Hi Bea

In my zone 9b once the summer heat starts, I clean the tomato garden and always start with new tomatoes for the fall planting, mine are in containers. In summer the tomatoes won't set when night temperatures are high and by then bugs and disease are a problem too.

Silvia

Agreeing w/ Silvia on the temperature thing - I'm further south & near the water. Plants may be growing & blooming, but once the night temp.s get to 80F, they just won't set any fruit.

The only exception I can think of is Matt's Wild cherry - haven't grown it in awhile(too seedy), but I recall the plants never seemed to quit fruiting.

Agree. Any tomato that I have luck with this close to our normal heat and rains, is cherry tomatoes. Beefsteaks do squat down here in heat. I start Beefsteak seeds in September, and cherry 'maters in January or February.