Favorite Tomatoes?

[ScarlettBegonia]

If you had to pick one of each color of heirloom tomatoes, which ones would you chose and why? We don't have much room, but would like to try at least one or two of each color. Thanks for the input!

[gretzky99]

I haven't grown a green, but here are a few favorites of mine in some other colors. Red/Pink - Brandywine and Pruden's Purple (I don't condsider it a purple, as it really is more pink) are both quite good. I've also heard that Croustalee is good as well. Orange: Kellogg's Breakfast and Amana Orange have performed well for me and have great taste. Purple: Cherokee purple is the only purple-ish tomato I've grown, and I don't plan on planting any others as this one is great! White/Yellow: Wapsipinicon Peach - again I haven't planted any others but this one is nice. Fruit is smaller (think half or 3/4 of the way between an average store tomato and a cherry) but plants are very productive and the fruit is tasty. Everyone has their favorites so I'm sure you'll get quite a variety of suggestions. Have fun choosing!

[SelfSufficientOne]

I haven't had much luck with growing heirloom tomatoes but I did like the Thai Pink tomatoes. They were not too large a plant and produced quite a few tomatoes.

[jetstream]

My all time favorite is Boxcar Willie. always dependable, follow that with Golden Jublee for a yellow and Rutgers is a good yielder I like also.

[PaulF]

Marianna's Peace and Neves Azorian Red for the reds, Caspian Pink, Cherokee Purple for the purple/blacks, Cherokee Green and Aunt Ruby's German Green, Kellogg's Breakfast is bright orange and Aunt Gerties Gold and Yellow Brandywine(Platfoots Strain). I have not raised a white that is worth the space in my garden. These all do well up North, but there are so many good ones that do well in all areas of the country. Pick some that sound good and soon you will find some you can't do without and some you will never grow again. That's the fun of heirloom tomatoes.

[Pharmerphil]

Paste Tomato...Amish paste, hands down, the best there is, few seeds, low moisture content, rich meaty tomato.
Slicer...Hard to choose, Cherokee purple, love the taste, brandywine.
For some yellow, I like pineapple
mixed color, Big Rainbow
hint of orange color...I agree with Kellogs breakfast.
Green...Green Zebra
Gotta have some early tomatoes, Bloody butcher
cherry tomato....Delight
for a second choice slicer, I am quite partial to Mortage lifter too! :D

[bunch]

We had a very dry early summer last year . The green zebra was my best producer . The fruit was small about 2/3 the size of a tennis ball but the number of tomatoes was very good . Mortage lifter ,mister stripey and brandy wine in a more normal year do a good job for me .

[artiemo]

Per usual "Brandywine" and "Cherokee Purple" are outstanding. "Stupice" has been a reliable,early, great tasting tomato here in Portland for the last 16 years. "Galina" is a tremendous tasting yellow/golden cherry tomato from Russia. "Mortgage Lifter" a huge, wonderful lateseason pink.

[redbrick]

For a red paste-type, check out Howard's German. It's hard to find, The Heirloom Seed Project ( www.landisvalleymuseum.org ) carries seed. Bi-color, my vote goes th Mr. Stripey, the German variety, not Tigerella. Tigerella is a smaller, tarter tomato. The German Mr. Stripey is a large sweet, fruity tomato similar to Big Rainbow, butr with a richer flavor. Unfortunately, it's very hard to find. I get mine from a local Mennonite grower.

[Silent]

My favorites (in no particular order) pink: Brandywine, red: Rutgers, purple: Cherokee, black: Black Krim with Nyagenous coming a close second, yellow: Broadripple....a semi 'currant' type, bi-color: Hillbilly. Don't currently have a favorite orange and am experimenting with pastes. Amish paste is good and I like it smoked (smoked tomatoes make a fantastic sauce!) but would like to experiment with a good yellow or cream paste tomato.

[flowerpower]

Since I am new to heirloom varieties, I found this thread very informative. I thought the "Galina" sounded interesting.I just love the smaller types like cherry and grape.

[zebraman]

The Only Brandywine worth growing is the Landis Valley strain with regular leaf(which is the original,also Red Calabash which is Det.Has incredible taste.Amish Paste is good,however Lillian's red Kansas Paste,Principe Borghese and Riesentraube are all Great.If you want sweet tomatoes,these aren't them.Russian Rose is a Great tasting beefsteak.Violaceum-Krypni Rozo and Old Fashioned Red are also superb.Orange,Yellow and White are a waste of time and space.Green Zebra and Aunt Ruby are what I've grown.This year will be Spears TN.green and Emerald Evergreen as well as Cherokee Green.I'll let you know.

[Lamb Abbey Orchards]

Here are my favorites, by color & type:

Red: Omar's Lebanese, Cuostralee & Sunset's Red Horizon
Pink: Pink Brandywine (Sudduth's Strain)
Yellow: Yellow Brandywine (Platfoot Strain) & Lemony (aka Limmony)
Orange: Kellogg's Breakfast & Earl Of Edgecombe
Black: Paul Robeson

Cherry: Blondkopfchen (Orange), Sugary (Red) & Black Cherry (Black)
Paste: Carol Chyko's Big Paste (Red) & Amish Paste (Red)
Oxheart: Orange Strawberry (Orange) & Wolford's Wonder (Red)


--John

[tomatoman223]

Ok,heres mine..
Red-Neves Azorian Red
Pink-Earl's Faux
Yellow-haven't tried one yet.Going to try Lemon Boy this summer.
Gold-Aunt Gertie's Gold
Black-Black Krim
Cherry-Riesentraube
Paste-Uncle Steve's Italian Plum
Bi-Color-Tn. Surprise

[tashak]

Black Plum!

[FourDeuce]

I'm not sure I'd call it a "black"(the flesh seems to be more multicolored) but I really like the Black Krim. I haven't found another one which tastes as good. :p

[walleye]

My two favorite OP tomatoes are not widely available.

One is "Rose" Brandywine, which has huge yields and a flavor equivalent (IMO) to the standard Brandywines. As far as I know, only Johnny's carries this one.

The other is just known as "Potato Leaf" and it is a family heirloom tended for many generations by an older gentleman from Pittsburg. He was featured in one of the early issues of "The Heirloom Gardener". A local newspaper gardening columnist helps distribute the seeds for free to anyone sending proper postage. You are supposed to save seeds from the first fruit and send them back to him to keep the project going. Last year was the first year I grew them. The flavor and yield were outstanding. I sent the seeds back and kept a few from that first fruit for myself. This year will be the 2nd generation of that plant in my garden. If I can optimize it a little for my own conditions it is destined to be in my garden for many years.

Hey tomatoman223 -- I grow Lemon Boy too and really like it for large, uniform yields and my wife can eat it since it has lower acid content. But I don't think it is Heirloom or OP. Anyone else know the history of this variety?

[kabuti]

There was a volunteer tomatoe which came up in my garden a few times that was a smaller fruit with a point on the bottom, I named it 'pointy', it also was the potatoe-leaf type. Does anyone have a clue what it may have been? I saved some seeds but they were inadvertently thrown out which was a shame because one of the attributes of the tomatoe was that it had almost no seeds anyway. The fruit was some of the best tasting & I'm hoping it will come up just one more time.

