Comments on: Tomatoes for the Desert: Best Varieties for Arizona https://growinginthegarden.com/tomatoes-for-the-desert-best-varieties-for-arizona/ Helping gardeners succeed, even in tough conditions. Fri, 01 Aug 2025 16:57:30 +0000 hourly 1 By: Angela Judd https://growinginthegarden.com/tomatoes-for-the-desert-best-varieties-for-arizona/#comment-8323 Thu, 15 May 2025 17:27:24 +0000 https://growinginthegarden.com/?p=32699#comment-8323 In reply to Pam M.

I’m so sorry that you’re having this problem. Blossom end rot is often a watering issue. This article may help: https://growinginthegarden.com/how-to-identify-prevent-blossom-end-rot/

]]> By: Pam M https://growinginthegarden.com/tomatoes-for-the-desert-best-varieties-for-arizona/#comment-8316 Wed, 14 May 2025 16:55:56 +0000 https://growinginthegarden.com/?p=32699#comment-8316 Hi Angela,
I planted three early girl tomato plants and one Roma tomato plant, they are big and full of tomatoes, but all have blossom end rot? I water when the top of soil is dry at least 3 inches, I’ve mulched and even did a soil test. The test says my calcium is a little above average and the ph. is good. I have used fish emulsion and fertilizer early on and a couple of days ago I added Calcium Nitrate. I have thrown away at least thirty or more tomatoes, I am at a loss. Have you had any issues with this problem in Mesa?
Thank you,

]]> By: Angela Judd https://growinginthegarden.com/tomatoes-for-the-desert-best-varieties-for-arizona/#comment-6837 Tue, 24 Sep 2024 19:35:14 +0000 https://growinginthegarden.com/?p=32699#comment-6837 In reply to Rose Felton.

Definitely grows well here. Thanks for sharing!

]]> By: Rose Felton https://growinginthegarden.com/tomatoes-for-the-desert-best-varieties-for-arizona/#comment-6836 Tue, 24 Sep 2024 13:20:38 +0000 https://growinginthegarden.com/?p=32699#comment-6836 I live in SE Arizona and about 5 years ago I planted Yellow Pear Tomatoes. I have not had to plant them again as volunteers come up all over the place. This year I had one come up next to the house on the north side that never got any water all summer and it is producing more fruit than the ones that are growing in my flower bed and got watered.

]]> By: Angela Judd https://growinginthegarden.com/tomatoes-for-the-desert-best-varieties-for-arizona/#comment-6778 Thu, 19 Sep 2024 22:46:08 +0000 https://growinginthegarden.com/?p=32699#comment-6778 In reply to Roy Bale.

Wow that’s a lot of tomatoes. Great choices, thanks for sharing.

]]> By: Angela Judd https://growinginthegarden.com/tomatoes-for-the-desert-best-varieties-for-arizona/#comment-6777 Thu, 19 Sep 2024 22:45:41 +0000 https://growinginthegarden.com/?p=32699#comment-6777 In reply to Bob Coomler.

Smart. I agree you’ll have more consistent success with shorter days to harvest. Thanks for commenting.

]]> By: Bob Coomler https://growinginthegarden.com/tomatoes-for-the-desert-best-varieties-for-arizona/#comment-6776 Thu, 19 Sep 2024 22:35:29 +0000 https://growinginthegarden.com/?p=32699#comment-6776 Replying from Tucson. I’ve taken the approach of using short season varieties rather than nursing along later maturing ones in the heat. I plant them as early as my conscience allows and hopefully get production before things do get hot. I’m always experimenting, but my go-to varieties are Scotia, Summer Frolic, Fourth of July and, of course, Early Girl if there is room among the plants on trial.

]]> By: Roy Bale https://growinginthegarden.com/tomatoes-for-the-desert-best-varieties-for-arizona/#comment-6774 Thu, 19 Sep 2024 21:36:21 +0000 https://growinginthegarden.com/?p=32699#comment-6774 Kellogs breakfast, black trim, Arkansas traveler and black cherry all do well and taste great in Phoenix. one can grow early girl, better boy and super sweet 100 and have a ton of nice maters. I grew 1000 sweet 100 cherry tomatoes on one plant a few years back, so you can really succeed in Phoenix once you know the ropes

]]> By: Angela Judd https://growinginthegarden.com/tomatoes-for-the-desert-best-varieties-for-arizona/#comment-6769 Thu, 19 Sep 2024 13:52:06 +0000 https://growinginthegarden.com/?p=32699#comment-6769 In reply to Laurie A. Smith.

Thanks for sharing! I’ll have to give those a try. Appreciate it.

]]> By: Laurie A. Smith https://growinginthegarden.com/tomatoes-for-the-desert-best-varieties-for-arizona/#comment-6768 Thu, 19 Sep 2024 13:47:03 +0000 https://growinginthegarden.com/?p=32699#comment-6768 Wickenburg-Prescott, Estiva, and Giant Crimson all performed well for me this year in Zone 8b in the Chihuahuan Desert. W-P, developed in AZ, is very prolific!

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