"This variety is terrible"

11 years ago

We all love to talk tomato varieties...and which ones we think are best. I have found that sometimes individual plants are just weak...and it has nothing to do with the variety. From the past...I knew Cherokee Purple was a real winner for me. In April I planted a CP into one of my large containers. It would not grow. It was stunted and weak. I stayed with it for many weeks before ditching it. I planted another CP right in the same spot...nothing different. This plant took off, and is trying to catch up with others planted weeks before it. I learned to not give up on a tomato variety unless I have given it a fair shake. Of course, there comes a time to ditch the losers.

Featured Answer

digdirt2

11 years ago

I normally go 2 tries, sometimes 3, but under the same conditions. If it was a container plant I give it another container try rather than move it to the garden and vice versa. Probably not fair but as for "terrible"varieties - Yellow Pear, Clint Eastwood's Rowdy Red, 4th of July, Tribute, and Roma. :)

Dave

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Comments (8)

zeuspaul
11 years ago
My rule of thumb is three tries. There are too many variables and I don't know what they all are. Two seemingly identical plants next to each other and one does well and the other does not. Flavor and size from the same variety vary as well.
Seysonn_ 8a-NC/HZ-7
11 years ago
I practice (normally) 2 strikes and out.
But then there are things that can be decided on the first strike. For example, Sun Gold did as reviewed. But I did not like some of its features ( cracking )
There was no need to give it another try.
YMMV

Sey
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mister_caledon
11 years ago
I can say that I got irritated last year with my Brown Berry Cherry plants. Very vigorous growth but constant issues with BER, and the tomatoes that did survive had a bland, earthy taste. Before long, they were shading out their next-door neighbors, the Green Grape Cherry plants, which were 100 times more delicious and didn't deserve such bullying...!
fireduck
Original Author
11 years ago
You guys make some really good points. One factor that might determine how many "strikes" (I love baseball) you give a variety is: how big of a garden do you have. It seems to me if you only have a handful of plants (I have 17 plants and 14 varieties)...you might not reserve a spot for one you think could be a dud. Like Z says...lots of variables, however. I certainly continue to learn more every season. That is part of the fun for me. Also, have you noticed the harder you work in the garden (including time spent)....the better your results?
Seysonn_ 8a-NC/HZ-7
11 years ago
Yeah, real estate limitation is a big factor for me.
Also, when you just don,t like a variety in general, there is no need to bring it back next season. For example, I grew Stupice, Bloody Butcher last year. The taste was good,, ok production ..BUT fruits were TOOO smallish for me. Nothing wrong with the variety but a pick and choose issue by trying. And these cases one try was enough.
hoosier40 6a Southern IN
11 years ago
I grew Stupice last year and it produced loads of golf ball sized tomatoes. I really prefer slicers and I grew tired of picking them. I grew Italian Heirloom last year and again this year and it failed both times from disease. Lots more varieties that I would like to try so some failures are welcome. :)
donna_in_sask
11 years ago
Stupice was one tomato I only grew once. Last year's tomatoes (about a dozen varieties) had very little flavour but I'm still growing some of the same varieties because I know when it's a good year, these tomatoes are spectacular.