What types of tomatoes are best to grow in northern Michigan?
by
Ann
+3
The growing season is much shorter than down state. Plants cannot be put outside until mid June and first snow fall can be at the end of September.
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Brandywine is a yummy one!
If you like cherry tomatoes, you can't beat Sweet 100. Very prolific all season.
http://www.ahealthiermichigan.org/2015/08/06/michigan-tomatoes-varieties-to-taste/
A few Michigan varieties of heirloom tomatoes are known as Brandywine, Cherokee Purple, Oxheart, Rutgers and Amish paste, Can you be more specific of your area? there are several zones. I have lived in upper, Detroit, battle creek, Harrison, and pawpaw.
It depends on what you're wanting them for - eating or canning. For canning you need a paste tomato - Roma comes to mind first. Big Mama is a popular one too. They have about a 2 to 2/12 month grow time. For eating what I've found is there are some varieties made for the short growing seasons: Siberia, Legend, Peron and Oregon Springs seems to be really good. As always, use the plants instead of seeds (unless you start your own seedlings) as your growing time is precious. Good luck with these - tomatoes are one of my favorite foods (love them sliced by themselves, on a mayonnaise sandwich, on a bacon and egg sandwich, as a side to fried potatoes, with some cottage cheese - my mouth waters thinking of tasty home-grown ones!).
The seeds sold at your local garden store are selected for the zone you live in. If you're concerned, check out the back of the package, it should tell you the zones the seeds are best for. Get a jump on it by starting the seeds on doors a few weeks before putting them out.