Best Tomato to Grow in YOUR Zone

In this video I will go over Best Tomato to Grow in YOUR Zone! I will break down each growing zone and let you know which Hybrid and Heirloom tomatoes will work best for you. Taking in to account heat, humidity, disease and more.
Aspirin Video: • TRANSFORM Your TOMATOE...
Complete Tomato Growing Guide: • Grow Lots of Tomatoes....

[@pt2575]

Live in New England. The absolutely best tomatoes in my garden are the ones I remember to water.

[@vicwickgardens9174]

😂

[@andrewjackson9948]

Failed at that last year haha

[@nighteyes555]

The best tomatoes I grew in Rhode Island were the ones the deer and the rabbits didn’t eat!

[@orscrub3161]

Ha! 🤣🤣

[@derekzoeller2758]

I have found if you try to teach your tomatoes to be drought tolerant, you fail…

[@ForbiddenFish]

2:20 - Best Tomatoes for the South Better Boy - Indeterminate Golden Jubilee - Indeterminate Tropic - Indeterminate Mountain Supreme - Determinate Mountain Magic - Indeterminate Sweet Million - Indeterminate Arkansas Traveler - Indeterminate Brandywine - Indeterminate Punta Banda - Determinate Dad's Mug - Indeterminate 6:06 - Dry, Hot Climate (Southwest) SunMaster - Determinate Punta Banda - Determinate BeefMaster - Indeterminate Celebrity - Determinate Early Girl - Indeterminate Sweet 100 - Indeterminate Arkansas Traveler - Indeterminate Burbank Slicing - Determinate Costoluto Genovese - Indeterminate Eva Purple Ball - Indeterminate Great White Beefsteak - Indeterminate Marble Striped - Indeterminate Purple Calabash - Indeterminate 9:44 - Short Growing Season (North) Patio Choice - Determinate 4th of July - Indeterminate Early Doll - Determinate Bloody Butcher - Indeterminate Early Wonder - Determinate 11:48 - Cold Climates Northern Delight - Determinate Northern Exposure - Determinate Polar Baby - Determinate Polar Star - Determinate San Francisco Fog - Indeterminate Sub Arctic - Determinate Manitoba - Determinate Moskovitch - Indeterminate

[@evelyngorfram9306]

Thanks for this. =)

[@toosense]

You’re awesome! ❤

[@artstamper316]

Thank you!!!

[@rebeccagray2591]

Thank you

[@WR_CTorch]

Thanks man!

[@tomfisher3117]

Zone 6 Central Pa. Gold Medal, Sungold, Mortgage Lifter, Amish Paste, San Marzano Redorta, Black Cherry, Japanese Trifle, Paul Robeson, Black Krim, Cherokee Purple, Aunt Rubies German Green, Pink Oxheart, Belgium Pink, Great White, Delicious, Italian Heirloom. Love these maters!!

[@growagarden54]

CA 9b. Last summer was a scorcher of a summer here! Tip! if a variety that you planted is surviving even in extreme and unusual weather, Let a sucker grow about 18", cut and stick, deep in the soil (I didn't need to place in water to root). I had tomatoes through Oct. in my zone! At least you'll know that this variety is hardy in that particular weather, and you'll have tomatoes to harvest, can, or make powder in hard, unexpected weather. I had "large cherry" for months! I learned that I will only grow one plant of each variety I like, and succession plant their suckers. I mean...Yay! for suckers!!

[@WR_CTorch]

That’s such a good idea! I will definitely give this a try this summer. I live in No Cal 9b and it gets hot as hell up here.

[@WR_CTorch]

About what month did you try this?

[@growagarden54]

@@WR_CTorch Here too. The flowers fall off, so I let a sucker grow and start a new plant. The cherry variety work best.

[@growagarden54]

@@WR_CTorch As soon as I see them start to struggle. Last year, I did one in June, and another in July. I harvested through early November.

[@WR_CTorch]

@@growagarden54 Outstanding! I will give it a try this year. Thanks for the idea!

[@Jenufir]

I can add another tomato that grows well in the deep south humidity/heat. Chocolate Cherry. I grew it for the first time this past season. We hit 100F by May, then June-Sept. This little cherry tomato continued to bloom and produce tomatoes right through those hellish months, while all the rest of my tomato plants (even my peppers) were struggling just to stay alive. Chocolate Cherry will forever have a place in my garden.

[@elisabetk2595]

Black Cherry has been a reliable (and tasty) producer for me for several years here in Central Texas. Well, until last year, which was terrible for everything, including the old standby Sun Gold.

[@feliciacarter1962]

Awesome. I’ll add that to my list. Thx for sharing.

[@stephanledford9792]

@@elisabetk2595 I had the same issue with my Black Cherry tomatoes last season, my first since moving from Little Rock to Bentonville, and just wrote it off as not good for this area - it was great in Little Rock. May have to try them again next season. I did Sun Gold as well in Little Rock but have less garden space where I am now.

[@dirtdigger949]

Yes it did well for me here in 8a TX produce all summer long but I just didnt like the taste but a great producer for those that like that taste.

[@Txnative7]

I'm in central Tx, they outdid all other tomatoes in my garden as well last summer. The only thing that took them out was our first frost.

[@ravensmoonlite]

This is what I love about you. You include other zones, not just yours. I'm in NY and this helps so much. Thank you

[@NextLevelGardening]

You are so welcome!

[@brendan5232]

Be careful. Numbered zones are not relevant to tomato growing. Regions are, because that determines high temps, humidity and pest pressure. But numbered zones only tell you one thing- how cold your area gets in winter. This is used to determine what perennials can survive where you live. All tomatoes are however annuals. You share a zone with climates as different from yours as Arizona, because again, the only thing a zone tells you is the coldest temp. Not the hottest, not how long the growing season is, nothing but the coldest temp each year. What matters here is region, not zone.

[@Living4YHWH]

But, not all regions were represented here. North and Northeast are not the same region! New Jersey is not as short a growing season as Maine!

[@elyserhyne243]

​@@Living4YHWH he can't do every state and every microclimate, though.

[@tshantel3749]

Hi, I'm a beginner gardener, still killing everything I plant, I live in Wisconsin, grow zone 4b. I have no idea about how to grow anything, nor how to go about figuring out how to grow stuff, but I'm really trying because it's become detrimental to my survival to know how to grow something, and I really want to have this skill to be as self sufficient as I possibly can, now and in the future. I want to grow, lettuces, cow peas, cucumbers red mustard greens, beans, carrots, cabbages, chives, green onions, potatoes, sweet potatoes, all kinds of herbs and medicinal plants. I live in an apartment, looking to do container gardening on a really nice size balcony, and I just don't know what types of environments certain plants require. I don't know anything about how to properly care for any plants, as far as fertilizer and watering etc, but I do know for sure that I only want to use non chemical/natural fertilizers on my garden. I'm thinking of getting a Greenstalk planter because I've read good reviews on it, and I have mobility issues is why I am wanting to get one. Do you have any feedback on that? At any rate, I know that you're really busy, and that you get thousands of comments, and if somehow you see this comment plz, whatever advice you can give me will be greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance for your feedback! I love your channel!❤

[@drewrobinson9120]

If you are in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 6a-8b, you should be able to grow pretty much any tomato variety you wish (with the only real limitations being watering). Zones 1a-3b will basically preclude growing any tomato with a longer than 75 day to harvest time period. Zones 9a-12b, the limiting factor is day time temps and watering, so shade cloths or some other means of keeping the temperature around the tomato plants below 110 F is required. Yes tomato plants will survive somewhat prolonged exposure to temperatures over 100-110, but production drops severely (most tomato varieties pollen becomes sterile at around 93 F). Some of the biggest factors that affect tomatoes are soil nutrient levels, especially potassium, calcium, and phosphorus and soil acidity. Soil acidity should be between 6.2 and 7, no higher or lower otherwise tomatoes have some real trouble uptaking nutrients, with the "Goldilocks" range being 6.4-6.7 where nutrient uptake is at it greatest. And tomatoes really do not like fertilizer being heavy on nitrogen which causes excessive stem and leaf growth without increasing the production of flowers and fruits . Try to keep any fertilizer at least balanced in N-P-K, 10-10-10 for example. I prefer an N-P-K of 7-8-8 or 7-9-9, as higher phosphorus and potassium increase resistance to disease and watering issues (reduces cracking due to unbalanced watering and increases tolerance to drought stress) as well as increasing flower and fruit production as well as promoting robust root growth. Making sure the tomatoes have good soil calcium levels reduces the occurrence of blossom end rot, as long as the plants have sufficient water (swing back around to potassium and phosphorus importance). This is a great video for illuminating how variety selection is very much climate dependent, which is something many first time gardeners do not realize. Picking the wrong variety for the location has led to many people giving up on gardening, because they think they are bad at it when it was just one simple (and easily remedied) mistake that led them to failure or disappointment. Another way to get the best tomato for you area, though it will take you some time, is to save seeds from the plants that did the best in your garden. After a 3-4 of years of doing this you will start to see the plants started from these saved seeds doing even better than their predecessors. I will say that you really need at least 6-8 tomato plants for this to work well, and more plants would be even better.