[Pompeii]

I like flavor of Black Krim. It is available @ Rareseeds.com. It has a salty intense tomato flavor. I also like a little lobbed tomato I picked up from a Greek farmer on the Island of Santorinni. It looks a lot like Purple Calabash, but with a red color. It makes great pizza and tomato sauce. It tends to grow anywhere. Where other's fail, the Santorinni Tomato thrives. It seems to be early too. It is Indeterminate. Very disease resistant too. It gets late blight like the others, but keeps on producing tomatoes, with the new growth being disease free.

Santorini is a very dry, arid Island. They grow their tomatoes and grapes in red volcanic sand. It is on same line of latitude as the American South.

[tomatoman223]

Your right,walleye.Lemon Boy is a hybrid.And I just went back to the original post to see that they were just asking about op's.Me bad,LOL!! :D.Sounds like a good mater,tho.

[Horsea]

There was a volunteer tomatoe which came up in my garden a few times that was a smaller fruit with a point on the bottom, I named it 'pointy', it also was the potatoe-leaf type. Does anyone have a clue what it may have been? I saved some seeds but they were inadvertently thrown out which was a shame because one of the attributes of the tomatoe was that it had almost no seeds anyway. The fruit was some of the best tasting & I'm hoping it will come up just one more time.

I grow something similar; it has a real sharp, extended point on the bottom; it is not a large tomato, maybe 3 to 3-1/2 inches. The variety I grow has leathery, thick leaves, if that is what you mean by potato-type. Also, the fruits grow in clusters. The name is .... "Tip Top". I bought the seeds some years ago from Salt Spring Seeds, which is in B.C. in Canada. I always make room for a few of these plants, as I just love them. If you want, I can send you a few seeds; I don't think that S.S. Seeds sells this variety any more, but am not sure. - Horsea.

[Horsea]

Oh, it's me again. My favourite tomato is probably "Rose", a large beefsteak type of which I got the seeds from Johnny's some years back, but I do not know if he sells them anymore. It is not a Rose Brandywine. It is just Rose. It tastes so good it is beyond belief, but of course it all amounts to personal taste, doesn't it. Also Black from Tula is mighty tasty. Also from Johnny's.

[walleye]

Horsea,

You and I are talking about the same tomato. Johnny's does not add the "Brandywine" name in their catalog, but in some of their previous literature reference was made to it being suspected of being related to Brandywines. Since they have stopped printing that statement, maybe it was found to be untrue.

At any rate, I have to agree with you that this is an outstanding tomato, with a flavor that will beat Brandywine in most cases. Plus you get the unbelievable yields (compared to most other heirlooms). And it grows great in Wisconsin zone 3!

[Horsea]

Thanks for the info, Walleye! In any event, it (Rose) is more pinkish in colour than regular Brandywine, if I remember the original Brandywine accurately. And Rose grows well on the Canadian prairies, too, zone 3 or not.

Also, some of the heirloom bi-colours are tastier than average, too.

[toby55]

My all time favorites are:

Red - Mule Team - Very reliable and a wonderful "not to big" slicer

Pink/purple - Eva Purple Ball - I've never, ever had a problem with disease on this one. Perfect baseball size tomatoes

Orange - Kellogg's Breakfast - Had some foliage disease, but the taste is out of this world!

Wishing for spring!

[zebraman]

The Proper Name is Chianti Rose.It is a cross of Brandywine and an unnamed Italian OP tomato.or it is Red Rose which is a cross of Brandywine and Rutgers.

[zebraman]

Mr.Stripy is available at heirloomacres.net .95 cents for 50 seeds.Most of their OP tomatoes are .95 a pack.

[Horsea]

Kabuti, in a few days I will be sending you seeds for pointy Tip Top tomatoes as per my email to you of a few days ago. I did not hear back from you so maybe the email didn't work or something. - Horsea.

[walleye]

Thanks zebraman! Where did you get this information? If there is a book out there with this info, I might like to add it to my library!

[zebraman]

Hey Walleye;I remember everything that I read.I also added that it could be Red Rose which is a cross of Brandywine and Rutgers.

[jtcm05]

Rose is a variety introduced from Johnny's. Simply called Rose (http://www.johnnyseeds.com/catalog/product.aspx?category=1&subcategory=54&item=2166). I have seeds for it, but have not grown it myself yet. I'd be happy to offer anyone a few seeds from it it they'd like.

Mr. Stripey(a.k.a. Tigerella) is a med sized early bi-color and is widely availible. However, I would be a little skeptical of ordering from that heirloom acres site, as in skimming through the tomato list I noticed a few bits of incorrect information. There are a handful of very reputable places to purchase tomato seed from. Tomato growers supply, sandhill preservation, marianne's, heirloomtomatoes.net, SSE, Victory, etc. You can count on accurate information and true, fresh seed from them. Also, their websites are valuable sources of information. Another great source of information is Dr. Carolyn Male's book "100 Heirloom Tomatoes for the American Garden"

Someone mentioned that red brandywine is the only BW worth growing. That is absolutely not the case IMO. You will be missing out on the best tasting tomatoes out there by doing that. Red brandywine is the most productive of the BW's, but the others taste better IMO.

[zebraman]

I order from ALL the places you mentioned as well as Tomatobob,Appalachianseeds, Tomato Growers Supply,Chuck Wyatt's,Seeds of change,Eastern Native Seed Exchange,Native Seed,Amishlandseeds,Seeds for the South,Diggers in Australia,None of them carry EVERYTHING.I also buy from Baker Creek.I have had Great luck with All of them

[redbrick]

Just to add a little more confusion, there are TWO Mr. Stripeys. Tigerella is the English strain, while the lesser known Mr. Stripey is a German potato-leaf. It produces very large (1-2 #) tomatoes that are very sweet and fruity tasting, similar to Big Rainbow, but with richer flavor. Originally, I bought seed from Harris's Genesee Valley Heirloom line, but they no longer carry it. As this was before I began saving seed, I lost the strain. After many years of only finding Tigerella seed, I found Mr. Stripey PLANTS at a local greenhouse! You can bet I'm saving seeds now! If anybody wants to give it a try, let me know.

[jtcm05]

You can bet I'm saving seeds now! If anybody wants to give it a try, let me know.


That would be great Redbrick! I'm always up for a variety I don't yet have. I've just started collecting seeds myself. I have the common variety already, but haven't grown it out yet. It would be interesting to grow them side-by-side.

[Marty Maraschino]

I'll give another thumbs up to green zebra. They produced very well for me, were pretty, and had a great flavor. Plus the seed was a freebie from Baker Creek with my order.

[Ms.Lefty]

I haven't grown any green varieties ... yet.

Here are my faves in the other colors:

Red - Stupice (has the longest harvest time of any tomatoes I've grown; great production; tasty)

Pink - Brandywine, purely for taste

Orange - Sungold: one of only two hybrids that I grow every year; the other being ....

Yellow - Lemon Boy (like Stupice, has a very long harvesting season and is dependable

Black - Noir de Crimee - absolutely yummy.

Purple - Pruden's Purple (actually this may be a pink, but the name says purple)

I wasn't impressed with any of the bicolors or whites I've grown, but this was mainly because they weren't heavy yielders.

