High yield heirlooms

Jwb4707 · January 20, 2016

Hey all, I'm looking to add a few OP/heirloom varieties this year, and with limited growing space, I have no room for slackers. Just curious what you all have had good production from, looking for great taste of course, mostly for fresh eating, non cherries, and not too late to maturity.

Ricky Shaw · January 20, 2016

I'm new to heirlooms and this has been on my mind also. Cosmonaut Volkov gets excellent reviews here for yield and taste from a mid-season variety. It's on my grow list.

Edit to add: Probably not an old enough variety to be an heirloom though. So how about Box Car Willie, that's on my grow list too.

Cole_Robbie · January 20, 2016

I'm open-minded. OP is good enough for me.

Cosmonaut Volkov, George Detsikas Italian Red, Wes, Anna Maria's Heart, Ten Hung Tan Chieh

Fred Hempel's Jazz and Orange Jazz are new OP creations, but I think they have heirloom flavor and the yield is excellent.

I also like former commercial varieties from Russia and former Soviet states.

**carolyn137** · January 20, 2016

By high yielding do you mean poundage or individual fruits/plant?

I've grown about 4,000 plus Heirlooms, which is not the same as OP since there are many OP's that are not heirloom varieties.

WhenI look at a single variety in my SSE YEarbooks I see different results for that variety, as expected,since there are geographic differences,it depends what the weather was like when a variety was grown,how they were grown,sprawling, staking,caging,container,etc,as well as any amendments used and if so which ones and when and how much.What is the soil like or artificial mix you use if you do,etc.

All to say that there are many many variables, so if someone says variety X is always high yielding for me where I grow,what does that reall ymean.

As for me,my first priority in growing heirlooms is TASTE, yield is next, etc.

And I love it when taste and productivity are found with the same varieties, as grown by me where I am.

Carolyn

Jwb4707 · January 20, 2016

I guess it's number of fruits per plant, I know it varies, but just trying to narrow things down a bit.

creister · January 20, 2016

Break 'O Day and Eva Purple Ball. Both are very productive and taste great.

Ricky Shaw · January 20, 2016

Yellow Pear or Chang Li will probably come up if saladettes are in play.

Ricky Shaw · January 20, 2016

I'm not keen on the smaller fruit or yellow tomatoes, just throwing it out there. A little larger tomato, but Indian Stripe comes with a reputation of large yields. It's on my grow list.

About all I know, or think I know.

OzoneNY · January 21, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by creister

Break 'O Day and Eva Purple Ball. Both are very productive and taste great.

In this Texas climate? >sigh< Im still sorting out the productivity bit.

Gardeneer · January 21, 2016

I have not found yet a really productive heirloom.
Will grow Indian Stripe this year.
On the second thought Black From Tula, Willamette and Azoychka were satisfactory to me.

AlittleSalt · January 21, 2016

There is supposedly an OP version of Big Beef. Somewhere.

If I were to wake up and find myself and our property in MA - I would grow every version of Brandywine ever thought of.

Bradley would be another.

Gardeneer · January 21, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlittleSalt

There is supposedly an OP version of Big Beef. Somewhere.

If I were to wake up and find myself and our property in MA - I would grow every version of Brandywine ever thought of.

Bradley would be another.

Yes, Robert. There is Big Beef OP.
Last year I had one F1 and one OP. The OP turned out as determinant DUD. But The F1 did well. They were both planted side by side in the same bed.
I think TGS sells the seeds of OP version.

Gardeneer

Father'sDaughter · January 21, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlittleSalt

There is supposedly an OP version of Big Beef. Somewhere.

If I were to wake up and find myself and our property in MA - I would grow every version of Brandywine ever thought of.

Bradley would be another.

You know, I live in MA and have yet to grow a single Brandywine despite having seeds on hand for several strains. Closest I've come is Tastywine for the Dwarf Project. Maybe some day I'll have to carve out enough space to see what they're all about. Or maybe not. ???

Cole_Robbie · January 21, 2016

Big Beef OP was a dud in my cousin's garden last summer. I gave him a plant to try. It was a noble idea, but I don't think all hybrids can be stabilized.

tuncse · January 21, 2016

Anna Russian for me. Very productive, early, excellent tasting. I'm in zone 6b. Excellent for fresh eating and canning too.

January 20, 2016	#1
Jwb4707 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Western MA Posts: 78	High yield heirlooms Hey all, I'm looking to add a few OP/heirloom varieties this year, and with limited growing space, I have no room for slackers. Just curious what you all have had good production from, looking for great taste of course, mostly for fresh eating, non cherries, and not too late to maturity. Last edited by Jwb4707; January 20, 2016 at 07:10 PM.

January 20, 2016	#2
Ricky Shaw Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Zone 6a Denver North Metro Posts: 1,910	I'm new to heirlooms and this has been on my mind also. Cosmonaut Volkov gets excellent reviews here for yield and taste from a mid-season variety. It's on my grow list. Edit to add: Probably not an old enough variety to be an heirloom though. So how about Box Car Willie, that's on my grow list too. Last edited by Ricky Shaw; January 20, 2016 at 07:06 PM.

January 20, 2016	#4
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	By high yielding do you mean poundage or individual fruits/plant? I've grown about 4,000 plus Heirlooms, which is not the same as OP since there are many OP's that are not heirloom varieties. WhenI look at a single variety in my SSE YEarbooks I see different results for that variety, as expected,since there are geographic differences,it depends what the weather was like when a variety was grown,how they were grown,sprawling, staking,caging,container,etc,as well as any amendments used and if so which ones and when and how much.What is the soil like or artificial mix you use if you do,etc. All to say that there are many many variables, so if someone says variety X is always high yielding for me where I grow,what does that reall ymean. As for me,my first priority in growing heirlooms is TASTE, yield is next, etc. And I love it when taste and productivity are found with the same varieties, as grown by me where I am. Carolyn __________________ Carolyn

January 20, 2016	#3
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	I'm open-minded. OP is good enough for me. Cosmonaut Volkov, George Detsikas Italian Red, Wes, Anna Maria's Heart, Ten Hung Tan Chieh Fred Hempel's Jazz and Orange Jazz are new OP creations, but I think they have heirloom flavor and the yield is excellent. I also like former commercial varieties from Russia and former Soviet states.

January 20, 2016	#6
creister Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Abilene, TX zone 7 Posts: 1,478	Break 'O Day and Eva Purple Ball. Both are very productive and taste great.

January 21, 2016	#10
Gardeneer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7 Posts: 4,912	I have not found yet a really productive heirloom. Will grow Indian Stripe this year. On the second thought Black From Tula, Willamette and Azoychka were satisfactory to me.

January 21, 2016	#11
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	There is supposedly an OP version of Big Beef. Somewhere. If I were to wake up and find myself and our property in MA - I would grow every version of Brandywine ever thought of. Bradley would be another.

January 21, 2016	#15
tuncse Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Romania Posts: 32	Anna Russian for me. Very productive, early, excellent tasting. I'm in zone 6b. Excellent for fresh eating and canning too.