[@lsherylc2524]

What fertilizer is your favorite?

[@honeydew4576]

@@lsherylc2524 Compost

[@MsBellsandy]

I'm having this problem with zucchini apparently. Haven't gotten a single fruit despite the plant looking good.

[@drewrobinson9120]

@@lsherylc2524 Depends on what and when you are fertilizing. I use mostly Espoma or Fox Farm products, when I use fertilizer.

[@honeydew4576]

@@MsBellsandy The flowers aren't getting pollinated? Are you hand pollinating? Or are they not getting flowers?

[@RussellHoughton]

I'm in Nova Scotia and I've ordered tomatos of all breads from all over the world and they all grow just fine as long as there taken care of.

[@elyserhyne243]

I've lived in several places. There are definitely varieties that do better or worse in different regions. Humidity is the biggest factor in my experience. You can grow them anywhere warm enough and get fruit. You'll definitely get different results for the same variety in different places though.

[@chrisd8795]

I live in NC 8A. I grow Cherokee Purple, Mortgage Lifter, Celebrity, Black Cherry, Black Krim, San Marzano, Brandywine and Terrific. These do great for me.

[@ebbyo9821]

I’m in SC zone 8a and growing tomatoes for the first time. I’m happy to see Cherokee Purple, Mortgage Lifter and Brandywine have done well for you as those are in my seed trays. 😊

[@WheelerRanch]

Zone 8a here too in the southern cascades of Oregon, Cherokee purple, pineapple, mortgage lifter, black cherry, sun gold, black brandy wine, orange brandy wine, regular brandy wine, whippersnapper, old German slicing,San Marzano, Roma, rainbow cherry, Kellogg ‘s breakfast slicer. I’m a tomatoe nerd too 💕🙌🏼

[@chrisd8795]

@@ebbyo9821 I’m going to give Pineapple and Ox Heart a try this year. My Cherokee Purples are already about 6” tall. Last year I put out tomatoes in March, but kept a dome over them. We had tomatoes mid May. Hopefully I’ll be as successful this year. Brandywine and Terrific are my favorites.

[@chrisd8795]

@@WheelerRanch I love to try new varieties each year. There are several yellow ones I like, but can’t remember the names. 😂 Tomato’s are my favorite, just ate the last of mine last week. Hard to believe they lasted from early November until now. Going to be a couple of long months without fresh tomatoes. I refuse to buy those red things they sell at the grocers. 🥴

[@gardeninggamergirl7761]

I'm in Zone 8a in Alabama. We grow Mortgage Lifter, Arkansas Traveler, Black Pineapple, Black Strawberry, Bread & Salt, Thorburn's Lemon Blush, Paul Robeson, Dr. Wyche's, Blue Creamberries, Sweetheart Cherry, Barry's Crazy Cherry, and Brad's Atomic Grape. We are feeding 5 whole households in tomatoes with every harvest though, that's why there's so many 😁

[@heidiweinert3260]

This is really unique content! I know that is getting harder the more garden vloggers entering the space. Good job putting in the work.

[@NextLevelGardening]

Thanks so much!

[@copasetic216]

Totally agreed

[@gardenwitheden]

You mean like me 🤣

[@jeffdriver3000]

Scam

[@heidiweinert3260]

@@jeffdriver3000 What do you mean?

[@Honojane12]

I'm in 8b in the Pacific Northwest. I grew Sungold Cherry Tomatoes for the first time last year. I only grew one plant. It produced an amazing number of fruits, but they seldom made it into the house as we consumed them as fast as we could pick them. They are the best tasting cherry tomato I have ever had. I was a fan of Sweet Million for years and years. It's still a great tomato, but these are superior in every way. They were the last to succumb to disease in the fall too. The y are a perfect little snack tomato. I'll be planting three or four this year!

[@marknrobin1744]

Same!! Love sungolds here in oregon!!

[@southpawr2161]

Love them here in central NY garden. I usually have my lunch in the garden eating Sun Gold tomatoes!,

[@tannenbaumgirl3100]

We're in Zone 4b borderline 3a in Minnesota. We can grow Beefsteak tomatoes, but we have to either grow our own starts or buy them to get a head start. 75 days is about the limit here, and most often we'll need to harvest, and fully ripen the remaining fruit on the plant indoors at that point, due to frost. For the last 2 yrs I've switched to more DETERMINATE tomatoes, even plant them in 2 stages 3 weeks apart, they ripen sooner and harvest period is more condensed, plus the newer breeds have compatible flavors to heirloom. I feel that the overnight dew is more of a culprit with regards to diseases. Our July and August months are relatively dry, with the exception if we enter a rainy period, but those move in quickly and move out just as fast, typically, hence I'm pin-pointing the issues to overnight dew. My favorites are: Heirloom - Ananas Noire (greenish multi-color) Virginia Sweet (yellow), Gold Metal (yellow), Curtis Cheek (red), Aussie (red), Green Giant (green). Hybrids (determinate or semi-determinate) - Beefsteak plus (red), Buffalo Steak (red), Roadster (red), Red Snapper (red), Carolina Gold (yellow), Cherokee Carbon, black (indeterminate), Paste: Plum Regal (determinate), Tachi (indeterminate but great disease resistance), Picus (determinate). Cherry: Cherry Falls, red (container-determinate, hybrid), Patio Choice, (red, determinate (hybrid), Black Cherry (black, indeterminate, hybrid), Prairie Fire, red w/yellow (ind. Heirloom, very sweet, oblong), Sunchocola (Ind., hybrid, black), White Cherry (white, indeterminate, heirloom), Super Sweet (red, indeterminate), Gold Nugget (deep yellow, sweet, hybrid, indeterminate), Perfect Flame (orange red, 3-1/2 to 4 oz., immaculate tomatoes, indeterminate, hybrid), Green Doctors Cherry (green, indeterminate, best green cherry).

[@lyonhawaii]

Thankyou this may help me out in AK.

[@tjduprey]

Ohio zone 6. We were blown away as first time gardeners by Jersey Breeze and San Marzano tomatoes. No health issues, lots of fruit, long fruiting periods. We were picking tomatoes right up to first frost with May transplanting and no succession.

[@FaithHopeCharity523]

As an Ohioan, I can also add Summer Sweetheart which performed well and was disease resistant. Might have to try Jersey Breeze!

[@mytwocents7527]

I’m in Zone 6a, Southwestern Ohio. For years I planted tomatos only to have the plants start withering from bottom up starting in late July. One year I took the disesead leaves to the Ohio State Agriculture office in Dayton and they told me it was early blight. So I started to make sure the ground was covered with mulch and pruned the bottom of the plant only to have the plants wither in late summer after the evenings started to cool. Because of that, I’m assuming it’s late blight caused by dew and the cool night temperatures. This year I’m going to try covering the plants at night starting at in mid July.

