Growing the Ultimate Tomato Variety Garden | My Top Picks
Let's kick off another season of growing with my beloved tomato seeds 🍅 I'm excited to introduce you to the diverse array of varieties I'm nurturing this year. From the classic Amana tomato, known for its sweet and tangy flavor, to the rich and meaty Cherokee Purple (my favorite), each variety adds its own unique flair to my garden. Let's not forget the reliable Box Car Willie, perfect for all-purpose use, and the impressive Giant Belgium, destined for juicy sauces and fresh eating. With the addition of the Pink Oxheart, Paul Robeson, and Giant Crimson, my garden promises to be bursting with flavor and color. And of course, we can't overlook the delightful cherry tomatoes, including the Chardonnay Cherry and Chocolate Sprinkle, each offering bursts of sweetness in every bite. So grab your gardening gloves and join me as we sow the seeds of a vibrant and delicious harvest! Most of the seeds I'm planting were purchased from one of the vendors listed below ♥
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It would be fun if you could do a side by side taste testing once all the tomatoes start producing! Especially the Robeson and Cherokee Purple! This year I’m only growing Celebrity, and two Cherry (red cherry and white cherry). 🍅 It’s so fun watching what others are planting and how!! Thanks Rachel!
Yes!!
I grew just one Cherokee Purple tomato plant last year and we thought it was one of the best tasting 😋tomatoes out of all the tomatoes I grew last year. I saved seeds from that one plant, needless to say, I have about 5 seedlings started for this year. I can't wait. :) I'm in zone 8 now.
I have been following Jess at Roots and Refuges way of planting tomatoes with many seeds in one cup and then just separating them out once they all germinate. It has been the best way for me to start lots of tomatoes and then only use soil and need lights for what I actually need.
My last frost date is the same...starting my tomato seeds this weekend. Too much going on last weekend unfortunately. First year I'll have a real garden!! Putting the garden beds in next weekend. No more porch garden for me. So excited!!! I've learned so much from you...thank you!!!!!
I’ve always staked mine and tied them as they grew never had an issue. I’m in zone 6 gonna try and start mine right after Easter, as I’m recovering from rotator cuff surgery, to plant out end of May first of June. The last 2 yrs I started them way too early and had to up pot them man digging a hole deep enough to plant out is awful. Smaller is better. Enjoy your videos. Yes happy growing 🍅
I started my tomato seeds yesterday.
Your sweet potatoes are growing so well. Still watching mine like a hawk for slips. First year trying and it is always fun trying to learn new things in the middle of the starting chaos.
Happy gardening. May you have a wonderful garden.
Good day to you, Rachel I want you to know that of all the channels out there and my 50+ KZhead subscriptions, you are my number one go to for gardening advice. Not only do you give me sound advice from your experience, but I love that we are in very similar climates And I can learn from that too. All that to say just a big thank you for what you do. Hope you have a blessed Easter weekend my friend. 💜
Yay! Time to start tomatoes! Blessings on your day Kiddo!🌻🐛Carolyn in Ohio 🌿
Fun video! Amanda orange tomatoes are awesome; they are a staple in my garden! Every year I get some that weigh over a pound and the flavor is yummy! I also love Cherokee purple, a favorite of my family! Pink Oxheart is another one I grow every year as well! I think you’re going to love it!!! Best of luck with all your tasty choices!!!♥️🍅♥️
I love the green paint, y'all!!! Very pretty and fresh!
I grew the giant Belgium last year and they were amazing!
Got mine started an they are up. Been saving and planting tomato 🍅 pepper seeds for years
Giant Belgium makes the perfect tomato sandwich😊! Try thin slices of that and Paul Robeson on a sandwich together.
