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Ok, my water supply has become very unreliable. All people moving into this area (NW AR) has lowered water table, my ancient dug well now goes dry in summer and once even in December. Used to make it through in summer if one was conservative. I can haul water for me and pets but not going to do it for the garden as old public spring I get it from is some distance away. Should mention I live on hilltop which is quite different than creek bottom or valley. Climate here usually means temps hot and humid in May, dry by mid July and if lucky rain again by mid September. Frost free April 15 to mid October. We tend not to get much of a spring season. Sort of goes from mild late winter/early spring to hot humid early summer very quickly. Last year was an exception.
What is most heat/drought tolerant tomato (with mulching of course.) I've experimented over the years to see if I could get some tomato production without much watering, but not lot of luck. My old favorite yellow pear usually pulls through with some production. Last year a volunteer red cherry actually came back and produced some ripe tomatoes in late fall just before frost. Yellow pear wasnt quick enough and I had green fried yellow pear tomatoes. Many varieties just give up ghost and never produce anything.
I did quick google search and came up with following varieties:
Kellogg's Breakfast
Big Beef (hybrid)
Russian #117
Manyel
Snow White Cherry
Punta Banda
Omars Lebanese
Eva Purple Bell
Lemon Boy
Ace 55
Heatwave
Kootenai
Wild Cherry (suppose to grow wild in Mexico)???
I've tried LemonBoy and Ace in past and it may have been that particular year but they didnt do anything much. I imagine some of others in this list wouldnt either. Could also go for super early varieties to avoid heat and dry, but they usually are determinate and dont produce much. Anybody have suggestions? Size and color dont matter. I would figure from experience that small or cherry size tomato is going to have best chance.
What is most heat/drought tolerant tomato (with mulching of course.) I've experimented over the years to see if I could get some tomato production without much watering, but not lot of luck. My old favorite yellow pear usually pulls through with some production. Last year a volunteer red cherry actually came back and produced some ripe tomatoes in late fall just before frost. Yellow pear wasnt quick enough and I had green fried yellow pear tomatoes. Many varieties just give up ghost and never produce anything.
I did quick google search and came up with following varieties:
Kellogg's Breakfast
Big Beef (hybrid)
Russian #117
Manyel
Snow White Cherry
Punta Banda
Omars Lebanese
Eva Purple Bell
Lemon Boy
Ace 55
Heatwave
Kootenai
Wild Cherry (suppose to grow wild in Mexico)???
I've tried LemonBoy and Ace in past and it may have been that particular year but they didnt do anything much. I imagine some of others in this list wouldnt either. Could also go for super early varieties to avoid heat and dry, but they usually are determinate and dont produce much. Anybody have suggestions? Size and color dont matter. I would figure from experience that small or cherry size tomato is going to have best chance.