The Versus Thread

[sjamesNorway]

Big Beef vs Goliath

This is a thread for those of us with limited space, who have to decide between one or another variety. For example, I plan to grow one large red hybrid, and can't decide between Big Beef and Goliath. I know a lot of you swear by Big Beef, but they are rated the same for yield, and Goliath scores better on taste, here:

http://vegvariety.cce.cornell.edu/help.php

I also know several of you grow, or have grown, both. So what's the verdict? Which one would you choose, and why?

Steve

[jmsieglaff]

This will be fun! I can't answer because I haven't grown them (trying Big Beef F1) this year.

I know a lot of things impact this type of question, personal prefs, location, etc etc etc etc but it is still fun to do this type thing.


I'm sure I've got a couple I'll post.........I'll be back!!

[Gardeneer]

I am also going to grow Big Beef along with Big Boy and Better Boy.
I have not grown Goliath. Last year I grew Bush Goliath in pot. Nothing to write home about.

Gardeneer

[Marcus1]

I grow about 500 goliath every year. I've also tried Big Beef, Beef Master, and Better Boy in side by side trials { always 2 years on the trials ] . The production for me here in CO was comparable on all 4 varieties. The first fruits on the Goliaths crack a little then later sets are crack free. The other 3 cracked from start to finish with Beef Master the worse. Taste wise Goliaths ruled with Big Beef a close second the other 2 I didn't care for.
Marcus

[sjamesNorway]

Originally Posted by Marcus1

I grow about 500 goliath every year. I've also tried Big Beef, Beef Master, and Better Boy in side by side trials { always 2 years on the trials ] . The production for me here in CO was comparable on all 4 varieties. The first fruits on the Goliaths crack a little then later sets are crack free. The other 3 cracked from start to finish with Beef Master the worse. Taste wise Goliaths ruled with Big Beef a close second the other 2 I didn't care for.
Marcus

Thanks Marcus, along with the Cornell reviews , that's another one for Goliath. It also says a lot that you grow 500. (Wow!) I've also read that it does well in cooler climates, which is a plus here. And it has the same disease tolerance as BB (VFFNTASt). I'm definitely leaning toward Goliath, but I'm still open minded, so all comments are appreciated.

jmsieglaff,It will also be interesting to hear comparisons of other varieties going head to head. I'm glad you've joined in.

And BigVanVader, I hope you'll compare varieties grown side by side during the coming season. I'm sure folks here will appreciate it.

[bower]

Earl of Edge vs Jaune Flammee:
Don't have a side by side but I grew both of these in different yet equally horrible summers.
Earl of E didn't produce a single fruit for me.
Jaune Flammee produced a nice bit although later than I would have liked.
If I had to choose between them for a nasty cold summer, obviously JF wins hands down.
Indeed I won't be trying the Earl again any time soon.
Lovely summers, your mileage no doubt will vary!

[Ricky Shaw]

Good information for me Marcus, we're pretty close.

[BigVanVader]

I'm growing Big Beef vs Mountain Merit. I grew BB last year and it was great, but MM has the added nematode resistance. I have also noticed that many customers at market just buy red tomatoes and apparently don't care much about taste. If it looks like a store tomato they will buy it, so flavor isnt as much of a concern in this instance.

Some others will be Black Cherry vs Ron's Carbon Copy f7 and I am growing 10 paste tomatoes for evaluation. I will stop growing the bottom 2 each year until I get the final 2, then grow mainly those while trying a new one or two every year.

[jmsieglaff]

I've got a couple that come to mind now I'm interested to hear about. I'm likely growing these varieties in future years, but would love to hear any 1:1 comparisons.

Earl of Edgecomb vs Jaune Flammee

and

Dwarf Wild Fred vs Dwarf Fred's Tie Dye

and

Black Cherry vs Chocolate Cherry
Saw this: http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=33975

[Tormato]

Originally Posted by jmsieglaff

I've got a couple that come to mind now I'm interested to hear about. I'm likely growing these varieties in future years, but would love to hear any 1:1 comparisons.

Earl of Edgecomb vs Jaune Flammee

and

Dwarf Wild Fred vs Dwarf Fred's Tie Dye

and

Black Cherry vs Chocolate Cherry
Saw this: http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=33975

To Black Cherry and Chocolate Cherry, you may want to add Austin's Black Cherry and Sandy's Chocolate Cherry.
Perhaps a tag team match (tables and chairs...plates too) for the championship belt.

