Ten of us just got back from a lecture on tomatoes by Linda Sapp of www.tomatogrowers.com. Here is the scoop on tomatoes:
• For our area, start tomatoes September 1 to February 1.
• Linda uses dipel dust (Bt) to control caterpillars.
• Linda plants ONE tomato to a 15 gallon container.
• Store seed in a mason jar in the frig (NOT zip bags) to possibly keep seed up to 10 years or more.
• Cherry tomatoes grow best all year here because they set fruit in both cool and hot temperatures.
• Temperatures below 40 degrees at night: MOST tomatoes will not set fruit.
• Temperatures above 65 degrees at night: MOST tomatoes will not set fruit.
• Optimum night time temperatures TO SET FRUIT: 55-65 degrees.
• BEEFSTEAKS are one of the most difficult to grow here in SW FL.
Recommended HEIRLOOM varieties for this area include: Ananas Noir, Aunt Gertie's Gold, New Big Dwarf, Black from Tula, Black Zebra, Dixie Golden Giant, Mama Leone, Kosovo, Church, Coyote, Oaxacan Jewel, Black Cherry, Beauty, Cherokee, and Sprite.
Recommended HYBRID varieties for this area include: (cannot save seed from hybrids) include: Sun Gold, First Prize, Mountain Magic, and Tasti-Lee.
Double check the above online. Linda was not always specific on which were heirlooms and which were hybrids.
