Not sure if it was Solar Fire or Solar Set but I did see one of them at HD, I'd call you local big box stores and ask if they have any. I grew then one year, started the beginning of March from seed, set mid-April and had decent production in June but they really didn't have much flavor.

Tom

This summer I'm testing these two Heat/humidity tolerant tomatoes for taste & production.
Creole,
A heirloom developed by Louisiana State University. Excellent for hot, humid climates. Produces approx. 3-inch round and firm, red fruit with good acid and strong flavor. 78 days

Manalucie,
Perfect for the heat of the South. Most tomato varieties will not set fruit when the temperature goes over 90 degrees. The blossoms just fall off. But not so with Manalucie. Heavily foliaged plants produce large red deep globe shaped fruits.
Indeterminate 82 days Developed by the University of Florida

The 'Phoenix' tomato passed my taste test for last year and was a decent producer but was a determinate variety. (good for pots) But doncha know I can't find the seeds this year.

Lou

Lou, up there you should be able to grow cherries at least through July, right? You're a good 15 degrees cooler at night than I am....

Manalucie sounds interesting, I'm like you, I don't care much for determinates.

Tom

Tom,
The cherry tomatoes usually produce all summer long here, the regular tomatoes fail from diseases brought about by the humidity and downpour summer rains. Somehow the cherry toms are less affected, probably because they have less dense vines and dry off quicker, although my sweet 100's caught the blight last year and died off. Seems no two years are ever the same in Florida and it's hard to make valid determinations. The only fact that ever remains true in Florida is the more birthdays you have the older you will get.

Lou

Hi timetraveler

I tried almost all the heat resistant varieties at one time or another even in the Phoenix heat and I found out that were no better than the other ones, they were affected the same way and did not have a good flavor.
In over a 100 degree days and with shadecloth I grew the currant varieties like the Everglades, the one I grew was the Hawaiian and the problem is the small size are not great for a meal, snacking yes.
I even forgot about it that I also grew a variety that is like a small beefstake cherry called Ceylon, very tomato taste, had a lot of seeds and because it was on the acidic side did not grow it again. Very prolific! I think I will try it again to see if it takes the humidity.
I tried the Creole variety last spring and I don't think it likes the humidity here. Somebody from Louisiana told me they like their soil?
If you get experienced on growing tomatoes, you will find out that a lot of them do good here, it all depends on what you like. In my family the black varieties are preferred by one person and the fruity by the other. Me, I like different varieties and that can be a lot of options.

{{gwi:22348}}

Silvia

Sylvia,
I have to agree, everybody's taste is different, and the taste is also different on where the tomato is used in your cooking or salads. I also find the taste of a tomato will vary year to year depending the growing conditions. Some tomatoes end up good for cooking, some good for salads, and some are good only for tossing at your least favorite political candidate.

Lou

I used to grow Better Boy in my organic garden (clay soil) in Virginia. The plants got so big and produced so much fruit that I had to build them cages out of concrete reinforcing wire. I haven't eaten a good salad tomato since I moved to Florida.

Hey Timetraveler...nice to meetcha!
I have tried many 'heat/Florida' tolerant tomatoes to only find I can maybe grow a 1/2 way decent mid to large tomato only for it to have no taste or get bug/blight/infested and then taste very bland with mealy texture...still I keep trying! I have tried Solar Set, Florida 91, Homestead and others and the fruit I got was BLAH. Still everyones taste is different but mainly I prefer the mid-size and cherry so far. My favs are black cherry(the only black i like and the seeds came from my friend Barb) Husky Cherry, Galina, Dr. Caroline, Green Zebra, Sweet 100s, Yellow Pear, THESE make my taste buds go Ahhhh I am trying some new and old this year also, just to keep it interesting. Here's a look at last years favorites...
{{gwi:798722}}From 2010-11 Home & Garden

I do not mean to discourage you in any way. I have learned by doing and am still learning, failing and succeeding. A lot depends on God, mother Nature, bugs, and my ability to get out and care for my plants. Good luck and please let us know how you do.

Lou, you are always very funny! let's see what kind of luck we have this time, I am all ready for tomato growing season! Still have frozen tomato sauce, you should come over for dinner one day...

Timetraveler, if you are a Better Boy tomato person, you should try that again, just this time forget about the clay soil, we have to grow them in pots. Clay soils are rich, the pots will give them some inferior taste but still good and much better than the supermarket. Tom is very successful growing some hybrids like Beefmaster and others. Don't worry about getting the heat tolerant varieties, it is not going to make any difference. We will keep notes on our tomato growing season.

Cindee, nice tomato picture!

Silvia

If you want a great tasting tomato here in Florida I do recommend Beefmaster, but none really starting during the summer, that's our off season and only few cherries will set good if your night temps are not too high (above 75F).

Tom

Sorry to hear that, since I'm only in Florida mid-March through November. I live in Colorado the rest of the time, and of course nothing grows there in winter.

cindeea wrote: "My favs are black cherry(the only black i like and the seeds came from my friend Barb) Husky Cherry, Galina, Dr. Caroline, Green Zebra, Sweet 100s, Yellow Pear, THESE make my taste buds go Ahhhh"

Which one(s) in this list make your "taste buds go Ahhh"? I only have room for one or two.
How did it (they)do in the heat? You're further south than I am, but since I won't be able to get anything planted until March or April, heat will quickly become an issue. My summer night temps are definitely above 75 degrees.

Sorry to hear that, since I'm only in Florida mid-March through November. I live in Colorado the rest of the time, and of course nothing grows there in winter.

I figured that was the case. Bite the bullet when you get here and immediately find the most mature Beefmaster you can, at least a foot tall, and pay whatever it cost...you won't be sorry.

