That's easy ;-) why do you need 2?:

Rutgers ("semiddet")

ok, #2, ummmm... Marglobe (det., pots, short season, also "semidet")?

I like the tastes ;-)

PC

Early Girl and Cherokee Purple.

Out of the thousands available it is impossible to pick just 2. Just breeze through all the other discussions currently running here to see how true that is - hundreds of suggestions!

Regardless of the variety, it is the limitations imposed when growing in pots that will determine your production and taste. That said I'd agree with with any of the suggestions made above. Also consider Black Krim and Bulls Heart. Are you growing from seed or buying transplants and so limited to what is available locally?

Why do you feel New Jersey has a short growing season? I know many NJ growers would disagree with that.

Dave

the real question you need ask is not what varieties,

before even get variety you need to tell us what you plan on making with the tomatoes.

since not all varieties are good for salads, sandwiches, canning whole, crushed and sauce,

the questions you should asking is which tomato indeterminate.

"

I need a high yield, good tasting indeterminate tomato."

Don't wee all ?

And for short season and growing in pot I can name one DET, called SILETZ.

It has a compact det growth habit so it can be managed better in container. HIGH yield ? I don' know about that. Perhaps it is about average

Seysonn

digdirt, I am growing from seed. I know there are many varieties and it's hard to choose, but because I am limited in budget, new to gardening, and have made mistakes in seed choosing. I chose varieties with best flavor according to many sources, but didn't think about how much they produce, early, mid or late, good for pots, size, etc. I say NJ is a short growing season bc other sources said it is. It's hot here June, July, August and that's it. Last year though I grew tomatoes until Oct (or Nov? I don't remember). What is short growing season if it's not just 3 or 4 months? Seeds aren't even sold until mid March, then I'd have to wait at least another one or two months before flowers and another one or so before I get an actual fruit.

Sesonn, I prefer indeterminate. I want tomatoes all summer. I can't eat so many at once. Due to low budget I need plants that will fruit many, large tomatoes all season, if I'm going to do all that work and spend so much money. Our soil is low quality too, so they have to be in pots of good soil. I prefer to eat them fresh, just off the plant. It's for nutrition reasons. Ripened on the vine and eaten just when plucked is when you get the most nutrition out of it, not canning or bottling, or freezing especially. It's one of the best foods you can eat along with blueberries.

Many of the best producing old time tomatoes are confusing regarding determinate and indeterminate. When you see "semi-determinate" it usually means you get production all summer but the plant is more reasonable in size - if that is a consideration in limited space and budget. This is because they may have been originally developed in one habit but were selected for other habits. If you don't confide in that, just order these seeds for "Rutgers Select", indeterminate, from TGS and you will have a great Jersey tomato:

Rutgers Select ind. TGS

If you really want to get fancy, I'd recommend ordering a productive tomato like the "semideterminate" but produces till frost, resurrected Ramapo F1 or straight indet. and early Moreton right from your local University's breeders:

NJ Ramapo F1 and Moreton

I would defiitely place some trust in local breeders to deliver the best seed, but if you want a leg up contact them and they will tell your where to get transplants which are worth it if you balance that with a late start IMO.

PC

You could order seeds from a catalog during the winter. I just got a catalog from High Mowing seed company. They offer free shipping.

It's funny you recommend Rutgers because I am 5 minutes from them and is my alma mater. Maybe I will try semi det and see what I get. I am growing total of 10 and would like variety after all.

Thanks zzackey, free shipping is a plus.

I'm going to throw in my vote for "Black Krim". Some seed sources will describe BK as good for growing in containers. The flavor is spectacular and I love it. I'm in a cool summer climate so I don't know how it will grow in warmer conditions.

