Contrary to what many gardeners think, unlike other vegetables, tomatoes are a perennial, not an annual.

… Check out these tomato varieties that have a reputation for growing well in desert-like conditions. Growing tomatoes in garden soil is a challenge because tomatoes are simply not well adapted to the low deserts of Arizona. While tomatoes are everyone's favorite, they are also the favorite of nearly every garden pest that exists in Arizona. The larger fruits that are set and growing now on my Beefsteaks and Slicers take longer to ripen. It just seems that hot. The best liquid fertilizer we have ever used is available in a blend specifically designed for tomatoes. Chicken: The Complete Protein Source for Growing Tomatoes In Arizona Heat Cats.. So we need to control the larger growth pattern. If they were, there would be a viable field-grown tomato industry in Arizona. 10: Common Environmental Problems for Growing Tomatoes in Arizona Arizona shows a multi climate condition due to surrounded by deserts and mountains. I will explain more of that in another post. By mid-season tomato plants have been in the ground for a couple of months and are pretty big. Growing Tomatoes In Arizona Heat. They just have a harder time pollinating. It only takes a few days as tomatoes put out flowers in the heat. How to Grow Tomatoes in Phoenix. If they were, there would be a viable field-grown tomato industry in Arizona. The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map only goes to Zone 13. Another option is to take a cue from commercial tomato growers and plant determinate types, whose fruit tends to ripen all within in a short period of time earlier in the growing season—before the serious heat arrives. However, there are some common mistakes that, if they can be avoided, will vastly increase your chances of successfully growing tomatoes in containers. Yep, even inexperienced gardeners can grow tomatoes, and now is the time to get going in Arizona… The right conditions promote vigorous growth for tomato plants. Cage growing is a method that allows the tomato plant to grow in a more natural manner by keeping the leaves and fruit off the ground – it works on the same principle as staking the plants. Strong tomatoes can withstand wind and exposure that’s so common in hot, dry climates. Afternoon shade during the summer will help the tomato plants live through the heat and be able to start producing again in early fall. If you can grow them in containers, the risk of insect infestation and disease is greatly reduced. a) Due to our Arizona heat the corn and okra can provide for shade and the tomatoes will help the corn from being blown over during our monsoon season. If you want to grow tomatoes successfully in the warmer areas of Arizona, look for early varieties that are bred for high heat. Growing tomatoes in garden soil is a challenge because tomatoes are simply not well adapted to the low deserts of Arizona. No, that’s a lie. Arizona is a desert state with hardiness zones ranging from 5b through 11. In warm climates like Phoenix, tomatoes may grow for an entire year or more, and gardeners have two seasons for setting tomatoes: April through May and late August through November. I like Planting sunflowers in Arizona because of the heat to provide shade for my gardens, in order to prevent overheating, sunburn damage to the leaves, and to conserve water evaporation. Growing tomatoes in wire cages is a practice that’s gaining in popularity among gardeners because of the ease of use. Some tomatillo varieties are not self-fruitful and two or three others must be flowering nearby for pollination.