[wildseed2u]

Hi all I'm a bit behind on getting over and posting, I really like the Big sweet tomatoes, It doesn't mater what color they are so long as they are big. Pineapple is a big favorite for a bi-colored meet my requirements Big up to two pounds and is very juicy with fruity overtones, For a Good large Orange Tomato that is sweet with a mild fruity flavor if Kentucky Beefsteak for the pink or red type give me the Giant Belgium. I like some others like green zebra which is a small tomato that has a zingy spicy flavor that goes very well in salads. I have grown tomatoes for close to forty years and have found that the old heilooms may not have the Virus protecton that these new hybrid have, they do win hands down in flavor. Of couse they will often desplay green shoulders or crack or even become mishapen from being so big and getting stressed, but I will would rather pick a mishapen tomato out the garden, than buy a tomato from the store that has no flavor and will last over six months in cold storage, that's not a tomato that's a BaseBall.
George W. Z5 Mo

[toby55]

I agree with you wildseed! Give me a garden-ripened tomato, flaws and all, over those store-bought "baseballs".

[luckylad]

My favorites are Creoles (I grew up in New Orleans and Creoles are definitely king there!) and cherry tomatoes.

[Obispo45]

I've been enthusiastically reading all the great posts, learning lots. I've grown something from most every color category....so I'll join in too!

Red: Sasha's Altai
Pink: Bali
Black: Black Prince or Paul Robeson, growing many black cultivars this year
Purple: Purple Calabash
Yellow: Taxi
Orange: Jaune Flamme
Green: Moldovan Green, but have only grown 3 green cultivars
Bicolor: Hillbilly

Cherry: it's a hybrid(gasp), but the little ones love em and they're good :o
Paste: Jersey Devil

#1 overall favorite....probably a toss up between Bali and Flamme. I'll be sure to post back with 6 or 7 "#1 overall favorites" in the fall...LOL :D

[giardiniere]

Since this is the first year that I've really grown heirloom varieties (even though I did try one Cherokee Purple last year), I can't comment on what my favorite is. I tried to choose varieties that would do well here in Kansas. This is what I'm growing this year.

Box Car Willie
Cuostralee
Arkansas Traveller
German Red Strawberry
and a grape variety that I'll just pick up at a nursery.

I'll probably have half a dozen of each, in addition to my zucchini, peppers, eggplant, pole beans, cucumbers, and herbs.

[toby55]

jtcm05 - Dr Male's "100 Heirloom Tomatoes" is a wonderful book - I agree! I've used it over and over to pick what kind of tomatoes I want to grow.

In my zone 4/5 garden, the Red Brandywine (Landis Valley strain) does really well. I tried the regular Brandywine a couple of years ago, and although it tasted really good, the Red does much better up here. The regular had problems with leaf diseases. I do agree that the regular Brandywine was better tasting.

Ms Lefty - I'm growing Stupice this year. Thanks for the info!

giardiniere - About three years ago, I grew Coustralee. Talk about giant tomatoes! The largest was 3 lbs! Amazing...

[turnip]

For several years I've grown the little (little fruit, huge plant) red wild Mexican tomato that is sold by Johnny's as Matt's Wild Cherry (I think). Of course I plant other varieties, but these have become weeds, and I leave a few here and there. They are prolific, bear until frost without disease problems, and are very tasty. A single plant can sprawl over 12-15 feet, so be careful where you put them! - Turnip

[deb65802]

I use tomaotes in everything. We eat them day and night an for a family of 7 ---I need lots of tomatoes for canning and freezing.

for paste that i use in spaghetti sauce chili sauce etc I like Jersey devil for early variety, De Pinto and Amish paste all around.

for eating Brandywine and Cherokee purple, Mortagage lifter

i like tomatoes that are prolific, reliable and can stand our summer drought conditions of southern Mo

[tofuttibreak]

Arkansas Travelers will grow anywhere in my garden and produce more than any plant I've ever grown.
Old Germans taste incredible. I just started growing them last year and I could believe how nice they were!

[Ryan]

I haven't had a chance to try many but the Thai Pink Egg have done very well for us in containers on our porch and were quite tasty. I'm trying 'Patio Orange' this year as well. Once we get out of the apartment we'll have better luck, I think.

[jtcm05]

Ryan, for good container tomatoes, try Silvery Fir Tree, Citron Compact, New Big Dwarf, Lime Green Salad or Golden Dwarf Champion.

[Ryan]

Thanks for the suggestions. The descriptions don't always make it clear which ones will work best in containers. One of the green varieties we tried took over the porch it got so big - and we didn't get a tomato off the plants. It wasn't well suited to our conditions, I think.

[Bluegillman]

I haven't had a chance to try many but the Thai Pink Egg have done very well for us in containers on our porch and were quite tasty. I'm trying 'Patio Orange' this year as well. Once we get out of the apartment we'll have better luck, I think.

How big was the container? How was the dirt mixed with? Stakes? Full sun?

[Ma's_Garden]

I have grown tomatoes of every color. It's hard to choose favorites, but here's a try:

Red: Moskvich
Bicolor: I have liked all of them!
Green: Green Zebra
Purple/Black: Cherokee Purple and Black Cherry

I haven't tried enough vaieties of the other colors to have favorites of them yet.

[Ma's_Garden]

I almost forgot to name my favorite currant tomatoes. They are Matt's Wild Cherry and White Currant.

[MichiganderGardener]

My fav.'s I grow every year:
Green: Aunt Ruby's German Green
Paste: Amish Paste
Pink: Brandywine, (also back in 1999 I grew a pink tomato called Rose and another called Rose de Berne, both were delicious!
Striped: Old German
Orange: Kellogg's Breakfast
Purple: Black from Tula, and Black Krim
GrapeTomatoe: Thai Pink Egg. Tastes good and the vines are always loaded. I dont have to replant these, they reseed themselves easily. I have loads of baby plants coming up late spring!

[Pickled_Melon]

Siberian; Moskovich; Super Marmande; Russian Rose.

[dellsangel]

I would like to buy a small amount of ready to plant Cherokee Purple plants. I live in central Wi. I would like to have them before June 15 2006.

[miller]

Hi,
Big Rainbow and Pineapple are awesome, Sungold and Snow White for cherries. Green Zebra is absolutely loved by this restaurant that I sell heirlooms to, and Eva Purple Ball rules, there always seems to be 5 or 6 purple tomatoes on each plant whenever I go out to pick!
Miller.

[mrtomatoexpres]

hi black southern night, purple cherokee, green aunt ruby's german green, green pineapple, green zebra, bi color big rainbow, mammoth gold, pineapple, orange hawaiian pineapple, persimmon, white great white, hugh's, white wonder, snow white cherry, yellow azoychka, lillian's yellow heirloom, yellow brandywine platfoot strain, beefsteak, brandywine sudduth's strain, delicious, german giant, giant belgium, italian sweet, storage longkeeper, keepsake :)

[Johnny Apple Seed]

My favorites for red would be german johnson or brandywine. for bi-color pineapple hands down. love the low acid fruity complex flavor. For cherries chadwick cherry, and sungold although it's a hybrid, I would like to try prize of the trials that seeds of change offers, that looks like a potential best for gold cherries.For plums I like black plums great black tomato taste heavy yeilds. For yellow, yellow brandywine,next year I will try the platfoot strain,very anxious to try that one. another great bi-color is german gold, very mild and fruity, I don't care for overpowering acid for tomatoes.
For black-so far black krim, I tried one from another gardener last year and want to grow my own this season. Cherokee purple are good also.
johnny apple seed.

[Gary]

These are the varieties I have germinated this season. I hope to grow out the Kentucky Heirlooms for a few seed and to enjoy the tomatoes. I have several friends who plan to take on some of these for the fun/enjoyment. It has taken me several years to collect all the Kentucky varieties. On some of these I only had as many as two seed shared which is a beginning.

