THE ULTIMATE TOMATO GROWING TRIAL -- WHICH VARIETY WON?!

[@aroundmichaelsbarn601]

I loved the red snapper this year. I was impressed by the size of the tomatoes. I’ve also enjoyed the jubillee tomatoes as the size on them were huge also! Sungold cherry is the best eating cherry tomato and I’ve been impressed with the harvest from the sweetie cherry.

[@gardeningwithhoss]

I agree. The production on the Sweetie cherry tomato is amazing. But the taste of the Sun Gold can't be beat!

[@runforest7]

I wish more people could see this video with an open mind. So many home gardeners are elitist about growing heirlooms, and seem close minded about hybrid tomatoes. In our garden allotment and weather conditions, we can spend so much time and effort to plant heirlooms only to have them succumb to diseases, lack of production, cracking, or require a ton of maintenance. It's disheartening. But the hybrid tomatoes we've planted, that have been selected for productivity and flavour (where it's been proven through double blind taste test), have ensured us that our time and effort will be rewarded with great tasting tomatoes throughout the season. I genuinely appreciate this video and your honest opinions

[@reggicat]

thats why i planted so many varieties to see what was good. When i was growing up, we planted strictly the same kind of tomatoes, okra, etc every year.

[@gardeningwithhoss]

Couldn't have said it better myself.

[@Shelzbells]

Your tomatoes look REALLY good for what you have described as far as your weather. I am just gobsmacked with all those tomatoes that are on your vines. Wow. Thats good stuff

[@robertguidry4577]

I had 9 Bella Rosa plants and had all the tomatoes I and my kids could handle. I put up 22 quarts of tomato sauce using a Victorio sauce strainer which removes all the seeds and skin and hard pieces of pulp. I follow a recipe which you reduce the pulp and juice by 50%. That's a lot of tomatoes for 9 plants. Replaced my old stand by Creole.

[@gardeningwithhoss]

Glad to hear y'all had a great crop!

[@rickpadgett1999]

Can share if needed. Taught school 30 yrs.and grew 30/40 tomato plants each year. Love to eat and give away. At times when I had just to many would take a bucket to school and leave in teacher's lounge. Got fussed at because the tomatoes would be gone in about 10 min. Chuck, guidance counselor from up North some place called me into his office one day and asked me what my secret was. What, just vine ripe and home grown. He said no I have never tasted anything like your tomatoes. For several years he thought I was keeping some secret. I finally got him to grow a few at home and he was amazed. He had thought those tomatoes in store was what tomatoes actually taste like.

[@lachozidanesvalchanneltanaman]

I like it☘️☘️☘️👍

[@ricksmith1574]

Growing some Bella Rosas and red snappers I bought from you all. So far so good. Im also growing one called garden leader monster. So far every seed sprouted and the plants are huge and from 2 inch plants a month ago they are 26 plus inches and some have tomatoes already. The flowers are huge. Have you tried this one? So far Im very impressed. Beating the better boys size wise. The other ones were started 2 weeks after so we will see how they do compared to them. I love tomatoes in the cool months or central FL. Get 2 crops. 1 now and 1 in Feb.

[@msmarygardner]

Oh how I wish you could do a taste test so that we could also see what they look like inside. Meaty, seedy, hollow, sweet, acidic etc. Plzzz

[@allenhickman5914]

I agree

[@gardeningwithhoss]

We'll be doing a taste test on all of these on this week's Row by Row show. Catch it this Thursday night at 8:00pm EST here on our channel.

[@msmarygardner]

Hoss Tools ... 🤸‍♂️🤸‍♂️🤸‍♂️ yipeee...

[@rmburn9634]

Also back off on the Nitrogen fertilizer a little earlier. Too much growth uses up the sugar storage in the plant that is used for insect and disease resistance.

[@rmburn9634]

If you can find a way to mulch under your tomato plants or at least trim up the lower leaves so the soil doesnt splash on the leaves you will find great delay in disease pressure.

[@lisabaughman887]

I live up in northern Indiana and decided to try the brickyard and belarousa because of you and your dad's video. Well I have some loaded plants up here and waiting patiently for them to start turning. These may be the replacement tomatoes I have been searching for.

[@gardeningwithhoss]

It's an awesome variety! Glad you're liking it!

[@ricksmith1574]

So how did your plants do? STill growing the bellas?

