Claudia said:Short list for me this year.

Jaune Flamme
Sioux
Rutgers
Sweet Ozark Orange
Pruden's Purple
Arkansas Traveler
Super Sweet 100

But a nice list!

Here are some of my tomato plants. These pictured are Beefmaster and San Marzano. The darn Beefmasters have no tomatoes set but the San Marzanos are full of green tomatoes.

Lots of new-to-me varieties this year:

San Marzano
San Marzano Redorta
Mexico Midget
Aunt Ruby's German Green
Indigo Rose
Black Cherry
Black Prince
Azoychka
The Dutchman
Bison

and some old favorites:

Country Taste
Riesentraube
Bloody Butcher
4th of July
Viva Italia
Juliet

Unfortunately, they are still waiting to be planted in the garden... we were still having frost warnings up to a couple of weeks ago, and then have had quite a bit of rain, and the few days that I could get into the garden there have been more urgent things to get planted (I start my beans in the greenhouse, and they were getting pretty overgrown, along with the cukes and winter squash). I did, however, notice a blossom forming on one of the Azoychka plants today...

Sandy, I love the way you have a combination of your old time favorites plus those new to you varieties to try.

Of your favorites I grow Juliet and Viva Italia each year and have grown 4th Of July. Your new to you list looks pretty good to me. I am sure you will love Black Cherry. The Aunt Ruby's German Green and Azoychka intrigue me. I might try those myself next year.

And I am trying San Marzano and it sets lots of tomatoes already!

" I am trying San Marzano and it sets lots of tomatoes already!"

Early set of tomatoes - now THAT is music to my ears !!

I'm actually hoping to replace Juliet with Riesentraube, which I've grown a couple of times in the past and they were quite similar and perhaps marginally better (a bit thinner skinned, and got some rave reviews about the flavor). If they produce well for me again this year, then likely I won't grow Juliet again. Similarly, I keep looking for a replacement for Viva -- it seems to always be the first to get hit by whatever disease gets to my tomatoes every year (I believe it is either fusarium or verticillium wilt); probably because they are determinate and aren't able to "outgrow" the dying off of the lower leaves and branches. Hopefully San Marzano and/or SM Redorta will be the one ! (or, if not, I'll just keep looking and trying...)

I don't know why I did not get Riesentraube to try. I saw plants of it and I have read that it tastes fabulous. I don't know if I would get rid of Juliet as it is so productive but this year I planted the entire 6 pack of them while I usually only plant 4. But possibly will just get more of the San Marzanos if they turn out to be a big hit. And they are looking very promising what with having lots of tomatoes set already. But then the Juliets also have lots of tomatoes set already.


Vivia Italia does very well for me but I do wish I could find San Marzano Retorta to try out.

Rita, if you decide to try growing SM Redorta from seed, I found it at the Tomatofest website. I will say that the seedlings were not nearly as vigorous as the "regular" San Marzano seedlings; time will tell how the actual plants do!

Rita, I notice you're using those wonderful industrial grade tomato stakes (aka steel fence posts )

Darn, I forgot I had a pile in the garage at my house. They haven't seen use in a few years and the cheesy stakes from the box store are really weak. I used them in addition to medium sized cages. Cages are great for bush varieties but a big storm can wreak havoc on yield with taller growing varieties.

My 2015 list:

Heirlooms:
Black Krim
Tula
Hillbilly
Belgium Giant
German Johnson
Old German
Green Zebra? (young volunteer)

Hybrids:
Big Boy
Mountain Pride
Sun Gold cherry


Only one of each but they're looking good. Mountain Pride was supposed to be Bush Goliath that I know I like. I've grown heirloom and hybrid Goliaths. I like them as both have been dandy producers with good sized fruit. If they're in stock in the morning, I'll find (or make) room in the flowerbed to stuff one in. Late but I've done it before with the bush variety and great results. I've noticed fruits on 4 plants in the last 2 days, the rest are right behind them. My bell peppers have done the same. We've had heat, humidity, and rain. The perfect storm to get the season started.

I got my San Marzano Redorta seed from Seed from Italy. They sell on line and have a great deal of nice seed of many things besides tomatoes.
http://www.growitalian.com/tom...