Gary's list is a mix of all kinds of varieties folks have shared with me; with some I have a bit of information and others very little. I am more excited about growing tomatoes this summer than I have been in some time!
Warm regards,
Gary

Kentucky Heirloom Varieties 2006 ----

Old Kentucky – Light Yellow
Black Mountain Pink/ Harlan County
Kentucky Plate - Pink
Kentucky Potato Leaf -- Pink
Lenny and Gracie's Kentucky Heirloom Red
Lenny and Gracie's Kentucky Heirloom Yellow
Rose Beauty - Yellow/ Estil-Jackson County line.
Barnes Mountain Yellow/Estil County
Kentucky Heirloom Creamy Yellow
Barnes Mountain Pink/Estil County
Pike County Kentucky Heirloom - Pink/Pike County
Buckey Yellow/Madison County
"Granny Cantrell's" German Red/West Liberty, KY (May be available next season at Baker Creek as it is being grown by Merlyn Niedens.)
Depp's Pink FireFly 1880/Glasgow, KY
"Joe Thieneman's" Australian Heart/Jefferson County
William's Striped/Hardin County
Opal's Homestead/Old Kentucky
Frank's Large Red/Eastern KY
Purple Dog Creek/Central Kentucky --- germination failed on two attempts.
Lumpy Red
Super Choice
Uncle Mark Bagby/Western Kentucy
Grandfather Ashlock/Eastern Kentucky
Amish Oxheart
Opal's Homestead


Gary's Germination List 2006

Reinhard's Tomate -- germination failed
Aztec
Sweet Horizon
Russian Heart
Fuzzy Bomb
Lollipop
Black Pear
Cow's Tit
Black Sea Man
Preacher Cherry
Ararat Flamed
Ferris Wheel
Bulgarian Triumph
Dogma's Perfection
Black Zebra
Green Zebra
Red Zebra
Yellow Zebra
Coustralee
Crimson Triangle ---- germination failed
Byron's Cherrywine
Black Oxheart
German Red Strawberry
Nyuagous
Thessaloniki
Tiger Tom
Tigerlla
Grub's Mystery Green – Potato Leaf
Grub's Mystery Green – Regular Leaf
Aladin's Lamp
Dad's Sunset
Huge Black
Red Tommy Toe
Yellow Tommy Toe
Rose
Marammeno
Ham Green Favorite
Purple Hillbilly
Vita 29 --- germination failed
Oaxaca/Mexico --- germination failed
Vjera's Seed of Paradise
Japanese Black Trifle
Ramapo OP
Bear Claw
Orange Cherry – Potato Leaf
Possible Black Oxheart
Nicholaeona
African Vining Tomato
Amish Gold Cherry
Pink Pear
Valley Girl Cherry
Golden Grape Cherry
Max's Green
Tiny Tiger
Hog Heart
Purple Passion
Rouge D'Irak
Olga's Round Yellow Chicken
Golden Sunray
Trip-L-Crop
Daniel's Heirloom Tomato -- Baker Creek offering 2005
Black Tom
Potato Tom
Grandpa Willie -- germination failed
Bogarty
Milka's Red Bulgarian
Red Barn-- germination failed
Chapman
Red Penna
Blosser
Brimmer Pink
Giraffe
San Francisco Fog
Sungold Cherry -- Only Hybrid F1 germinated
Germaid
Pasture
Green Giant
White Oxheart -- germination failed
Brazillian Beauty
Sandul Moldovan
Turkey Chomp
Stick/Cural
Varigated --- germination failed
Cabin
Tomato Gajo de Melon – Cherry --- germination failed
Jenning's Pineapple
Red Peach—PI 633503(USDA) Old Seed
Gift From Woodlands – Old Seed
Wolford Wonder – Pink Heart
Dr. Walter -- NZ
Re: Umberto Tomato
Guernsey Island
Mini Roma
Roma Cherry
Wes
Simpson's Summer Palace
Tennessee Britches
Cassack Pineapple Husk Tomato

I will update you on my favoites among these later in the season.
Gary Millwood
Louisville, Kentucky

[Gary]

I have been collecting seed of Kentucky Heirloom Tomato varieties for several years and have these seedlings ready to plant within the next several days. I thought some of you might find them of interest.
Gary/Louisville

KENTUCKY HEIRLOOM TOMATOES:

"Joe Thieneman's" Australian Heart : Seed saved through the years by the Thieneman family, 85 days, indeterminate — Regular leaf plants produce fruit that are large, red, heart-shaped tomatoes with few
seeds. A tomato that tastes like summer!

Barnes Mountain Pink: Large, deep pink beefsteak fruit, up to 3 lbs.
Good taste. Indeterminate.

Barnes Mountain Yellow: Meaty, slightly ribbed fruit on ten-foot
vines with dense foliage. High yields, indeterminate.

Black Mountain Pink: Round, pink fruit is 1 lb. or more, with very
good flavor. From an abandoned homestead in the Black Mountain area in Harlan County, fall of 1933. Indeterminate.

Buckeye Yellow: Large to extra-large, ivory to light yellow fruit
with pink streaks showing from blossom end. Thin skin very prone to
cracking, must be staked, indeterminate.

Depp's Pink Firefly , Family Heirloom Glasgow, KY. 1890, Potato
leaf, large up to 2 ½ lbs, Red/Pink round tasty fruits with
flecking, Indeterminate

Frank's Large Red, Eastern Kentucky Family Heirloom, old seed
discovered in the attic following the death of a family member.
Large five inch tasty red tomatoes, Indeterminate

Grandfather Ashlock, Eastern Kentucky Family Heirloom grown by three
generations of the Ashlock family, fruit are pink, one pound and up,
Indeterminate.

"Granny Cantrell's" German Red , only tomato ever grown by Lettie
Cantrell of West Liberty since the '40s. Large Beefsteak tasty
fruits, regular foliage, Indeterminate. Lettie died in January at
the age of 96. Merlyn Niedens is growing it this year to share with
Baker Creek for their 2007 seed catalogue.

Kentucky Heirloom : Regular-leaf plants with very high yields of 1/2
lb., cream yellow, seedy, juicy beefsteak fruit. Good flavor.
Indeterminate.

Kentucky Plate: Potato-leaf plant with smooth pink beefsteak fruit,
I - 1.5 lbs. each. Excellent taste and good yield. Resembles
Brandywine. Indeterminate.

Kentucky Potato Leaf: Potato-leaf plant with good yields of 1-lb.
pink beefsteak fruit. Very good taste. Indeterminate.

Kentucky Amish Oxheart , Casey, County Heirloom, very large, red
oxheart, great flavor, variable shape, regular leaf, solid texture,
good production.

Lenny & Gracie's Ky. Heirloom (Red): Regular leaf, large red fruit,
very good flavor, heavy producer. From the Johnson/Magoffin County
area of eastern Kentucky.

Lenny & Gracie's Ky. Heirloom (Yellow): Large, yellow, ribbed fruit
with a pink/red
blush and a juicy, fruity flavor. From the Johnson/Magoffin County
area of eastern Kentucky. Indeterminate.

Lumpy Red, Clay City, Kentucky Heirloom, plants 5/6 feet tall,
Indeterminate, medium red, tasty ribbed fruits, wonderfully
delicious, prolific. Must be staked.

Old Kentucky: Regular-leaf plant, with a good yield of 6- to 12-
ounce, light yellow fruit. Good flavor. Indeterminate.

Pike County Ky. Heirloom: Regular-leaf plant, giving a fair yield of
8-12 oz. pink fruit. Good flavor. Indeterminate.

