Hi, Guys!
This is my one and only tomato crop of the year. I haven't had success growing a fall/autumn crop. I transplant the tomato seedlings in mid to late winter here, under protection of covered hoops. If we don't get them in that early, our brutal heat will keep the pollen from flying and there won't be good pollination. When things go well, weather wise, I'm finished my harvest by mid-June, and start ripping out the vines.
Historically, I've been pushing the heirloom tomato envelope, however, I've yet to get the bumper crop I need/want to start canning homemade tomato sauce. So, this year, I may bite the bullet and go with the tried and true garden varieties (it hurts my stomach to even say that...) so many gardeners here swear by: Big Boy and Better Boy, Celebrity, Juliette, and a new variety called "Tycoon," which is a Texas Superstar tomato recommendation.
And, while I cringe over the thought of growing "garden variety" tomatoes, I may at least end up rejoicing with the local gardeners who end up with enough leftover tomatoes to start leaving them on doorsteps, LOL!
A bushel of "garden" varieties is worth two dozen heirloom seeds, perhaps?