The Cherokee purple almost tastes a little Smokey to me. I love it too
Thanks for sharing! We are in zone 7a E TN where we have 6 winters throughout "spring." Our last frost date always falls April 14-17. Wrong. Truly best not to set out tender plants like tomatoes until Mother's Day weekend. As far as tomato flavor, Cherokee Purple has always been our favorite tomato also. Paul Robeson is nice but, we don't think it's as good as the Cherokee Purple. However, we did find a challenger last year when we planted 152 tomato plants of 60+ varieties (slicers, paste, ox-heart and cherry). That amazingly delicious contender was the Thornburn's Terra-Cotta. Even my Mom, an 82 year old Pennsylvania Dutch middle child of many born and raised on a Pennsylvania 400 acre dairy farm, was asking for the Terra-Cotta tomatoes. When we tasted it we all said, "sandwich!" Mom said it first.
The Cherokee purple are so very good!
I've grown Amana for a few years. I've never been a tomato lover (have grown them for 30+ years for hubby), but learned to love them when I started growing Cherokee Purple and Paul Robeson (both very similar and delicious). Amana are a bit too acid for my liking, but hubby loves them. I do think they make a nice addition to my sauce.
Here in south east Texas, now zone 9a, I am planting my tomatoes in the garden this week. Our spring has been so pleasant even at the end of March. Last year was a very hot spring and summer and my tomatoes didn’t do well at all. Every section has its own challenges and ours is the heat in summer. Once it gets too hot our tomatoes don’t produce. So this year I’m planting almost all determinate tomatoes. And hopefully with the fabulous weather so far, we will have abundant bumper crop! I started my seeds in late January, early February.
I have grown the Amana for 2 years. My seeds were from Luke. They had a great germination both years from the same batch. They grew well until they started to fruit. Then the plant had to have frequent pruning it seemed very susceptible to fungus or virus some type of sickness when my other tomatoes thrived. I grow organically, in southern Ohio. Paul Robeson became my favorite over Cherokee purple. I hope you have a great gardening year! ❤
I copycatted you last yr with the cattle panel for growing tomatoes. Worked amazingly I used garden Velcro to hold tomatoes in place.It was awesome to get away from the tomato cages!
Zone 5a now, i guess...from the U.P. Michigan, can get up to 50 below here, but we haven't had those in a few years. We started our tomatoes on the 23rd (March) and have some sprouting already. I had the same issue last year, was so overwhelming with the over grown tomatoes indoors! started about 2 wks later than we did last year! Good vibes to all for successful growing and harvesting this year! We are going to need this year to be a good productive year!
NW Ohio here! Giant Belgium is a mainstay in our garden 😊our first year growing the giant crimson, I only sprouted 1 seed specifically to save seeds from it. I used the suckers to increase my plants once the plant was big enough. They're slow, but yummy.
My Giant Krimsom were weak plants with small tomatoes. They were the only few plants among 150 tomatoes that got blossom end rot. I may plant the last couple seeds, but I wasn't impressed by the variety.
@marcidevries5515 yeah, I definitely think that the story behind them is better than the end product. But, cool enough to still get a tomato spot, and they help bulk up the sauce.
@@dyandenmeade3232 My daughter used them for a 4H project as she could tell the backstory and explain that she learned how to clone the plant through cuttings. I expected the judge to be more excited than he was 😉
We grew Paul Robeson last year, and they were delicious. My favorite is Dr. Wyche's, but this year we are trying the Kellogg's Breakfast, since all of you YT gardeners brag about it every year. I never have that much luck with Cherokee Purple, but both Black Prince and German Queen do really well here, and are both wonderful. Grand Marshall is another good one. I love growing Romas and cherry tomatoes. Good luck!
Awesome, started mine 2 days ago.
The Oxhearts are my staple for paste tomatoes. They are also great eating. Being in zone 4 I don’t get to plant my garden until Memorial Day and Oxhearts are one of my fastest and biggest producers. They get very big. Love them!!
