Heat tolerant varieties review

mensplace · August 18, 2014

Tonight my wife and I did a taste test of BJN602, Heatmaster, Florida 91,Summerset, Solar Fire, Phoenix, and, just for comparison, Celebrity, and Amelia. All were acidic, so the roof of my mouth is now burning. Too, all were still producing heavily with no sign of problems due to our very high heat and little water, and no signs of any disease issues. Of the lot, the Amelia, Summerset had a slightly sweeter flavor, but they all were the typical commercial flavor found in grocery store tomatoes, not even close in depth or sweetness that most of us prefer. However, they were all firm and would be good for processing. The Solar Fire was the largest; about 4 inches. The Florida 91 and Phoenix had the worst flavor. I still have a few more to try, but did not want to risk my lips blistering. With salt or mayo they would have been better, but our tasting was just the plain tomato. Bottom line: They certainly beat no tomatoes. If you want tomatoes from July through September that produce plenty, consistently, and keep on producing without disease issues, these are fine. They would also be good for processing, and, with salt and condiments would be fine for sandwiches.

Tracydr · August 18, 2014

I wasn't a fan of Solar Fire although it did set until June. The Carbon Copy was more heat hardy and far tastier, although I lost all the plants while out of town for five days house hunting. I guess nothing can tolerate Phoenix heat in June without somebody watering and my house sitter let me down.
Some of my plants, mainly Matt's Wild Cherry, also survived but those plants had a lot of shade and weren't in raised beds. (stay wetter)

Barb_FL · August 18, 2014

I wanted to try Solar Fire, but not enough to pay $5.25 shipping.

I'm OK if they taste like good supermarket tomatoes.

I tried Heatwave II this summer and the plant started well and then struggled; I sowed the seeds at the same time as Sungold. Out of the 4 plants in Earthboxes (2 SG and 2 HW2), I have 1 thriving SunGold. Last weekend, I ended up yanking out the last HW2.

I was able to extend Porters fairly long into the summer by rolling the EB into shade around 1-2 PM. We ate our last tomato this past weekend; I think 10 in August. I have also kept 4 single plants going/alive since last spring hoping to get a cool wave and have some of these flowers set (Porter, Marglobe, Dagma's (never produced a tomato in the spring), and Park Seed Whopper). Porter and Marglobes were huge producers in the spring.

Someone gave me an everglades seedling early in the summer and it is still producing tomatoes; although they are small even for cherries.

I tried a hot/humid container collection from tomatofest and faired no better; maybe homestead had promise but the seeds didn't germinate for the fall.

Next year I will probably just stick with extending the Porters.

August 18, 2014	#1
mensplace Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: USA Posts: 1,013	Heat tolerant varieties review Tonight my wife and I did a taste test of BJN602, Heatmaster, Florida 91,Summerset, Solar Fire, Phoenix, and, just for comparison, Celebrity, and Amelia. All were acidic, so the roof of my mouth is now burning. Too, all were still producing heavily with no sign of problems due to our very high heat and little water, and no signs of any disease issues. Of the lot, the Amelia, Summerset had a slightly sweeter flavor, but they all were the typical commercial flavor found in grocery store tomatoes, not even close in depth or sweetness that most of us prefer. However, they were all firm and would be good for processing. The Solar Fire was the largest; about 4 inches. The Florida 91 and Phoenix had the worst flavor. I still have a few more to try, but did not want to risk my lips blistering. With salt or mayo they would have been better, but our tasting was just the plain tomato. Bottom line: They certainly beat no tomatoes. If you want tomatoes from July through September that produce plenty, consistently, and keep on producing without disease issues, these are fine. They would also be good for processing, and, with salt and condiments would be fine for sandwiches.

August 18, 2014	#2
Tracydr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2011 Location: Laurinburg, North Carolina, zone 7 Posts: 3,207	I wasn't a fan of Solar Fire although it did set until June. The Carbon Copy was more heat hardy and far tastier, although I lost all the plants while out of town for five days house hunting. I guess nothing can tolerate Phoenix heat in June without somebody watering and my house sitter let me down. Some of my plants, mainly Matt's Wild Cherry, also survived but those plants had a lot of shade and weren't in raised beds. (stay wetter)

August 18, 2014	#3
Barb_FL Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Indialantic, Florida Posts: 2,000	I wanted to try Solar Fire, but not enough to pay $5.25 shipping. I'm OK if they taste like good supermarket tomatoes. I tried Heatwave II this summer and the plant started well and then struggled; I sowed the seeds at the same time as Sungold. Out of the 4 plants in Earthboxes (2 SG and 2 HW2), I have 1 thriving SunGold. Last weekend, I ended up yanking out the last HW2. I was able to extend Porters fairly long into the summer by rolling the EB into shade around 1-2 PM. We ate our last tomato this past weekend; I think 10 in August. I have also kept 4 single plants going/alive since last spring hoping to get a cool wave and have some of these flowers set (Porter, Marglobe, Dagma's (never produced a tomato in the spring), and Park Seed Whopper). Porter and Marglobes were huge producers in the spring. Someone gave me an everglades seedling early in the summer and it is still producing tomatoes; although they are small even for cherries. I tried a hot/humid container collection from tomatofest and faired no better; maybe homestead had promise but the seeds didn't germinate for the fall. Next year I will probably just stick with extending the Porters.