[@lisabaughman887]

@@ricksmith1574 Both did well. No, I am not still growing the Belarousa. I didn't really enjoy the flavor but the production was fine.

[@ricksmith1574]

@@lisabaughman887 Thanks. Did you like the brickyards?

[@larrytaylor9821]

I tried the weave and I had a couple blow over. They were tomato heavy when the wind came. I couldn't get them back up. I weaved 6 together, that's too many. Thanks for your help.

[@gardeningwithhoss]

Oh no!

[@DV-ol7vt]

Slice those tomatoes, I need to see the inside. I would like to know how seedy that Hitachi sauce/paste tomato is? Dry like Roma or juice like a table slicer?

[@gardeningwithhoss]

We'll be slicing and taste-testing them all on tonights Row by Row Garden Show at 8:00pm EST.

[@melodylyons4631]

Great imfo thank you.

[@gardeningwithhoss]

Glad it was helpful!

[@conniegonzalez6068]

Thanks for all your information I really appreciate it , I live in Utah and I get a great harvest in paste tomatoes but the big variety did don’t do that good in here, 👍🏼

[@gardeningwithhoss]

👍

[@ABamaGardener]

DON'T use rebar on the Florida weave. They still wiggle loose. Been there done that. The only thing I found to hold up against wind and weight is the T-Posts with the wing plates in ground. I get 3 plants btw posts but think I could go 4 My garden space isn't as long as yours.

[@gardeningwithhoss]

👍

[@Hatfield_Country]

Definitely going to get some tomato seeds from y'all next year. My Diablo pumpkin seeds I got from ya'll are going strong.

[@gardeningwithhoss]

👍

[@reggicat]

Im buying all seeds from them next year. Ive had high germination and productivity from everything ive bought. Some other vendors not so much.

[@charitysmith5245]

How long would yall say that tomao seeds would last and have good germination? Like with some varieties id only have a couple plants so a pack of seeds could last four or 5 years...if refrigerated, would that help longevity? And what about other seeds for that matter? Freezer, fridge? Thoughts?

[@gardeningwithhoss]

Keep unused seeds in the freezer. It's best to use fresh seeds, but I understand if you only need so many per packet. I would suggest sharing/splitting with a friend. Fresh seeds will always germinate better.

[@opalezell319]

Travis,I have try to get in touch with. I have what in Ms we call."old timey" cowhorn okre or okra. My Dad always pruned his okra.This okra branches out and will have 2 or 3 branches on 1 stalk.If you want to try, I will send you 5 pods for seeds, I also have Butter beans you cant buy. Passed down thru the years, white with purple eye, Prolife producer,pole beans.Do you want a few seeds????

[@gardeningwithhoss]

Sure! We'll give them a try!

[@im2grn2win]

I could not find Brickyard Tomatoes on the Hoss website

[@gardeningwithhoss]

Unfortunately, that variety was discontinued by the breeder late last year. SummerPick (hosstools.com/product/summerpick-tomato/) is a very suitable replacement.

[@jimhammond3607]

You going to do another tomato taste test this year? Good show!

[@gardeningwithhoss]

You know it! This Thursday on our Row by Row show it will happen!

[@elizabethhall1716]

Where do you get your tomato plants? I haven't seen those varieties here in Texas, at our local place.

[@gardeningwithhoss]

You won't find these varieties at any local stores. We carry the seeds here (hosstools.com/product-category/premium-garden-seeds/tomatoes/) and grow our own plants.

[@ricksmith1574]

Your being alittle hard on your self. Those plants still look pretty good for the heat of the summer. Im in FL and only grow them in Fall and spring to avoid the heat and pests. Where do you get your bella rosa seeds and brickyards.

[@gardeningwithhoss]

www.hosstools.com

[@ricksmith1574]

@@gardeningwithhoss Ordered and they arrived and hurricane is past and they sprouted in 4 days. Looking forward to trying these. Thanks

[@vickycollins6656]

Will the Hortonova Trillis work for medium/large tomatoes? Interested in 59"x100' netting. My indeterminate tomatoes grew 7 to 8 feet tall this past season.

[@gardeningwithhoss]

yes it will

[@TargaWheels]

I got 5 or 6 Beefsteaks off of one indeterminate plant. It flowers but most of the flowers drop. I got ZERO from my Delicious plant which was also indeterminate. Both were started at the same time, a few months ago. I thought it was the heat (mid 80's, low 90's) that was the problem. I guess they just don't produce, like you said.