I too am here in Minnesota in zone 3b. I used to plant my tomatoes to early and in recent years I wait for the first of June. I am buying my plants this year as I am having a knee replacement t on junex15th and my neighbor is watering my garden while I am in the hospital. Planting in 8 raised beds and greenstalk planters. O ly doing a few tomatoes for fresh eating and salsa. I still have a bunch of sauce and whole tomatoes so I don't need to cann many this year. Cherokee purple and black cherry are two of my favorite.
I believe chocolate sprinkles is a hybrid so if she saved from her garden they might not come out as expected. it's one I've been wanting to try.
I'm starting 72 tomatoes 🍅. Hillbilly, Cherokee purple, German, Salvatore Select, and a few others. I have a stack of seeds and a bunch more saved seeds from previous years harvest. I plan to share a good amount of starts. I'll probably plant around 40. Then share some harvest too. Tomatoes are my main love of gardening! Happy gardening. Happy Easter all. God is great!
OOH that orange amana is my absolute favorite. It has low acidity so I mix it with Paul Robeson to add a depth of flavor for my first 'mater sandwich of the season every year. I salivate every time someone says they are growing the orange amana. 😀
When I label the tray using different kinds of veggies, I also wrote the number of cells for that specific kind of veggie. Helped if I was rearranging.
I started Roma and Hungarian heart. The Hungarian heart is a huge oxheart, I was so surprised at how big they were. I have never heard of the Amana tomato.
I love growing a mix of color an flavor an chop an mix all with a lil olive oil an some fresh herbs instant salad
Cherokee purple for life! Seriously the BEST tomato for fresh eating!
Lol, you can’t believe you’re finally here!😅. I know-it takes Forever!
Rachel, I am on the west side of Michigan in Grand Haven. This is my first year starting tomatoes from seed, I did order from MIgardener, some of the same varieties as you. Thanks for the tips.
The Amana tomato is an absolute favorite, however Im biased having grown up there.
I use tposts or wood stakes spaced about every 3 plants then do the florida weave to support them all. Works great. I also planted my cucumbers along a cattle panel trellis, then on the opposite side I planted my jalapenos and the cukes shaded and provided a great jalapeno crop.
I love your greenhouse setup. I have the same one but never thought of adding grow lights and heat mats and bringing it inside. Brilliant! And much more economical than building a greenhouse which I can’t, lol. Now my brain is activated, thank you!
For a last frost date of 10 May, this is still plenty early to start them. Even starting them within the next couple of weeks, they will catch up by the end of June provided they are planted out in warm soil. I start them in a single container and then pot up only those that germinate. This method takes up less space and potting soil.
Such a timely video! I'm in northern Iowa and will probably plant this week. Today is April 1st. I ordered some tomato seeds from "Homestead Heart" and am looking forward to trying a different variety. What a great idea about putting your greenhouse over the heat register. I won't be able to do it this year but next year I may give that a try. I take a small plastic cup with some holes in the bottom, plant my seed in there and then place it in a plastic drink cup with a lid and place them on the window sills. Those are my little individual greenhouses.
I set tomato seeds in a 200 cell flat, one per cell. And up pot them as soon as they get their first set of true leaves.
This year I also will start later. I believe frost date and zone has little to do with when to start seeds, but more of when can you safely transplant without going crazy covering them up and proper soil temperature. We are in Z5a, WI, LF date 5/12-We can’t safely plant out until June 1st. Last year was devastating when a freak un-forecasted freeze hit on 5/25. It killed many plants and knocked potatoes to the ground. Local winery is up higher and lost 95% of grape buds. I almost threw in the towel as I had planted out 25 varieties of tomatoes and just as many peppers in multiples. 😫 I use to start tomatoes about 3/25. This year I’m counting back 6 weeks from ‘transplant date’ Plus adding about 3 days for germination and a week to harden off-so about 2nd week of April. At this point it will be warm enough to heat the greenhouse and they will grow rapidly out there. I have found the taller cell packs I was looking for and they should be perfect for the size of tomato plants I’m aiming for-about 6”. I know from past experience that tomatoes will catch up rather quickly especially if they are planted out when it is warm enough. Too cold and they just sit there. Starting too soon I end up with a jungle of plants, potting up and running out of room because the canopy gets so big they need to be set apart more than the pots allow. Definitely don’t want any plants flowering before transplanting. We also get such cold nights. Like right now it’s been colder the last two weeks than the end of January. Our temps were 20-30 degrees above average and now we are well below average. It’s seems to take forever to get warm here and when it does-Boom! The heat is on! Wise advice to wait! 🎉 It’s difficult for those of us that watch vids of others planting out and we are struggling to get through March. It’s a tuff month for me anyways. I do have plenty of perennials, peppers and some annuals keeping things busy and sometimes the new to me seeds grow faster than anticipated and you wonder what to do with them😅. But a veg plant that is overgrown is another thing.