[@countryroads190]

I lived and gardened in central OH for many years. Maybe you could try several different tomato varieties to see what kinds like your property. I had fabulous success with Amish Paste, Italian Gold, Goliath, Yellow Belgium, Marglobe, and Soldacki. I know another gardener in OH, near Mansfield, who had a bumper crop from Roma and German Pink tomatoes. Those resisted cool temps and he canned juice for quite a few days last fall.

[@mytwocents7527]

@@countryroads190 Thank you for your information. I am mainly looking for a sandwich size tomato. Are any of these you have recommended sandwich size tomatos?

[@countryroads190]

Marglobe and Goliath are good sandwich-size tomatoes. Both are reds. Marglobe is an heirloom determinate. Goliath is indeterminate and a hybrid. Soldacki is a little bigger and a pink indeterminate heirloom.

[@RJFord-xs2os]

I am in the Pacific Northwest zone 8B I have been successful with San Marzano, early Girl, Sweet 100’s and Sweet Millions. I plant them earlier than most of my gardening friends, i have them in pots and they are watered with irrigation. Great info!

[@ronaldcrafton5995]

I am also from the Pacific Northwest (Willamette Valley) and I've had good luck with many tomatoes. They are Manitoba, Early Girl, Legend, Oregon Spring, Cour Di Bue, San Marzano, Rutgers, Mortgage Lifter, Celebrity, Sweet 100, Sweet Million, Amish Paste, 506 Bush, Bush Early Girl, Siletz, Marglobe, Anna Russian, Brandywine, Delicious and Azoychka.

[@MThomasB]

@@ronaldcrafton5995 Good to know. Thanks a ton! I am in Portland.

[@jannapackard3910]

I am in BC and grow those same varieties. Also a yellow pear cherry and Amish Paste.

[@heeelion134]

im in 3b and San Marzano's go crazy for how short our season is. Was my main crop last year, this year im trying a wide variety so ill see how they do

[@jaciwilson3152]

my Early Girls and San Marzanos all had blossom end rot last year no matter what I did. I have never had that before.

[@marthakratz7877]

I'm in the northeast, specifically New York(zone 5b). Some of my favorite tomatoes to grow here are the red Oxheart and yellow oxheart heirlooms and jet star which is a hybrid. All 3 of these are indeterminate. The Celebrity tomato that you mentioned also grows well here. Another I really like growing here is the sungold tomato. It's a cherry sized tomato and it is an indeterminate hybrid.

[@shelleys6826]

Your list sounds very familiar. I’m in the northern tip of lower Michigan, also 5b. I loved the Ox heart, San Mariano, and Amish paste for canning. Sun gold, sweet million, actually any and all colors of cherry tomatoes and varieties of currant tomatoes for salads and pasta dishes and snacking while gardening, I’m not one to buy pre-started potted tomatoes, I love to shop gardening catalogs and start my own. Check out MIgardener. Great variety and prices as well.

[@zone4garlicfarm]

I'm in zone 4A, northern New England. This will be my 30th year gardening in this spot. Some varieties I have grown successfuly are Celebrity, Jetstar, Polish Linguisa, Opalka, Amish Paste, Rio Grande, Belstar, Aunt Ruby's German Green, Mr. Stripey, Cherokee Purple, Black Krim, Japanese Trifele, Rutgers, Sungold, Sunsugar and Big Boy. The only failures I remember are Principe Borghese and Matt's Wild Cherry. There have been years when I didn't pick a single ripe tomato. I had to ripen them in the house. The last frost is usually June 1 and the latest frost I've seen was June 28. The earliest fall frost since I've been here was August 30 but September 10-15 is most common. The killing frost usually happens in the second half of September.

[@lynnesimmons3112]

I agree very often I have to ripen mine in the house also.

[@cbk1232]

I’m in 4b,I made a cattle panel greenhouse and tomatoes and peppers in it.they don’t grow well outside. I can plant much earlier in it too

[@sandraoconnor5700]

Here in 8b I grow Better Boy, Beefsteak, and Early Girl. Can hardly wait for their deliciousness❤❤❤ Love the video format. Please do more of these for popular veggies and invite comments. Brian you are such an humble GENIUS!❤❤❤

[@camicri4263]

Do you have a humid climate or dry

[@shweetpotato]

these are what I grow too, I am in 7b , we also love Roma . I'm in Utah

[@02markcal]

First time growing Early Girl, and they were later than even my heirlooms, I don't think I will grow them again in zone 5b.

[@bigskydreamer26]

This is such a good informative video. I enjoyed reading the comments from gardeners and where they are and experiences growing tomatoes. I appreciate the fact that Brian has done some good research to help us via our growing zones. It's been hard finding good information for growing in SW Arizona.

[@TimeSurfer206]

Fart Hoochie-Coochie region? I was there a couple years. House I bought had a Peach Tree in the back yard. I never got to enjoy any of the fruit... But the Yellowjackets sure did.

[@D71219ONE]

*The Midwest:* Boiling hot and humid summers. Bitter frigid and icy winters. Pleasant fall and spring, which when combined, make up about two weeks.😅

[@mathewrupp8568]

That's one week in the fall and one week in the spring.

[@scottyg.4199]

I've raised tomatoes in south Texas and east Texas. Celebrity has always been my favorite.

[@eyesopen1682]

I agree!! DFW area here. Also sweet 100 Cherries thrive here.

[@beatriceannbaker3350]

Thanks! I’m in west Texas I’ll try both!

[@johnmishler5970]

the celebrity worked very well for me in southern idaho

[@tinab7791]

I'm in 8b in Washington state. The Siletz tomato was developed to be able to grow on the Oregon coast which rarely gets over 70°. It's a great early slicer variety coming in at around 60 days if I'm remembering correctly.

[@christyfinley9099]

Thanks for sharing. I have not tried this variety yet.

[@kschleich1950]

8B here. I agree, Siletz do great here.

[@MB-co6qj]

​@@christyfinley9099 millenial gardener mentions these in all his tomato vids as his earliest

[@charleshash4919]

Siletz does well in Zone 4b in southwestern Montana at 4500' elevation

[@amandamolina501]

Crazy how even the same zones can vary from state to state. I'm in Zone 8b but in Central Texas. Seems like a huge difference from 8b on the West and East coasts and even from Central to East Texas! My personal favorites are Celebrity, juliet and sungold varieties. I'm trying several new ones that are supposed to be heat and drought tolerant.

[@teebob21]

USDA growing zones simply tell you the lowest expected temperature over the winter. It doesn't describe climate or rainfall averages or summer highs.

[@darla123]

Thanks for the list! It has been a while since our last real garden, but I remember sweet 100's growing like crazy here in NC! I grew Romas with good success, but had a lot of problems with splitting with most sandwich tomatoes. Will have to try your suggestions!

[@lynnesurdyk335]

This was such a great session, loved you breaking them into zones, what a great idea. My 1st real year growing tomatoes was last year. Horribly pathetic success as in North TX, we got hot in March and stayed hot until September. This year, I'm starting from seed indoors and all kinds. I just ordered Punta Banda to try, that you mentioned. Love your channel

[@thomasbryson2757]

Hey horse woman. In washington we grow Early girle,and sweetmillion.

[@paulwilliams200]

Here in East Coast Canada (45ºN) these grow well outdoors: Sub Arctic Plenty, Manitoba, Yellow Pear, Gardeners' Delight, (Super) Sweet 100, Amish Paste, Early Girl. (Edit: zone 5b)

[@zmavrick]

I live in the mid west zone 5b, hot humid environment. For anyone having problems growing tomatoes I recommend growing Large Red Cherry in a 5 to 6 foot cage. It grows like a weed with a large crop. I grew Better Boy as my goto for 30 years however the last 10 years has been a real disappointment for both flavor and production.

[@laurieanne9712]

Ditto on Better Boy for me, too.

[@lavernebufmack5091]

I live in Colo and I Plant Better boy, jet stat, early girl, San marzano, and have great crops fora paste tomatoes and cannning, eating Juliet is my cherry tomato for Juarez eating 14:06

[@kristicole7949]

For anyone new to deep southeast Florida, just remember that our tomato growing season is winter to spring. I start my seeds outside the first week of November, plant out in mid December and expect to be done by mid June. Wild Everglades (blueberry size) will continue to grow and produce for longer. I agree with Brian that cherries do much better here. For mid size, I’ve had great harvests from Homestead, Green Zebra and Black Strawberry (a little smaller), all from Bakers Creek.

