Let me tell you something about these black Tomatos. I've grown them for several years out of curiosity. They are a Heirloom variety, not a Hybrid. The new one, Indigo Rose, is a new cross between different old Heirlooms. When you hear 'cross', you think Hybrid. I looked it up. It is not a Hybrid. What that means, is, that the seeds of a Heirloom will produce true tomato seeds as long as you keep your plants separate from other varieties. That's good if you're in a disaster situation, then you know you have Tomato seeds that are 100% pure. Hybrid seeds are a gamble, they can revert to a previous cross, so you never know what you'll get. So, these black seeds are good to keep in your seed stash. That's where I'll keep them from now on. They will not be in my garden. Most people buy plant starts anyway.
The reason I don't want them is because there is no difference in the taste of black Tomatos and red ones. Oh, the plants themselves smell stronger, but, not the fruit. And these Heirloom Tomatoes grow too fast, too big and they tend to take on too much water. They get huge and misshapen and split and rot. They grow too fast to pick them all. I had Tomatos on my roof one year. It sounds amusing, but, it was gross. They rot and smell nasty and make a mess you have to clean up in the garden. I do not appreciate them at all. Big old deformed, split up, bug ridden messes. I'll plant Hybrids, thank you. Oh, and the anti-oxadent benifits wouldn't make any difference unless all you eat is Tomatos all day long. They need to stop pushing these things on people. Yeah, I know, I'm one to talk, since I tried them. It was a waste of my time, I'm telling you. The only thing that benifitted was the compost pile.
Hybrids in the middle..Heirlooms on the sides. Yukidy yuk.
11 comments:
We grew purple peppers last summer. They were actually black and we were disappointed. They were not a hybrid. We don't buy those plants. But they tasted the same, we just accidentally grabbed a few when we were loading our cart. Don't bother. They never got as big as green peppers and took a long time to fruit. Never again.
I tried grownig black Krim last year. They were a total disappointment. Every single one split. When they split you get those little gnats everywhere. My better boys were beautiful. I won't waste my time on the black tomatoes this year.
There's nothing like a tomato sandwich with salt and mayonnaise from a beautiful ripe, red, fresh off the vine tomato. I can't wait. Nothing like these tasteless, tough, shitty things they try to pass off as tomatoes in the store.
Awww, poor peppers. I grew an assorted pepper seed pack last year and they all turned out real nice. Some new odd ones I didn't recognize, but, they were nice. But, you're right about the purple ones. I grew those before and they're good, but, I was lucky to get 2 off each plant. They don't produce well.
Yep on the tomatos. I love my Better Boy, Big Boy, Big Girl, Early, Girl, Patio and Sweet 100s. Tried and true, you can't go wrong. I always grow a couple of yellow ones for variety. I have mini yellow pear tomatos that come up by themselves every year. I always leave a couple to grow. I'm so done with Heirloons. Leave them for the hippies who compost their own poop.
Heirlooms sell for big money at our farmer's markets. I quickly gave up buying them for all the reasons you listed.
Yep, they're reliable, but, if you have other options, ehh.
I was ready to get some plants but my nephew poisoned the weeds around my house. And I was going to plant some tomato plants in my flower bed. Does anyone know how long it takes until that poison wears out?
I have the same problem every year. We get too much rain at one time and the tomatoes split.
Two seasons ago my next door neighbor planted yellow pear tomatoes along our common fence. Now I had them last season too. I don't have the heart to rip them out.
Last year I had tomatoes coming up in my front flower garden. They were probably bird carried or squirrel buried. I transplanted them in the back.
I had nice peppers last year but my cucumbers were a bust. The sugar baby watermelons were great. I only got a few zucchini before powdery mildew got them. Too cool, too wet, and not enough sun.
Jane if it was a topical poison, sprayed right on the weeds, you should be good to go. It won't affect plants you put there. I just object to it because of the companies. They're taking over the world with greed. And if too much rain is the problem with tomatos, try planting the Patio variety in pots under a porch or overhang. Then you can control the water. It's a myth that tomatos have to have full sun.
panonymus, you had them come up too? They must be really hardy. My cukes are always poor, but, so were the zuchs last year. That was odd. I don't know why I can't grow good cukes here. I can grow anything else.
Yes Pat, I had 3 volunteer yellow pears come up.
I know the ground has to be really warm before you put cucumbers in and they need lots of sun. They are also prone to powdery mildew.
My problem last year was it was too cool and shady. The year before it was really hot and I had had more than i could give away. I planted them next to my chain link fence. It sounds like Iowa summers would be perfect for cucumbers.
I'm going to try and plant my zucchini after July 4th to avoid the vine borers.
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