What tomato varieties are you growing?

[oregonkat]

I grow tomatoes in huge quantities because I can them for a year's worth of food for the family. I planted 170 plants this year all from my own collected seed. I have hybridized a Black Plum x Brandywine that I call Brandyplum which I have managed to grow true from seed for the past three years. Not long enough for me to 'brand' it but I love it. It has the potato leaf that the Brandywine has and produces a mahogany colored pleated fruit that has a fabulous flavor. I also grow some others from my saved seed but the Black Plum makes the best sauce/salsa in my humble opinion.
What types do any of you gardeners grow, and why? I would love to know if any of you have done your own crosses too.

 

[Trish1974]

I also can, but do not plant nearly as much as you do! I have 32 tomato plants. Most are of the paste/plum varieties. Of those I have Jersey Devil, San Marzano, Sausage, Ten Fingers of Naples and Opalka. I have a few slicer-type tomato plants; Marianne's Peace and Comstock. And a must-have is the Sun Sugar cherry tomatoes. I have two of those. They are as sweet as candy!

 

[oregonkat]

I have grown San Marzano and Opalka here. SM gets blossom end rot for me every time I try it. I think I have grown it three times in an attempt to beat the rot as it is the only tomato that gets it. I grow Roma (my own seed again) as a fill in instead, it seems to do better. I don't remember if Opalka did well for me. I like the sound of Ten Fingers of Naples, so I will look it up. The super sweets that I grow are the Sun Golds. I don't grow many as one doesn't need to and I do like them sun dried or dehydrated. Interestingly I tried to grow these from my own collected seed and ended up with mostly red cherry tomatoes that were irritatingly small.

 

[LittleMissCountry]

I would love to try what you are doing, but haven't found the time for it. I am just getting back into gardening after moving from a high elevation location.
This year I only have eight tomato plants. I planted Big Beef, Sun Gold, Sun Sugar, Roma, and Lemon Boy. I plan on saving the seeds from them for next year.

 

[Barbs Girls]

Just tomatillos for us this year. Sauces and salsa.

 

[LittleMissCountry]

Just tomatillos for us this year. Sauces and salsa.

I love homemade salsa!! I am hoping to make some this year as well. I am also growing peppers. I have never grown tomatillos. Are they easy or difficult to grow?

 

[Trish1974]

Not to get off topic, but speaking of salsa... has anyone successfully grown cilantro? It ALWAYS bolts on me. I even planted it in mostly shade the last time, and it still bolted!

 

[Barbs Girls]

I love homemade salsa!! I am hoping to make some this year as well. I am also growing peppers. I have never grown tomatillos. Are they easy or difficult to grow?

Super easy!!!! Great flavor. We also grow a variety of peppers as well. I grow everything in food grade buckets! Adds color to my patio and no weeding!!!

 

[Barbs Girls]

Not to get off topic, but speaking of salsa... has anyone successfully grown cilantro? It ALWAYS bolts on me. I even planted it in mostly shade the last time, and it still bolted!

I have, I have to stay on top of it, meaning taking cuttings to use often. Need to plant a lot!

 

[LittleMissCountry]

Super easy!!!! Great flavor. We also grow a variety of peppers as well. I grow everything in food grade buckets! Adds color to my patio and no weeding!!!

I am growing in grow bags this year, since our soil is rocky and has a lot of clay. I have never had such growth with my tomato plants! I will have to try tomatillos.