[@D71219ONE]

I’ve spoken to people in central and southern Florida that say they can grow Everglades as a perennial almost year round. Is that the case for you?

[@silvercurlsyaya]

I’m in NE Florida and I’m trying Everglades this year.

[@kristicole7949]

@@D71219ONE They do get a bit old and stressed in mid summer but I just push a vine into the ground and it starts a new plant. So can definitely keep them going.

[@heidiw8406]

@@D71219ONE Ours will get hit by frost and freezes in central Florida. If I covered them they might survive.

[@Willbkool]

Celebrity works good in NW Florida. While all of my heirlooms died from blight and such, Celebrity kept producing until we had several nights in the teens.

[@melaniekidd5382]

Thanks for all the great videos Brian! I am in Alberta Canada and am in zone 3a. I always start my tomatoes in my house in late February. Love my viparspectra lights. I transplant to larger pots as needed. My tomatoes go into the garden the first part of June and have always produced lots. I have had good success with Bush beef steak improved, big beef hybrid, health kick roma as well as other roma tomatoes. I order from a seed company in Manitoba Canada, that is close to the same zone as me and have had great success with all the seeds varieties from them.

[@TheMrpiggyboy]

Marlanie I live in alberta as well in the Red Deer river valley, at Drumheller. gets hot. A few years back I purchsed a pack of mixed heritage seed from Mc Kenzie. ( I`m thinking that is where you got your seed). The pack I bought had 5 varieties, 5 beefsteak green, orange, red, 2 varieties about 2 inch (5 Cm) 1 purple, the other striped. I believe all are indetermanate great production great tasting, I canned them all. In the 2022 season I thought tha I would add a roma. So I added a McKenzie Roma VF, Mistake as far as I concerned, late season ,small fruit , about 2 inches ( 5cm ) I had to ripen them in the house before canning. Taste great but way trouble. I save seed from year to year so things may be changing because of cross polination.

[@petrapiciacchia2456]

Live in Calgary, I’ve had success with Black Krim, Brandywine and San Marzano. This year I’m planting all bush types: Sub Arctic, Russian Saskatchewan and Beaverlodge.

[@juliezhang4620]

Very helpful. I live in Boston MA. This is first year that I grow tomatoes and have no idea which one is good for trying.

[@melaniebrown4900]

Maple Valley, WA. Zone 8b. We have the best luck with Sungold Tomatoes

[@lydiafuller199]

I’ll have to try the Sungold, I’m also from Maple Valley.

[@marygrott8095]

Wow, Brian! It's very obvious that you did a lot of research for this video! Thank you for that!! I'm in 7a (New York) and the tomato varieties that do well for me are Sun Gold cherry tomatoes (hybrid) and the Brandywine tomatoes that were mentioned in this video. And, now I'm off to go watch your aspirin spray video.

[@freenrg101]

Thanks Mary! Upstate NY. I’ll try those.

[@bschiff13420]

In central Texas, I had really good production last season from honeycomb hybrid and yellow pears. The biggest advantage was getting the plants morning sun and afternoon shade. Most of the summer I was picking 50+ tomatoes per day from 20 plants. Started indoors in late January from seed. Transplanted outside in middle March.

[@juneramirez8580]

I live in the low desert of AZ zone 9b.. I grew cherry Sun Gold Indeterminate tomatoes. They grew very well in the summer and had really sweet yellow tomatoes. I will be growing them again from seed.

[@freakygardener8033]

I am in MN, and "gardening" entirely in containers. Over the last few years, I have tried about 8 kinds of tomatoes. My favorite so far, are Sun Gold, and lemon drop, and I will be growing them again this year. All I have tried,grew well, but my Roma's didn't have much of any flavor.

[@AmyMoline]

If you want the roma style fruit but lots of flavor try a San Marzano.

[@robertma2146]

If like Sun Golds, keep an eye out for Sun Sugars... Both are great...

[@annapotter7397]

Zone 8a, Fort Worth, Texas - a GREAT cherry tomato for us is Sungold. It's yellow/gold/orange and sweet. Very prolific. Celebrity and Early Girl have both worked well in our garden. I'm now trying to figure out the best roma type variety to grow for our area so we can can tomato sauce and salsas. Very informative video. Thank you.

[@krista4067]

I live in Seattle(8b) and every year grow Sweet Millions or Sweet 100 Cherry tomatoes and have more than we can eat from one plant. Last year I also tried Kellogg's Breakfast on your suggestion and Cherokee. They did well even though last year was a strange year for growing anything. Cold and wet into June and then some really hot days in August and September. Everything in the garden really took a long time to mature. Thought my Dahlias would never bloom and some didn't.

[@leynaabbey]

I'm zone 5a, in SWNY, my favorite tomatoes to grow are German Pink heirlooms. They are a beefsteak style tomato. My biggest fruit last season was just shy of 5lbs. Soooooo goooood!

[@vickihalverson6328]

Very good video. I tried aspirin spray and neem oil spray that you recommended. Plants didn't have any issues!! No disease! Few bugs! And I grew multiple varieties, even heirlooms. All produced well up until the first unexpectedly early frost hit here in Ks. I will be using your methods and products you recommend this year also. Thank you for the time you take to help us struggling gardeners. Your advice has been so helpful to me and I've been gardening about 35 years. I learn something new everyday. God Bless you and your family!

[@sharonparker2262]

Vicki, I've been gardening since a teen and am close to 70! Always learning-helps keep me young, physically and mentally.

[@Lochness19]

Mountain Merit Hybrid has done very well for me in Ontario Zone 5/6. It's a determinate variety that grows about 5 ft tall, but it doesn't stop producing fruit. It mostly stops producing foliage after reaching 5ft, but the fruit production is continuous. It produces from early August to early November (first frost) for me. Minimal diseases, and sweet, firm 6-8 oz fruits. Sweet Million and Sweet 100 does well for me in terms of cherry tomatoes but Midnight Snack did even better.

[@vaevictis6990]

Same. Eastern Ontario climate has been nuts here, short but hot and humid summers. I've never tried Mountain Merit before, I'll give it a try thank you!

[@mrses1987]

very helpful thanks a lot

[@Lochness19]

@@mrses1987 Just an update on that - this year was pretty bad for late blight in my area. August was 6-7F cooler than normal, it got about as much sunshine as March normally would, and we got rain on 22/31 days - mostly long lasting light rain rather than brief downpours. Sungold began to get blight around Aug 15. I tried to control the late blight and prune off the diseased leaves, but it wasn't working, so about a week ago, I cut the plants down. The late blight has been transmitted to my other varieties I'm growing this year - Midnight Snack, Mountain Merit, and an unknown beefsteak heirloom I got from a friend (looks similar to Pink German). Although some of it might be thanks to an improvement in weather (sunnier, warmer and drier), the blight has been spreading fairly slowly on those other varieties. Mountain Merit is proving very resilient thus far, and "Pink German" and Midnight Snack are experiencing moderate damage but still able to ripen about 2/3 of the fruit without damage/defects. Not to make this too much of a knock on Sungold though. While its season ended early, they have produced 7.7lbs of ripe fruit per plant vs 2.8lbs per plant for Midnight Snack. Ultimately, I'd rather have the yields spread out over a longer season though, 6 lbs spread out from mid July to early October is better than 7 lbs from mid July to late August - I like to eat them fresh rather than canned, and I can only eat so many at a time. We'll see if Midnight Snack can approach those kinds of numbers by the end of the season.

[@zhippidydoodah]

I grew Roso Sicilian heirloom in zone 6 - NY; they grew very well, taste fantastic and are such pretty tomatoes. This type of content is absolutely amazing. I've tried growing some items ok for the zone, but they didn't do so well. I hope you continue to provide such information! Thank you

[@cleelumchesapeakes]

Zone 8B Seattle. I wouldn't have thought that a little green cherry tomato would be so sweet and tasty (to me, the sweetest I've tasted). They grow very well here! Green Doctor Cherry. Where they come up with these names gives me the giggles!

