Member discussion regarding the methods, varieties and merits of growing tomatoes.
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March 12, 2018 | #61 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Zone 6a Denver North Metro
Posts: 1,910
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With only one variety I would alternate every other year with Sungold and Crnkovic Yugoslavian. Both have exceptional flavor, grow well in containers, and are outstanding producers.
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March 12, 2018 | #62 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: SC Ohio(proctorville)
Posts: 192
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I have heavy clay soil. With a lighter loamy one I might go with Cherokee Purple.
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March 12, 2018 | #63 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Hudson Valley, NY, Zone 6a
Posts: 626
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Glovel is a sibling variety to Marglobe -- it has the same parentage, with genders reversed, and was introduced in 1936. It reportedly has some blight resistance (per a USDA publication of 1936) and holds well off the vine for a few days. The fruit is medium, pink, and (to my palette) the perfect flavor for an all-purpose tomato. The plant is a productive indeterminate, but I found it easy to grow and well-behaved -- it doesn't sprawl like Marglobe. In my garden, it was far more productive than Eva Purple Ball, Caspian Pink, Brandywine, and Brandy Boy. I originally got seeds from Victory, and sent a bunch to this year's MMMM as my "desert island" pick. The fruit are described on the Victory Seeds website as mild in flavor, but I thought they had a balanced sweet-tart taste. They were well-reviewed on Heritage Seed Market's site for a while, but are no longer listed there. If I had more seeds left, I'd make a "seeds available" post.
This year I'll grow Glovel again, alongside some other older pink and red varieties like Arkansas Traveler, and see what happens... |
March 12, 2018 | #64 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Ontario
Posts: 3,886
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Sounds like a glowing recommendation Hudson Valley. Many thanks
I'll be interested to hear how well Glovel stacks up against Arkansas Traveler since I've grown that one. Linda |
March 12, 2018 | #65 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: VA
Posts: 235
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Big Beef. It has the production, taste and disease resistance I wish I could find in more heirlooms. Sadly most seem to have one or two of the three.
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March 13, 2018 | #66 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Illinois, zone 6
Posts: 8,407
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Mat-Su Express
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March 13, 2018 | #67 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Alliance Nebraska
Posts: 169
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Quote:
I recommend you try Beefmaster. It is the only hybrid that beats Big Beef but you will never get the production or earliness that Big Beef has. Big Beef is way good for all the resistance and earliness bred into it. If I were a betting man I bet that big beef has the same parents as Celebrity with some good ol'Crimson Cushion thrown in the mix. OFC I don't gamble. |
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March 13, 2018 | #68 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: SC Ohio(proctorville)
Posts: 192
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No doubt a wonderful cultivar.
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March 13, 2018 | #69 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: North Dakota
Posts: 77
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CamuMahuba,
From your experience, have you noted if the Whopper is earlier than Big Beef? I'm planning on growing Park's Whopper next to my Big Beef this year. I am primarily interested determining if the Whopper is indeed earlier. Per Park's description, the Whopper's maturity rating is 65 days (vs. Big Beef's 73). I'm aware of the caveats, but if by chance the Whooper really is a week or so earlier than Big Beef, that will earn it a place at the table. |
March 13, 2018 | #70 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: VA
Posts: 235
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I plant 40-50 varieties of heirlooms every year and love the experience but very few of those varieties make a return. I have around a dozen tried and true heirlooms that make the list yearly. I can't imagine my garden without the Big Beefs though. They are my failsafe tomato. They are the variety that lets me be ok with the other's misbehaving. I've grown Beefmaster from the local nursery and it was a great tasting tomato but as you said it lacks in other ways.
I'm afraid I don't appreciate the "zip" that Early Girl offers. It is a workhorse though. |
March 13, 2018 | #71 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 3,194
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Big Beef out-performed Park's Whopper in every way last year (the only year I grew PW). PW was late, stingy, and tasteless for us. YMMV
Nan |
March 13, 2018 | #72 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Alliance Nebraska
Posts: 169
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Quote:
Whopper has a sweeter taste that I remember from childhood and it does indeed rival BgBf. |
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March 14, 2018 | #73 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: North Dakota
Posts: 77
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Thanks, both of you.
I guess I will find out what happens in my garden this summer, but there are enough vagaries involved, I am interested in what others have noted (every year and every garden are a little different... often, a lot different). I will be growing Jet Star, Whopper next to my Big Beefs this year, and I will see what I see. |
March 15, 2018 | #74 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: KS 5b/6a
Posts: 249
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It's too difficult to pick. Maybe Earl's Faux. Maybe KBX.
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March 24, 2018 | #75 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Posts: 329
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...and productive...Black Altai
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500 sq ft of raised rows zone 8a |
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