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...

Awesome that they survived those frosts with the bit of shelter from the eave.

Impressive!

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??

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.

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.

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?

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.