Nice timing. I just a seeded few tomatoes yesterday. One was a Cherokee Purple. Sort of surprised at the cold mornings we’ve had this week. I’m going to just start them inside. Then move them outside in my bookcase greenhouse for the light. Gee, I guess it's time to get orders in for my other seeds and supplies.😳 I noticed Home Depot also had trees $40. But they had small smaller ones for $23. Tractor Supply also wants $40 for theirs and $15 for their twig sized trees.
I love trying new tomato varieties every year! I grew Giant Belgium a few years ago and it was so sweet and tasty although it does have green shoulders that you have to cut away. I should grow that again. Wasn't a fan of Paul Robeson as it did not have much flavor in my opinion. My favorite Orange Tomato is Persimmon and favorite yellow Bi-color is Gold Medal. I always grow Sun Sugar Cherry every year as it is my favorite cherry. This year I am also trying for the first time Rose de Berne (Pink), Climbing Trip-L-Crop (Red), Apricot Zebra (Orange Striped) and some black tomatoes including Indigo Blue Chocolate Cherry and Black Beauty. I also love growing the Rainbow of tomato colors!
Different varieties, more nutrients for sure. Great point. You look so happy Rachel. Thanks for sharing tips, nutrients info and happiness
I grew Pink Oxheart for the first time last year, and they were prolific and delicious. I'll be growing them from here on out for sure.
I have not started mine yet this year 😊 my peppers are on the heat mat right now .I'm in the mid michigan area. The last frost date is may 15th. I started mine to early last year too it was my first time so I was excited to get growing 😊. I'm excited this year too but I don't need 40 tomatos like last year😂 Thank you for sharing ❤
I have the same zone and same last frist date as you - But in NE Wa state. So not as much rain here, I think. They also bumped us from 6b to 7a this year... But then of course we were down to neg 10 this winter, so yep I'll still buy zone 6 and lower perennials. Love all your tomato choices!
Yes I just started my tomatoes yesterday. Peppers were mid Feb but they all died and started those again last week 🤞
Awesome video. Thanks for sharing.
I started i think about 4 different types of tomatoes and also a mix of bell peppers. i filled up a 72 cell tray between those and 1 row of parsley. I have also planted potatoes out in containers under hay and some onions and some yellow peas that i got off baker creek seeds. I plant more than i need just in case some dont germinate .
I started some Cherokee purple this year! Appreciate your thoughts
I started my tomato seeds the day after you here in southwest Michigan! I do have a question for you, can you go into more detail about your indoor greenhouse set up, including where you purchased it from? Thanks in advance!
I'm curious to see how Luke's Pink Oxheart produces for you. I only got 3 tomatoes off the bush when I tried it but it was a new bed and I may have gotten the initial soil mix wrong. 💚
So many people love CP and I don't get it. lol I just don't love them. I started 270 tomatoes, not sure what I was thinking.
I think it depends on where you grow them, every climate and location gives a different outcome in taste, even one year to the next, just like grapes for wine.