Cindee, didn't Denise get the Dr. Carolyns to produce all summer one year, even down there where you are? Or was it Black Cherry?

Tom

Silvia, thanks on the Photo. Coming from you and your fab "FoodMagazine" photo journalismesque...I am flattered!!

TimeTrav, Yellow Pear is a workhorse! It can grow very tall, gangly and put out a bucketload of fruit up until mid summer for me. Just keep it watered and any blight pruned. A lot of folks give them a "ho hum" but I find them very tasty whether puccked while in the garden or in salads. Black cherry never appealed to me, then I grew my friends seeds in late day sun and they are sweet and crisp. As summer wears on I pick the fruits on all my tomatoes when just 1/2 ripe and let them all sit in the fish bowl and strainers on the window counter to finish ripening. I cull them daily to pull anything looking to go south so they don't wilt the others. Green Zebra is a real flavor surprise for me. It does not do well into the extreme heat, but it is a small size and has the most wonderful sweet/tart taste. I love it. Husky Cherry is also a real workhorse a staple for me and you can get plants at HD and Lowes. Look for very healthy, bugless plants. I completely change out their soil when I get them home and feed them good first planted. Good firm larger cherry with reliable taste.

Tom, RIGHT about Dr. Carolyn. Denise actually was the first to turn me on the them and to yellow pear. I also like the original Galina Cherries too.

Traveler, if you get enough variety of small fruited colors and flavors, you will learn to love em as well as the larger ones. If you would like to have some seeds, I will be happy to share...go to my page for my email addy and send me a note.

And I second what Cindee said about Husky Cherry Red, it's an indeterminate that only grows to 4-5 feet and puts out LOADS of wonderful tasting maters.... How cool/hot are you at night during the summer? Try the Beefmaster until it gets hot, then transition to cherries, that's about the best advice I can give you without knowing more about your specific microclimate.

Tom

cindeea wrote, "Traveler, if you get enough variety of small fruited colors and flavors, you will learn to love em as well as the larger ones. If you would like to have some seeds, I will be happy to share...go to my page for my email addy and send me a note."

Thank you, I'd love some. I'll email you before I head home.

* Posted by tomncath,
"How cool/hot are you at night during the summer? Try the Beefmaster until it gets hot, then transition to cherries, that's about the best advice I can give you without knowing more about your specific microclimate."

Sounds like a plan! I don't have a high/low thermometer and so can't tell you exact night-time temps, but in general we're a few degrees cooler than Orlando in summer and a few degrees warmer in winter. Also windier, saltier, sandier and probably more alkaline.

Now that I've written this, I notice that you live in St. Pete. I don't know how to compare my climate with yours. I hope you're familiar with Orlando.

...we're a few degrees cooler than Orlando in summer and a few degrees warmer in winter. Also windier, saltier, sandier and probably more alkaline.

I'm right on a bayou to Tampa bay so the salt I'm used to, but my microclimate is much warmer than yours if your cooler at night than Orlando during the summer, that means you should be able to grow cherries through the summer, and probably the larger maters at least through June, but folks over there will be able to tell you for sure...I'm done with anything other than the currants by the end of May.

Tom

I'm in the same area as Tom... I'm a newbie gardener and had very bad luck last fall because of the constant rain in September. But this spring is much better... and my fav tomato so far is the Manalucie. The plant is beautiful, whereas Early Girl and Early Treat look awful due to wilt. And the huge Manalucie tomatoes are delicious. I've tried nearly a dozen varieties so far: Cherokee, Better Boy, Bloody Butcher (what a name!), Early Girl, Early
Treat, Sweet 100, Patio Princess, Manalucie, Sungold cherry tomatoes and one or two others. I'm going to try Heatmaster as well. It has good reviews.

I purchased a supposedly "heat loving" variety at HD by Bonnie's called 'summer set'...its still fairly small and I'm hoping it will make it and actually set fruits...I've had very bad luck this past season with ones I planted in the fall/winter :o(

I've done Everglades tomatoes. They are currant sized tomatoes. They do well in the heat and require little attention. I had one that literally looked like a hedge it was so big. I harvested a couple times a week and the tomatoes were absolutely delicious. I like them because they are small. Great for omelettes, sauces/salsa, or a snack. Give it a try. You can find the seeds on eBay. I'm no pro gardener and I had success.

I haven't had a room to plant any of the varieties that you all recommended because I only have a tiny garden and for the past two years volunteers have been growing there. It started with the seeds of a delicious but unknown cherry tomato variety given to me by a local grower. It must have been a hybrid because the one I grew tasted terrible. I pulled it out, but only after some fruit had fallen. The following spring there were several new plants. I pulled out the ones whose fruit didn't taste good and ever since I've had plants that seem well adapted to my growing conditions and produce good cherry tomatoes well into June. The volunteers have stopped producing now, but are still healthy looking.

Gator99, What time of the year do your Everglades tomatoes produce?

I have one that is producing right now, but not very well due to me being gone a lot and not tending to it as I should. You can buy seeds on eBay. I've planted them direct with success. I've found them to be generally tolerant of the problems with other tomatoes (blight, blossom end rot, and pests). Give 'em a try.

How many Everglade Tomato plants would I need for two people? I bought some seeds and planted six of them. If they all germinate, I have to decide how many to plant in my very small garden. I have room for 4 at most.

Sadly my volunteer plant that produced dozens of delicious tomatoes died. The one that didn't die produced a few bland tasting fruits. So I pulled them all out and I'm going to try to Everglades. We'll be away for several months this winter. How to I keep my new Everglades plants from being over-run and cross-pollinated by the volunteers that will surely come up while we're gone?

In my opinion, it's always good to plant a couple of anything. I've had Everglades vary from being incredibly prolific to being incredibly lame. There was some user error in that, too.