[@minuteofdangle0]

Thanks for watching you won my giveaway prize text me with the above name on tele-gram to claim your prize............👆

[@RT-wq8bd]

That's a new one for me. Will look for it this year.

[@kikiscomment]

Maryland zone 7a here. Our star last year was Orange Jubilee which tasted great and handled heat and disease like a champ. Oregon Spring did surprisingly well. Most determinate tomatoes grow well here - I usually do a mix of Roma VF and San Marzano. Cherry varieties do so well that I don’t even have to start them; they just come up like weeds. My standards that I do every year are beefsteak, Brandywine, Cherokee purple, early girl, and better boy. Kellogg’s breakfast is also great, but I’ve had trouble finding seeds.

[@burlkeller]

I’m in Maryland as well. Growing sweet 100s, Pink Brandywine and Early Girl mostly. Trying Cherokee Purple if it works out.

[@vicwickgardens9174]

I’m in zone 6 and grow most of my tomatoes in containers. I have most success with cherry and medium sized tomatoes. I love Chocolate Cherry Tomatoes! I also love Blush Tomatoes but find the plant more finicky than other tomato plants. I had great success with Silvery Fir Tree Tomatoes and they are delicious eaten fresh. I also tried Kellogg’s Breakfast Tomatoes because of your recommendation I believe and they were an instant favorite as well. I have tried dwarf tomatoes and they are great for growing indoors. I was picking tomatoes from my plant with snow outside 😊

[@Junzar56]

Me too! I love microdwarf tomatoes indoors during the winter!

[@moonshynegirl172]

I'm going to try Chocolate Cherry this year!

[@RLKmedic0315]

My favorite tomato is officially named "Radiator Charlie's Mortgage Lifter Tomato". Yes, that is the actual name. It is a large beefsteak style heirloom variety, and they are absolutely delicious. If you are unfamiliar with them I highly suggest you look into them, and not just for the history of the name. (But the story is worth reading on its own, lol)

[@LanaiDebbie]

I live in Lanai City, Hawaii, Zone 12a. We constantly battle leaf spot and other fungal diseases. I will have to try some of the hybrid tomatoes you talked about for hot, humid weather. I had very little success growing any larger tomatoes until I started spraying weekly with aspirin and hydrogen peroxide spray. Doing that I have had good success with Dr. Wyche Yellow, Abe Lincoln and Pineapple tomatoes. Grape and cherry tomatoes seem to all grow well, especially when I spray them regularly.

[@sallygreimes6585]

I am now in zone 8. My absolute required tomato for heavy!!! production are Japanese Black Trifele. These are insane production for a backyard. I pick the green toms in Fall and ripen inside. If it has shiny skin, it will ripen. Popular cherry are chocolate cherry. The flavor is Super dense. An heirloom that is a heavy producer. Aunt Ruby's German Green. An heirloom, it is a moderate producer, but amazing green tomato flavor. It stays green at ripe stage. All of these are heirloom and 80 days to ripen. B

[@camicri4263]

Is your zone humid or dry?

[@michellewelch6013]

Southern end of the central San Joaquin Valley in California, zone 9b. Summers here are hot hot hot and dry! Best success with Early Girl, Better Boy, and Celebrity, fav cherry tomato Sweet 100. These are the tomato plants you will typically find in Bakersfield and vicinity nurseries and garden centers.

[@ozlem8659]

Finally! Thanks for the video, very helpful! We need to choose the varieties based on the weather. It is extremelly hard to grow many varieties in the deep south because of the humidity. I shared your video in our mississippi backyard gardening group.

[@kenharrison3364]

This is my first year growing tomatoes here in Texas. I tried some in containers last summer with little success. This year I’m trying different varieties and establishing a drip irrigation system so hopefully I’ll get better results. I also went and watched the aspirin video. Thanks for the tips! I’m keeping a garden diary for future help. 😊

[@incorrigibletexan152]

If it’s really hot the roots will get too hot in the container and cook. Many years experience unfortunately 😮

[@Debbie-Keller]

I am in Texas also. No one I know did well with tomatoes last year. It was just too hot too fast. Good luck this year.

[@texasnurse]

I'm on the Gulf Coast of Texas. I found that last year a sprinkler in the heat of the day kept my tomatoes alive and doing well. Production slowed, but the plants stayed alive. I've never had luck with drip irrigation.

[@hellokimmy68]

I'm in NC, 7b so we have long, hot, humid summers. Better Boy, for years, has been my absolute workhorse, but last year they faltered for the first time ever. A couple of heirlooms that did great for me were Arkansas Traveler and Dester. Delicious also did pretty well.

[@jeromebarry1739]

I am in coastal 9b in FL. An old variety that does well here is 'Everglades.' The fruit is very small, however. The University of Florida (you can get the seeds directly from them) has developed several varieties suitable for this area. Unfortunately, I had to give up on tomatoes as leaf miners completely destroy them. They don't touch my peppers.

[@ljgerken]

I'm in Seminole, FL. I've had a few leaf miners but when I use a quarter cup of Dr. Bronner's peppermint soap mixed into a gallon of water in a sprayer, and spray on the foliage about every two weeks, many bugs stay away. Adding vinegar or garlic to the water also works at warding pests off. I grow small bell peppers and will try cubanelle peppers this year. Seeds are germinating, but I have two plants that I overwintered that have bloomed and set fruit now. Good luck!

[@D71219ONE]

I’m moving to Florida 9b this year. Do you have a link for UF’s seed store? I can only seem to find their growing guides.

[@bjspeck4337]

@@D71219ONE The Florida state universities have IFAS stations scattered throughout the state. The one up by me (Quincy) have early fall tours for grasses, fruit trees, food stuffs, ornamentals. These are also on trolleys out into the fields. I haven't ever noticed seed stores although they did have sugar cane in the fields that could be picked and transplanted to your home. They are very helpful people.

[@SeaShelSave]

I had great success in largo with the midnight snack cherry tomatoes very prolific

[@lisatravis4089]

Central Florida-First time grower. I've been doing a lot of research! 😮

[@defaultuser1447]

I'm in Missouri, 6b. Last year I did succession planting of determinants. I started with Early Girl then Phoenix, because the latter is a hot-set and we can get quite hot in the mid-summer, which has negatively affected production in the past. My last ones were Celebrity. The Phoenix plants actually put forth a second growth of foliage and fruit in the fall while the Celebrities were producing, which was a nice surprise.

[@wilburfinnigan2142]

Early girl is an indeterminate tomato !!!

[@theresapelican9621]

I live in a suburb of Sacramento, Ca. Tomatoes that do well here that I grow every year are: San Marzano, Amish paste, cherokee purple, brandywine, berkely green tie dye, German green, chocolate stripe. Black cherry do well here too. Loved the video. Thanks again.

[@allsquaredup9717]

My Dad moved from Chicago and the first tomato he ever grew was in Sacramento. He excelled at growing them! I am the kiss of tomato death on the other hand. I wonder if part of the difference is I am drawn to the razzle dazzle names of the tomatoes where he just stuck to the old tried and true varieties.

[@WR_CTorch]

@@allsquaredup9717 “I am the kiss of tomato death” 😂😂😂

[@jeffdriver3000]

I grew up in the Antelope area of Sacramento and we had a commercial business that included tomatoes and we grew Ace VF55

[@PrincessTS01]

I plant the early girl usually found at lowes, it works well for my area of Los Angeles, but at a local nursery, they had an LA girl plant which took up about 36sf of the garden last year.

[@jeffdriver3000]

I grew up in the Sacramento area and we had a roadside market that we sold vegetables and the tomato that we grew was Ace VF55. It was a great tomato with good size fruit. I now live on the North coast of California near Eureka where it never gets above 70 degrees and a lot of humidity, I'm still growing Ace VF55 but in a greenhouse and it works great. Last year I had tomatoes until Dec

[@minuteofdangle0]

Thanks for watching you won my giveaway prize text me with the above name on tele-gram to claim your prize.............👆

[@reginabahten4228]

I used to live in Sacramento and my recollection is that Sacramento is the tomato capital of the world. The Delta breeze balanced out the heat. I just planted whatever struck my fancy or was available. It was quite a shock to move away and find that my green thumb did not move with me! Things are different in the South!

