Best variety with high acid taste

CharlieM · March 5, 2014

Hi,
First off, I understand that most tomato varieties have pretty much the same acid levels but we all recognize that some varieties have a more acidic taste than others. I am looking for this type of tomato. It will need to be a variety that is available in garden centers since I don't seed my own plants.

I have used the "search" feature but have had very little luck on this subject.

Thanks to all who takes time to reply.

Fusion_power · March 5, 2014

This is a question that I am asked several times each week. Here are my best suggestions.

Rutgers is often available in garden centers. It comes as close as any tomato to having that old fashioned flavor bite.

Atkinson - often available in garden centers in the Southeast. Good for canning and is an excellent table tomato.

Homestead - descended from Rutgers, has some advantages over Rutgers. Good rich flavor.

Druzba - you would have to grow your own, but if you do, this is one very good tomato.

Box Car Willie - production on top of size on top of flavor. Very good tomato.

Lynnwood - This one is excellent for tomato sandwiches.

Andrew Rahart's Jumbo Red - Another rich flavored tomato well worth growing

snippits · March 5, 2014

Rutgers have that zing and taste great. If it rains way too much, I have had some that tasted like vinegar which I did not eat. Otherwise, it's a zingy winner in my book. Daconil and a copper treatment alternated will go a long way when under disease pressure. Just don't mix the two.

spacetogrow · March 6, 2014

Sioux seems to come up often when people want more acidic tasting tomatoes. My one experience with it agreed with that assessment. Also, it's supposed to deal with droughty conditions.

b54red · March 6, 2014

In the black tomatoes Berkley Tie Die Pink is fairly tart. One of my favorite reds that falls in that category is Druzba and it has been very productive as well as tasty. I'm growing Atkinson for the first time in a very long time. It used to be one of the favored tomatoes around here before fusarium got so bad. I'm hoping I can get some of that old time flavor again from a few of the old time tomatoes with help from grafting.

Bill

Redbaron · March 6, 2014

Like Fusion Power said, Rutgers is the old standby. I did however find an interesting one last year that was very popular with my customers and I personally liked myself as well. The Miracle BPF. A smaller tomato, but very early productive compact determinate and very good. Worked out good as my early while waiting on the Rutgers to ripen.

If you like that old fashioned tart taste in a simple round red tomato, I highly recommend it.

Sun City Linda · March 6, 2014

I would also add Silvery Fir Tree and Old Brooks for those who like them really tart!

creister · March 6, 2014

Agree with Sioux and would also add Break O'Day, although I've never seen them offered commercially.

bower · March 6, 2014

Peacevine Cherry is another tart one, don't know if available commercially in your area.

Tormato · March 7, 2014

I wouldn't know what varieties are available in garden centers in La. Where I am just about every garden center variety is sweet and mild. Mail order may be the best route.

Gary

recruiterg · March 7, 2014

I would add Aunt Gertie's Gold and Jaune Flamme,

ginger2778 · March 7, 2014

This is another one that you may just want to try to grow. Djena
Lee's Golden Girl, first place award winning at the Chicago Fair for several years in a row. It is a tart but richly flavored firm round yellow/ orange one.

Marsha

matilda'skid · March 7, 2014

You are making me plant more seeds. I already planted too many and now I have to plant Berkley Tie Dye and Box Car Willie whose packets are on my desk and had been passed over for others this year. It is so easy to plant seeds but it may be too late for your warm area.

March 5, 2014	#1
CharlieM Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Louisiana Posts: 12	Best variety with high acid taste Hi, First off, I understand that most tomato varieties have pretty much the same acid levels but we all recognize that some varieties have a more acidic taste than others. I am looking for this type of tomato. It will need to be a variety that is available in garden centers since I don't seed my own plants. I have used the "search" feature but have had very little luck on this subject. Thanks to all who takes time to reply.

March 6, 2014	#6
Redbaron Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 4,488	Like Fusion Power said, Rutgers is the old standby. I did however find an interesting one last year that was very popular with my customers and I personally liked myself as well. The Miracle BPF. A smaller tomato, but very early productive compact determinate and very good. Worked out good as my early while waiting on the Rutgers to ripen. If you like that old fashioned tart taste in a simple round red tomato, I highly recommend it. __________________ Scott AKA The Redbaron "Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted & thoughtful observation rather than protracted & thoughtless labour; & of looking at plants & animals in all their functions, rather than treating any area as a single-product system." Bill Mollison co-founder of permaculture

March 5, 2014	#2
Fusion_power Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,250	This is a question that I am asked several times each week. Here are my best suggestions. Rutgers is often available in garden centers. It comes as close as any tomato to having that old fashioned flavor bite. Atkinson - often available in garden centers in the Southeast. Good for canning and is an excellent table tomato. Homestead - descended from Rutgers, has some advantages over Rutgers. Good rich flavor. Druzba - you would have to grow your own, but if you do, this is one very good tomato. Box Car Willie - production on top of size on top of flavor. Very good tomato. Lynnwood - This one is excellent for tomato sandwiches. Andrew Rahart's Jumbo Red - Another rich flavored tomato well worth growing

March 5, 2014	#3
snippits Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: NC Posts: 77	Rutgers have that zing and taste great. If it rains way too much, I have had some that tasted like vinegar which I did not eat. Otherwise, it's a zingy winner in my book. Daconil and a copper treatment alternated will go a long way when under disease pressure. Just don't mix the two.

March 6, 2014	#4
spacetogrow Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: MN zone 4 Posts: 359	Sioux seems to come up often when people want more acidic tasting tomatoes. My one experience with it agreed with that assessment. Also, it's supposed to deal with droughty conditions.

March 6, 2014	#5
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	In the black tomatoes Berkley Tie Die Pink is fairly tart. One of my favorite reds that falls in that category is Druzba and it has been very productive as well as tasty. I'm growing Atkinson for the first time in a very long time. It used to be one of the favored tomatoes around here before fusarium got so bad. I'm hoping I can get some of that old time flavor again from a few of the old time tomatoes with help from grafting. Bill

March 6, 2014	#7
Sun City Linda Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: SoCal Inland Posts: 2,705	I would also add Silvery Fir Tree and Old Brooks for those who like them really tart!

March 6, 2014	#8
creister Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Abilene, TX zone 7 Posts: 1,478	Agree with Sioux and would also add Break O'Day, although I've never seen them offered commercially.

March 6, 2014	#9
bower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Newfoundland, Canada Posts: 6,793	Peacevine Cherry is another tart one, don't know if available commercially in your area.

March 7, 2014	#10
Tormato Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MA Posts: 4,959	I wouldn't know what varieties are available in garden centers in La. Where I am just about every garden center variety is sweet and mild. Mail order may be the best route. Gary

March 7, 2014	#11
recruiterg Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Edina, MN (Zone 4) Posts: 945	I would add Aunt Gertie's Gold and Jaune Flamme,

March 7, 2014	#12
ginger2778 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Plantation, Florida zone 10 Posts: 9,283	This is another one that you may just want to try to grow. Djena Lee's Golden Girl, first place award winning at the Chicago Fair for several years in a row. It is a tart but richly flavored firm round yellow/ orange one. Marsha

March 7, 2014	#13
matilda'skid Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Missouri Posts: 309	You are making me plant more seeds. I already planted too many and now I have to plant Berkley Tie Dye and Box Car Willie whose packets are on my desk and had been passed over for others this year. It is so easy to plant seeds but it may be too late for your warm area.