[@gardeningwithhoss]

Try growing determinate varieties. They'll produce much more in a shorter window.

[@TargaWheels]

@@gardeningwithhoss I do have two determinates growing both are hybrids. The plants look crappy, but puts out more than their share considering the size of the plant.

[@allenhickman5914]

I’ve always grown Rutgers as my go to canning tomato... Have you grown them? If you have, how do they compare with some of these “favorites”?

[@lrhcconrad2230]

I'm in Ohio and I bought a flat of Rutgers last year . I had more 🍅 then I knew what to do with . seemed I was making sauce for a month straight . used the last can end of feb . tried a flat of Amish paste this year . they still have a ways to go . looks like I'll try the tachi next year . Rutgers 2 thumbs up . in Ohio that's a lot to be said

[@Jhossack11]

Good to hear about Rutgers, got three plants going strong in SE Mich!

[@pamt8430]

@@lrhcconrad2230 how many plants do you grow and what was the canning yield? My tomato season is a bust this yr. Next yr I want to put up a years worth just in case.

[@gardeningwithhoss]

Rutgers is a great variety grown by many. We'll be carrying it next year. It is not near as disease-resistant as the varieties we grew in this plot, but it is a reliable tomato for many gardeners.

[@lrhcconrad2230]

I'm still a rookie at canning . I also run on a100$ a year budget . I try to just have fun with it . I canned about 24 qrts of sauce . I gave away at least one - third of the crop . had fun with it and made a lot of new friends .

[@gmcvay4]

Gonna be buying a lot of seeds from yall next year. Question tho I have acid reflux so what variety do you recommend with low acidity?

[@gardeningwithhoss]

Any of the yellow or orange varieties have less acidity. Chef's Choice Orange or Jubilee are great choices there.

[@charlescourtney4412]

I also have acid reflux and find that if you can tomatoes, adding a bit of baking soda will reduce the acidity and make things easier on your stomach. We open the jar, heat up the sauce, and then taste test to see if the acidity needs to be reduced. However, be careful -- too much will make things taste salty. Also, if you are water bath canning (I pressure can) you must leave the acidity uncorrected, or even add lemon juice for more acidity, as acidity reduces the risk of botulism. Add baking soda only after opening the jars, not before canning.

[@tomjones4318]

I'll take a red, yellow, or orange tomato any day. I tried the hyped up blacks and purples and they are different but not better. I wonder if they draw less pests though since they don't stand out so much. You were going with no prune no soil phobia this year how did you like it?

[@gardeningwithhoss]

No pruning definitely works best for us!

[@ricksmith1574]

Well I have grown Red Snapper, Bella Rosa, Better Boy, Cherokee Purple, Celebrity, Celebration, and one called Garden Leader Monster. Did those in late sept till now and the cold in FL hurt them some but still alot of tomatoes on the plants. I choose the Bella Rosa and Red Snapper account of this video. I would not grow the Bella Rosa again because it was the only one that got blossom end rot. Besides they are alot like celebrity and celebration but with Blossum end rot and smaller tomatoes. I will be doing another grow starting seeds in Feb. This time it will only be Red Snappers, Celebration, Cherokee Purple, Super sweet 100 and a new one called Steakhouse, Suppose to be the largest tomato ever? We will see. The Red Snapper also went through the cold snap untouched where all others to one degree or another were hurt. Not the most productive but they are the healthiest and the tomatoes look like something out of a add. Some also are very large.

[@4KidsandaFarm]

What would you say is your best salsa tomato? We are about to buy some Bella Rosas in the ground for a Fall harvest.

[@gardeningwithhoss]

Any of the ones mentioned in this video would work. Many folks use the Roma-type tomatoes for salsa. So in that case, the Tachi would work great for that.

[@1Bradlee1]

how many of those were determinate tomatoes? I'm trying all indeterminate tomatoes this year in zone 12. have a way smaller garden but your production is incredible in comparison. great channel.

[@gardeningwithhoss]

Almost all of them are determinates. That's what we prefer to grow. We like being able to get all our tomatoes for canning a short window. And all tomato plants (determinate or indeterminate) are going to be toast here by the end of July anyways.

[@bobmchugh9965]

How do U control bird damage?

[@gardeningwithhoss]

You can put a netting over them but that is really the only way to keep them.

[@larrytaylor9821]

Also, if you have hybrid seeds left over in the pack, are they good for next year?