Your university is world class when it comes to tomatoes. I wish we had a local tomato loving university based in my city to get locally optimized varieties. If the Ag Station is nearby (Sounds like you are near N Brunswick, not South Jersey like them), now that the state took them over if I recall the latest annexation in NJ, get the most for your tax dollars and see if you can pick up some seeds to start right away, and pick their brains about what works for others with your conditions, instead of just ordering seeds by mail:

New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station - NJAES

They are experts for the local growing conditions, and there's a good chance the cooperative extension in your county is working with them and might be helpful about where to get any of their recommended varieties, though it is nice if the horse's mouth ...NJAES ... were nearby:

NJ by County Cooperative Extension Offices of NJAES

Indeterminates are definitely great in theory. But other considerations are when you get a late start, it is better to get more tomatoes up front than planting a slower variety which would produce all winter long if it weren't freezing outside. Then there are the additional costs and maintenance related to larger plants, too. Best luck at a good early start !

PC

(edited when Google mapped location of Ag Exp Station, 95 miles from N.B. and saw shijitake's comment about distance)

We used to live in New Jersey. Best tasting tomatoes I've ever had grew there.

I think we have a tomato obsessed professor of agriculture there and that's why lol. Thanks, I'll see if they have seeds. I'll get Black Krim too, since it keeps coming up.

zzackey, where in NJ? In pots or the ground?

Actually, I just looked up Bridgeton. Way too far :O! I'll have to ship if that's where they're selling the seeds instead of New Brunswick.

There are two Rutgers tomatoes, the regular and improved. Is the improved really better?

There are many selections of Rutgers tomatoes unfortunately, because it was such a good tomato, it was "improved" by many. Improved has to do with disease resistance and I thought it made it more strictly determinate but I'm confused about it. That's why I gave you the above link to Rutgers Select. Here's another link for some inexpensive seeds I bet you'll like:

Fedcos Indeterminate Rutgers whatever Strain it is, it's supposed to be good

The Ramapo tomato is the one that is optimized for Jersey, and the reason Rutgers suggests Moreton besides flavor as a companion is to even out production like you are wanting to do.

PC

I see. I just didn't want to pay the $6 for shipping.

Agreed, those are pesky shipping charges. Starting with the right varieties for you is important, and it really is a balancing act with the shipping costs when ordering from several places if no one has everything. The seed lasts for more than one season, though. Just check around after deciding which you are growing and do your best, or find someone to trade or sponsor you. There is a forum here for that that looks pretty inactive, and you can check the "Seed Saving" one, aslo quiet these days, to if you are motivated to post, which I think has some people sponsoring new gardeners getting set up.

PC

Another very productive small indeterminate is Jet Star I just saw in Fedco's catalog. I think it really would come out at the top of "high yield, good tasting indeterminate tomato". Check up on it.

PC

Jet Star was developed at Iowa State University (I think) for Iowa's weather. I can remember when it first came out (before it hit the mass market) that dad got it as part of the regional test back in the early 70s. We have grown it ever since. Does not crack and it's not huge, and produces fairly prolific with tasty baseball-ish sized tomatoes that we used in sauces, juices and salsas when we were canning stuff. I remember it as producing a VERY TASTY juice, when mixed with Romas (for pulp) We would do 50-75 quarts of tomato juice and probably 30 pints and it would always be gone by January-February. It was good with beer.

dave

shijitake wrote; Sesonn, I prefer indeterminate. I want tomatoes all summer. I can't eat so many at once.


That is not always true with all determinants. My determinatnts : SILETZ, LEGEND, BUSH STEAK, SILVERY FIR TREE all continued fruiting til the end of summer. Determinant instead of growing long vines , grow branches and each brranch will grow fruit at different time. Yeah, if you prune it to one or 2 branches then you would be finished with it . That is why you NEVER prune a determinant.

Seysonn

The list goes on and on! I wish I didn't have a limit. I'm not opposed to heirlooms and determinates. There's still so much to learn. Thanks for all the input.

Btw, are we not on that forum already?

