Winter Tomato thoughts

Winemaker · August 18, 2015

I am starting to think about extending my tomatoes into fall and early winter. I took some sucker cuttings and rooted them to make sure I had some good healthy plants going into the fall here in the Sacramento area. Both the Red Cherry and Early Girl rooted well and are now about 10 inches tall. I would like to start some seeds of cold weather varieties but could really use some recommendations. Some varieties like Stupice have very mixed reviews in terms of flavor. Would you go with Determinate bush varieties? Patio types?

peebee · August 23, 2015

I was just thinking the same thing Winemaker--I live near coastal Los Angeles. I grew Stupice once and was not impressed. I've done a search for cold season tomatoes and quite a few came up, ex. Anna Russian & Azoychka.
But I'd like to hear from members here who actually grow tomatoes in the winter. Till now, the only winter tomatoes I've grown were plants that survived the summer until January. So technically they were not started fresh for the cold season, and I'd like to do that this year even though we are supposedly going to have an epic El Nino and therefore, colder temps. If it's too late to start from seed I can always propagate from cuttings like you have, but I only have Rebel Yell and Joe's Pink Oxheart left now.

heirloomtomaguy · August 23, 2015

I have had good success with Glacier here in Southern California. They are a saladette with a good flavor amd very cold resisatant. This year i am growing whatever i feel like through the winter because the last 2 years here have been warm enough to do so. Last year i had a at least 20 plants that made it through no problem. I did cover them for a couple of 40 degree nights but other than that it just does not get cold here anymore.

Starlight · August 23, 2015

Peebee... I grew Rebel Yell last year and it did good during the fall and beginning of winter as long as the temps stayed warm. I ended up picking the tomatoes green because two nights of frost in a row took out the plants. I had cheesecloth covering the plants. While Rebel Yell is a good tomato I think, it has always been one of the ones that takes forever to ripen for me. I wonder if you would have enough time.

I'm looking at about how many til frosts really start in and looking at DTM on seeds. Looking for ones that not only might take the cold, but finish off fast.

Winemaker · August 23, 2015

One of the Bay Area nurseries brings Ina small assortment of winter tomatoes. I picked up Legend and Prairie Fire. Also starting a determinate container tomato called Super Bush from seed. Clearly heavy rain and cool temps will wipe them out. Everything will be in Earthtainers or 5 gal containers for the small bush varieties.

peebee · August 24, 2015

That's a good idea, to use an Earth box or tainer for the winter tomato. I have one EB that does not get used in the winter anyways, so I can always bring it in if the weather turns really cold. Thanks!

Tracydr · August 24, 2015

I may pop some dwarf seeds in pots for the greenhouse,now that I have to heat it for my new citrus trees. I'll need to add light,though I'll need it for baby seedlings like peppers before too long,anyway, since I'd like to focus more on hot peppers next year.

August 18, 2015	#1
Winemaker Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: El Dorado Hills, Ca Posts: 47	Winter Tomato thoughts I am starting to think about extending my tomatoes into fall and early winter. I took some sucker cuttings and rooted them to make sure I had some good healthy plants going into the fall here in the Sacramento area. Both the Red Cherry and Early Girl rooted well and are now about 10 inches tall. I would like to start some seeds of cold weather varieties but could really use some recommendations. Some varieties like Stupice have very mixed reviews in terms of flavor. Would you go with Determinate bush varieties? Patio types?

August 23, 2015	#3
heirloomtomaguy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: glendora ca Posts: 2,560	I have had good success with Glacier here in Southern California. They are a saladette with a good flavor amd very cold resisatant. This year i am growing whatever i feel like through the winter because the last 2 years here have been warm enough to do so. Last year i had a at least 20 plants that made it through no problem. I did cover them for a couple of 40 degree nights but other than that it just does not get cold here anymore. __________________ “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."

August 23, 2015	#2
peebee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Southern CA Posts: 1,714	I was just thinking the same thing Winemaker--I live near coastal Los Angeles. I grew Stupice once and was not impressed. I've done a search for cold season tomatoes and quite a few came up, ex. Anna Russian & Azoychka. But I'd like to hear from members here who actually grow tomatoes in the winter. Till now, the only winter tomatoes I've grown were plants that survived the summer until January. So technically they were not started fresh for the cold season, and I'd like to do that this year even though we are supposedly going to have an epic El Nino and therefore, colder temps. If it's too late to start from seed I can always propagate from cuttings like you have, but I only have Rebel Yell and Joe's Pink Oxheart left now.

August 23, 2015	#4
Starlight Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: AL Posts: 1,993	Peebee... I grew Rebel Yell last year and it did good during the fall and beginning of winter as long as the temps stayed warm. I ended up picking the tomatoes green because two nights of frost in a row took out the plants. I had cheesecloth covering the plants. While Rebel Yell is a good tomato I think, it has always been one of the ones that takes forever to ripen for me. I wonder if you would have enough time. I'm looking at about how many til frosts really start in and looking at DTM on seeds. Looking for ones that not only might take the cold, but finish off fast.

August 24, 2015	#6
peebee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Southern CA Posts: 1,714	That's a good idea, to use an Earth box or tainer for the winter tomato. I have one EB that does not get used in the winter anyways, so I can always bring it in if the weather turns really cold. Thanks!

August 24, 2015	#7
Tracydr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2011 Location: Laurinburg, North Carolina, zone 7 Posts: 3,207	I may pop some dwarf seeds in pots for the greenhouse,now that I have to heat it for my new citrus trees. I'll need to add light,though I'll need it for baby seedlings like peppers before too long,anyway, since I'd like to focus more on hot peppers next year.