Paste Tomato Variety Suggestions - Page 2

gssgarden · January 21, 2018

Shannon's. do a search here.

Greg

bower · January 21, 2018

One of my friends did a paste trial in her greenhouse here in NL, in what turned out to be quite a cool damp and not sunny season (what a surprise!).
She tried two different S Marzano's - redorta and lungo; a Roma VF; and Romeo, Heidi, Casino iirc. Much to my surprise the winner of the trial was San Marzano redorta.

I always thought they were way, way too late for our short season. But apparently they outproduced all the others.
Heidi, sadly, didn't do much in my greenhouse either.

I grew a pink paste/heart Petrusha Ogorodnik a few years ago, which I got from Marina. It produced a big crop in the ground outdoors at my mom's place. I had some BER on mine in a 5 gallon pot - no surprise since the container was drying out way too much - and I don't remember too much about the fresh eating quality, but when roasted it was definitely one of the best tomatoes I've ever tasted.

Determinate or semi-determinate plant, got a bit leggy in my greenhouse due to overcrowding, but a good cropper and certainly tolerated cool weather well. I still have seeds if you want to try them.

Father'sDaughter · January 21, 2018

Quote:

Originally Posted by kath

I always listen to what Father'sDaughter has to say about paste tomatoes, so of course I had to check out Oroma at Victory Seeds.

In the reviews, it was given 5 stars by someone who lives in WA:

"Excellent for the North

Staked and mulched these plants each had hundreds of tomatoes ripen with no bugs or diseases. Great for salsa, sauce, and make a sweet dried treat!

Reviewed by:★(omitted name)★from 49*N 9m N of Northport, Wa. 1850' elevation.★on 3/24/2012"

Kath, you are much too kind! I'm just one of those paste crazy tomato growers who insists on trialing every one they can get their hands on... Someday I'll settle on one or two, but right now I'm enjoying trying different ones every year.

And I would agree with the reported resistance. My last year growing non-grafted plants, I averaged barely a pound per plant before Verticillium (and suspected Fusarium) took my other plants down. Oroma got a little sad looking, but then rebounded, exploded with new growth and pumped out four pounds of tomatoes before frost did it in.

Koala Doug · January 21, 2018

Quote:

Originally Posted by bower

San Marzano redorta

I keep hearing good things about that tomato. It is one that I plan on trying sometime in the future.

BigVanVader · January 21, 2018

Same here, I have seeds so I may have to try it.

BigVanVader · January 21, 2018

Quote:

Originally Posted by Koala Doug

Earlier this year, I bought some seeds from Fred Hempel for his Marzano Fire. I haven't grown it yet, so I can't comment on its quality (though I do tend to really enjoy his releases).

They did well here, very productive for me. They did seem somewhat disease prone but kept producing.

Koala Doug · January 21, 2018

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigVanVader

They did well here, very productive for me. They did seem somewhat disease prone but kept producing.

Thanks for the info!

NewWestGardener · January 22, 2018

I grew about 10+paste varieties, 400 plants last year in a field with minimal watering and care. Without checking my notes, I grew S Marzano's -redorta a; Roma VF; Romeo, Oroma, and a whole bunch of others.
Most of them performed really well. The best performers are actually a hybrid called Mariana F1. Roma VF (100 plants) was close, a typical plant would have 5 branches, loaded with fruit. Rio Grande was great too.

The best performers also happen to be grown through landscaping fabric, what a huge difference it made in terms of weed control, water preservation, and soil temperature raising early in the season. So it could be just the use of the fabric that made all the difference, now I'm starting to realize it.

CC8147 · January 22, 2018

Thank you for these many and wonderful recommendations! I appreciate each one of them very much. They all fantastic! Narrowing them down is not an easy task: I need more space! Ha! I think I will eventually work my way through all of them. It will be a fun and tasty process. Thanks again for all your advice!

CC8147 · January 22, 2018

Thank you for the top about fabric use. Pots dry out really fast on my deck in the dead of summer. This is good to know.

**carolyn137** · January 22, 2018

Here is my list of fave paste tomatoes

http://www.tomatoville.com/showthrea...paste+tomatoes

And I agree with Marsha's comment about using piriform varieties, which are kind of upside down hearts,here's just one called Liguria that I like very much.

http://t.tatianastomatobase.com/wiki/Liguria

Fact is that many paste varieties don't taste that great,so some folks prefer to use great tasting tomatoes, anything ripe in the garden,using 1/2 paste and 1/2 great tasting ones, be they piriforms or very meaty beefsteaks and cooking it down to the desired consistency.

Carolyn

MuddyToes · January 22, 2018

Quote:

Originally Posted by FarmerShawn

Last year I got a free pack of seed for Black Vernissage from Baker Creek. They were very prolific, large cherry size, and great looking. Not so great for fresh eating. But cooked or (especially) roasted, they made a great sauce.

I got those free seeds, too. Glad to hear they were good roasted. I will make room in my garden for them this year. Thanks for the tip!

Black Krim · January 23, 2018

While you asked for a variety, might I suggest looking at watering schedule and calcium in the soil. We had a bit of BER and dumped on lots of epsom salts. No improvement. THe next year we watered regularly and fertilized regularly when the fruit got large--no BER. All in the same 50 x 50 plot.

With some research I attribute the better fruit to regular watering and well mulched roots.

BigVanVader · January 23, 2018

Planting paste varieties very deep will pretty much eliminate BER. I let mine get leggy and plant about 12 inches deep. I've had no issues since, but I do water on a regular schedule.

CC8147 · January 24, 2018

Thank you for the links and suggestions!

