August 10 - Tomato Trials

This year I decided to grow several varieties to check out how they would do on my patio and to determine if I wanted to grow them again. There are hundreds of kinds of tomatoes and I am growing 11 heritage varieties (12 in total), planted either in Ikea self-watering black plastic garden pots and/or my garden boxes (on wheels). With the self-watering pots I only need to water every other day, at least during the hot summer. This is what I have found out so far.

EARLINESS: Even with our wet spring/summer, winners are "Victoria" (one medium-sized red tomato), "Black Prince" (one medium-sized purple tomato), "Taxi" (three smaller yellow tomatoes) and "Yellow Pear" (two yellow cherry tomatoes). All were started as transplants indoors. Except for Black Prince, which has split, these ripe tomatoes are beautifully shaped, a robust color and firm to the touch. For best results, tomatoes should be left on the vine or the kitchen counter to mature.

PRODUCTIVITY: A more accurate method of comparison is by weight, however, to give you some idea of possible yield -- “Victoria" - 8 fruit, "Taxi" - 17 fruit; "Black Krim", "Pollock", "Black Prince" - 7-8 fruit; "Elfin Cherry" and "Yellow Pear" - 26-30 fruit; "Principe Borghese" - 20 fruit; "Ardwynna Paste" - 5 fruit (one tomato removed for blossom end rot); "Radiator Charlie's Mortgage Helper" - 2-4 tomatoes (two tomatoes with blossom end rot removed from plant in Ikea pot); "Fox Cherry" - blossoms and no fruit set. I hope to have further info on what was harvested at the end of the season.

TYPES: Tomato varieties are roughly divided into several categories, based mostly on shape, size and possible use.

• Slicing or globe tomatoes, used for a wide variety of processing and fresh eating – Black Prince ?, Pollock, Taxi, Victoria.
• Beefsteak tomatoes are large tomatoes often used for sandwiches and similar applications. They are kidney-bean shaped with thinner skin – Black Krim, Radiator Charlie.
• Plum tomatoes, or paste tomatoes (including pear tomatoes), are bred with a higher solids content for use in tomato sauces and paste, and are usually oblong – Ardywnna Paste, Principe Borghese.
• Pear tomatoes are obviously pear-shaped, and are a richer gourmet paste – Yellow Pear.
• Cherry tomatoes are small and round, often sweet tomatoes generally eaten whole in salads – Elfin Cherry, Fox Cherry.

GROWTH: All of my plants are around three feet except for Elfin Cherry, Radiator Charlie, Yellow Pear, Black Prince which are an extra foot. All plants have benefited from support with stakes, hoops or string. All tomatoes except Fox Cherry and Elfin Cherry (which share a garden box), one Radiator Charlie, Principe Borghese, Ardwynna Paste are being grown in the Ikea pots. I have used a canopy to protect the tomatoes from the elements (too much water and sun) and I believe this has reduced problems. The one variety grown in two different systems (Radiator Charlie) seems to be faring about the same.

INTERESTING FACT:  In it’s native habitat (South America), tomatoes are perennials.

I am by no means an expert on tomatoes and am interested in hearing from others about their adventures in growing this nightshade. Thanks for reading.