[@tomspiers1658]

For me last year was a great year for tomatoes, did the drip hose by Gilmour,” the flat one” . I’m zone 6B and my top performers were Jet Star,Celebrity, Early Girl and Beefmaster. On the heirloom side I had real wood luck with Black Trifele from Whole Foods

[@FrozEnbyWolf150]

Here in coastal 7b, it's pretty easy to grow all kinds of tomatoes, though cherries work best since I have a lot of pests in the garden. This year I plan on growing Cherokee purple, kumato brown, San Marzano, sun sugar, and super sweet 100. The super sweet 100 actually didn't perform well a couple years ago thanks to disease, but I'm hoping to save seeds from the healthiest plant I get this year so they stand a better chance of growing in this environment.

[@carolynsteele5116]

FrozenWolf, do you save seed from Sweet 100? I thought it was a hybrid.

[@Katholikos78]

I grew Cherokee Purple last year. Zone 7b southern Piedmont. Did excellent. Easily the largest fruit I ever had on a plant.

[@christisimmons7669]

I'm in zone 10a in southwest Florida & the Everglades tomato, which is a current style tomato, is prolific and very sweet. The Purple Cherokee is a great one to grow in our area as well!

[@goldpilot100]

Thank you for an excellent idea. East Tennessee starts out hot and very humid until about July. Then it seems to stop raining for the rest of the summer, gets even hotter, and everything gets crunchy. The idea you gave me was to start a second batch inside for a hotter dryer zone. You are the best!

[@K-Zone]

I live here in central Washington, with very hot summers, as we live in the desert. I have grown super sweet 100, Husky cherry reds, mortgage, lifter, yellow pear, and tiny Tim. those are the ones so far that I have grown, and all the tomatoes I have growing have produced well.

[@heathercampbell9496]

Zone 5A. Southeast South Dakota. 2022 Growing season, I winter sown some old Roma tomato seeds I had and they grew pretty good. I also grew 3 heirloom types from Seed Savers. Cherry Roma, Red Zebra and Brandywine. They all did pretty good growing here, despite the drought, wacky off-and-on cold spring, and hot dry summer. One thing that I didn't have with my tomato plants was pests. I am starting earlier this year (indoors and outdoors) and hoping this very snowy winter will help with moisture that we so desperately need here throughout the growing season. Thank you for what you do!

[@heathercampbell9496]

Going to try Marglobe this year: 75 days, determinate - The crack-resistant fruits are red, smooth and solid, weighing up to six ounces each. Its earliness favors its adoption in canning regions of Northern States where frosts and short seasons are common. Although it is classified as a determinate variety, it does have a sprawling growth habit. Bred in 1917 by Fred J. Pritchard of the USDA by crossing the now presumed extinct 'Marvel' tomato with 'Globe'. Released in 1925. One of the first disease resistant strains with a good resistance to Verticillium and Fusarium wilt. 'Marglobe' was credited with nearly single-handedly saving the Florida tomato industry in the early part of the twentieth century. 'Marglobe' is also historically significant in that it was a parent of many other later tomato varieties.

[@jenniferlaatsch9432]

Hi!!! Western South Dakota here! I was hoping to find a So Dak with tips! Thanks!

[@HummingbirdButterfly]

I’m in zone 4 in the southern half of Minnesota and I have successfully grown pink brandywine, black brandywine, celebrity, Roma, big rainbow, German pink tomatoes to name a few. With climate change Minnesota barely has springs anymore. We get about three weeks of nice spring WX in May and then jump into 90°F in June and the rest of summer. We had a severe drought last summer 2022 and a drought the year before 2021. Thanks for all the helpful tips. I’m so glad I found this channel. Great information. EDIT: also have grown supersweet 100, Cherokee purple, favorite and pineapple, stupice tomatoes.

[@heathercampbell9496]

Weather and climate for Southeast South Dakota, Zone 5A, has been about the same. Crossing me fingers with all this snow this year, that we'll have a better growing season!

[@andyo1333]

Im in south carolina zone 7b and that german pink is my to go for sandwich tomato.I have grown it every year that i can remember.Some years i have got 2lb tomatos. It does get blight easy here in my humid enviroment.

[@eleshakizer7644]

Also in zone 4, Minnesota. Hoping to have a better season this year without the drought!

[@alysonbaker939]

Me too, MN, Detroit Lakes area. 👍

[@julzb6047]

Lakewood, Colorado - Zone 6a. Black Beauties have done really well! And also last year I grew Napa Chardonnay Cherry Tomatoes and they went CRAZY! I DID have one summer where my Pink Jazz (also my all time favorite tomato) did SUPER - as long as you make sure to start them indoors to give them a good head start first.

[@jerrycochrun4444]

Western Washington area north of Seattle. Early Girl and Sungold have proved best for me.

[@sidthesquid2012]

We're in Gig Harbor, and part of a community garden - Sungold is our standard!

[@shamonewilson6216]

Hello I’m also in 7b. I grew Cherokee Purple, San Marzano, Yellow Pear and Large Red Cherry. They did very well especially the cherry and pear. This year I’m going to grow San Marzano, Beef Steak Yellow and Pink, Brandy Wine, Atkinson, Cherry Large, and Big Rainbow. I will see how it goes/grows🙏🏾

[@ileanasantiago2301]

I’m in the same zone and I will grow this year beefsteak tomatoes and Roma VF for the first time

[@carolynlaug]

I am in NH 5b and I grow Chrerokee purple, San Marzano, Beef Steak, Roma they all perform great but later in the season. I am looking forward to trying a few of the shorter season tomatoes that you mentioned.

[@cochesset5686]

Boston here, zone 6a, we've had great success with Roma, San Marzano, Mr. Stripey, better girl and surprisingly Oxheart did amazing and were huge! For cherry size: Sweet 100s, yellow pear are mostly what we stick with and have had great success to the point we have random cherry/grape tomato plants springing up in our shrub bed so we let them grow, too.

[@kellywalton4195]

I’m in Sacramento, CA and the only tomato I grow that made your list is Sweet 100 and Early Girl 😢 Every year I also grow: Pineapple, Cherokee Purple, Black Krim, Dr Wyche and Bulls Heart. I love them all but they do struggle. We have multiple triple digits in my area and I shade everyday (people tell me tomatoes love triple digit heat…. No, they, do not) once temps reach and stay above 90+ but, they still struggle. EDITED ! How could I forget Sungold!!! THEE BEST CHERRY TOMATO OF ALL TIME.

[@carontheroad]

I had best success with Early Girl all summer in Rio Linda near you.

[@dollyperry3020]

I live near Spokane Washington and I can grow most varieties that stay around 80 days. I love all the Brandywines, Kellogg's breakfast, Morgage lifter, Sungold, Chocolate Cherry, Snow White and a zillion more.

[@thefitzs]

Great timely topic, thank you. I'm in NC zone 7b. I grew Better Boys, beefsteaks, and Super Sweet 100s last year. The SS100s did great. Better Boy did okay but I just wasn't super excited about the flavor. The beefsteaks were tasty but it didn't produce great. This year I've started both Cherokee Purples and Blush Tigers indoors and we'll see how it goes. I'll also be starting SS100s and Brandywines in the next week. Here's hoping!

[@BlackJesus8463]

Brandywine needs help. It is so sweet it doesn't even taste like tomato.

[@jeffsherwood9151]

I live in NC zone 7b I have good luck with early girl

[@ingahuff4160]

I have tomato plants started from seeds in NC7B. I have San Marzano, Roma, Cherokee purple, black krim, yellow plum, green zebra, large red cherry, sunny boy hybrid, tomato V2, Bradley,. Plan on canning homemade Spaghetti sauce and salsa this year!

