East, however, I live in the far northeast part of zone 8, the Hampton Roads area. I have not given up on store bought transfers, but some of the ones I've purchased haven't fared well so far.

I agree you are going to have some timing issues and that alone will reduce your yields due to poor fruit set because of heat and humidity. But even under ideal timing circumstances it is still impossible to predict yield for any specific variety because there are so many other variables. Yields of the same variety grown in even neighboring gardens can differ widely. :)

Are you growing in containers or in the ground? If in containers, what size? In a new in ground bed or a well established one? Do you plan to use fungicides for your plants? The common tomato fungus diseases are quite prevalent in your area due to the high humidity. What fertilizers/nutrient sources will you be using? How do you plan to provide water? Do you plan to prune your plants heavily or not at all? What sort of supports for the plants do you use?

All of these factors affect production so while Big Beef and Celebrity are usually considered above average producers there is no guarantee. Red Brandywine is not noted for good production, Roma is well known for BER production losses, Goliath and Matt's are average. No knowledge of Old Virginia.

Dave

"I live in the far northeast part of zone 8, the Hampton Roads area. I have not given up on store bought transfers, but some of the ones I've purchased haven't fared well so far."

I suspect that your soil is still a bit too cool for the tomato plants to thrive. I live 100 miles west of your location and it's too cool here, but the long range forecast looks to be warmisher so we both should be ok soon enough. Your plants will wake up and take off before too long esp when the nite temps remain above 50F.

Not familiar with "Old Va" either. If you can find a Cherokee Purple you may be delighted with those too, it's my fav.

Im not a big fan of any of those and I dont grow for yield alone, but if I was growing for yield, my main strategy would be to warm the soil for three weeks with black plastic before planting, and I'd also amend the soil with mushroom soil/compost. Also would use a lot of fish fertilizer.

Red Brandywine - I got poor yields. I planted 5 plants and got one tomato. Not worth the time and effort in my opinion, but lots of people like it.

I've never grown Old Virginia or Goliath.

Celebrity, Big Beef and Romas have always given me good yields. Some people don't like Big Beef or Celebrity becuaes they taste like a "grocery store" tomato. I think they're fine tomatoes.

Matt's Wild Cherry gives crazy yields! It's my favorite to grow. Have a plan for when they start coming in. They don't keep well. They do have amazing big tomato taste in a tiny dime size fruit.

All plants were planted in the ground.

Thanks for all the responses! I'll give some more growing info:

- I'm planting in a 4x4 raised bed, one that I've been growing in for 3 years.

- However, I'm going to plant some of the tomatoes in large pots, don't know the size in gallons, but each are somewhere around a foot and a half wide at the top. In the pots, I'm using very fertile potting soil, pots hold in moisture pretty well

- Soil stays pretty moist, lots of organic matter in the soil

- The nightly temps. average somewhere around 52-53 right now

- Location of the raised bed is pretty good, is shaded some, plants get enough sun but not too much

- I prune indeterminate varieties pretty occasionally

- Watering with a hose

- Big beef, brandywine, and goliath are transplants, rest I'm starting from seed

- Seed brands are Lake Valley Seed and Southern Exposure