dependable tomato varieties for hot summers

[habitat-gardener]

So I've been asked if I want to help choose about 20 tomato varieties to grow for the master gardeners' spring fund raiser. (It's a big switch from my normal tomato-choosing mode: whittle down my list to a manageable number, say 40-60, mostly new-to-me varieties.)

At the community garden, the faves tend to be Early Girl F1, Juliet F1, and SunGold F1. None of those would be offered, I don't think, because they are so widely available everywhere else.

I'm assuming people buying tomato plants at this sale want to support the master gardeners (or are MGs) and are looking for
{1} maybe 4 varieties to grow in their backyard, OR
{2} a couple interesting but dependable varieties that no one else offers.
I'm biased toward flavor over production, but I am aware that many people just want to see a more or less regular crop of red orbs. But I'd love to tempt more people into trying varieties they haven't heard of, especially non-red tomatoes.

Summers here have most days over 90F (with heat waves for a few days over 100F), cooler nights in the 50s-60s.
Of course, I will ask around and figure out what varieties have done well consistently for others in the area, but I figure I can suggest maybe 3 or 4 wild cards that no one else has tried. Or at least add a couple new varieties into the mix each year. The seeds need to be available commercially.

So far, I have on my list
Polaris, which has done well for a couple years and did ok when other large tomatoes (including my old dependable, Pruden's Purple!!) produced nothing last year
Benevento F1, which I'm trying for the first time this year (I'll see how it does, but Fred says it did well for him last year in a not-quite-as-hot location)
Early Wonder Pink, a good-tasting determinate that did exceptionally well last year.

Other ideas?

[Wildcat82]

It's hard to get any slicers to produce in the heat. Cherry/saladette tomatoes are probably the best way to go.

The most heat tolerant types out there are (besides Juliet) are probably:
1. Matt's Wild Cherry
2. Coyote
3. Porter
4. Super Sioux

Also Jaune Flamme and Chadwick did ok for me in the high high this spring here.
Here's my old thread here: texas-summertme-challenge-t3272.html

[Shule]

@habitat-gardener
What's your elevation?

[habitat-gardener]

@habitat-gardener
What's your elevation?

most of the area is less than 150'

[HL2601]

Hmm I would offer something completely different than what is available...African Queen...Mocha Splash...Evgenia( a Ukraine heirloom) Reinhard Krafts Purple Sugar Cherry... Just saying they all set well inherit and why offer anything but the best?!

[MissS]

For plants that set well in the heat I have listed:

Arkansas Traveler -
Baladi
Burgundy Traveler
Butterworth's Potato Top
Cleota Pink
County Agent
Ethel Watkins Best
Nairobi Nights
Rawlings - A pink beefsteak that I am growing this year
Tsar-Kolokol

A few of these are said to have outstanding flavor as well as high production.

[wykvlvr]

Have you looked at the list on Heritage Seed Market? There is a section for Heat Tolerant Tomatoes that may help you. https://heritageseedmarket.com/index.ph ... -tomatoes/

[habitat-gardener]

Have you looked at the list on Heritage Seed Market? There is a section for Heat Tolerant Tomatoes that may help you. https://heritageseedmarket.com/index.ph ... -tomatoes/

I am growing Anahu, Kewalo, Daifuku, Peachy Keen, and Komohana Grape this year, as well as Summer Best! But I’d ideally want to grow them for 2-3 years to assess flavor and dependability.

[habitat-gardener]

For plants that set well in the heat I have listed:

Arkansas Traveler -
Baladi
Burgundy Traveler
Butterworth's Potato Top
Cleota Pink
County Agent
Ethel Watkins Best
Nairobi Nights
Rawlings - A pink heart that I am growing this year
Tsar-Kolokol

A few of these are said to have outstanding flavor as well as high production.

Arkansas Traveler has been one of the varieties offered. I haven’t grown any of the others!

[habitat-gardener]

Hmm I would offer something completely different than what is available...African Queen...Mocha Splash...Evgenia( a Ukraine heirloom) Reinhard Krafts Purple Sugar Cherry... Just saying they all set well inherit and why offer anything but the best?!

African Queen is on their list!

[habitat-gardener]

Have you looked at the list on Heritage Seed Market? There is a section for Heat Tolerant Tomatoes that may help you. https://heritageseedmarket.com/index.ph ... -tomatoes/

I am growing Anahu, Kewalo, Daifuku, Peachy Keen, and Komohana Grape this year, as well as Summer Best! But I’d ideally want to grow them for 2-3 years to assess flavor and dependability.

In my garden this year (probably nematode problems), the Daifuku and Summer Best died before producing anything.
Anahu and Kewalo are doing ok but haven't picked any yet.
Yana and Peachy Keen have produced a lot but they are kind of bland.
Komohana Grape is doing better than last year, but these have been tiny grapes for me. Flavor is ok, 2-6 grams

The ones that are doing great are
Benevento F1, the only large tomato that has ripened so far, great taste! 6-10 oz
Purple Boy F1, salad size but producing a good number and love it! 2.5 oz
Purple Zebra F1, smaller than expected, producing a few, good taste, 1 oz
Start F1, great sweet taste, but tiny -- about 0.5 oz

I don't water a lot. Maybe every 10-14 days, well mulched, summer-dry climate.