Tomatoes for 2024

[Branching Out]

Many of us are either buried in snow or else looking out on our soggy, flooded winter gardens-- but fear not! It's almost February, and it won't be long before tomato seedlings are popping up all over The Easy Garden. Have any of you started your tomatoes? In early January I started a few early varieties just for fun. I'm not sure whether I will grow them to maturity or not. For now I'm enjoying checking on the seedlings when I wake up each morning, because seeing them makes me smile.

Back in December I saved some seeds from tomatoes that we bought at the grocery store, so I planted a few of those as well. Of the two seedlings that emerged one has green cotyledons, and one has green cotyledons with a red stripe down the centre (see photo on right, with green tray). Just two seedlings, and already visible differences that provide hints as to their parentage. Will I try to de-hybridize this tomato? Not likely-- but I may grow the seedlings out to see what I end up with. I find this kind of thing fascinating.

What kind of new and exciting tomatoes do you hope to grow in 2024?

 

[heirloomgal]

Oooh great thread!

I decided this year to venture into an area of tomatoes that I never really have before, and I'm actually a little nervous about it. I procured a lot of seeds from a generous tomato seed saver in Alberta, who grows those well adapted for her very challenging climate. A great deal of her seed was sourced from a trader in Belarus as well as Nikitovka Seeds. Everybody here loves a big, delicious beefsteak and I don't know what I'll find in this group. Early maturity tomatoes have not been my favorite (besides Moskivich ) thus far, but I am curious about this type and what nice surprises might be hidden in there. I can only hope that they aren't as sour as I fear. I also got some seed for Oldendorf which I'm curious to try. Some long keepers (too many really). I definitely wound up with WAY more than I'll be able to plant in one season. A few are rescue missions as well. Excited!

 

[ducks4you]

I don't know why, but maybe my soil doesn't produce the super sweet tomatoes as advertised. Don't quite know Why, since I have amended pretty much all of my beds.
You climate/soil has a Lot to do with taste and tomato success. Everybody raves about Cherokee Purple, but it hasn't tasted much better at My house than Rutgerss, for instance.
Forget the black ones--family won't touch them!!
I guess that's the fun about growing tomatoes, finding the ones that do for You the best!

 

[Branching Out]

Just came back from the grocery store. They have good-sized tomato plants in 2 gallon containers for $20 plus tax, which is quite outrageous. Where is this madness going to stop??

I think some people think bigger is better when purchasing tomato plants, but that may not be the case. You know that old saying, 'What's the difference between a good haircut and a bad haircut? About two weeks.' Well, I think it's the same thing with tomatoes. A small $1 tomato seedling will likely catch up to an 18" tall plant in about two weeks-- and if its root establish well in the soil at that point it may even outperform the large plant.

 

[heirloomgal]

Just came back from the grocery store. They have good-sized tomato plants in 2 gallon containers for $20 plus tax, which is quite outrageous. Where is this madness going to stop??

I think some people think bigger is better when purchasing tomato plants, but that may not be the case. You know that old saying, 'What's the difference between a good haircut and a bad haircut? About two weeks.' Well, I think it's the same thing with tomatoes. A small $1 tomato seedling will likely catch up to an 18" tall plant in about two weeks-- and if its root establish well in the soil at that point it may even outperform the large plant.

So true @Branching Out.

 

[Branching Out]

It's pouring rain today so we made a trek to an area nearby that has lots of family farms with flower and vegetable starts for sale. I couldn't resist this little tomato plant called Midnight Snack. It's an F1 hybrid AAS winner from PanAmerican Seed. Has anyone else grown this one? I'm growing a couple of other indigo-type tomatoes this year too, and I am very curious to see their glossy shades of purple.

 

[SPedigrees]

It's pouring rain today so we made a trek to an area nearby that has lots of family farms with flower and vegetable starts for sale. I couldn't resist this little tomato plant called Midnight Snack. It's an F1 hybrid AAS winner from PanAmerican Seed. Has anyone else grown this one? I'm growing a couple of other indigo-type tomatoes this year too, and I am very curious to see their glossy shades of purple.

I grew Midnight Snack tomatoes one year and was pleased with the results. They are cherry tomatoes with red and black(purple) colored fruits. I recall growing the Midnight Snack variety with some other variety of cherry tomatoes that were pure red in color, and both did well and were tasty!

 

[Alasgun]

Happy Fathers day; first Mater! The same Celebrity’s we grow every year.

 

[SPedigrees]

This year I'm growing SubArctic Plenty tomatoes. I started them in my new indoor grow kit.

I love their fuzzy stems!

Outside for summer, accompanied by crookneck squash sprouts

Mabel regarding the growing tomato plants

PS: Also I have two volunteer candyland tomato volunteer plants from last year making an appearance around the edges. So it looks like I may also get more of these teensy bitsy little current-sized fruits this summer.

 

[Branching Out]

A couple of weeks ago we planted out some tomato seedlings at our friend's community farm and they have been attacked by what we believe to be flea beetles. A few important bean seedlings running alongside the tomatoes have been munched really heavily as well. If the plants can hang in there and pump out a few healthy leaves they might survive, but it's a significant infestation. So far it's only in one small patch of the large garden, with some damage evident on tomatoes in the hoop house as well. I have a big bucket of diatomaceous earth, so I will try mixing it with water and spraying it on the leaves to see if that helps.