Growing tomato's here is a bit different than in other areas of the country due to the sun intensity and heat. Plant tomato's as early as possible but you must also watch over early "starts" due to the cold weather than can still arrive in Feb & sometimes early March. They need protection from evening temps. Star has tomato protection from cold weather. Tomato's will grow, should flower and produce fruit all Spring long especially if any of the many cherry or patio tomato's are grown, also medium size tomato's such as Celebrity or Early Girl are easier to bring to maturity. Beef Steaks, large tomato's are not nearly as easy. When the temps go above 90* the tomato's will no longer set blossoms, therefore not tomato's. If left in the intense summer sun, the plants will often dry up and die. Many people have better luck growing their vegetables under shade cloth here through the summer and get good results. Also tomato's can be planted in containers, once over 90*, cut the tomato's back by half, place them in the shade, continue to water and bring them out again at the end of Sept. into the sun. The plants will begin flowering and developing tomato's. You may have tomato's (though green) up to Nov or Dec. Watch for frost temps. and pick any tomato's left on the plants, place them in paper bags to ripen.

If you feel that you are not getting good pollination, you can take a small stick and shake the plants a bit. You should be able to see pollen being released so that you can be assured your plants are getting the necessary pollination. Of course good fertilization every 6 weeks is advisable whether regular or organic.

Growing tomato's here is a bit different than in other areas of the country due to the sun intensity and heat. Plant tomato's as early as possible but you must also watch over early "starts" due to the cold weather than can still arrive in Feb & sometimes early March. They need protection from evening temps. Star has tomato protection from cold weather. Tomato's will grow, should flower and produce fruit all Spring long especially if any of the many cherry or patio tomato's are grown, also medium size tomato's such as Celebrity or Early Girl are easier to bring to maturity. Beef Steaks, large tomato's are not nearly as easy. When the temps go above 90* the tomato's will no longer set blossoms, therefore not tomato's. If left in the intense summer sun, the plants will often dry up and die. Many people have better luck growing their vegetables under shade cloth here through the summer and get good results. Also tomato's can be planted in containers, once over 90*, cut the tomato's back by half, place them in the shade, continue to water and bring them out again at the end of Sept. into the sun. The plants will begin flowering and developing tomato's. You may have tomato's (though green) up to Nov or Dec. Watch for frost temps. and pick any tomato's left on the plants, place them in paper bags to ripen.

If you feel that you are not getting good pollination, you can take a small stick and shake the plants a bit. You should be able to see pollen being released so that you can be assured your plants are getting the necessary pollination. Of course good fertilization every 6 weeks is advisable whether regular or organic.

Also meant to add that you can buy diatamaceous earth (crushed crustacean) bodies available at Star, can be sprinkled on the soil surface. As bugs walk over this earth, they cut open their bodies on the shells and die. This works for crawling bugs. You can still end up with loopers (small green worms) look for small black droppings on leaves, tomato worms ( BIG green horned) pull these guys off and drop them in a bucket of soapy water to kill them, look for white flies, try insecticidal soap on them and spray well under the leaves. You can always bring samples of any of your plants or questions to Star at their information booth. They have really knowledgeable people.

I've been growing tomatoes here for over 5 years and the one trick that works for me every single year and plant. Every day after the flowers start to bloom I touch each flower. Early girls have been the best for me. If we don't have bees to pollinate the flowers you won't get fruit. So just touch each precious flower back and forth, takes less then 5 seconds and you will have a fabulous crop of delicious tomatoes. Just pick the type of plant that will work best for all the sun you get.

I think pollination is the biggest problem as I think sandig alluded too. I too am in 89123, nearer to Warm Springs than SR. I like Early Girl and Better Boy; have had hits and misses with some heirlooms. Cherries usually do pretty well but not my favourite fruit. I have lots of sage plants in my yard, and some myrtles, which attract the bees (and hummingbirds) and help in pollination. You can facilitate pollination by taking q-tips, rounding them off a bit, and then swabbing from one plant to the next. Or, you can shake them up a bit😁

Anybody check out tomato lady Las Vegas? I followed her advice and have more success.

I have found Florida tomatoes grow the best for me. They seem to tolerate the las vegad heat and sun