[TightenUp]

Originally Posted by Tormato

To Black Cherry and Chocolate Cherry, you may want to add Austin's Black Cherry and Sandy's Chocolate Cherry.
Perhaps a tag team match (tables and chairs...plates too) for the championship belt.

For me Sunchocola blew all black/chocolate cherries away. Nothing came close

[Cole_Robbie]

Originally Posted by TightenUp

For me Sunchocola blew all black/chocolate cherries away. Nothing came close

I liked Sunchocola. I grew it last year. Yield is excellent; flavor is very good. Fruit are big for a cherry and fill up a box easily. Unfortunately for me, my stink bugs loved it more than any other variety.

The dark cherry I have now is Brown Berry. I honestly can't tell it apart from Black Cherry. I think I like Purple Bumble Bee better anyway.

[jmsieglaff]

Originally Posted by Cole_Robbie

The dark cherry I have now is Brown Berry. I honestly can't tell it apart from Black Cherry. I think I like Purple Bumble Bee better anyway.

Not this year, but next I'll be trying Black and Chocolate side-by-side. I've grown PBB in the past and liked but not loved it. So I'm still on the market for a dark cherry. I grew Carbon Copy last year and it is back again this year, a very tasty tomato!

I'm also trying more new-to-me cherries this year, including Sunrise BB, Blush, Green Doctors Frosted, Indigo Cherry Drops, Mexico Midget, Zluta Kytice, Sunsugar.

[sjamesNorway]

Here's a list showing what many of you were planning to grow and compare. So far, only Cole_Robbie has posted some results. It would be interesting to know what the winners were in the other comparisons.

BigVanVader: Big Beef vs Mountain Merit. Black Cherry vs Ron's Carbon Copy f7.
jmsieglaff: Earl of Edgecomb vs Jaune Flammee and Dwarf Wild Fred vs Dwarf Fred's Tie Dye and Black Cherry vs Chocolate Cherry
Labradors2: Tangerine vs Jubilee.

Worth1: Aunt Ruby's German Green versus Emerald Evergreen. Paul Robinson versus Indian Stripe.
charley: pit viper ,o"sena green,malakhitovaya shkatulka,cherokee lime ,cherokee lime stripes,and cherokee green all in a row. i caint wait to see who wins.
jillian: Girl Girl's Weird Thing vs Large Barred Boar
pmcgrady: Barry's Crazy Cherry vs Ildi
NarnianGarden: Noire de crimee versus BKX
TC_Manhattan: Green Doctors Frosted vs. Verde Claro. Green Giant vs. Malachite Box.
Cole_Robbie: Rebelski vs Marbonne. BHN-871 vs Chef's Choice Orange. Coastal Pride Orange vs Qiyanai Huang [tie]. Dwarf Emerald Beauty vs Jade Beauty [tie].


[5 way]: BHN-871 vs. Rumi Banjan vs. Babushkin Potseluy vs Sakharnyi Zheltyi vs Tobolsk


This year's contestants to be my new hanging basket variety: Whipper Snapper- Anmore Dewdrop - Anmore Treasures - Pendulina Red - Cherry Falls – Ditmarsher


Chocolate Champion vs Chocolate Lightning vs reigning champion, Tasmanian Chocolate [winner].
natural: Green Copia vs Cherokee Lime Stripes
AlittleSalt: Big Beef to Big Boy
Gardeneer: Brown Heart ( my own named)== Black from Tula *== Black Sea Man== Indian Stripe== Cherokee Purple.

Big Beef vs Big Boy vs Better Boy
MrBig46: American hybrids Burple´s Big Boy F1, Better Boy F1, Best Boy F1, Park´s Whooper F1, Big Beef F1, Steak Sandwitch F1 and Bush Golliath F1.


Mikado, Mikado Rozovye, Mikado Krasnoe, Brandywine Sudduth´s, Henderson Ponderosa Pink, Large Red, Livingston´s Paragon Red and Acme.


Stupice and Tamina (Matina)

[jmsieglaff]

Originally Posted by Tormato

To Black Cherry and Chocolate Cherry, you may want to add Austin's Black Cherry and Sandy's Chocolate Cherry.
Perhaps a tag team match (tables and chairs...plates too) for the championship belt.

And the list grows. Which are the defending champs?