Rose Beauty: Large yellow fruit with pink blush on blossom end, 1.5
lbs., very good flavor & productivity. Grown in the late 1920's and
early 1930's on Happy Top Road on the Estill/Jackson County line in
Kentucky. Indeterminate.

Super Choice, Kentucky Heirloom, large red round and slightly
flattened fruit, excellent taste, regular leaf, good production.

Uncle Mark Bagby, a Western Kentucky Heirloom, large pink, mild
flavor, slightly flattened, 75/85 days, Potato leaf. This tomato is
a true family heirloom brought to KY by Mark Bagby from Germany in
1919

Yoder's German Yellow, Kentucky/Tennessee Heirloom from an Amish
family which has grown this same tomato for more than fifty years.


T.C. Jones Yellow Tomato, Cumberland County Kentucky, Family grown for three or more generations, Small/Medium size yellow fruits with blush striping at blossom end, from Harry Jones, Crestwood, Kentucky


William's Striped, Kentucky Heirloom, seed saved by an elderly
gentleman from Glendale, Kentucky. These fruit have beautiful red
and yellow striping inside and out. In a Taste Test last summer
at Baker Creek Summer Festival, won out as a favorite. Seed shared by Georgia Emond and grown by Merlyn Niedens who introduced it in 2006 Baker Creek Catalogue, Indeterminate, Mid-season.


KY Beefsteak , Eastern Kentucky, a *huge* luminescent orange
tomato with mild fruity flavor. Indeterminate.

Opal's Homestead, 75 days, Small to Medium red fruit irregularly shaped slightly flattened, very good flavor, productive, old Kentucky strain.

Searching for Old Tomato Varieties grown by Families
I am always looking for good tomato varieties, which families have
grown over the years and saved seed and shared with family and
friends. I am especially interested in varieties, which came from
the mountain regions.
Please contact me if you have seed or know someone who does. I would
appreciate it very much.
Gary Millwood
Louisville, Kentucky

[redbrick]

Gary, my hat's off to you! My word, how do you find the time, or the room? I'm exhausted just reading your posts!

One question, are you looking for KY heirlooms exclusively? I have seed for Italian Oxheart and Howard's German, but neither come from Kentucky. Let me know if you're interested.

[Gary]

Andy, You have mail!
I have the two varieties you mention. But I am always interested in discovering a variety I don't have or have grown.
I participate in the Applachian Heirloom Seed Conservancy and am interested in growing and saving seed of Kentucky varieties as well as other varieties from the mountain states. Many of the ones I am growing are from states other than Kentucky.
I have a short bio in the --where are you from Thread. I had to retire almost five years ago following a second open heart surgery in less than four years. I grow Heirloom Tomatoes for therapy and enjoyment!
I have enjoyed IDigMyGarden Forums.
Gary/Louisville

[Brook]

Andy and others: Gary does more than just grow them. He is one of the most knowledgeable people I know when it comes to heirloom tomatoes. If y'all have any questions about them, Gary's the one to ask.

Gary: This might be a good place to discuss CHOPTAG, dontcha think? I'm sure many of the members here would be interested.

[Gary]

Brook knows that I am involved with the Cincinnati Heirloom Open Pollinated Tomato Associate Growers. This will give you an idea of what folks with an interest in tomatoes can do.
I am a member of the CHOPTAG group mentioned below; we meet twice a year -- in the Spring for a Tomato Plant Exchange and in the Summer for a Tomato Taste Fest.
Below is a link to some photos from the CHOPTAG ( Cincinnati Heirloom & Open Pollinated Tomato Associate Growers) 2005 Taste Fest. Great fun, great food, and awesome people. Most of the folks who meet with us post on the Tomato Thread at Garden Web; that is how we all began and decided to meet. There is no membership -- No Dues. We share what we have and freely! We alwqays bring a couple of speciality dishes we share with the group. Enjoy!
Gary/Louisville

CHOPTAG web site ---
These are some serious Tomato Growers, You better believe It!
http://www.ih.k12.oh.us/estech/mark/garden/choptag.htm

Folks who attend the TomatoPalooza come from near and far to Raleigh, NC. Many of these folks learned about it at Tomato Growing Thread at Garden Web and Tomatoville. No Cost/No Dues.
This was my trip to visit family in Carolina and attend the TomatoPalooza3 in Raleigh What a privilege it was to be able to make it to the TomatoPalooza3(July 30th) in Raleigh this year.
It has been four years since we visited family in Carolina due to my health. We left home the week before the event and visited with family in SC and NC. Gary dropped Katharine off in Graham where she worked after college and where we were married; Katharine visited friends while Gary went on to Hillsboro to visit Shoe (Rex Griffin a friend from Dave's Garden) and then on to the TomatoPalooza3 gathering at Ulstead Park in Raleigh.

It was great being able to meet gardening friends/tomato enthusiast I had corresponded with for so long. Of course the folks out did themselves with the large number of varieties (163+).

The opportunity to indulge in tomatoes of every color and shape was unbelieveable! These were my choice for flavor:
Neves Azorian, Jaunne Flamme, my "Granny Cantrell's" German Red, Turkey Chomp, Orange Heirloom, Kellog's Breakfast, Pineapple Fog, Vintage Wine, Cassack Pineapple(cherry), Little Lucky, Andrew Rahart's Jumbo Red, Shuntuski, and Wes.

We enjoyed the mountains going and coming, especially when the haze and showers came. Needless to say we were both worn out arriving back home; I guess two or three days rest and gathering of my weeks accumulation of tomatoes will energize me. I have started my seed saving; there is hope for another year and another season for growing tomatoes. Reflecting on the event and the wonderful folks I met assures me that the "treasured" Heirloom Tomato Seed have found hosts and homes and are real Keepers!

Group Picture from the Tomatopalooza.
http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/7517/p73000365iy.jpg

View of participants checking and tasting tomato varieties. http://img136.imageshack.us /img136/5615/p73000264ug.jpg

This table is the length of the pavillion.
http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/6061/p73000270ne.jpg