[@gardeningwithhoss]

yes, if stored correctly

[@TheMachiningman]

I did not see any leaf footed bugs, do you spray to control them and if so what do you use? Thanks Big Hoss

[@gardeningwithhoss]

We do spray for them. We've been rotating spinosad and pyrethrin on this plot weekly since we planted these plants. When we start seeing leaf-footed bugs, we'll usually pull the plants and cut our losses before letting those devils proliferate anymore.

[@tylerhuggins1724]

How close are your rows? I’ve done 6 feet this year and in hindsight wish I had put them closer.

[@gardeningwithhoss]

4’

[@lawrencebeeles6338]

How about your smaller tomato are any off the ones you rated indeterminate looking for indeterminate cherry yellow with high production and good taste

[@gardeningwithhoss]

We grew Sweetie, Sun Gold and Black Zebra. Sweetie is by far the most productive. Sun Gold can't be beat taste-wise. And the Black Zebra makes some nice, large cherry tomatoes with heirloom flavor.

[@ricksmith1574]

Im growing the Bella Rosas and Im getting about 6-8 per plant? Is that the norm?

[@gardeningwithhoss]

Their is a lot of factors that can affect the number of tomatoes. See description in link below for basic Bella Rosa info. hosstools.com/product/bella-rosa-tomato/

[@Ridoutmelli]

What do you do to combat bugs like stink and nymph?

[@gardeningwithhoss]

We spray a rotation of spinosad and pyrethrin (both organic) weekly as soon as we transplant them.

[@sassyannie6292]

QUESTION: What would you suggest to put on your plants that are getting eaten by ants? All our tomato plants got eaten by small ants. We lost them all. We are trying our 2nd chance of planting tomatoes. Also, how long will seeds keep if they are unopened?

[@gardeningwithhoss]

Spinosad will take care of ants. Seeds will usually keep several years if kept in the fridge. The only exception would be onion seed and pea seed. Those don't keep very well from one year to the next.

[@sassyannie6292]

@@gardeningwithhoss THANK YOU!!

[@anniecochrane3359]

Do you get the tomato/potato psyllid in your neck of the woods, and how do you deal with it if you do?

[@gardeningwithhoss]

Have not had any issues with that. Our biggest issue is Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus and Leaf Curl Virus.

[@pamt8430]

I may have missed this answer...do you prune your tomatoes?

[@staceyberry6523]

on a previous video he said he usually prunes his tomatoes but decided to follow his dads method of not pruning this year

[@gardeningwithhoss]

We didn't this year and definitely benefited from having larger plants with more leaves.

[@pamt8430]

@@staceyberry6523 ty

[@davidmontgomery8346]

I see on one of your Tachi romas that there is a perfect green/yellow circle on it. I had the same perfect circle on some of my Tachis. Did not hurt the quality of the tomato at all. Any idea what caused that?

[@gardeningwithhoss]

Not sure. Some of the blemishes on ours are a result of the twine pressing against the fruit. They're so loaded that they press agains the twine as they grow.

[@09echols]

Is the bella rosa juicy or meaty

[@gardeningwithhoss]

Juicy

[@cathyscroggins1420]

Roots and Refuge grows heirlooms and gets a great amount off hers. It might just be the area of the country that you’re growing in that makes the difference. I know that you mentioned before that there are tons of commercial growers around you that cause your heirlooms to not grow as well, plus you sell hybrid seeds and that’s what you promote. Hybrids might be best for market gardeners but the home grower typically doesn’t need that much.

[@gardeningwithhoss]

Some folks do a good bit of canning, others just enjoy their tomatoes fresh. If you're wanting to can tomatoes for the winter months, hybrids are definitely the way to go. Heirloom varieties are not very round and can be more difficult to process for canning.

[@cathyscroggins1420]

Maybe we just agree to disagree 😊 I’m not trying to be hateful or anything. i know some you tubers that can a lot from heirlooms and get tons. Maybe they aren’t all the same nice round ones like hybrids but it doesn’t cause you spend much more time doing it. I’m glad you’re growing what seeds that you sell and promoting them that way.its good for your business.😊

[@farmerbob4554]

Are the tomatoes that produced well determinate types? And also, how often do you fertilize and do you cut back on Nitrogen and water when the plants start to bloom?

[@gardeningwithhoss]

Yes, the best producing varieties will always be the determinate as far as beefsteak tomatoes go. We push the pretty hard with fertilizer initially, but we did back off once fruits started turning.

