When I started growing dahlias as an income, about 40 years ago, my grandfather advised me to also grow something to eat so I wouldn't starve.š I now grow about 400 tomato plants every year, usually in staggered crops to make them manageable.
Most tomatoes ripen to their their optimum flavor when the nights are warmish (55+) and the plants are kept on the dry side. Also, tomatoes should not be refrigerated or there will be a degradation of their flavor at a genetic level.
In the last several years the trend in OP (open pollinated) tomatoes has been toward the dwarf varieties (3-4 feet) and, more recently to tomatoes with stripes, anthocyanin expression (purple tomatoes), and plants with ornamental features (chartreuse or variegated leaves).
For my own eating this year I will plant Magnum Beefsteak (red beefsteak) and MNGOS (my own variety, a dark beefsteak).
Tomatoes are like dahlias - there are too many varieties to grow in a lifetime, but it is fun to try!š
