Texaskitty, Gymgirl is in Houston. She has a wonderful blog here on ATP that you can follow. It tells what all she grows and very detailed steps of what type and how for all her veggies. There are probably others in similar climates that have blogs that may be helpful. I know she does 2 seasons. That may be a solution for you.

texaskitty111 said:Because for my whole life, I have been unsuccessful in getting more than a few tomatoes from each heirloom plant. I used to think it was the soil, but now, in TX summer heat, I'm guessing its like trying to grow everbearing strawberries. By the time they would start bearing fruit, its too hot. So, I thought I would give determinates a try. My tomatoes that I set out in march are now 15' tall, and still growing. Not one additional fruit, yet. The second session tomatoes set out in June, have a few fruits, ( as usual), but so far though still growing, they're not setting much fruit. I do have one determinate I bought in July, I think. It has no fruit either, but it is smaller. I fear I bought it after the fruiting season for determinates, so it may be too late.

From what I have read tomato season down in Texas is not in the summer months. Tomatoes in spring and then in the fall. Too hot in mid summer.

Well, I keep waiting, hoping.....
Reading gym girls blog,

She really knows what she is doing. Fabulous veggie garden she has.

Hillbilly. Love these tomatoes.

I don't grow many heirlooms. This year I am growing an oxhart paste type tomato called Cuore Di Bue. I find the shape to be really odd.




They are meaty when ripe and the taste is quite good. I just eat mine fresh.

The "Hillbilly" is a beautiful tomato, Rita - how would you describe the flavor?? (I'm not too big on low-acid type tomatoes...)

They taste really wonderful to me. I tried some other yellow type tomatoes this year and did love Sunsugar. But the rest, not so much so thinking I mostly don't like yellow tomato flavor. But those Hillbilly tomatoes are really, really good. My plant is the regular leafed kind, not the potato leafed. Don't know if that would make a difference in flavor.

Flavor being great or not is such a subjective thing. You have to realise my very favorite tomatoes for years and years and years have been Boy Boy and Better Boy. Often people rave about some heirloom or another and when I try it, I think it is nothing special.

I only have one plant of Hillbilly. But I am intending to bring this one back again next season and get more than one for sure.

Rita, you're absolutely right -- the "taste" thing is so subjective! All I really know is, when I see a description in a seed catalog that says "low acid" or "mild" I just keep on browsing...

The best yellow tomato I've found so far is "Djena Lee's Golden Girl," which I first got as a gift packet from Totally Tomatoes... great taste and texture. (If mine ever get ripe I'll post some pictures!)

Newyorkrita said:

From what I have read tomato season down in Texas is not in the summer months. Tomatoes in spring and then in the fall. Too hot in mid summer.

I've been told optimum flowering and fruiting temperature for tomatoes is 18.5-26.5C (65-80F)-not that hot considering tomatoes originated in Mexico.

That's around Christmas here in tx

Following up on my German Johnsons, they are finally producing abundantly now that we've had some cooler weather, but the taste is
nothing special, rather bland really. Won't waste my garden space on them again.

Sorry that the taste is disappointing.

Hemophobic said:Following up on my German Johnsons, they are finally producing abundantly now that we've had some cooler weather, but the taste is
nothing special, rather bland really. Won't waste my garden space on them again.

This one that I keep putting on and then taking of my list to try. They seem very popular around here with plants readily available in the spring. Maybe I should just buy one plant and try it. Before I invest in seeds and time growing.

Very disappointing to wait all season and then find they aren't that great! But, as I keep telling my husband (who doesn't understand why I would want to try different varieties when we already have some that we love), you can never find something better if you don't keep trying new ones... and when you DO find one that is really exceptional it makes up for all the other misses.

Claudia: Do try one because our tastes may not agree. I like an acidic, sweet taste and I found them rather insipid. Like Sandy, how will you know there's another "fav" if you don't try?

My list keeps evolving as well.

I make sure I keep bringing back my old favorites. But I always try new to me varieties each year. Some years lots of new ones, other years only a few new ones. But that is how my list of must haves has grown, by trying new varieties so that some do make my very favorites list that I grow each year.

yup, I really get a rush looking up tomatoes and reading and comparing. I already have seeds for more than I have room for !! Can you say addiction!!!

I want to grow just about every variety I see. I need a big plot of land. If I had room I would 200 tomato plants.

Me too Rita!