful round pink fruit great taste
7 yellow ruffle novelty pretty lacks taste
8 Large pink bulgarian
9 snow white
10 Brandy wine cherry very good
11 Black cherry very good
12 Alaskan Fancy nothing fancy and bland taste
13 Rasp Large red
14 Tenn Britches huge fruit very good flavor awesome
15 Black Mountain Pink same as above
16 Nyagous excellent
17 Paul Robeson
18 tangella all fruit cracks but very good taste
19 Lumpy red, not really lumpy nice shape fruit excellent flavor
20Dagmas perfection outstanding
21 Illonois beauty, Merlyn Neidens created a terrific tomato here
22 Black pear
23 Wins all Great
24 Anna Russian
25 yoder's german yellow outstanding
26 German pink Outstanding Thanks Gary Millwood
27 Orange strawberry huge fruit great prodution outstanding taste
28 Druzba let me down this year
29 Akers West Va. Outstanding large red fuit great taste clean plant
30Tiffton Minnonite Outstanding large pink
31 Ky Beefstaek great flavor but two ribbed for a slicer makes a good juice tomato
32 Annas Noir excellent
33 Peach Blow Sutton good flavor excellent producer clean plant
34 lost label
35Livinston gold ball outstanding yellow salad tomato
36Lenny and Gracy"s yellow Outstanding
37 Big Beef, small fruit but good taste small plant hefty vines
38Hughes yellow Outstanding
39 Manyel very good
40 Old Kentucky Very good yellow beefsteak
41Germaid red
42Cherokee Chocolate, outstanding
43 Bulls Heart outstanding very large fruit and productive good taste for such a wispy plant same goes for Rief red Heart
44 Mariannas peace
45 Eva Purple Ball
46 Franks Large Red another thank you Gary outstanding
47Box car willie always great
48 Black Prince
49 Old fashioned ridge outstanding
50 Green Moldavan
51 Vincent Watts Large
52Hungrian Oval
53 Aunt Gerties Gold
54 Pale Perfect Purple excellent
55 Maxs LArge Green excellent
56 Hartman's yellow gooseberry
57 Green Gage much larger than I thought a great salad tomato
58 White Current
59 Cuban yellow grape
60 Hawaiian Current outstanding
61 Matts wild cherry super outstanding
62 Sara's Gallpagos outstanding
63 Dr. Carolyn #1 at the tasting cant sell yellow tomatos especially cherries but won many new converts on this one
64 South American wild cherry, bitter not a keeper
65 Redfield Beauty outstanding
66 Black Tom excellent Thanks again Gary
67 Noir de Crimme, grow this instead of black krim far superior to black krim
68 Tappy's heritage
69 Copia last year really lacks for two years in a row
70Elberta Peach what a surprize beautiful silver fuzzy plant oustanding production a good taste
71 White Queen very good
72 Jaune Negib
73 Basinga
74 Debbie very good a work horse and clean
75 Hermans yellow very good
76 Garden peach novelty
77Grosse Costrelee
78 Howard german
79 German head
80 Pink Ice
81Crimson Delight excellent
82 Heidi
83 Rio Grande excellent
84costa rico
85 German Johnson
86Opalka good taste but always problems for me
87 Aztec Beautiful productive and great taste
88 Amman Orange huge oustanding
89 Old german always great
90Bulgarian #7
91 Mermande
92 good old fashion red ,smaller than I thought
93 Lillian Yellow
94 Tigerella
95Break of Day outstanding
96 Rose Beauty, potato leaf from Bakers creek very good
97Big Rainbow very good
98Hillbilly
99 Mortgage lifter
100 Brandy wine Otv my plant is still loaded but fruit size is small 8 oz max but good flavor something happened
101Martina's Roma
102 Amish Gold outstanding 3years in a row
103Dr Wyches yellow
104 Kelloggs Beakfast
105 Granny cantrell outstanding
106 Dads sunset
107 Rose outstanding
108 Aunt rubys german cherry
109Williams Stripe
110 Great white

additional varieties I did not supply
Pink Lady
Bloddy Butcher outstanding 2nd best overall
JUbilee
Cherokeee purple

I did not have any judging maybe next year. The comments provided are my own. But as a whole many comments on Dr carolyn, Bloody Butcher and many of the ppalchian Heirlooms for size and taste. Thanks again to those who participated. Rodger