Tropical tomato advice needed

Hi folks:

I just recently got back from Kenya and lived in the country with the Maasai part of the time.

With the drought, nutrition is poor(er), food more expensive.

One of the projects I started was container gardening for veggies, using the grey water from washing dishes, clothes etc for watering. All water has to be hauled by the women quite a distance, so it's at a premium.

There seems to be only one type of tomato grown in all of Kenya, and while it may have some nutritional value, it has absolutely NO taste.

I'm hoping some one who lives with similar growing conditions, or is just an all-round tomato guru can give me some alternative types that I can mail them to try. The soil is sandy - and will probably be liberally mixed with animal manure. The nights are cool or cold, while the days are warm, hot and hotter.

ANY advice most appreciated!
~marilyn

I know our climate isn't even close, but in winter we grow one called Oregon Spring from Territorial. It handles the cold nights and warm days really well so far. It is a determinate type, fruits are medium size and taste really good. Our nights are 40's to 50's and days can get into 80's in winter here if that helps. We had 29* for 7 hours and it did not drop it's tomatoes. (we did run sprinklers and everything was covered with ice to protect).
One that was bred to handle extremes of the Rio Grande Valley is "Valley Girl" tomato. I don't know where to buy the seeds, I've only bought plants. It tastes good but is not a "tough" plant in my opinion.

Marilyn - do you know the Zone?

Hi Calalily:

I'm going to keep that Oregon Spring in mind and see if I can find a few seeds to send for them to try out. Thank you.

And Hi HoneyBeeNC:

I don't know what zone it is, and tried everywhere I knew to find out, but no luck. Maybe they don't have Africa zoned?

Thanks to both . . .
~marilyn

marilyn - I found this map for hardiness zones for Africa... Maybe this will help?

http://www.backyardgardener.com/zone/africa.html

Looks like most of the continent is pretty warm based on average lowest winter temp. There are some areas that get cold but very very few. The zones go higher than the USDA zones we are used to seeing, but gives temp references for the zones. Hopefully you can figure out the general area you are talking about from this map.

Here is a map of Agro-Ecological Zones (AEZ) for Kenya... Interesting...

http://www.fas.usda.gov/pecad/highlights/2004/12/kenya/images/AEZ_production_system.htm

Hope this helps...

Kelly

I know I would be more than willing to send you any of my extra seeds...I only take one or two seeds per pack. I know with water at a premium, you dont want to waste it on things that wont produce, but at least they would have different kinds to test and pick one that might work.
Mexico is the only one that comes to mind right now, altho I but the heat loving varieties down here.

You may want to try Baker Creek Seed Co. www.rareseeds.com. This company gets seeds from Africa and does alot of work with "third world" countries. If anybody would have suggestions they would.
Lisa

Wow, what great ideas and help.

Looking at the map that locakelly left, it would seem that the zone is 11 or 12. It's so hard with some countries, since the elevation can change drastically every few miles and give you a completely different microclimate.

And that seed company that lisa mentioned may have some ideas.

Thanks so much, everyone, and hope you all had a wonderful time with whatever holidays you celebrate.