The Best Tomatoes to Grow Where You Live

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, Psyche. This user is located in Zone 7a, Maryland. This was originally posted on May 1, 2013.

I found this article from Mother Earth News interesting.  They took a survey of favorite tomato varieties and divided it by region.  I am fairly new to the wide, wild world of home grown tomatoes.  I am trying to decide on what to grow and found this helpful.  (Along with many other EB posts!).

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/Best-Tomatoes-To-Grow-By-Region.aspx?ViewAll=True#axzz2S0dIVWCZ

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, cushman350. This user is located in Tomato Hell, Wichita Falls, TX Zone 7b. This was originally posted on May 1, 2013.

Released in 1971, ?Better Boy? is a Southern classic because of its flavor, vigor and tendency to produce bumper crops, no matter what the season brings. Warm, humid summers make disease resistance crucial for Southern-grown tomatoes. It can be found in vigorous hybrids as well as many smaller-fruited heirlooms, such as ?Black Cherry,? ?Amish Paste? and ?Stupice.? The latter has earned high ratings for flavor and productivity in organic field trials conducted by North Carolina State University.

Read more: http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic-Gardening/Best-Tomatoes-To-Grow-Interior-South.aspx#ixzz2S3OrEotc

This is what is frustrating about researching possible solutions for varieties of toms that would do best in this hell hole I live. I show to be in this Interior-South zone, but we do not have "Warm, humid summers". We have HOT dry summers and springs. 91? yesterday and a winter storm watch tomorrow. WTH? Have not grown in 2 years.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, Psyche. This user is located in Zone 7a, Maryland. This was originally posted on May 1, 2013.

...we do not have "Warm, humid summers". We have HOT dry summers and springs. 91 degrees yesterday and a winter storm watch tomorrow.

Would the southwest be closer to your needs?  The conditions sound like Flagstaff, AZ and the Grand Canyon area with or without the red rock.  Perhaps compare he two lists and see if they are listed in both places.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, cushman350. This user is located in Tomato Hell, Wichita Falls, TX Zone 7b. This was originally posted on May 1, 2013.

The Nut shell. [ Besides Wichita Falls being settled on sacred Indian burial grounds and is pretty much cursed from day one. Undecided]

For the last 2 years, the last freeze has occurred in Feb, not the normal end of March/Apr. Hell, we used to set out seedlings Apr 1st, but from Apr26 - Mid-Sept, daily temps NOW stay above 100 degrees.  Pollination ceases. Do the math. I'm stuck with these early "wonders" that just don't spin my tires like a Cherokee P or Mr. Stripey. You have to have at least 110 days for those and I haven't met an early yet that I would grow again. We have lost our season here.

I know now that any efforts need to be in very early hot bed protection, so I have control over the lives of my toms, not Mutta Naycha, in order to beat the end of April 90 degrees heat. That's too much work, for me anyway. It would have to be a science project and people MIGHT get the wrong idea. IYKWIM ( http://acronyms.thefreedictionary.com/IYKWIM), and hey, go to THAT much trouble, ah, why not?

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, Psyche. This user is located in Zone 7a, Maryland. This was originally posted on May 2, 2013.

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, cushman350. This user is located in Tomato Hell, Wichita Falls, TX Zone 7b. This was originally posted on May 1, 2013.

The Nut shell. [ Besides Wichita Falls being settled on sacred Indian burial grounds and is pretty much cursed from day one...spin my tires like a Cherokee P or Mr. Stripey.

I'm glad to hear someone else out there also likes Mr. Stripey.  The "Best Tomato" list didn't mention it.  I picked it on a whim and it was my best tasting tomato.  I lost several to BER and cracking, but the few I ate were worth trying again.  I do wonder if the pineapple variety is a close cousin, but I have no idea.

From the list, I'm trying Cherokee Purple and Brandywine.

The Roma and Yellow Pear was mealy and flavorless.  They were prolific, but not worth picking.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, cushman350. This user is located in Tomato Hell, Wichita Falls, TX Zone 7b. This was originally posted on May 2, 2013.

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, Psyche. This user is located in Zone 7a, Maryland. This was originally posted on May 2, 2013.

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, cushman350. This user is located in Tomato Hell, Wichita Falls, TX Zone 7b. This was originally posted on May 1, 2013.

The Nut shell. [ Besides Wichita Falls being settled on sacred Indian burial grounds and is pretty much cursed from day one...spin my tires like a Cherokee P or Mr. Stripey.

I'm glad to hear someone else out there also likes Mr. Stripey.  The "Best Tomato" list didn't mention it.  I picked it on a whim and it was my best tasting tomato.  I lost several to BER and cracking, but the few I ate were worth trying again.  I do wonder if the pineapple variety is a close cousin, but I have no idea.

From the list, I'm trying Cherokee Purple and Brandywine.

The Roma and Yellow Pear was mealy and flavorless.  They were prolific, but not worth picking.

To my taste, the Mr Stripey and Ch Purples were out of this world. Here is a teaser of 4 years ago. They are both rich fruity heirloom tomato tastes that have spoiled me against hybrids and early toms.