Today we’ll look at the next three tomatoes we trialed in the Potager this year.

3. Paul Robeson Beefsteak

If ever you research Paul Robeson tomato there will be a few key phrases that show up over and over again: “cult following”, “famous”, “smoky”. For more information see my spring post about them here.

This meant I had high hopes. 

Unfortunately I also have chickens and the Paul Robeson were their favorite. One would just be starting to ripen and Josh would get all excited about it and then the next day, it was gone.  Any hen that got out automatically headed over to these tomatoes and ate them right off the vine. Eventually we picked a couple a day or two before perfection and brought them inside to finish up, just so that we could taste them.

They were … alright. Not the most delicious I've ever had, but tasty. I don't know if I had played it up too much in my head, or what I was expecting, but they didn’t blow me away. Definitely a bit of a smoky taste. We’ll give them one more try next year and maybe they won't be on repeat in the garden. 

Growth: 4/5

Production: 4/5

Flavor: 3/5

Interest: 3/5

5. Pruden's Purple Beefsteak

This was the other beefsteak tomato we tried this year. And I’m always a sucker for purple, though this tomato is really more pink than proper purple. 

As with Paul, Pruden was the delight of our chickens. Tucked further into the garden she didn’t get attacked quite as much but definitely was a bird magnet. The tomato itself was alright. Maybe I’m just not a beefsteak girl. It was large so great for filling out sauces and such. Tasty enough I guess. 

Growth: 3/5

Production: 3/5

Flavor: 3/5

Interest: 3/5

6. Steakhouse Cherry

Big, red cherry tomato. Tastes like it sounds. Didn't make a huge impression. 

Growth: 3/5

Production: 3/5

Flavor: ⅗ 

Interest: 2/5

Tomorrow we’ll finish off with the last three tomatoes of 2021.