....."Just sittin on that sack of seeds".....

[longwinters]

Keith,
 
I've used both those varieties several years and have had great success. I've never tried Heirlooms because it seems they need longer to grow than our season allows.
 
Long

[keith44]

There are some early and extra early heirloom tomato varities available, but I have not tried them.  One is advertised at 58 days maturity

[bilmac]

I am in zone 4 and grow romas every year. Last year I grew purple prudens. This year I will try Amish paste.My tomato garden is on a south facing slope. I enclosed it in a 4' high solid fence which kind of holds heat in the area. The maters are planted in tires that have the south side exposed to the sun. I have a 3' high cement block wall running along the north side of my rows of plants.

I bought a place that was a terrible junk pile or I probably wouldn't have had the resources to make all these improvements. I have been able to grow 30 plants which produces way beyond our needs. In a more normal situation a person could probably modify the micro climate for 6-10 plants without too much expense.

[chefjeff]

Heirlooms are more finicky for me too,but there are remedies for all maladys(ala Jerry Baker) and the reward is worth it. K44, yeah those seed buzzards are at it bad.Worries me too.I love how they want to sell in" packets" vs. weight.The beauty of those heirlooms is they will come back true,hybrids come back as ...whatever....You can bet your backside:I'm saving plenty of seed.

[longwinters]

bilmac,
 
You are in zone 4......A brother, some one who can relate to me!
 
Long

[bilmac]

Sometimes I envy the southerners who can stick something in the ground and 4 months later come back and pick the fruit, but I don't envy them in August.

[keith44]

August here ain't near as bad as February up thar 

[bilmac]

But you can't go ice fishing.