Grow a Beautiful Basketful of Heirloom Tomatoes In Your Garden

These heirloom tomatoes were picked during the summer from some of the 140 varieties of tomato plants in our home garden. 

They include: Aunt Gertie's Gold, Black Zebra, Jaune Flammé, Paul Robeson, Opalka, Green Zebra, Hillbilly, Black Plum, Black Zebra, Sun Gold, Green Grape, Purple Russian, Tangella, Azoychka, Costoluto Genovese, Anna Russian, Marianna's Peace, Caspian Pink, Brandywine OTV, Kellogg's Breakfast, Julia Child, and Eva Purple Ball.

Two of the Black Zebras we put in the display were mysteriously eaten before this shot was taken.

These wonderful heirlooms are as easy to grow as the common hybrid varieties and need no special care other than healthy soil, clean garden practices and sturdy support. Many of these plants get really big and when fruit starts to set, the vines get heavy.

There are about 3,000 varieties of heirloom or heritage tomatoes now in cultivation worldwide and more than 10,000 known varieties. 

We have narrowed it down to 150 for you in The Big List, below. Each carefully selected variety has been taste-tested by Laurel. 

Plants for shipping to gardeners in Florida, Texas, Arizona, The Gulf Coast and other warm-winter climates are available year round. 

Our plants make welcome gifts for your favorite gardener, from novice to expert. Information and photographs of our gift certificates are at the bottom of this page.

 

      

Please Join Us for Carmel TomatoFest this year! Sunday, September 14th at Quail Lodge Resort.

DETAILS... Click here to view videos from past TomatoFest events. At the end of the 2006 video you'll catch a glimpse of Laurel, Gary & Dagma along with Miss Hot Tomato and the Heirloom Tomato All Stars dancing to 'Mustang Sally' with pure tomato abandon. A great family event, children under 12 get in free! Get free plants! Laurel will be near the bandstand from 2:30 to 3:00. If you find Laurel at TomatoFest, introduce yourself! You will receive a certificate for some free plants for next season and have fun talking about tomatoes!    Warning: Watching the videos may induce a kitchen raid.

 

About Our Plants

All of our plants are grown organically and shipped in their large, individual 3½" wide x 4" deep pots, in top-quality organic potting mix, healthy, lush and full-sized, from about 6" to 20" tall, hardened off and ready to plant out. They are shipped when they have strong stems and fully-developed root systems. 

A detailed 5-page step by step planting and growing guide, including container growing tips is included with your order.

All seeds are started by Laurel personally from fresh organically grown TomatoFest® seeds and your seedlings are tended carefully by nursery experts throughout their growth period. 

Laurel holding a Paul Robeson plant, ready to package and ship. Photo By Gary Ibsen

Each plant comes to you individually packaged and carefully protected in a sturdy container, with a permanent name label for your garden. Our unique custom packaging technique, designed by Laurel, protects your plants from shifting or movement in transit, assuring safe arrival from here in Los Angeles to your door.

Your heirloom tomato plants will have several different types of foliage; some very wispy, fern-like, and delicate like Anna Russian, Sunset's Red Horizon and Bull's Heart, some thick and hearty like Blue Ridge Mountain, Earl's Faux, Boondocks, Stupice and Aunt Gertie's Gold, and everywhere in-between, in varying shades of green. Some plants can reach 7 to 8 feet, even up to 15 feet or taller, some are small and compact. These are their natural and extraordinary genetic traits which were familiar and beloved to generations of our parents, grandparents, great-grandparents and beyond.

 

About Feedback:

If you are happy with your plants when they arrive and can take a moment, please leave feedback at The Garden Watchdog  We would really appreciate it!

If for any reason you are not completely happy with your order, please call or email us right away and we will do whatever it takes to make you happy!  

Laurel

 

 

 

 

Here's How To Order

 

Our new crop will be ready for shipping approximately September 20th and throughout the entire year!

 

See the Fall List below.

 

To Order By Telephone

Click on the 'Our Tomato Varieties and How to Order' link below in the Site Map, make a list of the plants you need.

