An Alphabet of Tomatoes

Its raining, I'm bored, so I'm sorting my tomato seeds alphabetically, of course! I have lots - far more than I will ever grow. So I thought I'd start a list of tomatoes which, maybe, you could add to or give your opinion of............... You know the sort of thing ..... would grow again/no chance? Tasty/bland etc. Disease prone, sprawling, heavy cropper etc. 

I'll start a new thread for each letter as I come to it - or you can start your own. Your choice.

I’ve finished my tea now, you may carry on with your tomato alphabet. I was worried I’d miss some. This is the most gardening related fun I’ve had in a long time. Thanks Veggie. It’s gone and got me all enthusiastic again 

I stopped for my meal too. Not sure I have the enthusiam to start again tonight. You'll have to wait until tomorrow!
As you can see, I'm inundated with tomato seeds - most of which are VERY old. but I don't have the heart to chuck them out. It seems cruel. So I thought that if I listed them, kind people like you and Garrett would give me your opinions which would help me choose which ones have a stay of execution - maybe even get to feel compost around their feet.
Of course, if there are any that you would like to try, just ask!

You’re very kind. You have lots of toms I’d like to try. However most of the 38 varieties I have are also not as fresh as they could be and need the opportunity to grow. So I will decline your very kind offer, with difficulty   .

You've spurred me to check my tom seeds. Like you, there are many, a fair number from older seed swaps which would probably be un viable. My problem is remembering what the ones I did grow tasted like. I find it quite difficult in the spring to decide which varieties to grow. I've reduced the salad sized ones because we prefer smaller toms or roasted big ones. I've tried to reduce the number of plants. You see, in 10 years time (if I'm still gardening or even here) it'll be one plant in a bucket on the patio. Choosing that one plant would be interesting, I think it would be Honeycomb.

Since lockdown I've kept a garden journal each year. At the end of each summer I write down the tomato varieties I've grown that year and do a taste test and score them. That way each spring when I'm deliberating I can look back and see which ones were my favourites.

As for the age of seeds, I remember rummaging through my seeds tins during that first lockdown in 2020 and seeing which tomatoes I had. A lot of the seed was old, up to a decade old, but I gave them a go and some germinated.

A particularly old packet of Red Cherry was at least twelve years beyond the sow by date. I emptied the whole packet on to a pot and hoped for the best. Wouldn't you know they ALL germinated! I had plenty to pass around to my siblings and the garden was stuffed with them. Luckily I liked them and saved seed for the future.

I find tomato seeds are viable for a lot longer than you would expect. That's why I'm reluctant to throw them away!

Over the years, I've realised that I don't like dark-skinned tomatoes because its hard to tell when they are ripe. I also don't like yellow or green tomatoes for similar reasons.
I'm too impatient to wait for beefsteak tomatoes to ripen so they're out too. Similarly, the currant sized ones like Millefleur - too small and fiddly.
I don't like overly sweet tomatoes like Sungold. A tomato should have a bit of a "bite/tang" to it.
I like to grow a few small, early tomatoes for the first taste of summer. Plus some large cherry tomatoes for snacking on through the year Also some larger salad size ones. I don't often cook tomatoes.
My old standbys were Mountain Princess, Oregon Spring and Legend but the old seeds haven't germinated for a couple of years so I've given up on them. I've been growing Aurora for the last few years as a substitute for an early bush.
I've also stopped growing potato leaf tomatoes because they cross with regular leafed toms so the seeds of both will be a gamble, if you save them.

Since lockdown I've kept a garden journal each year. At the end of each summer I write down the tomato varieties I've grown that year and do a taste test and score them. That way each spring when I'm deliberating I can look back and see which ones were my favourites.

As for the age of seeds, I remember rummaging through my seeds tins during that first lockdown in 2020 and seeing which tomatoes I had. A lot of the seed was old, up to a decade old, but I gave them a go and some germinated.

A particularly old packet of Red Cherry was at least twelve years beyond the sow by date. I emptied the whole packet on to a pot and hoped for the best. Wouldn't you know they ALL germinated! I had plenty to pass around to my siblings and the garden was stuffed with them. Luckily I liked them and saved seed for the future.

I too have a journal (or two) its remembering to record in them that's the problem and a spreadsheet!

Over the years, I've realised that I don't like dark-skinned tomatoes because its hard to tell when they are ripe. I also don't like yellow or green tomatoes for similar reasons.
I'm too impatient to wait for beefsteak tomatoes to ripen so they're out too. Similarly, the currant sized ones like Millefleur - too small and fiddly.
I don't like overly sweet tomatoes like Sungold. A tomato should have a bit of a "bite/tang" to it.
I like to grow a few small, early tomatoes for the first taste of summer.  Plus some large cherry tomatoes for snacking on through the year Also some larger salad size ones. I don't often cook tomatoes.
My old standbys were Mountain Princess, Oregon Spring and Legend but the old seeds haven't germinated for a couple of years so  I've given up on them.  I've been growing Aurora for the last few years as a substitute for an early bush.
I've also stopped growing potato leaf tomatoes because they cross with regular leafed toms so the seeds of both will be a gamble, if you save them.

I must admit I’ve never grown a green tomato because I’m not sure how you tell it’s ripe. But would be will to try . also agree with the potato leaf varieties. But will grow them in a separate tunnel in the future. Apart from that we seem to be on opposite ends of the tomato growing spectrum. I love sweet tomatoes and I love all the different colours, don’t care what size they are. But again I agree with you about the current size ones. What’s the point and a real faff.
 I will try to get my mountain princess and Oregon spring to germinate this year. And save seeds for you. If they germinate well ( wouldn’t hold your breath, quite old seed I think. May of been from seed swaps on the dark side, definitely from you though) I’ll send you some babies to grow on as well. Once they are big enough to cope with travelling alone that is.