The Tomato Varieties presented for tasting
Aker's West Virginia
Amish Yellow
Ananas Noire
Andrew Rahart Jumbo Red
Anna Russian
Arkansas Traveler
Ashleigh
Aunt Ruby's German Green Cherry
Aunt Ruby's Green
Azoychka
Basinga
Beefmaster
Beefsteak
Beefy Boy
Better Boy
Big Beef
Big Zac
Bisignano #2
Black Cherry
Black from Tula
Black Krim
Black Zebra
Box Car Willie
Brandy Boy
Brandywine
Brandywine, Quisenberry
Burpee's Globe
Burracker's Heart
Carbon
Casblabacito Rojoco (sp?)
Celebrity
Chadwick Cherry
Chalk's Early Jewel x Kosovo
Cherokee Chocolate
Cherokee Green
Cherokee Purple
Chiquita
Copia
Cossack Pineapple
Creole
Cuostralee
Delicious
Dr. Carolyn
Dr. Carolyn x ? F2
Dr. Wyche
Dr. Wyche's Yellow
Druzba
Dwarf Recessive
Dwarf Stone
Earliana
Earl's Faux
Evergreen
Federle
Fordhook First
Frank's Large Red
Galina's Yellow Cherry
German Queen
Globe
Golden Bison
Golden Dwarf Champion
Golden Sweet
Goliath
Granny Cantrell German Red
Green Giant
Green Zebra
Hawaiian Pineapple
Heidi
Homestead
Hugh's
Improved Colossal Yellow
Jaune Flammee
John's Big Orange
Jubilee
Juliet
June Pink
Kalman's Hungarian
Kellogg's Breakfast
Kellogg's Breakfast Cross (KBX)
Kimberly
Lescana (sp?)
Lida Ukrainian
Lillian's Yellow
Lime Green Salad
Little Lucky
Lucky Cross
Lydia's Large Red Ukrainian
Magnus
Malschor Isura
Manapal
Marianna's Peace
Marizol Maroon
Martino's Roma
Master Caruso (sp?)
Mayo's Delight
McClintock
Mexico Midget
Money Maker
Mortgage Lifter
Mountain Pride
Nebraska Wedding
Nepal
Neves Azorean Red
New Big Dwarf
Noire de Charbonneuse
Noire de Coeusboeuf
Not Aunt Ruby's Green
Not Chalk's Early Jewel
Not Cherokee Green
Not Manyel
Not Ohio Red
Not Orange Heirloom
Not White Queen
Old Brooks
Orange Banana
Orange Heirloom
Orange Russian 117
Paragon
Park's Super Bush
Peach Blow Sutton
Peak of Perfection
Pik Red
Pineapple
Pineapple Fog
Price's Purple
Prudens Purple
Purple Calabash
Rainbow Beefsteak
Red Brandywine
Rinaldo
Rosalita
Rose
Rosy Morn
Russian 117
Russian Truffle Black
Rutgers
Scorsby Dwarf
Shuntuski (sp?)
Siberian Pink
Stick
Stone
Stump of the World
Stupice
Sun Sugar
Sundrop
Sungold
Supersonic F2
Sweet Million
Taxi
Taxi (mislabel or cross?)
Tennessee Britches
Thai Pink Egg
Tiffen Mennonite
Tip Top
Turkey Chomp
Variegated
Victoria Paste
Victorian Dwarf #2
Vintage Wine
Wes
White Oxheart
Wisconsin 55
Yellow Brandywine
Yellow White

[redbrick]

Hi Gary,

All I can say is: "Wow!" That's quite an accomplishment and an involvement. It's amazing who you'll "meet" on these forums!

Me, I just play around in my back yard. You can get an idea by checking out Pet Projects (I think it's in the General Diggings heading). I have seeds for maybe ten or fifteen tomato varieties in cold storage. Every year I plant Howard's German, Italian Oxheart and Mr. Stripey (German Strain), plus a few trial varieties. This year they're Black Cherry, Striped Cavern and Azoychka, plus a couple plants of a red sport of potato top (I think) from last year that I call Pam's Tennis Ball. Hopefully, the characteristics will stabilize. I named it to describe the size and shape, and because my mother-in-law, Pam, said they were so good. Personally, I still prefer the Italian Oxheart and Mr Stripey.

Maybe you can solve a mystery for me. I have seed from a tomato which I got at the Meadow Farm Museum in Richland VA. The caretaker said he thought it was an heirloom with "peach" in the name. The plant is indeterminate, not very vigorous, with normal tomato leaf form. The fruit is on the small side (between a ping pong ball and tennis ball) and pink with a violet blush. For lack of a better name I've been calling it Richmond Peach. I haven't read a "peach" variety description yet that came close to matching it.

One last question. What does the designation "not" mean in the list of sampled tomatoes mean? Does that imply a mistaken variety, a sport of that variety, or a mixup in seed stock?

[Gary]

Andy, There are several varieties of the Peach type. I grow one called Elberta Peach which has a frosty type foliage and the tomato has a slight fuzz to it. There is another which is light creamy yellow with a blush.
What you have sounds like Peach Blow Sutton an old variety. I have not growm it but have tasted it at both TomatoPalooz3 and CHOPTAG.
The "Peach Blow" refers to the name of a fancy Victorian blown glass known for its gorgeous variation of red flowing to peach pink color on the edges. It is a rare and expensive process of the 1900s of glassmaking and was usually reserved for "bride's baskets" , fancy glass bowls set in silver holders, a popular wedding gift at the turn of the century. Sometimes the glass was made to appear like satin instead of shiny. "Peach blow" was made both ways.
The "Sutton" refers to a seed company at the time who capitalized on the popularity of the lovely and prized glass, when it named this odd tomato. The fruit really do have that odd coloration of pink, peach and red. They also have an even stranger slightly sticky, fuzzy skin. They resemble nectarines, both in "fuzziness" and size. They are considered an indeterminate tomato. You might very well find this growing in a "Living Musuem" Garden.
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/118614/index.html

When you see a variety listed by Name and --NOT -- that means they acquired the seed of what they thought was a named variety which grew out differently. This could have been mixed seed or crossed. Another possibility is that it might have been a mutation or change in growth from the parent seed. Many growers enjoy growing these out to see if they can grow a stablized variety they might like.
Sounds like you are gradually increasing your varieties and that's good!
Hope I have answered you questions.
Gary/Louisville

[mrtomatoexpres]

hi wow gary do you now a lot i just learned a lot from you keep up the good work. like redbrick i grow 27 kinds of tomatoes in the backyard,its fun. but man you must have a lot of property. :)

[mrtomatoexpres]

hi redbrick do you want to trade italian oxheart, howard's german, mr. stripey geman. if so look what i have and maybe trade :)

[zebraman]

Hey Gary;I have 150+ varieties,most of which don't match your list but Several do.I just received seeds from Bulgaria Today.5 of which I know nothing about.
1.Bela-paste det.
2.Bononiya-det.
3.Ideal-indet.
4.Reisetomate-(Mex or Guat)?
5.Trapezitza-det.
If you can fill in the blanks let me Know.

[Gary]

Zebraman, I have not listed my Heirloom Tomato list. The long listing above are tomatoes which were available for the TomatoPalooza3 Tomato Taste Gathering in Raleigh, NC last July 2005.
My French is poor in translation. Several of these are German/Russian
Have Geza give you translations when you order seed from him. lol
Gary/Louisville

Beta
Fruit rouge rond de 65 à 70 grammes. En bouquet de 6 à 7 fruits. Ondulation en partie haute. Dépression moyenne. Tendance au fendillement. Plant de 50 à 55 centimètres de hauteur. Variété bien adaptée aux régions à climat frais et saison courte. 52 à 55 jours. Croissance déterminée. Variété fixée originaire de Russie. Δ
http://ventmarin.free.fr/passion_tomates/tomates_b/tomates_b.htm
Tomato 'Imur Prior Beta' (Lycopersicon lycopersicum)
Like beta-carotene, lycopene is a carotenoid, responsible for the bright red color of the tomato A 60 day 3 ounce red cultivar, Potato leaf, Indeterminate vended by Sandhill Preservation.
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/118270/index.html

Bononiya Is listed here but no description
http://ventmarin.free.fr/passion_tomates/tomates_b/tomates_b.htm
I have written an e-mail to someone else who is growing it for any information they may have.

No information on Ideal

Riesentomate aus OP Fruit rouge tellement torturé que vous ne savez
(I don't know if Risentomato and Risentraube are the same or not.)