Go to the Growing Tips & Garden Products link below to choose your fertilizers and garden products.

Choose your 14 day shipping window beginning on Monday of the week you want us to ship, and call us, please note that call volume is extremely heavy during April and May so please keep calling until you get through.   

Telephone: (310) 534-8611    Hablamos Español.

FAX #  (310) 602-6338  Fax line is secure for credit card orders.

To Order By Email or FAX

 

Emailed orders will take 2 to 3 days to answer.

 

Make a list of your plants alphabetically, along with fertilizers, books, etc. and:

 

Your name

Your address

Your telephone number where we can reach you quickly, Mon. through Sat.

Your email address

Your preferred shipping window

 

Some alternate choices if your first is not available. 

1. Laurel can personally choose an appropriate alternate for me.

2. Another plant of one on your list.

3. Store credit.

 

Email this information to:  Tomatoplants@pacbell.net  

 

Within 2 to 3 days we will email your invoice; you call with payment information.

 

We cannot process emailed orders without your address to determine shipping cost and your phone number if we have questions about your order.

Telephone hours are Monday through Friday from 9 am to 3 pm.

(To order seeds, click here: www.tomatofest.com  This will take you to TomatoFest® for 500 varieties of heirloom tomato seeds!)

VERY IMPORTANT:  Shortly after you place your plant order you will get a copy of your receipt by email with your address and all pertinent information.  Please check to be sure the information is accurate. If there is an error and you have not noted it and informed us, we may not have your correct name or delivery address.  If you do not receive a copy of your order within 2 days, please us call right away to be sure we have your correct email address.  Thank you ~ Laurel

Email:  tomatoplants@pacbell.net   

Telephone   310 534-8611

FAX   310 602 6338

Monday through Friday, 9 am to 3 pm.

Shipping begins about March 24th or as soon as the plants are big enough to travel and continues throughout the spring, summer, fall and winter. 

Please have some alternate choices in mind in case your first choice is out of stock. If no alternates are noted, Laurel will select for you at shipping time.

Your delivery will be scheduled during a 6 day window in the fall and a 14 day window during spring and summer to suit your desired planting time in spring or summer, or during fall and winter for zones 9b, 10 and 11. For instance, if you choose May 5th as your shipping window your plants will ship between May 5th and May 17th.

 

Before you order, please be sure to read our Payment and Shipping Costs page to familiarize yourself with shipping and packaging costs. Payment Information & Shipping Costs

Know just what you want? Placing your order will take about 5 to 10 minutes by phone. You can also order by email and then call us with credit card information when we confirm you order.

If you need advice or consultation about your order, Laurel is available for telephone consultation with customers.

If she cannot take your call right away, leave a number where you can be reached easily; Laurel will call you back as soon as possible for help and advice with your garden needs.

When To Plant  

Your plants should go into the garden during the best time for your USDA planting zone, when nighttime and soil temperatures remain steadily above 50º. If you choose earlier shipment, you risk the chance of cold soil and cool air triggering dormancy, undermining the health of your plants and setting back their growth progress, reducing and delaying your harvest. 

Two to three weeks after your last frost date is usually the best time to plant. Wait for the warm weather; tomatoes are warm weather crops and will grow much faster and healthier in warm soil.

Great News for Gardeners in Zones 10, 10b and 11! 

You can continue to plant out tomato seedlings into earliest September in the warm fall-winter zones. Choose varieties that are less than 70 days to maturity. 

Plants for gardeners in Florida, Texas, Arizona, the Gulf Coast and other warm-winter climates in zones 10, 10b and 11 are available during the fall and winter from late August through February. Custom orders are welcome; please see information below for custom grown plants.

To find your zone, click here: http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/ 

If the map does not show enough detail for you, Click Here to look up your hardiness zone by zip  code.

How Many Plants? Smart Spacing  

Tomato plants, especially these heirloom varieties, get really big, from 5 to 10 feet tall and taller, 3 to 4 feet wide, and need to be spaced about 32 - 36 inches apart in rows about 4 feet apart.

