fast growing tomato

[Norma J. Briggs]

Is there a breed of tomato that germinates (if I got the seeds started within the week) and would produce by the second week of May? I live in zone

9, just south of Houston, so it is rather warm most of the year.

I ask this because I run a small "service learning" project for kids in a disciplinary alternative school, and we have just been given a small raised garden(10 by 6) to use.

Amazing that these otherwise hostile kids are excited about "planting stuff." I really want them to plant something they can taste, so they can make the personal connection. School gets out the 3rd week of May. Ideas are greatly appreciated!

Thanks

Norma

[Bill Bolle]

You have plenty of time in zone 9 with just about any of the "cherry" tomatoes. They grow fast, put out a lot of fruit, ripen quickly, are generally disease free and kids love these small sweet fruits. They will be indeterminant varieties so you will have to provide support for them, a stake driven into the ground will do. Bill

[Bill]

Might try Stupice.

Bill

[Pat Kiewicz]

My fastest-to-ripe-fruit varieties are '4th of July' and 'Stupice' (small slicers) and 'SunGold' or 'SunSugar' (orange cherry).

I think the kcherry tomatoes would have more of a WOW! factor.

[Norma J. Briggs]