Best winter tomatoes (and tasting) I've recently found!

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Bob M
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Best winter tomatoes (and tasting) I've recently found!

#1

Post: # 88510Unread post Bob M
Mon Feb 06, 2023 7:14 pm

While certainly not a winter crop where I grew up in central Indiana, I've experimented here in central Arizona growing winter tomatoes. This year I put out six varieties in late October. Phoenix has averaged 10f degrees below our average this winter, with now 6 hard frosts, as my plants were nearly 7' tall I did not try to cover any of them. Figured it is what it is.

I'm harvesting several vine ripened a day currently, all from Wild Boar Farms. https://wildboarfarms.com/product-categ ... popularity

It's a tie between their Pink Berkley Tie Dye and the Black Beauty on production and taste during these cold months but I'm impressed with both.

I meticulously trim my plants and have trimmed of all to be 4 leaders and well supported.

I've no relation or support from the company, just am enjoying their products. Keep up the work WBF!

Video I took this afternoon after trimming some additional sun leaves and suckers...
Phoenix AZ where gardens grow all year.

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bower
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Re: Best winter tomatoes (and tasting) I've recently found!

#2

Post: # 88513Unread post bower
Mon Feb 06, 2023 8:45 pm

Awesome that they survived those frosts with the bit of shelter from the eave. :)
AgCan Zone 5a/USDA zone 4
temperate marine climate
yearly precip 61 inches/1550 mm

Mark_Thompson
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Re: Best winter tomatoes (and tasting) I've recently found!

#3

Post: # 88516Unread post Mark_Thompson
Mon Feb 06, 2023 11:25 pm

Impressive!
Last edited by Mark_Thompson on Tue Feb 07, 2023 9:16 am, edited 1 time in total.
Wet and windy side of a Hawaiian island, just living the dream

Setec Astronomy
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Re: Best winter tomatoes (and tasting) I've recently found!

#4

Post: # 88533Unread post Setec Astronomy
Tue Feb 07, 2023 6:43 am

Wow, great setup you've got there, the Pink Berkeley Tie Dye fruit looks so much better than what I got last year in my first attempt with that variety. I'm fairly new at this--what is with the selective bagging of the fruit? Also how can the plants (not to mention fruit) have survived 6 hard frosts??

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AZGardener
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Re: Best winter tomatoes (and tasting) I've recently found!

#5

Post: # 88537Unread post AZGardener
Tue Feb 07, 2023 8:18 am

Mine got bet pretty badly by the freeze. Black Cherry is one that usually does pretty well in Winter but this year not so much.
Good luck with yours, they look great.
USDA Zone 9b, Sunset Zone 13
Average Rainfall 9.5 inches
Climate: Sonoran Desert

Bob M
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Re: Best winter tomatoes (and tasting) I've recently found!

#6

Post: # 88558Unread post Bob M
Tue Feb 07, 2023 3:45 pm

Setec Astronomy wrote: Tue Feb 07, 2023 6:43 am what is with the selective bagging of the fruit?
Trying a new method to keep mockingbirds from eating them when ripe and having great success with it I'll add. Not one bagged fruit has been hurt yet. Others have. The bags are super cheap and have worked great.
Phoenix AZ where gardens grow all year.

Setec Astronomy
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Re: Best winter tomatoes (and tasting) I've recently found!

#7

Post: # 88559Unread post Setec Astronomy
Tue Feb 07, 2023 4:04 pm

Bob M wrote: Tue Feb 07, 2023 3:45 pm Trying a new method to keep mockingbirds from eating them when ripe and having great success with it I'll add. Not one bagged fruit has been hurt yet. Others have. The bags are super cheap and have worked great.
That's a great tip that I'll keep in mind for when I have bird problems.

How were your plants/fruit able to make it through the hard frosts?

Bob M
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Re: Best winter tomatoes (and tasting) I've recently found!

#8

Post: # 88561Unread post Bob M
Tue Feb 07, 2023 4:55 pm

Setec Astronomy wrote: Tue Feb 07, 2023 4:04 pm
Bob M wrote: Tue Feb 07, 2023 3:45 pm Trying a new method to keep mockingbirds from eating them when ripe and having great success with it I'll add. Not one bagged fruit has been hurt yet. Others have. The bags are super cheap and have worked great.
That's a great tip that I'll keep in mind for when I have bird problems.

How were your plants/fruit able to make it through the hard frosts?
I lost a few sun leaves each time but overall little damage. I also started pruning all new flower sets to not stress them much. As of today I'll leave the new flowers and go back to daily electric tooth brush use on them.
Phoenix AZ where gardens grow all year.

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