For example, a garden bed 6' by 15' will comfortably accommodate 10 - 12 plants depending on plant size at maturity, while providing plenty of root space, airflow, and room for lots of foliage and fruit. Some of our small varieties get only 4 feet tall, our dwarf varieties remain quite small and compact, from 18" to 3 feet tall and can be spaced closer.

See the Growing Tips page for more detailed information.

Plant Prices, Minimum Order

Our organically grown tomato plants are from $4.95 to $5.95; some of our very rare plants are higher priced. Prices are next to their names on The Big List. Shipping is not included in the plant price.

Minimum order for PayPal, check, cash or money order purchase is 1 plant.

Minimum credit card order is 4 plants. 

Substitutions, Very Important Information

Sometimes we must substitute a similar plant variety if your first choice is not available. If you do not list alternate choices, Laurel will personally choose a very similar and delicious variety which will do well in your climate.

If you do not want us to substitute a variety, be sure to mention this when you order and we will credit you for that plant if it is not available or send another plant of a variety on your list.

Please note that during April and May we will not be able to consult with you regarding the variety we substitute. During this period of extremely high shipping volume, if you have not listed some alternates and if we cannot locate you immediately to confer about an alternate, your shipment will have to be held back until the next open shipping window which can mean a crucial delay in getting your plants to you. This is why you must have a few alternates in mind.

Hey...Where's the Shopping Cart? Can I Order Online?

No, we do not have an online shopping cart due to variable plant sizes, from 6" to 20" tall. Plants can weigh from 1 to 1½ lbs each, thus variable shipping weights and costs, so your order is taken by telephone or email so we can determine accurate shipping costs for you. 

Payment Information Click for very important shipping and packaging cost information. Please read this page before ordering to familiarize yourself with our prices, shipping method, packaging costs and our guarantee. Shipping and packaging costs are not included in the plant price.

Your personal information is secure and never shared with anyone, ever.

Laurel  Garza

Telephone 310 534-8611 NOTE: We are in California and telephone hours are for Pacific Time.

Hablamos Español

FAX # 310 602 6338

Monday - Friday 9 am to 3 pm.

 

 

When To Order 

 

Please order early.

 

Our shipping schedule fills up early and quickly for the shipping windows during April, May and June delivery. Although we will always have a huge selection of plants, you may not get your desired shipping window if you wait until late March, April or May to place your order. Please order early.

 

Your delivery will be scheduled during a 14 day window beginning each Monday (if that window is not yet filled) to suit your desired spring or summer planting time or fall and winter for zones 10, 10b and 11. For instance, if you choose May 5th as your shipping window your plants will ship between May 5th and May 17th.

 

Tomato plants should be planted about 2 to 3 weeks after your last frost date, when soil and air temperatures stay reliably above 50º. Earlier than that, the cold soil will cause your plants to go dormant. Not good.

 

To find your zone, click here: http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/

If the map does not show enough detail for you Click Here to look up your hardiness zone by zip code. 

Shipping begins approximately March 10th, or as soon as the plants are big enough to travel, and continues throughout the entire year. Your plants will be shipped during the week you select --as long as it is still available. The ordering rush begins in March with many thousands of plants being ordered and shipped; please order as early as possible for April and May delivery to avoid a delay in your desired shipping date.

 

Custom Orders-Our Specialty

 

We specialize in custom-grown plants for gardeners, growers, chefs, gourmets and gourmands nationwide.

 

Would you like to grow one that's not on the list? Perhaps you have an old favorite or you've heard about an intriguing variety which you don't see here or loved a variety which is not on our 2008 list. 

 

Let us grow it for you! Custom orders are our specialty. 

 

You may send us seeds, we may have seeds, or will find the seeds and grow plants for you with 9 to 10 weeks notice; just ask for Laurel. Certain seeds are somewhat difficult to obtain or costly, and may require an additional fee of $2.00-$5.00 per variety.