Riesentraube OP "Riesentraube" signifie "masse de raisins", en allusion à la quantité de fruits, parfois jusqu'à cinquante, qui poussent sur chaque grappe. En début de croissance, la première grappe est souvent plus imposante que le plant lui-même et nécessite un support à elle seule. Produit 2 ou 3 grappes de 20 à 30 fruits. Fruit rouge de format grosse "cerise" de 3 à 4 centimètres de diamètre, au ventre pointu, qui ne craquent jamais. Plant de taille moyenne. Cultivée par les Amish dès 1855. Variété originaire de RDA. Servirait en Hongrie à faire du vin . Plant de 120 à 160 centimètres de hauteur au feuillage abondant et résistant. 70 à 80 jours. Croissance indéterminée. Variété fixée. 4
http://ventmarin.free.fr/passion_tomates/passion_tomate.htm

Trapezitza OP Fruit rouge rond légèrement aplati. Faible dépression à l'attache pédonculaire. 6 sépales. 60 à 65 jours. Croissance indéterminée. Variété fixée originaire de Bulgarie.
http://ventmarin.free.fr/passion_tomates/passion_tomate.htm

[Gary]

These are the varieties I have germinated this season. I hope to grow out the Kentucky Heirlooms for a few seed and to enjoy the tomatoes. I have several friends who plan to take on some of these for the fun/enjoyment. It has taken me several years to collect all the Kentucky varieties. On some of these I only had as many as two seed shared which is a beginning.

My list is a mix of all kinds of varieties folks have shared with me; with some I have a bit of information and others very little. I am more excited about growing tomatoes this summer than I have been in some time!
Warm regards,
Gary

Kentucky Heirloom Varieties 2006 ----

Old Kentucky – Light Yellow
Black Mountain Pink/ Harlan County
Kentucky Plate - Pink
Kentucky Potato Leaf -- Pink
Lenny and Gracie's Kentucky Heirloom Red
Lenny and Gracie's Kentucky Heirloom Yellow
Rose Beauty - Yellow/ Estil-Jackson County line.
Barnes Mountain Yellow/Estil County
Kentucky Heirloom Creamy Yellow
Barnes Mountain Pink/Estil County
Pike County Kentucky Heirloom - Pink/Pike County
Buckey Yellow/Madison County
"Granny Cantrell's" German Red/West Liberty, KY (May be available next season at Baker Creek as it is being grown by Merlyn Niedens.)
Depp's Pink FireFly 1880/Glasgow, KY
"Joe Thieneman's" Australian Heart/Jefferson County
William's Striped/Hardin County
Opal's Homestead/Old Kentucky
Frank's Large Red/Eastern KY
Purple Dog Creek/Central Kentucky --- germination failed on two attempts.
Lumpy Red
Super Choice
Uncle Mark Bagby/Western Kentucy
Grandfather Ashlock/Eastern Kentucky
Amish Oxheart
Opal's Homestead


Gary's Germination List 2006

Reinhard's Tomate -- germination failed
Aztec
Sweet Horizon
Russian Heart
Fuzzy Bomb
Lollipop
Black Pear
Cow's Tit
Black Sea Man
Preacher Cherry
Ararat Flamed
Ferris Wheel
Bulgarian Triumph -- germination failed
Dogma's Perfection
Black Zebra
Green Zebra
Red Zebra
Yellow Zebra
Coustralee
Crimson Triangle ---- germination failed
Byron's Cherrywine
Black Oxheart
German Red Strawberry
Nyuagous
Thessaloniki
Tiger Tom
Tigerlla
Grub's Mystery Green – Potato Leaf
Grub's Mystery Green – Regular Leaf
Aladin's Lamp
Dad's Sunset
Huge Black
Red Tommy Toe
Yellow Tommy Toe
Rose
Marammeno
Ham Green Favorite
Purple Hillbilly
Vita 29 --- germination failed
Oaxaca/Mexico --- germination failed
Vjera's Seed of Paradise
Japanese Black Trifle
Ramapo OP
Bear Claw
Orange Cherry – Potato Leaf
Possible Black Oxheart
Nicholaeona
African Vining Tomato
Amish Gold Cherry
Pink Pear
Valley Girl Cherry
Golden Grape Cherry
Max's Green
Tiny Tiger
Hog Heart
Purple Passion
Rouge D'Irak
Olga's Round Yellow Chicken
Golden Sunray
Trip-L-Crop
Daniel's Heirloom Tomato -- Baker Creek offering 2005
Black Tom
Potato Tom
Grandpa Willie -- germination failed
Bogarty
Milka's Red Bulgarian
Red Barn-- germination failed
Chapman
Red Penna
Blosser
Brimmer Pink
Giraffe
San Francisco Fog
Sungold Cherry -- Only Hybrid F1 germinated
Germaid
Pasture
Green Giant
White Oxheart -- germination failed
Brazillian Beauty
Sandul Moldovan
Turkey Chomp
Stick/Cural
Varigated --- germination failed
Cabin
Tomato Gajo de Melon – Cherry --- germination failed
Jenning's Pineapple
Red Peach—PI 633503(USDA) Old Seed
Gift From Woodlands – Old Seed
Wolford Wonder – Pink Heart
Dr. Walter -- NZ
Re: Umberto Tomato
Guernsey Island
Mini Roma -- Australia
Roma Cherry
Wes
Simpson's Summer Palace
Tennessee Britches -- Rare
Cassack Pineapple Husk Tomato

I will update you on my favoites among these later in the season.
Gary
Louisville, Kentucky

[zebraman]

Hey Gary;Thank You.I have no Idea who Geza is,I got the Seeds from Hristo who wanted Parching Corn in Seedswap.-

[bluelacedredhead]

Gary, I'll be looking forward to your critique. TY

But I have to tell you, if you keep posting names of heirloom's that have poultry names in them, I just might have to do an update to the Pet Projects discussion thread...As someone who breeds and shows poultry, I'm realizing that I can collect poultry related veggies as well...LOL

[Brook]

Zebra, I believe Gary is referring to Geza Korbely, an avid heirloom seed saver in Hungary whom many of us have traded with in the past.

Of course, now you cannot legally trade with anyone offshore unless they get a phytosanitary inspection certificate. So they either have to become willing smugglers, or not send seed to the U.S.

Oddly enough, I don't have Geza's email in my file. But I can send you his address if you want it.

[Gary]

Many of us exchanged seed varieties with Geza the last several years; I assumed that you had received seed from him. Restrictions have been placed on some international seed exchanges with rigid guide lines. I have attached the link to Geza's list of seed. If you contact him give him my regards. He may have information on descriptions of tomatoes I could not find for you.
Gary/Louisville

International Seed Exchange
Tomatoes and Peppers Varieties Listing -- Geza From Hungary
http://members3.boardhost.com/seedtrading/msg/1102.html

[zebraman]

Hey Gary and Brook;Thanks I will send him an IM but I only traded because He (Hristo)wouldn't take free seed.I usually Buy seed and occaisionally request seeds in a trade.I generally just send seeds that I have extra of.I will be sending the Var.s to Gary that I got from the USDA/Grin earlier this year.I was going to Order from Kokopelei in France but after what has been going on,I got the Idea that maybe more local shopping was more prudent.Thanks for the thread.-

[boston]

Anyone here try the Long Tom tomato

[johno]

white- Great White (large and sweet), black- Black Krim (small and meaty), pink- Arkansas Traveller or Pink Brandywine (it's a toss-up), bicolor- Hillbilly (large, sweet, and tomatoey), orange- Kellog's Breakfast, don't know about purple...

[Helen Wong-Joe]

My all time favorite is "Aunt Ruby's German Green". It's a green beefsteak, the favor is smooth and tasty with sweetness.

