It is the last day of official summer in my part of the world.

And I still don't have any ripe tomatoes (pout.) There's a
somewhat reasonable quantity of green ones. "Moneymaker" breed,
chosen at random in the spring.

There were problems this season with the weather. Incessant,
obnoxious wind (even worse than usual for this town.) Dark.
Cold. I had to keep them indoors way beyond Labour Weekend (late
October - almost end of spring.) And was still worried for their
health later. I live in a place known for it's sucky weather,
but this season has been infused with a bonus of extra suckage.

Fortunately, the tomatoes have been getting much better sun and
heat lately, and are looking OK.

But, I'm thinking of how to start eating sooner next year.

I am thinking of taking a bit of extra effort to get cherry
tomato seedlings next year. Since they are smaller, do they
mature sooner? Are cherries the answer?

don't know where you are posting from but here in NZ the summer has been
late and tomorrow IS NOT the last official day of summer. That will be the
end of march. It doesn't end until MY tomatos have ripened. Only in the last
month have we had tomato weather, hot and sunny. In fact we have had aboput
3 weeks with no rain after a cool and dampish january. Blight got stuck into
the tomatos in Jan and only in the last 2 odd weeks have I started
harvesting anything. The small yellow bell shaped tomatos are ripening by
the day whilst my grosse lisses, which were planted at the same time, are
still green. The cherries I put in later than the other 2 are just starting
to show any signs of red. If you are anywhere me it has been confirmed by
nearly every home tomato grower that this summer has been shite for tomatos
(apart from my parents who had a crop earlier than mine, *******. Thye grew
already propogated dwarf cherries in grow bags if that is a lesson for you).
I started 3 plants late and have them in pots intending to put them in the
green house during autumn to see how they go. Only prob for me is with the
red cherries coming on I am off overseas for a month and will likely miss
them all.

rob