Ohioguy wrote:
I've decided to use the south facing side of the house to grow tomatoes
this year. There are no trees giving shade, so it gets full sunlight all
day long. In the spring and fall there is a small amount of "heat
island" effect due to the angle of the sun. There are also two
downspouts, and I'm sure I can figure out a way to capture water from
those in some manner, so that I can water them without having to use tapwater.

The area is roughly 25 feet long, and I can install a lattice or fence
of some kind to support climbing plants.

My main focus is something prolific, with a second desire for disease resistance.

I would also like to have some low acid plants, some large
sandwich/beefsteak types, and then something smaller for the kids to
snack on. (like the moby grape my sister grew last year) I might also be
up for a plant or two that is an unusual color or heirloom variety.

I bought loads of "tomato soil" on closeout last fall at Lowe's, and
I'm ready to start working up the soil. I just need to make up my mind
on varieties, order them, and then get the plants started on a windowsill
so that I can get them planted in a couple of months.

One question that I have is this: how close to the foundation/wall
should I place the tomato plants? If I place it within 2' of the wall, I
could potentially plant another entire row of lower growing plants over
by the property line. However, I'm not sure if this would be too close.

Anyway, I'm open to suggestions on varieties this year. I should
probably order within the next 5 days or so.

Two feet from wall should be fine as long as all plants get lots of sun.

A plum tomato like Roma's come in at once, good for sauces and salads.

An early tomato like Early Girls's, a slicing tomato that comes through out
summer.

A globe tomato like Bonnie Best, a medium size all purpose slicing tomato.

A cherry tomato like Cherry 100's, great for salads comes in throughout
summer.

A beef steak a large globe tomato that comes in at once, great taste and
for juice.

Cherry and Early Girls are bush tomatoes and those circular tomato
supports works best for them. The other tomatoes listed are Determinate and
have a main stalk, heavy ladder supports are better for them.

These tomatoes are the most popular. There are many varieties of tomatoes
grown for color, shape and perhaps taste. The larger the tomato the longer
the growing time it needs. For my area the beef steaks sometimes come in
sometimes an early frost gets to them first.

--
Enjoy Life... Nad R (Garden in zone 5a Michigan)