Your opinion: Which tomatoes? (growing, input, nursery, northern)

[Alltheusernamesaretaken]

Hi there, I am already thinking "warm weather" though we have a while to go =) and am trying to decide which tomatoes to grow this year. All opinions are welcome. I hate eating tomatoes (my family loves them, though) but I love growing them.

I'm in Northern VA, zone 7.

I am looking to grow:

* Patio tomatoes

and

* 3 tubs of other tomatoes, either 2 cherry and 1 slicing, or vice versa.

I have already grown steak sandwich and super sweet 100; both worked out well but I wanted opinions on others. Indeterminate or determinate is fine, either one.

Thanks!

[Dusty Rhodes]

"Celebrity" has been around a long time, quite tasty, good in salads and make great sandwiches, cherokee Purple are also delicious and make good sandwiches, Ditto with the German Johnson.

[Ohiogirl81]

Try a yellow pear variety of cherry tomato. They're tasty, and pretty to boot.

[wit-nit]

I would go to my local Garden Nursery(s) and see what varieties they are offering for your area this year. They should be able to advise you on what you want. Different years different varieties are introduced.
Determinite are bush like and need short stakes, indeterminite are vine like and will probably need large stakes or trellis if you are using pots, unless you want them to grow along the ground which is usually not recommended.

[Alltheusernamesaretaken]

Oh I know, I've grown both indeterm. and determ. I do have cages for the pots. Thank you for your input everyone and I am still open to further suggestions. Cannot wait until planting time!!

[Hemlock140]

Truly the best I have grown for taste and also production is Black Prince. If they don't sell the plants in your area look for seeds and start them in the house. When ripe they are a mahogany color, but juicy and
more flesh than seeds.

[Dusty Rhodes]

Your opinion: Which tomatoes?

If you have a "Southern States" in your area, it is a co-op and really easy to join, just start shopping there. The staff knows what works best in your specific area, what additives you may need, what organic alternatives there are and what time to be planting any given variety of plant, either edible or decorative. Ask questions, it is their job to know the answers. They also have really good prices and a wide variety of animal feeds. This is where most farmers in this area get their seed, fertilizer, animal feed, et al, at good prices. Every day the store deals with people whose livelihoods depends upons good crops and healthy animals. Us hobby gardeners and pet owners can benefit from their expertise.

[Fields of Green]

I was really pleased with my yellow Tumbling Tom (basically a yellow cherry tomato) last season. Great producer, super easy because you don't stake them, just let them tumble out of a big tall pot. Cute, too. I also have good luck with the yellow pear tomato.

[smokingGun]

You've got to plant at least one Sungold cherry tomato plant! The fruit are low-acid & mega mega sweet. It's almost like a really juicy soft dried cranberry. Totally addictive!

[Osito]

Have you thought about those little vine tomatoes? Now those are good! I'd get them more often but they're so expensive. And the climate sucks here 75 percent of the year for growing them.