[robert.fallis]

Sandpoint and Subartic plenty
Sandpoint is an outdoor bush varietty , and subartic plenty a small early out door plant,

bob

[G. Gordon Gumbo]

Top 8:

Cherokee Purple
Indian Stripe
Cherokee Green
Opalka
Earl's Faux
Sun Gold
Wisconsin 55 Yellow
Neves Azorian Red

[jennyz]

Gary, Merciful heavens! How much room do you have to grow? Do you send all your tomatoes off to market? Or do you only grow for home use???? I'd really be intrested to know.

[jennyz]

You all might find if humorous to know that Geza's email address translates to tomato king@ freemail (laughing) just thought it might be something fun to share-I speak Hungarian-Jennyz

[Joan]

The first year we had 4 kinds. A yellow pear, green zebra, cherokee purple and brandywine. They were good in salads, green zebra for frying and we made the best tomato tarts using all 4. We always agreed this was our best season!

[windsng225]

Joan try this summer using all your tomatoes in a pizza on the grill. Here in Ct we call it fresh tomato pie. Grill one side of your pizza and flip over add olive oil over the top, salt and pepper, thinly sliced tomatoes and grated parm. and some mutz cheese and let her rip. It will be the best pizza you ever tasted. BTW if you happen to have some garlic flavored olive oil use that instead of just the regular olive oil. Delish! I am going to try a tart this summer, that sounds really good! I just love tomatoes, any kind, any shape, winter or summer. And they are sooooo good for you.
joyce

[052039]

ROSE D'BERNE IS AS GOOD AS IT GETS EXCEPT FOR brandywine.....

052039- BILL

[witnessthefall]

Like many of the others I stick with Brandywine and Cherokee Purple...annually. For green tomatoes the Green Zebras are a prolific producer and the fruit is delicious with a touch of acidity. Marvel Stripes are my favorite from last year. This year am trying some Sweet Persimmon, Giant Belgium, and Dr. Wyche's Yellow. Here in the San Joaquin Valley of California tomatoes rule! :)

[gloryglory]

Black Krim!

But it's really the only heirloom that I've had so far that I know the name of.

[windsng225]

Tomatoe's rule no matter where you live. Anyone who has a garden seem to be very proud of their tomatoes, I know this year I have started at least 20 different varities (3 of each kind) and so far all have come up. I just hope I will have enough room for all of them. But I think my favorate would be the Italian plum tomatoes that I grew last year. I bought them from this small place in Mass. called grow Italian, and they are big. They average at least 8oz each, very large and delish. Makes great sauce.
joyce

[G. Gordon Gumbo]

The original question is which variety of each color tomato would you pick.

That's really hard. Seems it changes every year.

In 2005, I would've said:

Red: Rutgers
Pink: Brandywine
Purple: Cherokee Purple
Yellow: Lemon Boy
Orange: Sungold
Green: Green Zebra
Bicolor: Audrey Jenning's Pineapple
White: never grew one

In 2006, I would've said:
Red: Big Boy
Pink: an unknown cross that showed up in Djena Lee
Purple: Indian Stripe
Yellow: another unknown bicolor cross that showed up in Djena Lee
Orange: Sungold or Juane Flammee (for different reasons)
Bicolor: the bicolor yellow/pink cross from Djena Lee
Green: Cherokee Green
White: never grew one

In 2007, I'm looking forward to discovering good things about:
Red: Romeo and Marianna's Conflict
Pink: Mozark and Gigant Novikov-10
Purple: growing Indian Stripe again
Yellow: Tom's Yellow Wonder and Spudayellow Strawberry
Gold: Dixie Golden Giant and Juane Flammee x Sungold
Bicolor: Audrey Jenning's Pineapple and whatever shows up in some crosses or grow-outs
Green: Grub's Mystery Green
White: still haven't grown any

G3

[johno]

Speaking of whites... I was sowing some tomato seeds today, and the last variety I opened was Snow White, a small, white cherry. I was very surprised at the seeds. They were totally unlike any tomato seeds I had seen before. They were fuzz-less and hard, even heavy for such tiny seeds - like little rocks. I am curious to see what, if any, other things are different about this white tomato.

[louanne]

Hasd anyone heard from sugarcane daddy...
wanted to let him know that the creoles he sent me are comming up...
thanks sugar....
NOw are these gonna be big ole maters...????

I am really looking forward to this years growing...honestly I usually have a blast with cherry tomatos....for some reason its thrilling to pick tons and tons of em....but I am hoping the black krim japanese triffle are really cool looking....I guess this year will give me a better idea of what my favorite will be...ha...
I do love to grow romas though....I really use them a lot...I like their size for most of my cooking and salads....
so far the hardest one ofr me to grow has been the brandy wines....usually cause the critters like them green...and just about the time I think one might actually ripen...it gets nabbed...
all my newest maters are up too...the golden currents and the millionaires...
it is really gonna be hard to grow some of each of what I have....without crowding

[zebraman]

Hey Louanne;They produce 8-12 oz,somewhat tart tomatoes that grow well in hot,humid climates.-

[louanne]

oh my that sounds wonderful.....I cannot wait...
can ya see me hanging over the vines watching for the ripe"one"!!!!
thanks z man

[finnteara]

I don't have any red's! I have Black, White, Green, Yellow, Pink. and Striped. Now eveyone I tell about my mater go " Don't you have any REAL tomatoe's?" Since I give away a lot through the season, I guess I need reds. I wanted to get some Amish Paste, does anyone have a suggestion for a great eating red?

[newbiedigger]

I am trying these varieties this year:

Cosmonaut Volkov
Pantano Romanesco
Pearly Pink Cherry type
Roma

Anyone grown the first two? I had a terrible time with my Roma's last year. I hope I can handle all 4 this time around.

[zebraman]

Hey Newbiedigger;The Pantano's are really great.They tend to have green on the shoulders when ripe,which is preferred in Italy.They have a great taste.Not too sweet and they produce a lot of fruit.Also they produce more if you tie the main stem to a stake as opposed to using a cage.-

[newbiedigger]

Thank you very much for the info!

[So Cal Gardener]

Our favorite is Cherokee Purple..hard to find but we also like the Bulls or Ox Heart tomatoes:cool:

[Rim Runner]

I am really enjoying this thread! I am not sure if it's a true heirloom, but I love Yellow Pears! I remember my brother and I getting up early in the morning and picking and eating yellow pears by the handfuls. My grandparents would always wonder why their yellow pear vines just didn't produce... I always grow them just for the memories!

[windsng225]

Rim, I grew those yellow pear tomatoe's 2 years ago and they are big producers. Although I don't care for the mild taste of them, they certianly look really pretty in a salad, my family enjoyed them a lot. From what I understand there are some red pear shaped tomatoes, which next year I will have to try. This year I am trying lots of tomatoes that I never tried before, some I just bought because I liked the name (I know, does not make any sence, but who knows, they might be great!)
Bill Jeffers, very generously sent me:
Indian stripe, brandy wine, pinky lee, earls faux, opalka, goose creek, ramapo, sam houston, neves azorean, brandy boy.
Also growing:
Red rutgers, floridade, cosmonaut volkov, persimmon, green zebra, green pineapple, purple price, large dark purple, brown berry, kelloggs breakfast, mortgage lifter, hillbilly, yellow stuffer, juane flamme, delicious, marglobe, torado.
I am only growing 3 of everything, on some of them, only 1 came up, but that's ok because I can get an idea of what they taste like and then decide if I want to grow again.

This is so much fun, growing things that you have no idea what they will turn out like. Have fun guys! I am.
joyce