5 Great Tomatoes for Cool Climates | Veggie Gardener (With Commentary from The Tomato Lady!)

this is a good article that I got in my email. it showcases early tomatoes. I  have grown all of these but Novia. I am carrying SubArctic, Legend, and Black Prince. Look for my My Two Cents Worth: I will tell you my thoughts on the variety.

Here’s a tip for early tomatoes. I will try it and let you know how it works. Or you can try it and let me know how it works for you. Flick the blossoms (they are self pollinating) or take a cotton swab/paint brush to pollinate your early tomatoes. Sometimes we don’t have the necessary wind or the bees aren’t out yet so they aren’t being pollinated, therefore no fruit. I don’t know why I never thought of this myself!

Tomatoes are very adaptive plants, and can produce fruit in a wide variety of climates and regions. Whether you live in zone 4 or in zone 10, you can grow tomatoes without too much trouble.Although this is true it is important to choose varieties that are well-matched for the climate you live in for the best results. Some tomato varieties perform best in very warm climates, while others are bred for better production in cooler climates.If you live in a cool climate (from zone 6 to zone 4) here are five tomato varieties that should thrive for your area.

Northern Exposure

Northern Exposure is a determinate tomato variety that performs very well in cool climates. They are generally ready to pick in about 67 days after transplanting outside which is great for shorter seasons.The compact size of this tomato plant makes them perfect for containers. According to my sources it is now sold on Burpee seed racks as Burpee Early Harvest Hybrid. I honestly don’t know why they change the names! My Two Cents Worth: I have grown this for sale but not put it in my own garden (I only have so much garden space). I have heard from my customers that they love this tomato. It is a very healthy plant in my greenhouse.

 

Sub Arctic

With a name like Sub Arctic you know this tomato does well in cooler, short climates. It is a determinate variety that produces four ounce tomatoes in about 42 days after transplanting.Ideal for short seasons in the north, or for a quick harvest in southern vegetable gardens. My Two Cents Worth: I love this tomato. Grew it for years but never put it in my garden until I had a leftover plant. I put it into an enormous container and loved, loved, loved it. They are a smaller tomato, about the size of a ping pong ball, sometimes larger and very sweet and bright red. I am offering this one this year.

Legend

The Legend tomato is another variety that produces well in cool climates and is resistant to late blight.It produces large fruit that can measure four to five inches in diameter and are a bright, glossy red color. This is one of the earliest maturing slicing tomatoes available. My Two Cents Worth: This is a lovely tomato, good flavor, consistent size, shape and color. Plus, it doesn’t want to take over the world. In my garden the fruit didn’t get to 5″ across but about the size of baseballs. I am offering this one this year.

Novia

The Novia tomato variety is an indeterminate that produces seven to nine ounce fruit and is very disease resistant.They contain a high level of lycopene which is a beneficial antioxidant. These tomatoes perform well in cooler climates, but can also be grown as far south as zone 9.

Black Prince

The Black Prince tomato variety comes from Siberia, so you know it is used to some cold weather and short seasons.This heirloom tomato features medium-sized fruit that are a deep red with green to purplish shoulders. They are loved for their rich, almost smoky tomato flavor and excellent hardiness in cold temperatures. My Two Cents Worth: This is very pretty tomato. One of those that are considered “black” Mine were a dark, dusky puprle with green shoulders and about the size of large eggs. The inside is a  beautiful dark red and the taste is good but I honestly don”t get the “smokey”  flavor. I think that is a trick of the mind!  I am offering this one this year.

Source: 5 Great Tomatoes for Cool Climates | Veggie Gardener

3 thoughts on “5 Great Tomatoes for Cool Climates | Veggie Gardener (With Commentary from The Tomato Lady!)

  1. I have grown a group of early cool season tomatoes (Subarctic, Early Girl, Oregon Spring, Cougar Red and others I don’t remember ) in tests with hay bale gradens and raised beds. Cougar Red produced more tomatoes than any of the other varieties. This year I have starts of Latah (cool season tomato developed by the University of Idaho). It is supposed to be earlier. Than any of the varieties I tested. I have grown Cougar Red for five years i the garden and it also does well in a greenhouse.

    • It’s funny you should mention Cougar Red. I have grown it in my garden and don’t love it. The tomatoes were tasteless and the plant prone to disease. Oregon Spring on the other hand had tasty tomatoes but here again they didn’t grow well for me. Funny thing is, that there was a truck farmer not to far from here in Deer Park who planted nothing but Oregon Spring. My favorites in early are: Early Wonder, Siletz, Jetsetter and SubArctic Plenty. I saw a reference to Glacier and I have grown those and they are ok and prolific but not super tasty. There are so many variables for growing tomatoes. The weather, the season length, the amendments you use, watering etc. Even my favorites I don’t necessarily love every year. I always try to give iffy ones at least three years because of that.

      • I grew Jetsetter, Siletz and others. I metioned and Cougar Red really outperformed them. I am not so sensitive to taste I guess. I like the sugar plum and red cherries for taste the best, but the kind of go rampant in a greenhouse. You should try Latah (no reports from me but have starts I will try). It is supposed to be the earliest tomato for this area. There are two varieties of Cougar Red and the Fiddler Ridge Nursery sells the correct variety. She sells all of her Courgar Red ever year and keeps increasing her supply. She also sells all the varieties you noted.

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