Tomato Varieties

For North San Gabriel Valley, So Cal.

In this area, NO tomatoes need all the hot sun in the latter afternoon. If possible, water in the morning. Do not keep wet, and do not spray the leaves except occasionally for a rinse.

• Sungold Cherry - orange, prolific, loves the hot sun, add a tangy flavor different than others.
• Cherokee Purple - abundant, strong, loves the hot sun, not temperamental, a strong heirloom type hybrid. Purple/ dark red inside and outside. Black Krim is also good.
• San Marzano - plum type, meaty with no core, abundant throughout the season, loves the heat.
• Green Zebra - green striped, firm texture, a bit tangy, like the heat and sun. Yes, they can be fried.
• Mr. Stripey - yellow and red striped. They are good with the heat but can do with less sun in the afternoon.
• Brandywine - these are tricky. They are not as vigorous as the others. I had better luck with these when planted in a floral landscaping environment near trees or other shade. My garden now is hot for these, so I plant then on the north east end of the planter box to provide the most shade. They still do not do very well because of the heat. Since they are so big, they ripen unevenly as well. There are numerous colors of these, yellow, red, pink.
• Persimmon - pink fruit, not as strong as some others or abundant. Fruit is good.
• Others - Yellow Boy, Early Girl, Sweet 100 and 1000. German Johnson, Yellow Zebra.