"MUST HAVE'S" in your 2010 Garden

[dipchip2000]

AZ and Worth

I want the Sioux and Arkansas Traveler to cover me with the 100+ degree days I know to expect in late July and August. Both are supposed to be good in hot and humid climate. Sioux is supposed to be much better than Super Sioux. I have tried to cover all bases depending what the weather decides to do. I know not all will flourish but hopefully not all will perish either. I should have some type of crop
regardless what happens.
I know plans dont always workout but I feel better with plan in place.
Thanks for the comments
may not be able to cut any variety and all may not germinate anyway

ron

early-mid-late-cool
warm -dry-wet- humid short season-long season
everything I could think of

[mtbigfish]

Raybo
Ditto same place I get mine - I think Gary also has Big Beef OP
Dennis

[rnewste]

mtbigfish,

I travel to O.C. several time a year, and like up here in San Jose, yards are postage-stamp sized.

How indeed do you fit in all of those varieties into a garden??

Raybo

[Karamazovv]

My must have of 2009:
Carol chiko big paste.

[instar8]

Mr Bigfish or bigfig or whatever's ;~) list is the reason i don't even dare to get involved in SSE...I have 40-odd varieties, and am still buying...I MUST HAVE them all!!!

[Worth1]

All I can say is that from my experience the only tomatoes I can get to set fruit in 100 plus weather are the very small fruited tomatoes.
Wild cherry set in 100 plus all year long. It may not be big but at least it’s a tomato. Black pear did well also.
Worth

[austinnhanasmom]

Anyone else get zone envie and consider moving solely because a tomato patch can be started months earlier?

[Zana]

Originally Posted by austinnhanasmom

Anyone else get zone envie and consider moving solely because a tomato patch can be started months earlier?

Yep on a regular basis...sighhhh!


As for being able to wittle down a list to a "manageable" number from the over 350 varieties I have currently? Dang, its an exercise in frustration. Its one of the reasons I got into containers/pots for my tomatoes, since I only had enough space in the ground for about 3 large indeterminates. Sighhhhhhhh....now if I win a lottery....I'm buying a house with enough land for a greenhouse and a enormous garden - made up of raised bed parterres.....a killer shed to store my tools....and whatever else comes to mind whenever that actually becomes a reality....lol

In the meantime, I'm not holding my breath! It would mean I'd have to remember to buy the dang lottery tickets, now, wouldn't it?

[rnewste]

Austin,

I have an even better proposal for you. As I begin harvesting ripe tomatoes in May, and still have a few still growing now into January, I will offer those who live in cold climates, a "Surrogate Garden Plot" in my backyard. I have 30 EarthTainers that I will Lease out on an individual basis - you tell me specifically which 2 tomato plants to grow per 'Tainer and they are yours.

Think "Time-share" rental model here. I will work up an annual Lease Fee per 'Tainer as well as USPS Priority Mail containers to ship your tomatoes to you each week.

Wow! Why didn't I think of this before. Now I can afford the high Taxes I need to pay to live in California!!

Raybo

[mtbigfish]

Raybo
I used to (we moved this summer) plant 110 plants - along fence down one side of the back yard it had 70 foot planter 2 ft deep (roses interspursed in all planters) - across the back I had 90 ft - 6 ft deeps - down the right 30 ft 2 ft deep - across back of house 30 ft 3 ft deep and around air conditioner had 15 ft 6 ft deep - in front yard had a section 8 ft by 20 + where iI would sneak in a few plants before the wife caught me -

In the city I have 2 approx 20X20 ft garden plots - let your imagination go there !!!! the plots are $75 each for the yearand includes water - plus a 1 time refundable deposit of $100 in case you let it go overgrown and don't keep it under control - that pays for them to turn it under - each year the deposit just stays with the city if you aren't a bad boy -

