I know they are winter sown successfully south of the border and in some Canadian pockets but I've tried doing so for two years in a Canadian Zone 6 and can't get them to go red either. For the last two years our month of June has been a write off for growing such things - cold and wet. Creates a shorter season.

Some winter sowers from Massachussetts won't leave it to chance and will indoor sow some tomatoes as well as winter sow others. Maybe you should consider this as well.

I will try again for the third year. This year I bought short season cherry tomatoes. Would be nice if they did make it to the red stage on the vine, eh?

Thanks for your input Tiffy. I think I will go back to my under the lights method this year. The tomatoes I like are heirlooms called ox-heart which I got from a neighbour about 7 years ago and have been saving each year for next year's sowing. They originated in the Ukraine,and I can't get anymore, so I have to produce vine-ripened fruit. This year, there was only one which ripened on the vine and I'm hoping those seeds are viable. The other large one I grow is from a similar source, but I don't know its name, but it's a determinant plant, which takes less space and produces large 'bunches' like grape. I'd best get back to basics.

I had success with tomatoes last year, but I sowed them relatively late (April 23). We had a great tomato crop last year, although I wish I had started them earlier!

Here's what I sowed:

Deutscher Fleiss
Yellow Bell
Riesentraube
Red Pear
Brandywine - both red and yellow
Goldie
Cherokee Purple
Aunt Ruby's German Green
Black Krim
Rutger