<I say NJ is a short growing season bc other sources said it is. It's hot here June, July, August and that's it. Last year though I grew tomatoes until Oct (or Nov? I don't remember). What is short growing season if it's not just 3 or 4 months?>

So what are your plans for a planting out date? Alaska and much of Canada has a short growing season. Folks in the UP of Michigan and Northern Idaho have short growing seasons. Those are zones 3, 4,and 5. New Jersey as zone 6 and 7 doesn't have a short growing season. It is an average growing season just as with most of the country, and the same as mine. Your growing season ranges from late April/early May through Sept. (and into Oct. weather permitting).

However your heat zone (3-4) - your GDDs (good growing degree days) are much better than mine than mine in HZ 8). That can work to your advantage when growing tomatoes as you will have far more days under 90 when tomatoes will still set fruit rather than the 40 days of 90-95+ I have where they won't set fruit at all.

That gives you a plant out date of approx. May 15th depending on where in the state you live. Have you explored the NJ heat zone maps for all the info they provide?

As others have pointed out Rutgers is one of the premier tomato growing development, research, and info sources so since you are fairly close to them many of us would envy you your ideal tomato growing climate. That climate, rather than variety, can almost guarantee you good production and flavor IF you plant at the proper time and provide good growing conditions for your plants.

As for obtaining seeds, as others have said seeds are available online year round. I don't know what local sources you have for buying but even the big box stores like Walmart, Home Depot, Menards, Lowes, etc. should have their seeds out in plenty of time for growing from seed. With a plant out of mid-May you wouldn't need to start your seeds before mid to late March.

Hope this helps.

Dave

bragu dave,

Now you've done it posting this:

"I remember it [Jet Star F1] as producing a VERY TASTY juice, when mixed with Romas (for pulp) We would do 50-75 quarts of tomato juice and probably 30 pints and it would always be gone by January-February. It was good with beer"

OK, I folded. Jet Stars are ordered and on their way. I admit to be powerless over new to me tomato varieties ...

PC

LOL, PC

I added Bear Claw. The seeds are in. I was not going to grow it, but then it came as a BONUS ! haha. Why not. I like bonus. There is still one that I am resisting to grow ; "Box Car Willie". Please don't say anything nice about it.:-)

Seysonn

Don't worry Seysonn, I like sweet tomatoes and Willie is just a classy hobo's tomato. Carolyn, did you get these seeds from a Boxcar Willie fan??? Let's have a story... I miss your GW comments.... hope you're recovering and feeling well enough to show yourself here!

Carolyn says she likes it and that Boxcar Willie outproduces hybrids with big plump red fruits ;-) There is another very popular heirloom tomato called Mule Team which is another selection of Boxcar Willie. I suspect Carolyn named it when she grew the seeds, but may not have properly named it. Mule Train, not Mule Team ;-)

PC

I grew up in NJ. Now I'm in Oklahoma, which is hotter. I think we also have a somewhat longer growing season, though, not that much longer. I have never thought of NJ as short season. Best of all, you have May through Mid October of optimum growing conditions for tomatoes.

Marglobe is also wonderful. It is more determinate than Rutgers.

Rutgers is a WONDERFUL tasty tomato! I also grow Baker Family Heirloom, which has very similar taste, but much larger, much more indeterminate plants.

The climate in NJ is really good for any of the old German beef steak varieties. So, Cherokee Purple, Brandywine or Prudens Purple would almost certainly do well for you.

Here in Oklahoma I have become a big fan of Sioux, as it is very good at setting fruit when it is hotter than anything you'd ever experience in NJ. But I bet it would do great for you. It is indeterminate and has medium size red tomatoes. Flavor is great. The skin is a little thin, so I pick the fruit when the color breaks and ripen it in the kitchen. I rate Sioux right up there with Rutgers and Baker Family Heirloom.

George

Tahlequah, OK

These are my Tomatoes from last year, The large one with shoulders was the Ramapo F1 and the others in the baskets were mixed with Early Girl and a variety of cherries. This was taken in November 2014. The Second was a Ramapo F-1 with another and early girl with a cherry.