So far as seeds - I have never saved - used to get from many relative who were farmers and seed saved for years - but I buy seed from commercial sources every year - used to buy years ago from Glecklers and others then went to buying plants and have gone back to seed recently. If you seed by thread concerning buying and splitting bulk seed - I used to do that with a friend that has moved and no longer does it .
But I try to buy more varieties than I need and start about 12 of each and give other friends plants - I used to buy seed again and plant several keepers every year and then buy new varieties - that's how I have tried so many over the years. I am 61 now and have been growing since 10 years old but from seed and most heirlooms or OP from about 16-18 years of age .
Well enough of the bio
Thanks for asking
Dennis

instar - Since I am not into seed saving I will trade extra seed I purchase to try some others - but the seeds I have vary as to what I buy for that year

[jenn_sc]

I'm having a really tough time coming up with a manageable sized list. I know that if I get too ambitious then time constraints will lead to a half neglected garden in July!

Still,it's nice to spend freezing winter days amending and re amending the list! July seems a long, long time off

[Wi-sunflower]

Anyone else get zone envie and consider moving solely because a tomato patch can be started months earlier?

Yup, tho not solely for the garden.

Wisconsin weather can be horrible as we have had the last 2 "summers??". Our winters are no thrill either. But Wisconsin taxes can be the absolute killer. We lose a whole lot of retirees to Florida and the SW areas like Texas and Arizona.

Personally with all that has been happening both in Wi and the US in general, I've been seriously thinking about Belize or the Yucatan.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As far as my list for the coming year goes ---you don't want to see it. I will be close to 500 varieties this year thanks to all the trades here at TV and the stuff I want from the SSE yearbook. The problem with reading these "must have" threads too is that I'm always seeing new varieties that sound great and I add to my lists.

Yes it is an addiction.

For many of you, part of what keeps it a bit under control is the fact that you are space limited. I'm in the good/bad situation of not having any space problems. (Other than the fact that I am short of greenhouse space for my transplants) I have a 100 acre farm and can use as much for tomatoes as I want to. Last year we had over 8,000 plants on about 5 acres. This year it will probably have to be closer to 10 acres.

Carol

[austinnhanasmom]

RAYBO - SIGN ME UP!!

I'm with ya Zana -

I have too many great selections, thanks to swapping and SSE, and not enough space!!

In Colorado, schools are not a priority. If DH loses his job, I was considering where to move. (He's a chemist and there's not a huge demand for chemists here. ) Schools and gardening space for 100s of tomatoes are my priority (dang seed swapping).

I grew up in MN, where the winters are brutal but about anything will grow. Can't be too close to the in-laws, so I was thinking I would move to WI for the gardening qualities and the schools. I completely forgot about the taxes!!

Since I blabbed not at all related to the thread, I'm going to list my must grows, version A: A neighbor is finally using yard space for a veggie garden, so I can sneak some tomatoes into that area:

Dana's Dusky Rose (super excited about this one ya'll)
Haley's Purple Comet (see above comment)
Andrew Raharts Jumbo Red
Black Zebra Cherry
Brandywine, Cowlick’s Pink
Brandywine, Glick’s Pink
Bull’s Heart
Burning Spear
Earl's Faux
Guido
Hungarian Italian Paste

Isis Candy
Isis Candy Cross
Marizol Purple Cross
Martino Roma
Michael Pollan
Mike’s Italian
Paul Robeson
Ramapo F6
Romeo Huge Paste
Snow White
Spudakee Cherokee Purple PL
Super Snow White
Surender’s Indian Curry
Tommy Toe
Tommy Toe Yellow
Wagner’s Italian
Weeping Charley
Wes
West Virginia 63
White Cherry
White Currant



maybe 10 more

[scottfsmith]

My list gets smaller every year .. only the best survive

Super duper ultra must have:
Stump of the World
Prue

Regular must have:
Mariannas Peace
JDs C Tex or Carbon (very similar for me)
Brandywine Sudduth

Skipping:
all the rest

Scott

[salix]

a&hmom, Zana - sometimes get a bit of zone envy, but the older I get the more I appreciate the "resting" season. (Besides, I think we have fewer pest and disease problems...)