Question #1
Here in Baltimore MD, I've tried Burpee's Supersteak, Good 'n' Early
Hybrid, Basket King, and Homestead. The largest tomato I've grown was a
Supersteak, with a radius of about 8" (I didn't weigh it but it had to be
over 2 lbs.), but I only got one of those whoppers in 4 years. My favorite
is Basket King, which I grow in the garden rather than in the recommended
hanging basket for which it was bred. I like it because it's so goof-proof.
Last year I had the earliest tomatoes in the neighborhood, around June
20th, but all my plants were spent by the time my neighbors got their
tomatoes….except my trusty Basket Kings. I also get a lot of volunteer
"no-name" tomatoes because I tend to get lazy when the weather gets cold,
and let the green ones drop and "compost".