[@thefitzs]

@@ingahuff4160 that's a lot of varieties! I hope for great success for all of us. 👊🏼

[@countryroads190]

Also NC 7b! How bout this springy weather in Feb?! Happy gardening, y'all!

[@dtorrice5101]

I am SC, zone 8B. Last year, I grew all heirlooms from Baker Creek seeds. My tomatoes did much better than my neighbors’ who also have veggie gardens. Varieties grown: black cherry, roma, Dr Wyche, Abe Lincoln and Paul Robeson. This year, I am growing Cherokee Purple, Dr Wyche (yellow) Floradade (Roma type, determinate) Cherry.

[@donaldatkinson7937]

For taste try amish paste, Italian heirloom and marion. I'm in a really wet area in SC.

[@leslieboyette4368]

Paul Robeson out did Cherokee purple for me 7b GA in taste and vigor.

[@ritagibson225]

Hi I live in Southern California zone 9b/10. You are spot on recommending Sweet 100 and Sungold cherry tomatoes. I also grow San Marzano Lungo, Paul Robeson, Carbon, Black Prince, Kellogg’s Breakfast, Cherokee Purple, Stupice (crazy producer)! This year I’m trying a new variety Cherokee Carbon. It’s combined the best of two varieties that grow well here. Can’t wait to try it! Thanks for including everyone in your video. You’re cool, dude!

[@shaggydogg630]

Mmm mmmm sweet 100’s! How do the San Marzano’s turn out?

[@laurab8547]

I live in North Texas zone 8a. I have learned that for here, determinate tomatoes and cherry tomatoes do best. I do not even attempt indeterminate. I have found that shorter term tomatoes will also thrive here in our climate. This year I plan to try Early Girl tomatoes which are 60 days. I will plant them in the early spring and hope for a nice harvest until it starts getting too hot to produce flowers. There are two other types of tomatoes that do well in this heat and those are Heatmaster and Phoenix. I did Heatmaster last summer and had pretty good results from them although my Roma tomatoes did better and produced all summer. This year I am also adding Phoenix to see how they do. I will do two plantings, one in the spring and another one in mid July to have a fall harvest. Nothing grows well here in the heat during June, July and August.

[@rivercrockett343]

I feel your pain, NE TX 8a here. The Sun Sugars did great early, although not so much during the oppressive mid-summer heat. They perked up about a month before the November freeze, though! I suppose we just have to keep trying.

[@Debbie-Keller]

Okra and black eyed peas, Love June, July and August in Texas.

[@debreena2888]

Zone 5b-6a in northern Idaho. We're in a solar minimum, 5b in 2023. Short growing season. Because I can everything, this year I'm trying paste tomatoes from Adaptive Seed - Graham's Good Keeper (65 days, indeterminant) & Territorial Seed - Striped Roman (75-80 days, indeterminant). The latter will be started this weekend & put out in late April in an arch structure I made for the tomatoes that is covered in 8 mil plastic (two 4 mil sheets) & a crockpot is placed inside on a cement tile to keep it warm under the plastic. The beds are covered in plastic during the late fall to shorten the length of the ground thawing in the spring. The second "tomato arch" will get the 1st tomato variety I mentioned & will not get planted out until mid-May, after last frost by a week or 2. That one will have the plastic until I am sure the warmth will stick for a couple of weeks. I always have good luck with Sweetie cherry tomatoes & will have some of those, too.

[@pennyjohnsrud2985]

I like the crockpot idea as a warmer

[@MaeOliver005]

This is genius. Thank you for sharing.

[@debreena2888]

@@pennyjohnsrud2985 I got that from a Canadian gardener somewhere on YT a year or 2 ago. I cannot remember her name. It worked *beautifully* for me.

[@morrismonet3554]

In the Northeast I can usually beat the first fall frosts, but I hardly ever beat the blight. So, I go for the early maturing varieties up to 72 days like Jet Star. I picked up an unnamed Cherry tomato last year at Lowe's and it did really well. They were huge for Cherries, over in inch in diameter and quite sweet. wish I knew what it was.

[@janinesobala7977]

Did you save some seeds? Then at least you could grow it again!

[@morrismonet3554]

@@janinesobala7977 No I didn't because many Hybrid varieties do not grow true from seed.

[@joanhuntress7384]

I live in Auburn, WA and grew Siletz tomatoes last year and had a bumper crop. They were developed in Oregon for the Pacific Northwest, and I plan to grow them again this year.

[@jillatayceramics2542]

Cherry or Globe?

[@originalwoolydragon8387]

I'm in TN (7A) and mostly resigned to having to succession sow my tomatoes. The blight gets them all eventually. My favorites that taste good and survive longest are "Juliet", a grape tomato; "Purple Boy", a hybrid of "Cherokee Purple" and "Darkstar".

[@annscott6982]

Just moved to 7A. So confusing when to start what as I have only grown things on the west coast.

[@ekiskyten]

We moved to East TN last year early so last year was an experimental year in the garden. The Sweet 100 cherry tomatoes were prolific but not much happening with any of the others. Trying other varieties this year, armed with neem oil....

[@originalwoolydragon8387]

@@annscott6982, I'll be starting my tomatoes (indoors) March 15th and start transplanting outside after May 1st. Some people will plant in April, but my area can get cold snaps then. The Farmer's Almanac website can tell you your first and last frost dates. Use those dates to know when to start seeds for your area. Check the seed pack (or the seed website you buy them from) to know when to start. If the pack says to start seed indoors 4-6 weeks before your last frost date and that date is April 15th, you know to start the seeds from March 1-15th.

[@sandieweatherup]

​@@ekiskytentry Bt for the hornworms (& caterpillars of all kinds), Hydrogen peroxide solution and baking soda solution for the leaf issues (Gary Pilarchik explains it) The wet & humidity gets tough to battle in the South.

[@annscott6982]

@@originalwoolydragon8387 thank you. We are in Fairview Tn 20 minutes from Franklin.

[@rmoretz1]

I'm in NW CT, zone 6a. Last year did great with Sunchocula & Juliet (a perennial winner here) for cherry tomatoes and 4th of July. Beefsteak & others are iffy. Had pretty good luck with Burpee's Supersauce for paste. This video gives a clue about why the Brandywine didn't do so great. I'll try others this year.

[@sharondwhite47]

From southern New Mexico desert. I’m a relatively new gardener so my tomato issues have been more which soil to use, how to water and fertilize, etc rather than tomato varieties. However I had best luck in 90’s and beyond temperatures with sugar rush cherry tomato. My favorite tasting one too. Because our spring temperatures turn to hot summer temperatures so quickly, our extension service recommends smaller tomato varieties like early girl and cherry tomato varieties.

[@kathyshinn1007]

Hello from Florida 9b. I have had the best luck with Homestead tomatoes (semi-determinate). They made it through the heat and even a surprise frost. This year I'm also trying Sweet 100 Cherry tomatoes again. For my new and different tomatoes I'm trying Pink Fang (indeterminate weird shaped sauce tomatoes) and Purple Bumblebee Cherry tomatoes. Both are from Baker Creek and are supposed to thrive in high temps. Fingers crossed. :)

[@annehollier4632]

How did they do?… I haven’t tried those

[@sarahwest5814]

I live in MN, zone 4b. I grow a variety of beefsteak, brandywine, cherry, Roma, big boy and better boy tomatoes. I do start my seeds indoors 8 weeks before my last frost date and well prune my indeterminate varieties to a single stem. This year, I am adding Kelloggs Breakfast, San Marzano and Amish Paste to the mix. My tomatoes do well every year in full sun in my raised beds- most years I'm begging for frost at the end of the season because of high yields.

[@deeplumley1101]

I had such good success with The Kellogg breakfast tomato. I also live in MN

[@swimgal66]

Kellogg’s, Cherokee are great and Amish paste us best paste producer. I’m cold dry 5b (denver). Brandywine good here too. Sun gold great for little obes

[@elainasoma7282]

MN zone 4. I completely agree with these comments. I do/ the same. I have an over-abundance every year. The only tomatoes on his list that I've even heard of for "cold" areas are Manitoba, which coincidentally, I am trying for the first time this year.

