Thoughts on these beefsteaks that I haven't tried?

[ac21686]

This forum has been a tremendous resource for trying new tomato varieties, but I still feel like I'm so behind Every year, our garden center does a modest garden stand to pass the time in late July and August when it gets quiet. Since we don't expect to make much money from it, we don't really care that we don't plant especially productive varieties. Anyway, looking through almost any seed site for tomatoes is daunting. I've had good luck with seeds from Tomato Growers Supply, so I'm sticking with them for the bulk of the varieties. I did search the forums for some of these, but figured it'd be best in one place.

1884
Believe It or Not
Boondocks
Brandywine Liam's
Dutchman
Earl's Faux
Florida Pink
Granny Cantrell
Henderson's Winsall
Magnum
Marizol Red
Olena Ukranian
Richardson
Sainte Lucie
Soldacki
Tidwell German
Watermelon


Hmmm, not as crazy long a list as I thought it would end up!

[PaulF]

Of your list I have grown and recommend: 1884, Believe It or Not, Boondocks, Brandywine Liam's, Earl's Faux, Granny Cantrell, Henderson's Winsall, Magnum, Olena Ukranian, Soldaki, Tidwell German and Watermelon. The others either never grown or don't make my grow list.

However for descriptions I suggest you go to Tatiana's TOMATObase. She has a very complete site for tomato information.

[ddsack]

I've had luck with Sainte Lucie, very large, prolific, and smooth with very few catfacing problems. Granny Cantrell was nicely flavored, I seem to remember it as being more seedy than others. Earl's Faux was another favorite in the past.

[b54red]

I have been growing a version of 1884 for a very long time and still grow it every season. It is one of the very rare plants that seems to be less susceptible to the multiple foliage diseases prevalent down here in southern Alabama. It is an indeterminate that has a slightly smaller growth habit, that will set fruit all summer and into the fall and the fruit are medium to large beefsteaks with very good flavor. I highly recommend you try it if you can.

Granny Cantrell is a very prolific producer of medium to large beefsteaks with a good old fashioned tomato taste. It is one of my top producers almost every year and always gets multiple spots in my garden each year. Very highly recommend you give it a try.

Earl's Faux is a recent and welcome addition to my grow every year list. It is frequently one of my favorites for its' wonderful rich flavor. I have only been growing it for four years and plan to set out several this year. Another that I highly recommend.

Howard's Winsall is another that gets several spots each year in my garden. It produces large beautiful tomatoes with good flavor and is a dependable producer almost every year. I have been growing it each year for a couple of decades. Another with my recommendation.

St. Lucie is one that I have grown only a few years but it doesn't produce the rich tomato flavor I prefer. It is a rather mild tasting tomato but it is a wonder to look at since the fruit are very large in diameter but rather flat for their size. You might want to grow one just for the absolute beauty of the very large tomatoes it produces. It might have a flavor that is just what you like since flavor is personal preference. I think you should try it and see for yourself because you shouldn't be disappointed in the fruit it produces.

The others I have not grown and know little to nothing about them but I would try anything with the Brandywine name just to see if it is anywhere nearly as good as the Brandywines that I grow every year which are Sudduth's, Cowlick's and OTV.

Good luck, Bill

[CrazyAboutOrchids]

I've grown 1884 and Earl's Faux here in CT on and off for quite a few years. EF gets talked about more, but think I like 1884 better. You know, folks tastes are different...

[slugworth]

Soldacki is good if the weather cooperates.
It doesn't like jungle conditions.
Agway sells the plants locally.