I read through each one of them. The previous paste tomato discussion that Carolyn highlighted was equally enlightening. Heart tomatoes have me curious now; after reviewing this, I plan on adding one or two to my 2018 grow list. A mix of tomatoes is an excellent point and should bring about outstanding results. This is a must try. I enjoy experimenting with different varieties and colors, so the results should be delicious and pretty.

Also, thank you for the soil and planting recommendations. I water every other day depending on the needs of the plants. Containers dry out faster, so I gauge water needs by testing the soil about 2 to 3 inches down from the top and about an inch from the bottom of the container (big enough holes in the containers to test the soil).

Last year's growing season was a challenge in the beginning in terms of maintaining a regular watering schedule. We had above average rainfall in April, May, and June which was followed by no rain in July and August. As a result, we set weather records for both higher than normal rainfall and days without rain. My flowers and vegetables had periods of rebellion.

Coincidentally, years ago I met a farmer at a garden center who gave me the same advice about planting tomatoes deep, leaving only about 3 inches of the plant unburied at the time of planting. Her method was a success and I have been doing this since then. It is not something you would think about doing until hearing or reading about it.

Thanks again, everyone, for the meaningful conversation. I am really appreciating it and the lessons you are all teaching me.

January 22, 2018	#26
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	Here is my list of fave paste tomatoes http://www.tomatoville.com/showthrea...paste+tomatoes And I agree with Marsha's comment about using piriform varieties, which are kind of upside down hearts,here's just one called Liguria that I like very much. http://t.tatianastomatobase.com/wiki/Liguria Fact is that many paste varieties don't taste that great,so some folks prefer to use great tasting tomatoes, anything ripe in the garden,using 1/2 paste and 1/2 great tasting ones, be they piriforms or very meaty beefsteaks and cooking it down to the desired consistency. Carolyn __________________ Carolyn

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

January 21, 2018	#16
gssgarden Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: N.C. Posts: 1,820	Shannon's. do a search here. Greg

January 21, 2018	#17
bower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Newfoundland, Canada Posts: 6,793	One of my friends did a paste trial in her greenhouse here in NL, in what turned out to be quite a cool damp and not sunny season (what a surprise!). She tried two different S Marzano's - redorta and lungo; a Roma VF; and Romeo, Heidi, Casino iirc. Much to my surprise the winner of the trial was San Marzano redorta. I always thought they were way, way too late for our short season. But apparently they outproduced all the others. Heidi, sadly, didn't do much in my greenhouse either. I grew a pink paste/heart Petrusha Ogorodnik a few years ago, which I got from Marina. It produced a big crop in the ground outdoors at my mom's place. I had some BER on mine in a 5 gallon pot - no surprise since the container was drying out way too much - and I don't remember too much about the fresh eating quality, but when roasted it was definitely one of the best tomatoes I've ever tasted. Determinate or semi-determinate plant, got a bit leggy in my greenhouse due to overcrowding, but a good cropper and certainly tolerated cool weather well. I still have seeds if you want to try them.

January 21, 2018	#20
BigVanVader Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Greenville, South Carolina Posts: 3,099	Same here, I have seeds so I may have to try it.

January 22, 2018	#23
NewWestGardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 564	I grew about 10+paste varieties, 400 plants last year in a field with minimal watering and care. Without checking my notes, I grew S Marzano's -redorta a; Roma VF; Romeo, Oroma, and a whole bunch of others. Most of them performed really well. The best performers are actually a hybrid called Mariana F1. Roma VF (100 plants) was close, a typical plant would have 5 branches, loaded with fruit. Rio Grande was great too. The best performers also happen to be grown through landscaping fabric, what a huge difference it made in terms of weed control, water preservation, and soil temperature raising early in the season. So it could be just the use of the fabric that made all the difference, now I'm starting to realize it.

January 22, 2018	#24
CC8147 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: 8a Posts: 11	Thank you for these many and wonderful recommendations! I appreciate each one of them very much. They all fantastic! Narrowing them down is not an easy task: I need more space! Ha! I think I will eventually work my way through all of them. It will be a fun and tasty process. Thanks again for all your advice!

January 23, 2018	#28
Black Krim Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: New England Posts: 661	While you asked for a variety, might I suggest looking at watering schedule and calcium in the soil. We had a bit of BER and dumped on lots of epsom salts. No improvement. THe next year we watered regularly and fertilized regularly when the fruit got large--no BER. All in the same 50 x 50 plot. With some research I attribute the better fruit to regular watering and well mulched roots.

January 24, 2018	#30
CC8147 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: 8a Posts: 11	Thank you for the links and suggestions! I read through each one of them. The previous paste tomato discussion that Carolyn highlighted was equally enlightening. Heart tomatoes have me curious now; after reviewing this, I plan on adding one or two to my 2018 grow list. A mix of tomatoes is an excellent point and should bring about outstanding results. This is a must try. I enjoy experimenting with different varieties and colors, so the results should be delicious and pretty. Also, thank you for the soil and planting recommendations. I water every other day depending on the needs of the plants. Containers dry out faster, so I gauge water needs by testing the soil about 2 to 3 inches down from the top and about an inch from the bottom of the container (big enough holes in the containers to test the soil). Last year's growing season was a challenge in the beginning in terms of maintaining a regular watering schedule. We had above average rainfall in April, May, and June which was followed by no rain in July and August. As a result, we set weather records for both higher than normal rainfall and days without rain. My flowers and vegetables had periods of rebellion. Coincidentally, years ago I met a farmer at a garden center who gave me the same advice about planting tomatoes deep, leaving only about 3 inches of the plant unburied at the time of planting. Her method was a success and I have been doing this since then. It is not something you would think about doing until hearing or reading about it. Thanks again, everyone, for the meaningful conversation. I am really appreciating it and the lessons you are all teaching me.