[@latriciacagle4873]

Zone 9b. I usually grow cherry tomatoes and have good results with Sweet 100 and Yellow Pear. This year I’m switching to micro dwarf tomatoes, growing indoors hydroponically. Having trouble finding seeds in stock so I only have Orange Hat in the micro dwarf category. Other varieties that I’m growing are Yellow Pear and Indigo Chocolate.

[@edwardmuniz7902]

Same here, Phoenix 9b. Cherry tomatoes thrive like crazy in the spring and fall.

[@susanoconnor5931]

I grew tomatoes from seeds last summer and I was so excited to see them growing, and anticipated canning most of them for use throughout the winter months (Massachusetts). Unfortunately we had drought and heat so my first blush of tomatoes were very small and when I figured out the best way to water and trim them they looked like they were improving. When I started canning them quite a few looked small but perfect. When I cut them open they had black on the seed area in the center of the tomato, no apparent damage to the exterior. What did I do wrong?

[@kytastrophe-]

I live in the interior of Alaska. Growing season is very short here, but I'm working on a small indoor garden now that 2 of my kids have grown up and moved out. I am planning to have plants outdoors during our short summers, and then inside during the long winters.

[@CG-mq9tr]

I live in Seward, going to try and grow a dwarf variety to grow out doors and eventually bring indoors. Best of luck!

[@midwestribeye7820]

I live in Iowa. I don't get enough sun in my yard due to neighbor's trees to grow anything well besides cherry tomatoes. The Super Sweet 100's do pretty good.

[@donsytsma5359]

Live in SE wyoming. Grew whopper tomatoes last year and was quite impressed. Had a lot of green ones at first frost but still got a fair amount of nice red tomatoes. Others that did better than fair for me are purple Cherokee, German, brandywine, pineapple tomatoes. Definitely going to look into some of the names u mentioned. Torn between SW varieties or northern varieties. Also IDK how our elevation affects our growing either. We live at 6300 ft.

[@kristinkleifgen9814]

This is helpful for me- I’m at 7200 in the CO foothills, thank you!

[@sarahanspaugh5705]

Zone 5b - S WI/IL border……Celebrity last year did phenomenal and Sun Sugar cherry tomatoes always do fabulous…one of my favorite Orange Amish tomato does great as well

[@marcorodriguez8477]

Hey same here! I'm gonna have to try growing some of those

[@debbiep7419]

I moved to North Carolina (7b) last year and HAD to put in a small veggie garden while deciding where to put the permanent one for this year. I went to the farmer's market and found someone selling German Johnson tomato plant starts. I did some research and found they were discovered in West Virginia and developed in North Carolina. The plants did awesome, the fruit was delicious. They did crack a bit but I really liked them.

[@gregmartell1007]

Love your videos, they have had a huge impact on my gardening education.

[@cris_miko]

Love this info! I'm in 5b Iowa, and last season was bad for everyone I know. I tried mortgage lifter and only got one (1) tomato! In previous years, I grew early girl and celebrity in a container on my deck. Fruit supply was pretty consistent despite my poor watering habits. This season, I've added drip system, I'm going to use Kellogg raised planter mix and so far I have started Kelloggs Breakfast inside under grow lights in solo cups. I'm learning! Thanks Brian

[@sarahkniep1719]

I'm also Iowa (SW corner) 5b. I've grown kelloggs breakfast for the last 2 seasons and have gotten many good large fruit from it! had one last year almost 2lbs! It is forever a regular in my garden now!

[@lexboegen]

Florida has one native species that is believed to be derived from tomatoes brought by Spanish explorers in the 1500s; the Everglades tomato. It’s an indeterminate that produces very small fruit, like a grape or cherry tomato. It easily survives year round and is naturally disease and pest resistant.

[@JanLinNV]

Thank you! This was very helpful. I’ve been watching your videos especially on tomatoes. I live in northern NV and it is very difficult to grow things. Our soil is very alkaline - even in the raised beds, which tells me it’s probably the water causing it. I’m going to give tomatoes another try in containers. With your videos, I pray I’m finally successful this year.

[@eljacalitodeandrus9905]

I am in Southern Calif. Zone 9b. I tried Sweet 100 didn't do well for me. The SunGold cherry and the Kellogs Breakfast performed really good for me. It will be my second year growing from seed but will keep trying. I will be able to get dripp irrigation with will help me with consistent watering a problem I had last year with high Temps of 116, 108 and high 90s.

[@yx6889]

Hi All, I'm in Atlanta zone 7b, last year I grew husky cherry tomatoes, Amish paste, Cherokee Purple/Carbon cross and a whole bunch of mystery tomatoes (I didn't do a good job of labeling)! I didn't use the aspirin spray, will try it this year. Everything grew incredibly!

[@melissa7233]

We all get to a point during planting and further into the growing season when labeling becomes "less important" No matter what good intentions I have at the beginning, I always have a few mystery tomatoes at the end.

[@sandieweatherup]

Hi @yx, we're your neighbors in Norcross. It was challenging last year with 100+ temps but I used shade cloth (for the first time) and it helped on my BushSteak Hybrid & Celebrity Hybrid. I'm planting the improved Celebrity PLUS this year. My Cherry Falls tomatoes do well. All are grown in containers. A spray regimen, starting early, of Bt kept the hornworms away (yea). I did the hydrogen peroxide solution spray and I think the baking soda spray (Gary Pilarchik). It was a good year despite all the hauling of water. I desperately need to install drip.

[@queta879]

​@@sandieweatheruphey I'm in norcross too. Am I able to grow tomatoes if I live in the bottom level of an apartment complex? The top apartment covers the sun so I get indirect sunlight in my balcony. 😔

[@ilg212]

Hey I'm near Lake Lanier...last year I didn't plant them early enough so wasn't successful. Trying again this year but earlier

[@carolynsteele5116]

@@queta879 Cherry tomatoes may grow, but they will really stretch as they reach for the light.

[@duaneclark7108]

I am in the Deep South (gulf coast) and better boys are doing well. Also trying Pink Caspians which so far seem to be doing well.

[@philtymps]

I've had very good luck in New England (MA/RI) with San Marzano and Pomedoro heirlooms. They're exclusively what I grow and get very good size. The San Marzaon are my favorite for canning, and they make great summer time sauces straight from the garden to the stove. I'm holding one of San Marzano's in my Profile Pic.!

[@mkc0005]

We live in the TX Hill Country and had horrible heat last year. Our best producers were Brandywine and Kellogg’s Breakfast. We had shade cloth up starting in April.

[@harrybutler4077]

We live in coastal Alabama. Zone 8b. I like Homestead Tomatoes. It is a heirloom developed by the University of Florida in the 50’s. It is semi determinate and op. It was bred to withstand heat and continue to set fruit in the summer heat. 8 oz meaty tomato with good taste. 80 days to maturity. Happy gardening y’all!

[@countryroads190]

For NC zone 7b, tomatoes that perform very well would be Celebrity, which is a tallish determinate red, round tomato. The fruit is large but not beefsteak, has great disease resistance, hardiness and flavor. Other prolific determinates I've had success with are Homestead and Rutgers - both open-pollinated reds. Both good all-purpose tomatoes. Pink Girl is an indeterminate hybrid that produced fabulously for me as a late-planted variety. I had fruit from it through October. One old-timer I know here only grows Pink Girls. Blue Beauty also does well for me - it's an indeterminate heirloom.

[@KingArtexerxes]

Last summer (2022), in Missouri, we had early heat that was higher than normal, and everyone I talked with who grew tomatoes (myself included) grew plants but got no fruit, regardless of variety.

[@melissamessmer6544]

Big plants limited harvest for me here in Missouri 2022

[@marilynprietto1162]

I’m in Hawaii but not the typical hot humid weather that everyone expects. I am at 3000 foot elevation and receive about 60 inches of rain per year. I have had great luck with a Burpee variety call CLOUDY DAY. This year I’m also trying a variety called Oregon Spring.

[@aimeeetterling7683]

I’m in Hawaii too. But at sea level with lots of wind. Red Snapper was my best performer last year. Hybrid. Handled the humidity like a champ.