Best New Tomato From Last Year and Your Must Grows Every Year

[b54red]

Originally Posted by sic transit gloria

Based on what you're saying, we have similar tastes, and I would agree with a lot of your list of "must grow." A couple that I have on my list that you don't are KBX, Caspian Pink, and the most recent "must grow" that I have added to my list, Rebel Yell.

I grew KBX and Caspian Pink for years. They both produced large fruits but to me KBX was a bit bland as are most yellow or gold tomatoes. It does make some beautiful tomatoes though. I quit trying to grow Caspian Pink because of low production and very poor fruit setting in the heat down here. It also fell prey to fusarium faster than most for me. A yellow that I used to grow regularly that was a bit more tart was Dr. Wyches Yellow but it still lacked that old fashioned flavor that I like.

I still grow Rebel Yelll most years but despite the name it is not one of the better tomatoes for setting in the heat so it is usually planted early. Some years it does really well and others not so good. The taste is not quite as rich as I like most years but it does produce well enough and taste good enough to be planted most years.

I write the initials of all of my tomatoes on them as I pick them and when I find myself consistently picking one or two first when I go to make a tomato sandwich or to put on a hamburger that is a sure sign of a must grow. On the other hand when I consistently choose another tomato over a particular variety for that purpose year after year it is getting close to being dropped from my must plant list. I just don't have room for all the decent tomatoes out there in my small garden so I have gotten a bit choosy. I just don't want to dedicate the time and effort into growing a tomato that I will end up only giving them away because there is always something better on the ripening table.

Bill

[sic transit gloria]

Originally Posted by b54red

I grew KBX and Caspian Pink for years. They both produced large fruits but to me KBX was a bit bland as are most yellow or gold tomatoes. It does make some beautiful tomatoes though. I quit trying to grow Caspian Pink because of low production and very poor fruit setting in the heat down here. It also fell prey to fusarium faster than most for me. A yellow that I used to grow regularly that was a bit more tart was Dr. Wyches Yellow but it still lacked that old fashioned flavor that I like.

I still grow Rebel Yelll most years but despite the name it is not one of the better tomatoes for setting in the heat so it is usually planted early. Some years it does really well and others not so good. The taste is not quite as rich as I like most years but it does produce well enough and taste good enough to be planted most years.

I write the initials of all of my tomatoes on them as I pick them and when I find myself consistently picking one or two first when I go to make a tomato sandwich or to put on a hamburger that is a sure sign of a must grow. On the other hand when I consistently choose another tomato over a particular variety for that purpose year after year it is getting close to being dropped from my must plant list. I just don't have room for all the decent tomatoes out there in my small garden so I have gotten a bit choosy. I just don't want to dedicate the time and effort into growing a tomato that I will end up only giving them away because there is always something better on the ripening table.

Bill

Agreed, there's no need in growing varieties that don't measure up. KBX, in my experience (could be the soil or some other difference) is one of the few gold/orange that do have a good, balanced flavor (i.e. not too mild).