Tomato Tasting--compare and share

[TexasGardenGirl]

Hello everyone! I did a quick search and didn't spot a thread where people were sharing their comparisons of different tomatoes. I may have missed it. I saw an old one on another forum and thought maybe people here might have different opinions. I know for me, seeing that thread made me realize I was trying the wrong kind of tomatoes if there wasn't at least one that I enjoyed. It made me realize there's so many varieties out there and they have so many different tastes. It made me wanna give tomatoes another try. I may still not like them. Or I may learn I really love them.

Anyway, I wanted to make a post that's all about sharing the different tomatoes we're trying and growing and such. I know it's gonna be a few months before anyone has any (I think it will anyway, I'm not sure). But maybe some of you wonderful gardeners have some tomatoes from last year.

It doesn't have to have a system. Just kind of a "eat and review" sort of thing. If you try two or more at a time, you can rate them on which one is best, worst, etc. And including a picture of the outer part and the cut interior is helpful. When I was on the other thread I realized how many different types of tomatoes there are. It's a little late for me to get my hands on most of the interesting varieties but next year I plan on ordering seeds early. And I'd love to hear people's opinions on what they loved this year so I can give them a try. Apparently, they can be sweet, tangy, acidic, savory, sour....I do see a lot of people say some varieties have that "good tomato taste" but since I've only ever tried grocery store tomatoes or the stuff on burgers or salad in restaurants (pretty much grocery store tomatoes) I guess I don't know what that means. I've always found tomatoes slimey and gooey. Not "meaty". So, let's see your tomatoes! Past years or when you get some this season. Or you can just tell me your favorites and the flavors they have. Educate me in tomatoes, please!

And since I don't have any 'maters at all, here's a lovely photo of some beautiful ones from the interwebs!

 

[Fernsdaddy]

I grow sweet 100 cherry tomatoes for pick n eat off the bush, its like candy to me, I also grow big boy for fried green tomatoes, once they turn red I give them away.

 

[Beth_B]

I love tomatoes and try different heirloom varieties every year. My avatar is a morning harvest from a few years ago. I grow way too many but give lots away.

Cherry tomatoes...l also eat them right off the plant like candy but they're good for cooking too! Yellow pear-shaped, black cherry tomatoes (don't recall the name) and sweet 100s.

Roma and Celebrity for cooking and freezing.

Cherokee purple, Mr Stripey, Black Krim and Brandywine for slicing.

 

[headfullofbees]

My only ever-present is my basket tomato, a Czech, large-cherry variety called, "Maskotka".

This year, the other varieties I'm trying are:
Black Cherry, a deep dark cherry variety, as the name suggests.

Slicers:
Stupice, another Czech variety, quite small for standard varieties, early, and supposedly renowned for its flavour, especially after the first few.
Alicante, standard, one of those tomatoes I've always meant to grow, but never got round to it, but this year my allotment mate has given me half-a-dozen.
Bloody Butcher, standard, supposedly a very strongly flavoured tomato. Well I've got sea-weed and volcanic rock dust, so they'll have the best chance to prove themselves.
Harbinger, standard, an old, old variety, again supposedly of good flavour, just a handful to try them.
Mortgage Lifter, beefsteak, I've heard good things about this tomato, and though I don't go much for large ones because they're marginal where I live, I'm trying two varieties this year, these and...
German Orange Strawberry, beefsteak, named after its colour, its shape, & where it came from, I admit, the name intrigued me.

Cookers:
San Marzano, plum, reputedly the best flavoured cooker, and again the sea-weed and rockdust will hopefully bring out the best in them.

 

[amelia88]

I've only ever grown cherry tomatoes - we just love them, similar to @Fernsdaddy to me they are just like candy - I could eat a bowl full at a time! We also grow basil so to me, cherry tomatoes, basil and some good fresh mozzarella are all a match made in heaven.

I do think at some point I would like to branch out to different varieties of tomatoes, but right now it's space constraints that have me just sticking with cherry tomatoes - and because they're our favorite too, of course

 

[TexasGardenGirl]

If I can manage to transplant and keep tomatoes alive, I'm going to grow sweet 100's for sure. I go to the nursery on pay day to see what they have in the way of heirloom varieties (so I can save the seeds). I'm also going to order a Cherokee purple, a Brandywine pink, and a Hungarian Heart. All heirlooms! Supposedly Hungarian Heart is a good tomato for everything;eating, sauces, canning, and roasting. Which is perfect for what I want!

 

[TexasGardenGirl]

Alright, update! I went today to pick up new tomato plants. I came out with 6 German Johnson plants, 1 Black Prince (already about to produce blooms), 1 Chocolate Sprinkle cherry tomato. And of course the 1 sweet 100 I already have. It doesn't look like I'll order the Cherokee purple, Brandywine, or the Hungarian Heart this year. Maybe I'll order the seeds or something and grow them myself next year. But that looks like my lineup for the season!

For fun, here's a shot of my Black Prince. Yay for little buds!

 

[Beth_B]

Looks like a happy little mater plant! I grew Black Prince year before last. Good slicing tomatoes but the one plant didn't produce much as I recall. But l dont have ideal tomato-growing conditions here - a bit too much shade and recent summers have been rather gray and gloomy. Happy growing!

 

[TexasGardenGirl]

Looks like a happy little mater plant! I grew Black Prince year before last. Good slicing tomatoes but the one plant didn't produce much as I recall. But l dont have ideal tomato-growing conditions here - a bit too much shade and recent summers have been rather gray and gloomy. Happy growing!

I'm hoping it stays happy now that it's out in my garden. I'm gonna get some organization if fertilizer for it, probably some fish emulsion, and hopefully that'll help keep it growing and happy with all the sunshine it'll be getting. And hopefully the other plants will fair well. They looked alright this morning. We'll see how they do when things get hot this afternoon. But they spent the day in my backyard getting the type of sun and heat they'll get in the garden before I planted them. None wilted so they should do fine in the bed today.