We have been picking tomatoes for the last week. Brandy Boy, Bobbie, Eva Purple Ball, Bloody Butcher, and cherries, Sungold and Champagne. Won't plant Bloody Butcher again as wasn't particularly early or as tasty as others.

No blossom end rot here either. Have done no supplemental watering as rainfall has been spaced well and abundant. The plants are outgrowing their large concrete reinforced wire cages already. Lots of green tomatoes. Looking forward to my favorite tasting late tomato, Stump of the World.

Due to spring health problems I got my tomatoes in late, and missed out on finding any Burpees 4th of July or I would have had tomatoes earlier. The prior couple of years, 4th of July has lived up to its name here in Minneapolis, not only producing delicious two bite snacks for in the garden and doing it early, but it also just keeps going.

BTW Delicious lives up to its name, too. Superb slicer of large smooth beefsteak fruits, if not as heavy a producer as some more recent hybrids. Its been around a long time and is still widely available. This is the variety that produced the largest tomato on record of over 7 pounds, and regularly produces fruits of up to 2 or 3 pounds.

I used to plant 4th of July tomatoes. No reason not to now except like to try new varieties. Thanks for the info on Delicious. Those are large tomatoes. Brandy Boy has produced 1-1 1/2 lb. fruit and is also very tasty.

I live in Maple Grove where 94 and 694 come together. Got my tomatoes in late this year also. Probably not a good test of Bloody Butcher's earliness.

I was going to try Glacier this year for an early, too, but health problems got in the way of that. Then the garden sorta all got away from me. Hopefully I can find the potato vines in the thicket it has become to dig the few I did get planted.

I understand about the garden getting away from you due to health problems. I had emergency back surgery and am out of my gardens for at least several more weeks. With plans to move to senior housing this may be my last vegetable garden. DH has his own mobility problems but is able to harvest the tomatoes, beans and cucumbers. Fortunately rain has been frequent so he only has to struggle with the hose to water pots on the back patio.

I haven't tried Glacier. Grew Matina last year. Okay but not good enough to plant again. Have come to agree with Carolyn Male's conclusion that early tomatoes are not worth the bother.

I hope your health has improved and continues to do so.

Thanks, I'm feeling much better now. (To quote Buddy from Night Court)

I came to the same conclusion about the earliest tomatoes years ago based on disappointment with Early Girl, but I have since found some very early tomatoes that are impressive. Burpee's 4th of July hybrid is one; it starts real early and then just never seems to quit all season and without growing outlandishly huge in the process. It is very nice to have the fruits right at hand to snack on in the garden of a less messy 2 bite size.

I had meant to test Glacier based on some really glowing reports I have read about it, but enough time never happened to get the seed started. Bush Goliath is a second early that impressed me this year, decent taste and lots and lots of slicing sized (if not huge) fruits.

I do not can and live by myself; so I have few if any large size cooking projects, just a couple of plants are enough for me, especially if they produce all season long. If I can save my own seed all the better. So I will give Glacier a try next year and maybe my own Delicious, too.

At 66, I don't know how many more years of gardening I have left myself.