When I first started growing tomatoes I did what most do and bought what was available. Once I started growing from seed I stuck to the same varieties. I just assumed I sucked at growing tomatoes. So many problems, so little fruit. Somewhere along my journey I learned not all tomato varieties do well everywhere. Well duh, of course they don't. I don't know why this never occurred to me. You would think the plants you buy from your local nursery will do well in your area, but sadly it's not always the case, matter of fact it's often not so. This small bit of knowledge was a game changer for me. I don't actually suck at growing tomatoes, I was just growing the wrong ones.
The last several years have proved this to me time and time again. I keep hearing this was a terrible year for tomatoes. No one had a good harvest...
This may not have been my best year, but I had lots of yummy tomatoes. I have been working on building amazing soil, and try to keep things watered. I didn't ignore my garden, but I wasn't really into it this year. It was more a habit, or a duty, then a joy. Sometimes it's like that. I feel this adds to the idea that the right variety for my climate is very important. We had a crummy summer, they got the bare minimum care, and still produced plenty of tomatoes.
People I know don't understand why I grow strange varieties of tomatoes. I try to share what I have learned, but most of the time I'm met with resistance. They don't want to grow a tomato they have never heard of, or starting seeds is to hard. Last year I thought this excuse was BS, but this year I totally struggled to grow from seed. Even in my worst seed starting experience tomatoes were one of the easiest, and I still managed to start enough for my garden. I also spent less than I would have buying seedlings. Let's not forget my tomatoes produced. Anyway I have to accept I can only help the people who want to be helped.
I live in N California zone 9B. So far I have 5 tomatoes on my must grow list.
Cherokee purple the only tomato on my list that pretty common (I forgot sweet 100 cherry tomato, probably the most well known) and can be bought locally. It's really the only large tomato I have had any luck with. They are large, produce like crazy, and taste great. My husband doesn't like the dark inside. He said it looks like rotten meat, and won't eat it. Strangely this year they were more red, and didn't have as much dark color, so that made him happy. For an abundance of tomatoes this is on the list.
Mountain magic This tomato is quite small. Larger than a cherry, but a lot smaller than a store bought tomato. The vine grows huge like a cherry, and produces in abundance. Everyone loves the flavor, and it cooks and eats great.
Blush Tight this is a smallish oblong shaped tomato that is yellow with reddish pink stripes. everyone loves the flavor of this tomato. If I remember correctly it was the first to produce and ripen. It's not a small vine, but not nearly as large as the others. It's given us an abundance of tomatoes.
Opalka this is a past tomato, that my husband enjoys eating, which is unusual I understand. It's normally a super producer, thought wasn't the best this year. Since it's been a great tomato the last 2 years, I will plant it again next year.
Sweet 100 I always plant one cherry tomato. They seem tougher and more vigorous than other tomatoes. Dependable, good, and productive.
The only new tomato I tried this year that I will try next year is heat master. It produced ok, was a small tomato, and had a good flavor. This wasn't a super start, but it was a strange summer, I wasn't very attentive, and maybe it wasn't in the best location. I still have seeds, so I will give it another shot.
I have a few that are starting to produce very well now, they really kicked into gear when we had some cooler weather. This tells me they probably aren't the tomatoes for me.
I would like to save seeds from my favorites, and give them a try. I always mean to, but rarely manage to actually do it. Maybe this is the year. I think I couple of them are hybrids, and they are grown relatively close together, so who knows what I will get. It would be fun to see what happens.
If you grow a tomato that does very well in a hot dry climate, I would love to hear about it. Or if you want to share your recommendations for different climate, I'm sure it would be helpful to other.
Thanks happy gardening.