I don’t get it either. Had 25 varieties and wasn’t impressed with many. The heirlooms don’t keep and the acidity seems to be losing favor towards more sweetness and without the acidity tomatoes won’t keep well. Had a better year with hybrids. I like a true tomato flavor.
@@dustyflats3832 Some of my favorites are Kellogg’s Breakfast, Ace 55(which is a hybrid) and Sungold(another hybrid). I live in An arid climate with very hot dry summers, which tends to make very flavorful tomatoes.
Taste is such a personal thing. There are many tomatoes I like, but if I had to choose only 2, they would be Cherokee Purple and Dr. Wyche.
Parks Whooper is a prolific producer of large ,tomatoes with very good taste in large clusters with no cracking and no vituses for us in Colorado.
We're in 5b here.
I may missed it but what and where did you get that grow tent / lights and rack!! Very cool thanks Rachel
This year all of my Cherokee purple starts got to about 4 weeks and shriveled up and died. First to pop up, looked the best and then just died. I feed them every other week, per my plant food instructions. Idk what I did wrong with them. I'm glad I started plenty extra tomatoes. I'm in Texas, so I'm getting close to planting out within the next few weeks.
I'm wondering if all of the old song references were on purpose or by accident? And good luck with the Giant Crimson. I tried them two years in a row and the biggest tomato I got from them was around 6 ounces. Pretty sad. I love MI Gardener, but these were a cool but failed experiment on 80-year-old seeds.
Loved this! Thank you so much for showing how you do it. I’ve tried seed starting in the house and everything got spindly stems and then melted at the dirt level. Am going to try this way this year. Definitely following your lead. 👍
The spindly stems are from not having lights close enough and the “melting” is called dampening off, it’s a fungus that kills them. You can put vermiculite or cinnamon on top of the soil to help.
This makes me want to get to planting seeds! I decided not to do seed starting this year, as I have my two year old tornado grandson living with me and I know they wouldn’t survive. I’m happy for your new garden year after having a break.
Have you tried the pineapple tomato from MiGardener? I love that so much more than the dr wyches and Kellogg’s breakfast
I have started all my peppers and tomatoes between last week and this week in my hydroponic system. This is new. Usually I use your method under lights. So we will see how it does. I may be sad 😂💩.
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I plant wayyyy more than I need because I do things like drop a 72 cell tray of varieties i can't get in any store or nursery 😂🌱
The plants will be fine...but now idk what's what. Still...I account for killing plants and messing up lol.
My last frost date is may 15. I start tomatoes April 1st
What seed starting mix did you use or did you make your own ,I probably missed that info thank you
I am so interested in ur thoughts on some of these tomatoes. I think u still will favor the Cherokee purple over the Paul Robeson. The Robeson just doesn't produce as big of a tomato compared to the Cherokee, plus the Robeson has like a deep hole it grows on the end underside, and odd rings around the top...but maybe that's how it grows in my climate. Then the Pink Oxheart, that one I gave up on too....very poor production and I just don't feel like there is much flavor. But man they can grow big! Very fun to watch u plant them! I know I shouldn't ask again, but r u not planting peppers this year? Or is it too late to start from seed for ur area?
I believe she has peppers 🌶 on her list of plants to start. It may be the next video.
Do you start using the grow lights right from the start? Or do you wait until they poke through the soil?
I seem to recall in the past, you said you were impressed with how the Kellogg grew but they weren't your favorite. I thought you preferred Dr Wyches over Kellogg. I apologize in advance if my memory is wrong
I start my seeds in the hot water cupboard
i had mahjor arm surgery im just starting what i can and buying some as well
Is that your 100% last frost? My average 50% last frost is about May 1 here in St Paul, MN
May I ask why so many Box Car Willies ?
What kind of soil do you use for planting your seeds
Burpees
Thank You
I hope I’m wrong. But I have a sickening feeling in my gut that says don’t trust the frost states this year. I believe that we may be replanting our gardens due to weather manipulations.!