Tomato Tasting Returns to Fairfield County

Oct. 3, 2018
Tomatoes are prepared for tasting and judging.

What a fun evening learning more about growing tomatoes as well as tasting tomatoes too! Over 50 participants joined the effort and we tasted 28 varieties of tomatoes.

Stan Smith, OSU Extension Fairfield County, highlighted “10 Reasons Your Neighbor Can’t Grow Tomatoes” and Jerry Iles OSU Extension Educator offering insight into foliar disease of tomatoes.   Lots of good information was shared among our participants and Master Gardeners.

The variety selected as the best tasting tomato was Mortgage Lifter (aka Lust) with 12 votes.  This variety was grown by Master Gardener Lise Ricketts and sold as part of our fund raising effort at our Dig Into Gardening tomato sale in the spring.

The Second place varieties with six votes each were Beef Steak and 5 Star.

Taking Third place was a three-way tie with five votes each for Great White, Golden Jubilee and Wisconsin 55. In the Fourth slot, we had a four-way tie with four votes each for Wild Cherry, Black Crimson, Valley Girl and Millers. Finally, fifth place was a tie with three votes each for Early Girl, Peaches Red and “Golden Something.” 

Thanks to all the Master Gardeners for slicing and dicing and to all their organizational efforts in making the return of the Tomato Tasting so much fun, and educational, too!!

Written by Connie Smith, MGV Coordinator