For a lot of us in Western PA, this was not a great year for tomatoes. But, as with anything else, I'm sure that some did better than others.

I'm curious of those who live in this area might mind posting what all they grew, what did well, what didn't. And, if possible, how it compared to previous years if you've grown it before?

This year, I grew everything from seed and everything in raised beds. All were grown for the first time as previously I just bought plants from the box stores.

I grew 4th of July, Cherokee Purple, Mortgage Lifter, Super Sioux, Bush Steak, Bush Ace (heirloom), Better Bush (I think that was it) and Roma Grande.

Of all of those, the ones that did the best were the 4th of July and Roma Grande. The 4th of July started to ripen toward the end of July and produced into September. The Roma Grande started to ripen a few weeks later and continued to late September. Both produced heavily.

The Cherokee Purple didn't do too badly. I don't typically expect heavy production off of heirlooms like that. So, I wasn't disappointed, I guess. Nothing ripened on those until late August. Managed to get a few off of each up through the beginning of October, though they needed to finishing ripening indoors at that point.

Mortgage lifter (don't know which one) and Super Sioux did terribly. As did most of the bush tomatoes. Except for the better bush, which did decent, I guess. Not nearly as well as I'd hoped, though.

Next year, I will grow the 4th of July, Roma Grande and Cherokee Purple again. I don't see myself growing any of the others and will probably opt for more varieties that produce earlier.

I'd like to try some that are more cold tolerant, but am not sure how some of them do if we start returning to the hotter summers.

Also, on a related note, the Roma Grande seed is from Burpee. I haven't found it from any other company and it's not even listed on their website. I saw a brief discussion about it on here from a while back speculating that the Roma Grande and Rio Grande are the same tomato. Does anybody know if that's true?

I've been talking with a local grower that I bought some ghost pepper plants from. He sells and grows a large variety of tomato and pepper plants. I bought some tomatoes for canning from him in September and he said that once he has a chance to go through his notes, it will allow him to start planning for next season and he'll let me know what he had that did well and what didn't.

Right now, my plan is to focus a little bit more on early season tomatoes as well as some cool climate varieties. Hoping to find a couple that do well in cooler areas but don't mind a little heat if the weather next summer manages to reverse itself.

If you want any tomato to harvest before August you just need to plant earlier. I planted most of my tomatoes in high tunnels by late March and was harvesting by late May. I'm still picking although the majority of fruits I've picked lately are for the green tomato market. I'll likely pick for 2 more weeks and then call it quits.

Didn't grow 4th of July this year but it was always one of the first (and last) to pick. That size tomato is just not a great seller for me. I'd probably like to try it again next year and mix fruits in with the BumbleBee series from Johnny's Seeds. I believe it would help to show those better in a display.

Since you commented on Ghost peppers I will comment that they did not do well this year for me and from comments of a few people who bought plants from me they were not doing well for others. Larger fruited hot peppers and sweet peppers did well though. I'm still picking (from under fabric) and sales are going well.

I guess in summary I'll admit that this was a cooler and wetter year than normal but I have little to complain about. I believe I'll aim to have another high tunnel in operation by next spring and possibly plant a few more heirloom varieties that don't have the typical hybrid appearance (Mortgage lifter just looks like another red tomato).

I have been contemplating high tunnels for next season to get an earlier jump on things. Considering that we had nights as late as July that were in the low 50s, though, I'm not sure if it would have mattered this year or not.

Other than my jalapeno and Thai, most of my hot peppers did really well this year. Habs came on late but ended up producing well. As did my banana peppers. Cayenne's did outstanding. AS did a hot lemon pepper that I was given. Ended up with over a half peck of those little things from one single plant.

I did two varieties of bell peppers. Neither did well. The cold nights were just terrible for them, I think.

I started my tomatoes from seed at the end of March and had a very good growing year.

I would definitely suggest that you try some early varieties like Bloody Butcher, Stupice or Matina.

I LOVE Cherokee Purple but I read on the forums that Indian Stripe is just as good, but more productive, so I tried growing it this year and it is my new favourite!

Other good ones were Anna Russian, a pink heart, Eva Purple Ball, a pink, and Black Early.

Linda

Never hurts to get a good variety of opinions and info.

labradors,
I grew Cherokee Purples this year. Production was so-so and they were a little small, but the taste was excellent. The greenhouse/farm I mentioned above grew them and they did well for them.

I've read a little about the Indian Stripes. I might give those a try next year.

Bloody Butcher and anna Russians are actually both on my short list for ones to add next year. Was considering the Matina as well. The others you mentioned, I've heard of but haven't looked into them. Will definitely do that.