 

The list of seeds we currently have in stock for custom grown plants is on this page toward the bottom, below The Big List. We need 9 to 10 weeks notice to grow custom plants for you.

 

 

Picking Up Your Plants

 

Do you live or work in Southern California? We do not have a retail store but plant pick-up is available at our nursery by appointment only. 

 

Plants will be ready in late March.

 

Please call ahead for an appointment. 310 534 8611.  Pick-up hours are arranged for Fridays from 1 pm to 3

 

From April through September we have Plant Sales here at our nursery on Sundays.

Click to see Our 2008 Plant Sale Dates

 

(Laurel is very allergic to manufactured perfumes, please avoid perfuming before you set out.  Thank you!)

 

We are in the South Bay/Torrance area of Los Angeles County near Western and Pacific Coast Highway, 30 minutes south of LAX, 5 miles from the Pacific Ocean and ½ mile west of the 110 freeway in Lomita. 

 

 

 

Updated:

Tuesday, September 2nd

2008

New Varieties for 2008

In September 2007 we attended my friends' Gary Ibsen and Dagma Lacey's TomatoFest® in Carmel, California, had a fabulous time tasting more than 400 tomato varieties along with a sublime barbecue feast, a bounty of fine wines, olive oils, a salsa showcase and more than 100 knock-out tomato dishes prepared by some of the great chefs of California. It was heavenly... a golden day.

 

We brought back seeds of some wonderful tomatoes including Blue Fruit, Gramma Climenhaga, Mirabell, Green Grape, Painted Ukrainian, Yellow Submarine, Heart of Compassion, New Big Dwarf, Cindy's West Virginia, Camp Joy, Florida Pink, Cherokee Chocolate, Purple Russian, Ildi, Carbon, Orange Strawberry, Mrs. Houseworth, Elfin, Chocolate Stripes, Roman Candle, Kennington's Big Red, Orange Russian 117, Sweet Israeli, Gold Medal Yellow, Italian Tree, Carbon, Sweet Pea Currant, New Yorker, Big Orange Stripe and other new selections along with the old favorites. Our new selections will be designated 'New for 2008'.

 

Photos and descriptions are in The Big List below.

 

Big Zac is back for 2008.  Big Zac will be the biggest tomato of all in your garden, averaging 4 lbs. and up to 7 lbs.--prize winning size and great big old-time tomatoey flavor.

 

Our premier varieties, Purple Haze and Goose Creek are also back in stock for 2008, along with my all time favorite, Paul Robeson, and a big hit from last year, Black Ruffles, a magnificent black tomato which is a cross of Black Krim and Zapotec Pleated.

 

We will also have our 2 new delicious and beautiful introductions from last season, Laurel's California Gold and Gary Ibsen's Gold along with a superbly flavored variety called Yellow Submarine.

 

We will be at TomatoFest this September (2008), Sunday the 14th, where Laurel will be near the bandstand from 2:30 to 3:00 giving out certificates for free tomato plants for 2009. See you then!

 

Spring and summer shipping begins approximately March 24th and continues throughout the spring and summer, extending into mid October through February with fall and winter plants for our South Florida, portions of Arizona and Nevada, areas of The Gulf Coast and greenhouse growers.

 

Please order early to reserve your plants and shipping window.

 

Don't see the one you want? The list of seeds we currently have in stock for custom-grown plants is on this page, below The Big List. You may also send us seeds and we will custom-grow plants for you, or ask us to find seeds to grow special plants just for you.

 

 

Part of Our Home Garden Harvest

A Guide to the Symbols

(H)  Hybrid. The few hybrids we list were developed with great flavor as the main criterion. These are delicious varieties which we have grown and taste-tested to ensure superior flavor.

 

(D)  Determinate. Also known as 'bush' varieties, these plants are great for container growing or for your small garden. They reach a certain predetermined height and then stop growing. Most of the fruit is borne over a 4 to 6 week period.

  Our Sunshine Symbol means this variety grows beautifully in all climates, and does especially well in sustained high heat but not hotter than 95º. Pollen normally becomes sterile above 95º

 

  Extra heat tolerant.

