Roundup of the Top Tomatoes for 2014

A late start, continued unseasonably cool weather and drenching rains early in the season meant tomatoes had a difficult time this year.

The advice I always give to gardeners about when to plant their tomatoes did n’t hold on-key this year . It ’s always good to plant tender crops like tomatoes when night - time temperatures are a reliable 50 - 55 degree . However , spring weather condition would n’t cooperate . It took until mid - June for temperatures to warm up up enough for constitute .

Looks like I ’ll be endue in moreEz - walls industrial plant protectorsjust in case another cool spring decides to hold back my tomato - planting . A little drum roll , please , as I unveil my top tomato picks for this twelvemonth :

Costoluto Genovese : This Italian heirloom tomato plant was my best-loved this season . The Lycopersicon esculentum had a terrific tomato preference , not too sweet and not too sourish . I loved the room they count , too . Most of them were deeply lob with scallop edges and they turn a beautiful , rich red color when good . I ’m saving seeds from the best of these so I can get them again next year .

Sun Sugar yellow cherry : I planted these brilliant orange cherry Lycopersicon esculentum in a hanging basket on a tumid trellis just off the patio , near the grille . That was the perfect smudge for the sweetest of the form I planted . The only downside ? Very few made it into the house because we ’d eat them powerful off the vine as starter while waiting for the grill to heat up and for dinner to fake .

Sungold : The perennial winner at tasting competitions , Sungold is a pleasant-tasting orange tree cherry tomato . The plant is prolific and it continue to pump out perfectly round fruits on extremely long vines . I ’ve made several batches of roasted Sungold ’s to stop dead and habituate in tomato sauce this winter .

Black Krim : These heirloom black tomatoes are my all - clip favored tomatoes , and my vegetable garden would n’t be consummate without them . The tomatoes have a deep , complex flavor , smoky and just slightly tangy . The plant that grew in a big container produced especially huge fruit , as in one can fill up my two hands .

Amsterdam : These tomato plant were a new variety show in 2012 , and I can see why they were on the National Garden Bureau ’s inclination of favorites . The fruit are about the size of two cherry love apple put together and they ’re loaded with a balanced tomato savour . It ’s the richest tomato taste I ’ve found in any small - sized tomato .

Chef ’s Choice : An All - America Selection ’s winner for 2014 , this orange tomato is a cross using the fabulousAmana Orange . Its vividness is just as promising on the interior as its outside , and it stayed sharp once simmered into tomato plant sauce . I can see where this tomato gets its name , but it ’s a expert tomato for fresh eating , too .

flyspeck Tim : This footling heirloom packs a heavy tomato biff . The flora grow to only 12 - 18 inch tall , but it produce a lot of yield . It makes aperfect patio plantor it can be grown inside on a ace - sunny windowsill .

Indigo Rose : I expect fore to get these dark purple tomatoes with the rosy inside , but I was disappointed with the taste . equate to the other varieties I grow , Indigo Rose had a flavor that fell flat . On the plus side , there were a lot of cocktail - size tomatoes load with antioxidant .

Fastastico : Another All - America Selections cull for 2014 , Fantastico perform well in both vegetable garden bottom and patio container . These grape vine tomatoes produced a mass of sweetened tomatoes that were ordered in size and gustatory modality . The tomato showed up early and keep producing all summer . Unlike the two types of cerise tomatoes , there was no splitting or snap .

I also grew two admirable paste tomato , San MarzanoandRoma , and a tomato I ’m still waiting on : Julia Child . If the Lycopersicon esculentum on this plant ever get advanced , I ’ll be certain to describe on the flavor results .

That ’s my lean . What were the ripe tomato varieties you grew this season ?

( Note : Some of these love apple seeds and plants were sent to me as complimentary sample distribution . )

hunky-dory Gardening Recommended Products

Gardener ’s Log Book from NYBG

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchase through links on this site , including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertizement programs .

A.M. Leonard Deluxe Soil Knife & Leather Sheath Combo

Chapin International 10509 Upside - Down Trigger Sprayer

Get our latest baksheesh , how - to articles , and instructional videos institutionalise to your inbox .

Signing you up …

Of all the tomatoes I grew this year, one heirloom stood out from all the rest.Photo/Illustration: Jodi Torpey

Patio Pepper Roundup for 2015

The Sweetest Tomatoes Win Top Prizes

2010 Tomato Roundup Winner and Results

2010 Tomato Roundup

Join ok horticulture for a free occupy live webinar sport Dr. Janna Beckerman , a famed plant diagnostician as well as professor emerita at Purdue University and the ornamentals proficient director …

When I spotted a fussy moxie dollar cactus ( Astrophytum asterias ) at the Philadelphia Flower Show a few month ago , I knew I was in trouble . With a delicious colour pattern …

When we only prioritize plants we want over plants our landscape needs , each season is replete with a never - ending list of job : pruning , vellicate , watering , treating , amending , and fertilizing , with …

Video

Touring an Eco-friendly, Shady Backyard Retreat

You must be heedful when you enter the backyard of garden interior designer Jeff Epping — not because you ’re likely to trip on something , but because you might be dive - bombed by a duo …