Beefsteak recommendations?

[freelancer79d]

My wife is a fan of beefsteaks and we try every year with poor results. I live in the Mojave Desert (Lancaster, CA). Does anyone have any recommendations for a good variety to plant?

[nctomatoman]

a question with many answers! What color? Size? Maturity? are you looking for tomatoes on the sweet, balanced or tart side?

So many options....narrow down your needs and I am sure the suggestions will come pouring in!

[dustdevil]

Welcome! You probably should give some weather info for your place...temp, rain, etc. Do you have sandstorms like Barstow? What do you mean by poor results and what varieties have you tried?

[Timmah!]

How much room do you have?

[freelancer79d]

Sorry for not replying earlier. My wife cant describe to me what she is looking for... her answer is ones like my grandpa grew..lol. We get 100+ dry heat w/ winds up to 40 knots, and my garden is 12' x 12'... we live in the city.... and have to leave room for the chicken coop... lol

[Timmah!]

100+ degree winds @ 46 mph sounds like whatever you grow, you need a windbreak; but you probably already know that. Try some of the Blacks & Purples? Black from Tula, Eva Purple Ball, Aunt Ginnie's Purple, Cherokee Purple.

Raybo's Earth Tainer may be a good option for you:
http://earthtainer.tomatofest.com/pd...tion-Guide.pdf

http://earthtainer.tomatofest.com/ea...-chapter1.html

http://earthtainer.tomatofest.com/ea...-chapter2.html

http://earthtainer.tomatofest.com/ea...-chapter3.html

[freelancer79d]

Thanks Timmah! but the wife is weird and wont eat blacks she said the dont look right....more for me...lol. i'll will grow a few that you recommended for me and my 2 boys.

[dustdevil]

Big Beef and Better Boy. I'd read over posts here from members in the southern states where they get lots of heat like you.

[Timmah!]

Well, the purples aren't black, they're more of a pink to duskky rose color; maybe those will slide by. If you convince her to taste one of the blacks, I bet she will change her mind.

[freelancer79d]

lol. I will try. Thanks again!

[travis]

I'd grow them close to the ground and behind a snow fence with a shade roof built from wooden slats, just for starters. And then with a drip irrigation system under silver reflective plastic sheet mulch. Varieties? Maybe something with a tough skin and thick walls. Watch out for rattlers when you go to pick'em!

[feldon30]

I can't promise your Stump of the World will look like this, but...


Stump of the World

[freelancer79d]

thanks for the inputs everyone. i will try some of your tips. last year i had only 1 fruit set and it was by no means a beefsteak sized tomato.

[feldon30]

I would say plant early and protect from cold. You'd probably need to build cold frames, which can be done cheap if you can find old wood-framed windows.

[amideutch]

My Grandparents lived in Lancaster when I was growing up. They had a garden next to the house that was enclosed by a wooden slat structure that provided about 50% shade. She used to chase the rattle snakes out with a stick so she could tend the garden. You be talking high desert with no humidity and the wind does blow. You won't find any insects to speak of. You definitely need an early start with your plants so as to harvest before the summer heat sets in. You might be able to plant a fall crop. But it does get chilly at night in the winter and believe they even had snow on occasion though rare. Shoot me a PM with your addy and I will send you some seeds from a few beefsteak varieties I have. Ami