So far the RR seems to have a slight edge.

I am doing a similar experiment with Big Beef. One is OP and the other F1 hybrid. Some claim that the OP is stabilized version of the hybrid. Anyway , I am growing them side by side to find out. So far the F1 has flower but not the OP, yet.

Sey

Sey - have you started your thread yet? Please post your progress - would like to see your comparison

Hudson, Yes I have : The name of the thread in Big Beef ... Finally.
First I found an OP version. Then I got a hybrid .. That is how it evolved .
I am keeping a diary on them.

Here is the link

http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/2994428/big-beef-finally?n=45

Sey

Update: Both varieties appear almost identical at this point. Both have developed the 1st truss and the 2nd truss is developing. The 1st truss on the Red Rose has 8 blossoms - the Jersey Boy has 4 blossom - that appears to be the only difference. I have left the sucker on both plants for the 2nd main stem - they are almost in the identical location.

Red Rose

Jersey Boy

Interesting, another good thread to keep track of.

Can hardly wait to see the results.

May the best tomato win.

Steve

Now there is a noticable difference between Red Rose and Jersey Boy. The leaves on the Red Rose are smaller and more narrow and the foliage is not as dense.

Red Rose:

The Jersey Boy leaves are larger and wider and the foliage is more dense. The Jersey Boy is also about 2"s taller in total height.

Jersey Boy:

Yeah. The leaves on the first one looks like dandelion.
So, it is less likely for them be of the same variety.
But the real proof comes with the fruits.

Sey

Wow! They looked nearly identical - and then suddenly, they didn't. What an exciting development!

It appears breeding tomatoes can be more complicated than I thought. Two different companies - breeding the same parents does not mean getting the same result? Open or closed pollination must have a lot to do with it too - and the individual parent's history? As these two plants grow - it is obvious that they are not the same - even though the have the same parents.

Red Rose:

Jersey Boy:

Nice Hudson.

I had Rose last year.

Big, tasty, not very productive,

1 lb. 5 oz.

Wow - I didn't realize Rose got that large Daniel. Did you like it enough to plant it again? I don't think Jersey Boy will get that large. So far - I like the JB plant better but neither plant is large enough to set fruit - yet.

Update: Red Rose is on the left - Jersey Boy is on the right. Both plants have been pruned to 4 main stems. The Jersey Boy is about 4-6 inches taller than Red Rose but the most significant difference in my GH is the number of fruit set per plant. Red Rose has set 6 fruit - Jersey Boy has set 41 fruit !!! Please don't tell me there isn't a difference between Red Rose and Jersey Boy (same parents - both hybrids) I have proven there is a difference - at least in our GH. Now maybe the opposite is true in your environment and you will have to plant both varieties for comparison to find out. There is still a taste comparison to come.

Don't know about Jersey Boy, but Rose, last year in my garden was NOT productive - about 6-8 fruits. But yes, the tomatoes were BIG and TASTY. I would plant it again. Expect 6-8 or even 10 ft. long vines.

Daniel, did you mean the Red Rose that Hudson is growing, or Rose, the Heirloom?

As you know I have Rose, the heirloom, going, and I'll let you know about yields. I haven't counted, but I know I have some plants with a decent number of fruits, and others with only a few.

So far they are averaging 6 1/2', going on 7' tall.

Ooops, I was talking about Rose... the heirloom...

Thank you rgreen48 for bringing it up.

Rose and Red Rose same tomato?

Question about red rose or rose tomato

Daniel - yes - I defined Jersey Boy & Red Rose on the first post. They are both hybrids and both have the same parents. Some on this forum have stated that there was no difference in the varieties -- Just the name. I planted them both to find out. I disagree - I found a significant difference !!

You know
Hudson, I think a better way to compare two varieties, is to buy 10 seeds of
each variety, from 10 different sellers. Imo, this is a more scientific way to
decide between two varieties.

Last year
me, and a few others, planted Stupice. Most - me included - were not happy with
the variety: too late / too small / too few tomatoes.

THIS
year, I see some here in this forum, that they are happy with Stupice.
That
makes me think that maybe, just MAYBE last year, my seeds and the seeds of other
"unhappy" Stupice growers, were not as "good" as this
year's growers seeds.

JMO.

Daniel - I agree! You make a good point with the Stupice example. One plant is not a scientifically accurate to come to a conclusion! However - actually growing both varieties has got to be more scientific than someone making a comment that their is no difference between them because they both have the same parents - and that they just have different names - IMO. The only effective method to evaluate/compare varieties is for the gardener to figure it out - IMO

Most of those who planted Stupice last year - 2014 - did it because in the forum, in the previous year - 2013 - Stupice had EXCELLENT reviews...

So, in 2013 and 2015, people was happy with Stupice; in 2014 they were... not.

Here is a comparison of production:

Red Rose

Jersey Boy

Reading your posts makes me curious if you'll find that the fruits will look and taste similar. Time and the taste will tell, but since there is distinct differences in those plants (even though it's just a quick side by side and not fully conclusive) maybe people think they are the same from the look and taste of the fruits?

They seem to have slightly different colors now, but pics are deceptive. Since they are said to have the same parents (if not different gene expressions) the final product could be similar.

I have an older Jersey Boy plant that is producing and we have eaten several of the tomatoes already. The color is about the same - here is a truss from the older Jersey Boy.

Jersey Boy has a deep red color and average 8-10 oz in weight. A nice looking tomato - I think!

Jersey Boy has a great taste too! It is meaty and has a great tomato flavor !! I can recommend this variety! It will be several weeks before the Red Rose is ripe and ready to taste and compare.

There are some fused blossoms also on Jersy Boys - creating larger sized fruit !!

This one weighs in at 17 oz.

Nice tomato, but the support / trellis, super sturdy.
I'm a huge fan of solid things.

My comparison is completely subjective. If there is one thing that I have learned from comparing tomato varieties - it is - the comparison is only valid in my GH & results may still vary from year to year. Having clarified that - I will not plant Red Rose in future years. Even though it has the same parents - it does not produce the same for us !!!

This is the largest of 5 tomatoes on the Red Rose plant - that won't work - no matter how good the flavor - in my GH. I don't have enough space to grow plants that produce 5 tomatoes on the entire plant !!

The Jersey Boy has 3-7 tomatoes on most trusses and has over 50 tomatoes on the side by side plant. Here are a few photos of the Jersey Boy.

We still need to taste the Red Rose when we get a ripe one.

Hudson, I think your comparison is pretty "objective" in terms of productivity, growing them in the same GH, under the same conditions. I would've picked Jersey Boy too. After all, that is where you would be be growing in the future .

Actually, if a tomato did not do well in your near ideal growing environment, how could it do better elsewhere ??!!

Sey

Red Rose was the first to ripen of the side by side plants - I like the taste of Red Rose better than Jersey Boy but the poor production of Red Rose doesn't make up for the difference in taste!! IMO

Well, the results are in... same parents perhaps, but not the same cultivar by any measure.

Jersey Boy took Hudson's top spot by far in northern greenhouse productivity. However, if taste is the priority, then perhaps Red Rose isn't a complete dud.

To test habitat favorability and performance under stress, it looks like an outdoors test with the plants subjected to the elements is now in order.

Well done.

Yes - rgreen - I agree !! I try to call it like I see it and let the gardener grow for themselves and make their own comparison/conclusions !! Red Rose is not a dud indeed and may be the best option in other growing environments !!