The third is a Black Krim with Ramapo F-1 with an early girl and another cherry. I live right between Trenton and Philly and have grown the Ramapo for two years straigh and loved it. It produced many but so did the early girl. I must admit i did not have luck witht he krim that much due to my lack of knowledge with growing tomatoes (my 4th year now) but these photos is just to show you what I did and my last batch produced in Novemeber. The black krims were aroudn the same size, but like I said I am not good with herilooms and grew them in 20 gallon fabric bags.

Hope this helps. But all I can say is that I love the Ramapo and even the Early Girl.

Here's a link to where I discussed Baker Family Heirloom and gave a picture. This tomato isn't commercial yet. But I hope to see it at Sandhill Preservation sometime in the next few years.

George

Green Country Seed Savers discussion: Baker Family Heirloom

thebutcher - Super looking tomatoes, and the same USDA zone as shijitake, heat zone about a week different, too. Those Ramapo look very tender and delicious and now I'm wondering how they'd do way down south for a fall run LOL! The Black Krim does look a little lonely off to the side but I bet it was good.

George,You could always offer L.D. Baker's super producer in a round robin seed trade so it gets more exposure. It would be nice to have more history than the seed swap, for a red tomato similar to Rutgers but unfortunately it looks like that's not possible. Putting "heirloom" into the name of the tomato seems unfair to thousands of other tomatoes we grow that are unquestionably family heirlooms. Sounds like you really care for it, so I do understand!

PC

Well, judging by his handwriting (Parkinson scrawl) I believe he was up there in age when he sent it to me. Over the years I've come to the conclusion that the one who gives me a tomato, having been the one who maintained it over many years, has the right to name it. So I try not to change the name they give me.

I have distributed Baker Family Heirloom via informal seed swaps, and I think in the next couple of years it will start to gain in popularity. Just in the last two of years I've probably sent out 30 or 40 packets.

"Heirloom" has certainly become an abused term. I know at least one seed company which calls all open pollinated vegetables "heirlooms."

When I first started seed saving in earnest I was drawn to the unusual. Over the years I've recognized that there are some superb tomatoes which are simply... red and round. After ten years of gardening in Oklahoma, I've concluded that I really need "hardy and dependable." Our conditions can be truly awful.

Now, back to the original post here, after reading more carefully I am not so sure I'd recommend Baker Family Heirloom for container gardening. The plants are truly huge and have very extensive root systems, which is a big part of why they are so hardy and productive. I suspect this variety might require a REALLY BIG container in order to thrive.

I understood that J. D. Baker gave it to you in an envelope penning it was a Baker family heirloom. A man gave me a tomato with the identical description: Their family heirloom. I was able to contact him again to try to get a real name out of him, and it turned out they had none, it just was the tomato they grew. But maybe you're saying something different ... that he wished to name it "Baker Family Heirloom".

It does sound like a great tomato, but not suited for a container if it is as unruly as you say!

Saludos

PC

No, actually, in the note included with the seed, he stated that he and his family called it "Baker Family Heirloom."

I bought "Williamette" seeds specifically for a determinate/early and tasty tomato. I hope this one works out. I have not heard much feedback on this variety.

Big beef

If I could grow only one it would probably be black krim -- awesome taste and it does well in my climate. I also like Anna Russian, which is fairly early at 65-70, especially since it's a large, heart-shaped tomato.

O ! It is probably to late for this season.
Did anybody recommend BIG BEEF (hyb) ? I came to know it much later and I fell in love with it and bough a seedling from HD (Bonnie plant).
So it seems to fit the descriptions OP wanted: Indeterminant, Tasty, Productive, Disease resitatd AND early as well...Big Beef.

I know PC recommended Rutgers, which was born and raised in Nuy JEYsy. hehe

Sey

Black Krim always splits too much for me but are very delicious.

Since thread has been revived, I just wanted to mention that Carolyn always raves about Jet Star. If the OP grew them, hope you come back to report!!