I am not familiar with the tomatoes you have picked out. We have grown Stupice and Ida Gold for years now as our determinates. We have tried others but prefer those two. Determinates usually start earlier but by the end of the season they are often worn out and some plants are dead. I used my last several Stupice tonight but having some so late in the season is unusual. They are smaller type toms but not cherries either.

Any possibility to grow a couple indeterminate types to supplement your determinates? That is how we keep our toms producing spring, summer and fall.

The following is an excerpt from our Tip of the Week on January 21, 2002. In that tip I listed most of our favorite veggies, why and where to get them. This year we are adding some tomatoes to our favorite list, Cherokee Purple and Federle. The CP is strange looking but was a big hit with our members for taste. The Federle is a torpedo shape tom that is very meaty and little juice, good for sauces or salsa.

Early tomatoes:
Stupice – an heirloom from Czechoslovakia that ripens in 52 days. Flavor is tastier than other early types we have tried. Produces our first ripe tomatoes. Red fruit. Available from: 1. Seeds Trust High Altitude Gardens www.seedsave.org
2. Seed Savers 319-382-5990 www.seedsavers.org
Ida Gold- another early heirloom that has orange-golden fruit of superior flavor. Ripens in 59 days. One of the best tasting tomatoes we grow. Available from 1. Seeds Trust High Altitude Gardens www.seedsave.org

You can also get the seeds from us along with our Earliest Ripe Tomato Guide. We have won the statewide contest for the earliest ripe tomato in Michigan for two years. Go to our ‘Home’ page for more information about it. It doesn’t cost anymore than ordering from the above suppliers plus you get the guide.

Experimenting with different varieties is sometimes exciting and sometimes disappointing. Out of 5 new toms we tried this year only two (mentioned above) will be grown again. But that is how you find out if you like certain ones. We tried a new container type this year that wasn’t worth it at all, Otraolny, eck!

Wish you the best, Diane