Best tomato conditions- where to live?

[sliphorn]

Tomstrees, I've always thought Zones 6 and 7 would be ideal for alot of things. Directly across Lake Michigan from Chicago, on the Michigan side, it's Zone 6A for a very narrow east-west band, perhaps 10 to 20 miles wide, but for several hundred miles south to north along the lake shore. That area is the famous fruit growing region of Michigan which produces some of the finest apples, peaches, and berries I've ever had. And I'd think it'd be great for tomatoes too.

[valereee]

I have to say, SW Ohio is great tomato country. Gets cold here in the winters, though.

[Tomstrees]

sliphorn -

I used to live in N. Jersey in the mountains ;
took forever to warm up ;
seasons were "ok" for veggies ...
I like where I live now @ the BayShore ~
much different climate (for the better)
Tom

[Tom_Ato]

I've only grown here in Southern Ohio, so I have nothing to compare. I will say that growing a tomato plant in Ohio is easy.

I remember learning as a kid (remember those old pictographs in the World Book Encyclopedias?), that top tomato producing states (commercial production) were California, Ohio, Pennsylvania and a few others I don't remember. It told me back then that those would be relatively easy places to grow tomatoes.

And I live two miles from Kentucky, so I'll betcha they grow well south of the river too.

Ken

[moucheur]

When I think of a place known for growing tomatoes, I think of New Jersey...

maybe also Bucks County, PA...but it's right next door...

[TomatoDon]

I can't understand why Ohio, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania always seem to crop up as the best tomato states in the U.S. Tomatoes aren't even native to that climate. It's basically a tropical plant. But they seem to do well in the colder climes than in the tropics now, and even do well in Russia, too!

Maybe it's like Vardaman, MS, where sweet potatoes do the best. Or Vidalia, Georgia, where onions do the best.

Mother Nature has all sorts of things for us to yet figure out.

More to the mystery and the fun of this.

Don

[jerseyjohn61]

Don,
I believe the answers are found in climate and
amount of sunlight. Yes these three states can
get some hot and sticky periods, but the
average daily high temp in July for my part of
Jersey is only about 85 degrees. Nightly lows
around 70 or so. Tomatos love those kinda
numbers.

The northen states, in high summer, actually
receive more hours of daily sunlight than
their southern sisters due to the tilt of the the
earth's axis. Hence, more daily solar energy.

While in his early teens, my father spent three
years in Ireland. At about 55 degrees north,
during June, he was amazed to find that darkness
did not set in until after 10 PM.

Tomatos in their native tropics, are not tender
annuals that are killed by frost. They can live to a
"ripe" old age while growing to very long lengths.
All this time gradually setting fruits. Human
manipulation of the genius has selected the gene
types that are the most productive over short
periods....JJ61

[PaulF]

Plantersville: to paraphrase:

It ain't Heaven, it's Iowa.

[mepoozer]

Thank You everyone for the ideas!! Lots of places to think about... Keep the ideas coming....

[soeur]

I know garnetmoth had a not-so-good crop last summer in Antioch, TN, which is in my part of the state, but I had a fantastic crop, so I think soil conditions are probably the difference.

The climate seems ideal for tomatoes, as long as you loosen up the clay soil. I've been improving my soil for 4 years and I mulch heavily with cardboard under wheat straw to keep the moisture even. I picked maters from July (I planted late) into early Nov. Only problem I had was when TS Katrina hit and dumped 8" of rain in one day. I believe it was the first TC ever recorded in middle TN.

[bugsy]

I don't want more people in Orange County, CA, but I can grow tomatoes year-round here. Weather here is great for tomatoes and melons, esp near the coast where I am. Inland, it gets a bit hotter in the summer, colder in the winter. If I don't yank the plants, the tomatoes will sometimes overwinter. I love growing here.

[barkeater]

Are you all sure the tomato has a tropical origin? I thought they originated in the Andes mountains of Peru.

[dcarch]

A nice greenhouse will solve a lot of location problems.

and ----

Some day thru genetic engineering, cross-breeding, mutation, etc. we will have tomatoes which will survive any condition, and be so good tasting that by comparision, Brandywine will be considered a spitter.

dcarch

[tomatoguy]

Hmm, this year it seems to be here but that isn't always the case. It is usually much hotter and drier but this year the plants are still kicking 'em out. I am picking about a dozen a day from about 20 plants, still. I would guess that coastal Virginia and New Jersey would be consistently good for growing tomatoes.

mater

[moulman]

It seems there is debate.

Everyone agrees they originate in Central/south America, but some say high Andes, some say the mountains of Mexico. (Inca or Aztec)

I think the Mexican/Central American origin is the most likely.
Here's what USDA has to say -

http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/pub..._NO_115=137160