   A specialty plant, developed to produce consistently in very hot weather, up to 97º- 98º.

 

    Our Penguin Symbol means this variety grows beautifully in all climates, and does especially well in cooler temperatures and produces late into the cool season.

 

    Grows beautifully in most climates and is extra cold tolerant. However, this does not mean North Dakota in winter. Your tomato plants need night temperatures consistently above 48º F.

 

(E) Early ripening variety, with 78 days or less to ripe tomatoes.

 

(VE) Very early varieties, usually less than 68 days from plant-out to ripe fruit.

 

(EE) Extremely early ripening varieties, ready to pick in only 45-60 days from planting.

 

  A good choice for growing in pots, and a variety which Laurel has already grown successfully in containers. Any heirloom tomato plant will grow well in a large 18 - 30 gallon container with proper growing techniques and the dwarf varieties can be grown in 5 -10 gallon containers. 

See detailed container-growing info:  Growing Tips  

 

(Ch) A cherry tomato. These little fruits can be red, black, orange, pink, purple, green, yellow, ivory, white or bicolor and in varying shapes: round, pear, grape, ping pong, pea-sized and plum-shaped.

 

(B)  A big tomato of at least 1 or 2 pounds.

 

(BB) A really big tomato. These 'super braggers' can reach 3 to 4 pounds.

 

(BBB) A ridiculously huge tomato, these prize winning giants can reach more than 5 lbs.

 

(SM) A small plant, great for containers or smaller garden spaces.

 

(VSM) A very small, dwarf type plant for small containers and tiny gardens.

 

(P-S) Paste or sauce type, especially popular for sauces. These tomatoes are richly flavored, ideal for cooking because flavors increase exponentially during the cooking process, and are also marvelous for fresh eating.

 

(HG) For your Historical or Heritage Garden. These are storied tomatoes with a fascinating history, including  well-known historic varieties, some of them named after persons of high renown, or an historical event. Some are tomatoes with tall tales and legends attached to their names. Many have simply stood the test of time.

 

Days: Approximate time from planting the seedling to harvesting the ripe fruit. Can vary from climate to climate.

 

New for 2008!  This means we are offering these varieties this year for the first time. Not necessarily a 'new' variety.

  

 

 

Our 2008  Tomato Varieties by Category 

Click on these categories or take a look at the

The Big List below for all 160 varieties.

 

New Varieties for 2008

Our 2008 Plant Sale Dates Please join us for our Sunday Sales here at the nursery all summer!

Gift Certificates

Laurel's Favorites

Big Red Tomatoes

Medium Sized Red Tomatoes

The Biggest Tomatoes

Small Fruited/Cherry Tomatoes

Early Ripening Tomatoes

Pink and Purple Tomatoes                       

The Black Tomatoes

The Green Tomatoes

The Yellow, Gold & Orange Tomatoes

Multi Colored Tomatoes

Other Colors

Sauce and Paste Tomatoes

Smaller Plants for Containers

Growing Tips and Garden Products

Heirloom Tomato Seeds (This will take you to TomatoFest.com for more than 500 varieties of heirloom tomato seeds)

The Best Tomato Sandwich Recipes from our customers!

Chile Plants, Sweet Peppers and Basil 

What Our Customers Say  And some photographs of their gardens

                        

  The Summer-Fall List

For shipping late September through November

        

 

Descriptions and photographs are below in The Big List.

 

Don't see what you want? Let us custom grow it for you!

Call Laurel with your request--please allow 8 weeks for custom grown plants. 310 534 8611

 

 

 

 

   The Fall List:

Available late September through November:

 

 

Amana Orange

Amy's Sugar Gem

Azoychka

Big Beef

Bisignano #2

Black Ethiopian

Black From Tula

Black Krim

Black Prince

Brandywine OTV

Bull's Heart

Camp Joy

Cerise Orange

Cherokee Purple

Costoluto Genovese

Crazy

Grape

Green Zebra

Italian Tree

Lime Green Salad

Marianna's Peace

Martino's Roma

Mortgage Lifter

Northern Lights

Paul Robeson

Sun Gold

White Rabbit

 

 

The Big List for 2008

All 160 Tomato Varieties

PLEASE NOTE:

 

Not all of the varieties in The Big List are available for  fall.