[@reggicat]

@@gardeningwithhoss is that the general rule to push fertilizer until the fruit starts? is that across the board for other veggies as well?

[@gardeningwithhoss]

Most of the time, yes.

[@deborahtofflemire7727]

Thanks do you have advice for getting rid of moths that are eating all my rutabaga leaves they already took out all my cauliflower. I used DE need oil I am using beer bath and ever morning I hVe a bowl full of moths. They eat giant wholes on my leaves, my leaves look like lace We plan to put a new bunch.of cauliflower maybe august Any advice would be helpful

[@gardeningwithhoss]

Try some Spinosad. It's organic and we have it on our site.

[@gracebrown1404]

B T. Also known as thuricide is a specific for all the moth and butterfly pest larvae. Biological, harmless to birds and humans, but will indiscriminately kill monarch and other butterfly larvae. Spray carefully!

[@KYKAYAKER274ey1]

Can you tell me a good yellow tomato I grow brandy wine now but want another good variety?

[@gardeningwithhoss]

Chef's Choice Orange did great for us this year. Jubilee is another good one!

[@sibelb4152]

Sunny Boy is a hybrid yellow slicer. Tried for the first time this year. Wonderful flavor, one of my favorites ever, and our plants are loaded. We have a tough growing season: we're up north, zone 4a, very short season (about 90 days frost free), with cold wet springs followed by hot summers (had about a month straight >90F this year). The Sunny Boys are doing great. Coincidentally those in the south that want a fast bearer that will do well before the disease sets in, and one that will do well in the heat, may also find it a good choice.

[@jeannewilliams956]

Does picking the tomatoes early (not vine ripe) and letting ripen that way hinder the flavor at all?

[@gardeningwithhoss]

Not that we've noticed.

[@sunshineinfla222]

I pick mine early when blush to prevent rain cracking and bugs, they're not getting my bounty!! Love to watch them ripen on the counter and they taste fantastic!!!

[@jeannewilliams956]

Elizabeth Harrod thank you, I will have to try that!

[@crawfislk]

I wish you would raise a few very disease resistant tomatoes like Celebrity, it was the most resistant years ago when I was big into it. Or a few regular Better boy to compare and show us how they compare to your best.

[@gardeningwithhoss]

Celebration (which we showed in this video) is an improved version of Celebrity. That's why we carry it instead of Celebrity.

[@crawfislk]

@@gardeningwithhoss Cool I wondered if it was because of the name similarity. Still I'm sure you've tried better boy. How did they do? And btw you do a hell of a job so thanks!

[@gardeningwithhoss]

Have not tried Better Boy mainly because the disease-resistance isn't quite as robust as some of the varieties in this video.

[@rebeccafontes3717]

Pumpkin problem: the female blooms are aborting and falling off without blooming. Any idea what might be causing this? Heat? Has been hitting 90+ a lot of days. These are from a free packet of seeds. The HT Fall Splendor pumpkins got planted later and aren't started blooming yet - hoping they do better.

[@gardeningwithhoss]

They should still bloom in the heat.

[@djangoapple8230]

"Productivity" on your hybrids? You'll need it. Check the nutrient content vs. open pollenated/heirloom. All of modern farming is based on "yield". Not nutrition. You ever hear a crop report about nutrition?

[@gardeningwithhoss]

So what would make an heirloom more nutritious? Do you have a good way to analyze this? We’d be glad to do a test if there was an easy way to do it.

[@jimrenderer6627]

When you say that you can all the tomatoes together, I assume you mean for sauce and juice. Such a shame to let all those slicers go to sauce.

[@gardeningwithhoss]

We have more than we can slice, so yes we put them all together. When cooked down, they all make an excellent pasta sauce.

[@TalkingThreadsMedia]

Hi, Jim... Yes, the flavor profile of a large assortment of tomatoes is DEEPER and RICHER! We have 22 varieties of tomatoes this year (up from 18 last year) -- specifically so that we can mix them together. Smokiness of CARBON and PAUL ROSESON, is enhanced by the sweetness of DR. WYCHE and SUN GOLD, etc. Each variety brings it's own characteristics to the sauce! -- so glad to see Travis (and others) taking this approach, too! BTW...to intensify the tomato flavors, withhold water for a couple of days before the harvest. Best wishes, Kate in Olympia, WA -- 7/15/2020.