I have a friend trying to grow tomatoes in a desert climate in Afghanistan, and I was wondering how those of you who grow tomatoes in the Southwest go about it--and what your best varieties are for a desert climate.

He tells me the temperature there is 100+ degrees F about 10 months of the year, the cooler weather (70-80 degrees F daytime, 40 degrees F, nighttime) being from December 15 through January 31.

He tried last season to grow tomatoes, and says the heat "cooked" them. I have advised him to take advantage of the cooler weather to get the plants started (he has a greenhouse) and get them in the ground early--also to mulch heavily to conserve moisture and cool the ground, a bit.

I also advised him to build a "shade structure" above the tomatoes--vertical poles with horizontal "slats" above he tomatoes to filter out sun--the horizontal slats providing half-sun, and half-shade.

Does anyone have other suggestions for growing tomatoes in such heat? Can you tell me your best varieties for growing in very hot, dry weather?

Many thanks.

mojo