Green Tomato Varieties-- wHY should I grow them? Which do you recommend??

[Sabz]

I don't grow green tomatoes yet Will add this to my list.

I grow all the other colors. Not because I see a difference in taste, but I like how it looks in the garden and also in recipes I also hope that having different varieties means that if some get a disease, others will resist!

 

[Arielle]

lol, i admire your thinking!!! Each variety has its own abilities to deal with diseases. I have a slew in this year to trial. Looking forward to the Pineapple. Do hope it has pineapple overtones, but that is asking a lot of a tomato. Still, I put in every plant in hopes of finding one that tastes abit like that tropical fruit.

I noticed many tomatos have greeen shoulders . . . not sure if that is simply unriped, hard flesh, unique to the more heirloomy types. As I assume THAT would not be tolerated in the supermarket these days, lol. Perfect shape and uniform coloring required for that use. I'm far more flexible as I realize how much effort goes into getting home grown vegies. Meaning. I finally get it: accept a few blemishes, it was a lot of work to get it to the eating stage!! lol

 

[HeritageGoose13]

I have a Green Zebra plant growing in my garden. It's my first time growing a green tomato. I've heard this variety has won many taste tests, but I doubt anything could be better than the other heirlooms I've grown! Specifically Cherokee Purple and Great White, those are great.

I also tried Mr. Stripey and wasn't that impressed with it, but apparently there are different strains of that one, so I guess I got the wrong kind.

 

[MeatTheFlockers]

I have a Green Zebra plant growing in my garden. It's my first time growing a green tomato. I've heard this variety has won many taste tests, but I doubt anything could be better than the other heirlooms I've grown! Specifically Cherokee Purple and Great White, those are great.

I also tried Mr. Stripey and wasn't that impressed with it, but apparently there are different strains of that one, so I guess I got the wrong kind.

If you enjoy Cherokee Purple, I would definitely recommend Cherokee green.

 

[HeritageGoose13]

If you enjoy Cherokee Purple, I would definitely recommend Cherokee green.

Okay, thanks, I'll have to look for seeds so I can try it next year.

Question: say I want to save seed from 2 or more varieties of tomatoes. How far apart do I need to grow each variety so they don't cross?

 

[MeatTheFlockers]

Okay, thanks, I'll have to look for seeds so I can try it next year.

Question: say I want to save seed from 2 or more varieties of tomatoes. How far apart do I need to grow each variety so they don't cross?

I don't think a minimum spacing is required. Crosses like you are referring to happen much less frequently than people think. Tomatoes are self polinating and typically are pollinated before the flower even opens. They do happen on occasion, and areas with heavy bee activity as well as other pollinating insects have a higher chance of crosses. To many factors come into play to be certain, but if you are really worried about it I would bag blossoms. I know many that dont though and the percentage of crosses is still extremly low. I myself, do not bag blossoms.

 

[HeritageGoose13]

Oh okay. Maybe I'll save seeds this year anyway and see what I get! Though I do have a ton of little native bees and other pollinators around. I always see little blue-green orchard/mason bees on the tomato flowers.

 

[Arielle]

I have a Green Zebra plant growing in my garden. It's my first time growing a green tomato. I've heard this variety has won many taste tests, but I doubt anything could be better than the other heirlooms I've grown! Specifically Cherokee Purple and Great White, those are great.

I also tried Mr. Stripey and wasn't that impressed with it, but apparently there are different strains of that one, so I guess I got the wrong kind.

We dont often think about different strains, but like chickens, it all depends on the strain. THough, the woman who runs the local farm stand and has been providing apples in season to the local area, says apples vary in taste year to year depending on many factors. So perhaps this could be true of other fruits like tomatos.

Oh okay. Maybe I'll save seeds this year anyway and see what I get! Though I do have a ton of little native bees and other pollinators around. I always see little blue-green orchard/mason bees on the tomato flowers.

Always worth the effort-- it is educational at the very least!

 

[HeritageGoose13]

Just wanted to say there is a tiny tomato on my Green Zebra plant. That makes it the first one to produce fruit, though it's not done yet. I'm impressed. It's early yet in my area.

 

[Arielle]

Just wanted to say there is a tiny tomato on my Green Zebra plant. That makes it the first one to produce fruit, though it's not done yet. I'm impressed. It's early yet in my area.

Wow, that is impressive. Sure hoe that fruit keeps growing fast so it will be your first of the season to eat . . . .or does Green Zebra take a bit longer tha n some of the other varieties you have planted???

I have flowers on a number of my non-green plants. Some are looking a little peaked-- bit too much pale yellow on the lower leaves. Just got done with a lot of rain, so planning to give them tomato fertilizer to morrow and then pray! Can follow up with manure tea or epson salts if needed. Just gotta look at my pages on problem solving.