most common question: what tastes best?

15 years ago

In each opportunity of my meeting with folks who drive from throughout Georgia and even from Chattanooga and similar regional points to reach Cartersville Ga to select from among my 100 varieties, (with MANY more additions coming very soon), I have found that the consultative role generally ends in a discussion of an hour or so about heirlooms, what makes them special, how to plant, and far more, but the ONE question that is always the biggie is, What tastes BEST".

As I learned from the experts of another forum, THAT depends upon a lot of factors. Do you can tomatoes or intend to make juice or sauces? Do you often use tomatoes in cooking? Have you ever considered drying tomatoes? What does the perfect tomato taste mean to you? Describe the sensation that appeals to you? Do you like acidic or milder tomatoes? Is sweetness a major consideration. Have you ever experienced the other colors? What size tomatoes do you prefer? What about the texture and ration of seed to pulp?

Of the 5000 heirlooms available, tastes is literally a variable feast, as what tast incredble to you may not suit another. Fortunately, I began my quest with flavor as a foremost item for selection of which seed to start, but even among the 100 that were recommended as the best, there is still a tomato to address every taste and application. Truth be told, there really is NO reason why folks today to go away with anything less than something delicious, but it DOES require a bit of thought and a careful analysis of what YOU are looking for in a tomato.

Truth be told, I don't think folks would be driving to this little spot nort of Atlanta from Lagrange, Chattanooga, or evn Alabama if they found the unripened, shipped prematurely, waxen, bland fruit of groceries to be accepable. People today have TIRED of bland. NOW, they want not just any tomato, but THEIR tomato. At least with my initial list and descriptors of my first 100 that role of tomato consultant has become even more important than merely offering plants. I won't to be growing all that I have next year due to health limitations, but at least for this year many across this region will know and have some new varieties as well as having recived instruction of how to save and share their own seed. NOW, to begin to pot my second batch of new seedlings and even further broaden the field. I DO wish I had grown Sun Gold, Green Zebra, and FAR more Cherokee purple this year! We learn.

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Comments (6)

organicislandfarmer
15 years ago
That is so cool! I wish I had the space!
loratw619
15 years ago
I agree, Mens. I for one am far passed tired of those grocery store plastic tomatoes. In fact, I'll usually just do without first.

Cherokee Purple was a good one last year, but not one I took the time to save seed from. Too many others out there yet to try in search of that proverbial "perfect tomato." :)
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wordwiz
15 years ago
>> Truth be told, I don't think folks would be driving to this little spot nort of Atlanta from Lagrange, Chattanooga, or evn Alabama if they found the unripened, shipped prematurely, waxen, bland fruit of groceries to be accepable. Truth be told, I don't know anyone who is going to drive more than a couple of miles to buy tomato plants. But you are saying people drive 100 miles or more to pick up a few plants? Wow! How did they hear about you?

Truth be told (you used that phrase a couple of times), it seems a little late to be starting seeds so you can sell seedlings to southern growers (or maybe you meant to include Indianapolis and Milwaukee in the list of places people drive from to get your plants). Care to explain?

Mike
mensplace
Original Author
15 years ago
I started my seeds in January, so I have plants that were strated between January and monthly since that time, some of which are still in the seedling flats. There are MANY motivations as to why folks come through the Atlanta area. My primary gola was to grow out two of each, save seed for next year of my original collection and then to save seed from those I grow for others next year. I chose not to ship plants as that would leave a LOT of room for plants to be in less than optimal condition. I placed ads in the Ag review and Craiglist. Most have come from Craigslist. I now have about 125 varieties and am simply trying my best to provide quality plants, teach folks about heirlooms, and teach them how to save seed. After two recent strokes and a very aggresive spinal disease, there is no way that I can do this next year. Most folks have no idea how much work there is involved in raising quality plants from seed, especially when you are approaching 1500. However, ever single opportunity has resulted in a wonderful opportunity for sharin a LOT more than just the plants.
wordwiz
15 years ago
What's your Craig's List ad - I would like to look at it?

Mike
mensplace
Original Author
15 years ago
Mike, The ad is under the Atlanta section of items for sale. Don't know where you are, but here in Atlanta it's almost routine to drive forty miles for many things as Atlanta, not even including the suburbs and surrounding community is a LONG way across. For us to even go to the Dekalb farmers market we drive 60 miles. Driving across town is a routine matter for plenty of shopping trips or to find specific items. I'm sure millions of people drive to and through the metro area (which reaches out 50 miles on all sides) every day. Folks LIKE tomatoes...especially good ones! Many, myself included, long for that first delicious tomato sandwich every year. Not only is the flavor without equal, but IT's TRADITION.