Oh No, Popular Tomato That Thrives in St. George is Going Away for Good

If you enjoy gardening and live in the St. George area, you know that it can be a tricky business. The heat that hits at the end of May can wreak havoc on your plants, and it is important to get ones that are made to survive the conditions. 

Bad News for the Phoenix Tomato: A Heat-Resistant Favorite

The Phoenix was bred for high heat and produces big, delicious tomatoes that are also disease resistant. People in Washington County have found success planting this variety. The bad news is that the Phoenix tomato is going away. 

Sandia Greenhouse in Washington has been producing all kinds of plants that thrive in Southern Utah. Because they grow here in Washington County, they tend to do better than plants that are shipped from different climates and elevations.  

Read More: Here’s Why People Plant Forks in their Garden Beds in Utah

They have been selling Phoenix tomatoes for several years. Unfortunately, the supplier is no longer providing Phoenix tomato seeds. I talked to Larry Hancock, who owns Sandia, and he said this is probably the last year they will have the popular variety. 

Exploring New Varieties: The Flavorful Red Morning Tomato

If you want some, you had better head there soon. I picked up some of the remaining Phoenix variety for my garden recently and discussed some of the other tomatoes that are good for Southern Utah.  

One of these is the Red Morning tomato that tastes as good as it sounds. This is a large, high yielding tomato that matures early and has a deep red inside that is super flavorful. I planted some and we’ll see how they compare to the Phoenix.