Tomatoes 2014

Opalka Paste  (large)
Date sown (seeds):  April 2, 2014
Date germinated: April 9, 2014 (one week)
Date planted outside:  6/6/14
Observations: 
21/6/2014 - Opalka plants are looking wilty and less vigorous than the other varieties, particularly the Paul Robeson and Moskvich.
Sept 2014 - My poor Opalkas did not do well this year. Not prolific, plants did not seem hardy, and cool weather set in too early for these to mature.
Would grow again?  Yes, but probably not in 2015.

21/6/2014 - Opalka

Red Brandywine  (large)
Date sown (seeds):  April 20, 2014
Date germinated: Forgot to note.
Date planted outside:  6/6/14
Observations:
27/8/14 - I find the Moskvich and Red Brandywine tomatoes look almost the same. The R.B. is not a true red colour, but more of an orange (like store bought tomatoes), as is the Moskvich.  Both taste far better, however!
Would grow again?  Yes

Paul Robeson  (large)
Date sown (seeds):  April 2, 2014
Date germinated: April 9, 2014  (one week)
Date planted outside:  6/6/14
Observations:
5/7/14 - Plants look healthy and were the second variety to develop fruit.
27/8/14 - These are among the first tomatoes to ripen this summer.  They are delicious, too!
Would grow again?  Definitely - large, great flavour, fairly early to ripen.

21/6/2014 - Paul Robeson

Emerald Evergreen  (large)
Date sown (seeds): April 2, 2014
Date germinated: April 9, 2014  (one week)
Date planted outside:  6/6/14
Observations:
12/8/14 - smaller tomatoes at the bottom of the plants are starting to ripen.
Sept 2014 - these plants were not very prolific this year, kind of a disappointment.  Managed to harvest a few early this month.
Would grow again? Yes - great flavour.




Moskvich (6-8 oz, red, early ~ 60 days)
Date sown (seeds): April 12, 2014
Date germinated: Forgot to note.
Date planted outside: 6/6/14
Observations:
5/7/14 - Coming along nicely!  These were the first tomato plants to develop fruit. 
9/8/14 - First one ripe and picked today!  The rest are all still green.
Would grow again?  Yes - these were among the earlier tomatoes to ripen.  Good flavour, too.  Quite a number had blossom end rot, but would like to try these again.

August 9/14 - First ripe Moskvich

Eva Purple Ball  (medium)
Date sown (seeds):  April 9, 2014
Date germinated: April 23, 2014  (two weeks)
Date planted outside:  6/6/14
Observations:
4/9/14 - One of these has finally begun to ripen!  Unfortunately, it has blossom end rot.  
Would grow again?  Yes!  Cute, round tomatoes.  Ripened well indoors when I had to bring the plant in due to cold weather.  Was able to grow in a large pot.  Determinate.

Eva Purple Ball - Sept. 5, 2014

Yellow Taxi  (early variety)
Date sown (seeds):  April 23, 2014
Date germinated: Forgot to note.
Date planted outside: 6/6/14
Observations:
Nice globe shape, no cracking or blossom end rot.  Pretty, bright yellow
1/9/14 - Picked first one today.
Would grow again?  Yes!  Cute, mild tasting tomatoes.  Ripened well indoors when I had to bring the plant in due to cold weather.  Was able to grow in a large pot.  Determinate.

Yellow Taxi - Sept. 1, 2014

Black Cherry
Date sown (seeds):  April 2, 2014
Date germinated: Forgot to note.
Date planted outside:  6/6/14
Observations:
5/7/14 - I caged these plants but they seem to be growing in a horizontal bush habit rather than growing vertically, like all the other varieties I have this year.
4/9/14 - I found a trio of very ripe ones near the middle of the plant.  So tasty!  I wish the black cherry tomatoes would mature earlier than they have.  Most of the tomatoes are still green.
Would grow again?  These are delicious, but they are late to ripen and I didn't find they produced all that many tomatoes.  I might give them another shot, as I love the flavour.

Pink Bumblebee  (medium/cherry)
Date sown (seeds):  April 2, 2014
Date germinated: April 12, 2014  (10 days - one of three)
Date planted outside:  6/6/14
Observations:
5/7/14 - Starting to develop fruit. 
27/7/14 - this is the first of the tomato varieties I've grown to ripen this year. 
13/8/14 - About 8 of these tomatoes have ripened and they do not ressemble what Pink Bumbleebee tomatoes should look like (marbled/striped dark red and orange).  The ones on my plants are uniformly reddish orange.  Perhaps they crossed with another tomato variety last summer (I obtained these seeds in a trade with Nicky from ON).  Taste good.
Would grow again?  I think I'd rather try other varieties next year.

10/8/14 - Pink Bumblebee tomato...?

Green Doctors Frosted Cherry
Date sown (seeds):  April 2, 2014
Date germinated: April 12, 2014  (10 days)
Date planted outside:  6/6/14
Observations:
27/8/14 - These plants are huge and the ratio of fruit to foliage is not impressive.  If we had a longer, hotter season, this variety might be worth growing.  In late August, there are dozens of yellow flowers still on the plants (most of the fruit is at the bottom) and the tomatoes are rock hard.
Would grow again?  I doubt it.


Sweet Red Cherry
Date sown (seeds):  April 2, 2014
Date germinated:April 12, 2014  (10 days)
Date planted outside: 6/6/14
Observations:
13/8/14 - Starting to ripen.
Would grow again?  Prolific, though late to ripen.  Very small fruit.  Tart taste.  Wasn't that impressed.  Would rather try other varieties next year.