Weedwhacker said:Rita, if you decide to try growing SM Redorta from seed, I found it at the Tomatofest website. I will say that the seedlings were not nearly as vigorous as the "regular" San Marzano seedlings; time will tell how the actual plants do!

Good to know about the seed. We will see of I decide to do any from seed next spring but I really should to get some that I simply can't buy.

I think I will be really liking the San Marzanos I am trying (as I do so far ) but we will see when I get ripe fruit.

tveguy3 said:I got my San Marzano Redorta seed from Seed from Italy. They sell on line and have a great deal of nice seed of many things besides tomatoes.
http://www.growitalian.com/tom...

Oh Wow I just followed that link and what a great place. I have it starred now so I can find it to order seeds.

So Wes, you have a good selection of tomatoes yourself. Not as long as my list but we all know I am slightly nuts!

Anyway, yes I do use those green coated Metal Fence Posts I buy at Home Depot. I don't put them as stakes for each plant but make rows so I can Florida Weave. And I have other types of cages around here also. I use a combo of things.

This year will Florida weave many plants as I just didn't have cages to support all those plants that I bought.

My dh was going to toss the green posts we had used for the chicken wire fence last 2 years. I was like no way, I am going to use those as my stakes this year! Silly man....

Claudia said:My dh was going to toss the green posts we had used for the chicken wire fence last 2 years. I was like no way, I am going to use those as my stakes this year! Silly man....

Good thing you saved them.

OMG, toss out good gardening stuff !! ??

(where is the "slitting throat" icon?? )

He is not the gardener, he just reaps the benefits!!

I had to run out after that post and get the stakes up. Looks like we are going to get a storm. Humid as heck out there right now. I usually do it when I plant.

Weedwhacker said:OMG, toss out good gardening stuff !! ??

(where is the "slitting throat" icon?? )

Sounds like my late dad. My theory is why buy it twice if you don't have to? Dad's theory was "this is in my way".

Florida weave is interesting, once I have a garden at my house again I will try it. I have enough backyard for a little sanctuary and a little business. I've been yearning to sell cut flowers and veggies at the farmer's market. I have fun with the great vendors and I want to do it just for fun. I meet great folks from the consumer side, I'd meet even more as a vendor.

That's myself thinking aloud of course...

tveguy3 said:I got my San Marzano Redorta seed from Seed from Italy. They sell on line and have a great deal of nice seed of many things besides tomatoes.
http://www.growitalian.com/tom...

So I had more time to really look at the rest of the tomato seeds there. There are many that look really interesting to me. I put some in my shopping cart but have to think on it before buying. Thing is if I get 4 varieties the shipping charge is still the same $3.95 that it will be if I only order the San Marzano Retorta Seeds.

So I will be ordering those San Marzano Retortas. Also for sure will be ordering Pantano. Why this one? Because I found something in my research that the guy from this company said this is the best tasting tomato ever. Period. Best one. It is a beautiful looking tomato to boot. Enough reason for me to order it.
http://www.growitalian.com/tom...

Two others I like ate the gold colored Golden Boy as this year I am really interested in gold or yellow tomatoes.

http://www.growitalian.com/pro...

And other other I am looking at is Costoluto Fiorintino. I have tried the more common Costuluto Genovese tomato years ago and the taste was awesome. I don't know why I no longer grow it. But I liked what I read about this Costoluto Fiorintino.
http://www.growitalian.com/tom...

Realistically I don't know. I always want all these varieties but I am just not a seed starter. So even if I do go with seeds it will be on a limited basis.

LOL, Rita -- I wish we lived closer together; I'd be happy to start plants for you from seed, and you could provide me with the tomatoes ... (I really like the seed starting part the best!!)

Weedwhacker said:LOL, Rita -- I wish we lived closer together; I'd be happy to start plants for you from seed, and you could provide me with the tomatoes ... (I really like the seed starting part the best!!)

I really wish that could be so. I do love to grow the tomatoes but I really wish to start with plants. I am beginning to realize as I branch into these impossible to find locally types I am going to have to deal with at least some seed starting.