September 16, 2012 -- 2012 Tomato Trials

I am growing 12 varieties of tomatoes on my patio this year. I promise myself, less is better next year. It's already September 16 and we've had few tomatoes so far -- all larger patio tomatoes have had blossom end rot -- the Sweet Million cherry tomatoes are perfect, sweet and plentiful -- like candy.

Did a pruning on the tomatoes today and am picking partially ripe tomatoes and finishing them in sealed paper bags. Fruit naturally produces ethylene gas which helps stimulate ripening.

I am most impressed with Plum Tigris, a compact, robust plant - 2.5 feet tall, with beautiful perfect plum shaped, stripey fruit -- all 12 of them 1-2 oz each, maturing at the same time. Can't wait to taste them.

Next are the red zebra globe tomatoes. The coloring is pretty orange, green and gold stripes. The two harvested globe tomatoes total 3 oz. I will update on the coloring once it's fully ripened and provide comments on how they taste.

Other varieties in alpha order:
- Black Krim - 1 tomato harvested with blossom end rot. The larger pot has increased productivity to 11 fruit set, 2 close to harvest.
- Black Prince - 4 foot tall plant with 10 fruit of varying sizes.
- Charlie's Mortgage Helper - 1 tomato harvested with blossom end rot. 7 fruit set.
- El Nano - 6 fruit set, 2 with blossom end rot.
- Marizol Gold - 1 tomato harvested with blossom end rot. 3 fruit set.
- Moskvich - One 3 oz. tomato harvested, I suspect it will turn yellow. 6 fruit set.
- Shanti's Mayne Island - 2 very large tomatoes on this 4 foot giant.
- Victoria - 1 tomato harvested with blossom end rot. 5 remaining fruit which look alright.
- Yellow Brandywine - no fruit set on this 4 foot giant.

I hope the weather holds for another 2-3 weeks.