Howard Garrett                                                                                              DMN: 03.24.10

Q:  What is your favorite tomato variety for north Texas?  P.O. Dallas

A:  My favorite is superFantastic but there are many good ones. You might want to take a look at the variety recommendations in my book Texas Organic Vegetable Gardening. But here is an overview of the ones that will give the best production, also some information on bed preparation for best results.

HYBRIDS

            Celebrity                     M        D         70

            SuperFantastic           M        I           70

            Big Boy                      L         I           78                   

            Better Boy                  L          I           72

            Beef Steak                  L          I           85

            Supersonic                  M        I           80

            Piccolo                        S          I           78

            Juliet                           S          I           60

            Big Beef                      L          I           75

HEIRLOOMS

            Giant Belgium            L          I           85

            Cherokee Purple         L          I           85

            Green Zebra                M        D         75

            Risentraube                 S          I           80

            Wild Current              S          I           75

            White Current             S          I           75

            Yellow Pear                S          I           78

            Violet Jasper               S          I           80

            Topaz                          S          I           ?

            Giant German             L          I           85

Strawberry

In Soil Planting Bed Preparation. Into the existing soil mix the following:

·       Compost 4”

·       Expanded shale 1”

·       Decomposed granite 1”

·       Dry molasses

·       Lava sand 80 lbs/1000 sq ft

·       Zeolite 80 lbs/1000 sq ft

·       Greensand 40 lbs/1000 sq ft

·       Alfalfa meal at 20 lbs per 1000 sq ft.

Potting Soil for Containers

·       40% Composted dairy manure

·       25% Coconut coir

·       20% Fine ground native tree mulch

·       10% Expanded shale

·       5% Soft rock phosphate