 

Varieties we will have are listed above and also noted 'Available for fall' in the list below.

  1884  ($4.95)  (B)    ((HG) (E) 78 days. 1884 is a superbly flavored old-time tomato which grows on a strong vigorous plant and produces big luscious 1 to 2 lb. deep dark pink fruit with luxurious flavor and sets fruit readily in hot weather. It is said that the original seeds were discovered in 1884 by a Mr. James Lyde Williamson in the debris after the big flood in Friendly, West Virginia. This grand fruit has taken top mention year after year in tomato tastings all over the country. Easy to grow and very productive. 

Abraham Lincoln ($4.95) (HG) 80 days. This is the lusciously Illinois tomato. Very tasty, sweet, and juicy, with intense old fashioned tomato flavors, this wildly popular heirloom was introduced in Illinois in 1923 and produces big, red, round, scrumptious 1-pound fruits in bountiful clusters of up to 9 tomatoes and has excellent disease resistance. A real classic which grows beautifully everywhere.

Available for fall Amana Orange ($4.95)    (BB) 80 days. This huge, extremely prolific and beautiful late season heirloom beefsteak is named for Amana, Iowa. The light-orange fruits grow to 2 pounds or more. Amana Orange is full flavored and slightly sweet with an enticing hint of tropical fruit flavors and a lovely texture. Along with producing huge numbers of fruit, our customers all over the country from coast to coast and in the southern states, including Florida and Texas, are reporting great success with Amana Orange in hot weather.

Available for fall   Amy's Sugar Gem ($5.25)   (VE) 65 days. This huge, sprawling plant produces heavy clusters of golf ball sized, incredibly delicious, deep red ambrosial fruit with tiny golden jewel-like sparkles within the red skin. Very sweet! It was one of my absolute favorite tomatoes at TomatoFest in September--just knocked me out. Candy-on-the-vine, not to be missed.

Developed by Jeff McCormack, it is a cross of Red Cherry and Tappy's Finest. Named for Amy Boor Hereford whose Grandma Tappy introduced Jeff to heirloom tomatoes more than 20 years ago.

  Anna Russian ($4.95)    (VE)  ((HG) 65 days. This was the very first heirloom tomato I ever tasted.

This plant has very delicate, wistful foliage as do many of the Russian varieties. Don't let that fool you! Anna is easy to grow and bears heavily during hot and cool weather.

Years ago my mom brought me some perfect heart-shaped Anna Russians from her garden. She had gotten the seeds from a friend. I tasted; I swooned. From 8 to 12 ounces, the fruits she brought had grown in beautiful clusters of 2 or 3--I wouldn't be without it.

Still in my top 5 favorites after all these years, Anna Russian is always among the first few plants I set out in my home garden every spring in a little Tomato Love ceremony. Its perfect heart shape in colors ranging from pink to red make it very special indeed.

Anna Russian seeds came to Craig Lehoullier from Brenda Hillenius of Oregon, who got the seeds from her grandfather, Kenneth Wilcox. Years earlier he had been given the original seeds from a Russian immigrant friend--a genuine example of the intriguing history these grand old tomatoes carry with them.

 

 

Arkansas Traveler (Please see 'Traveler', below)

 

 

 

Aunt Ginny's Purple ($4.95)    ((HG) (B) 80 days. From Indiana, this big grand heirloom produces luscious 1-pound or heavier, deep-pink silky smooth juicy tomatoes with sweet, tangy, rich flavors which many tomato fans find superior to the Brandywines. Growing in clusters of 2 or 3,  Aunt Ginny's Purple is of German origin, from well-respected tomato grower Rick Burkhart of Indianapolis whose family has raised it for more than 40 years. A reliable producer and really easy to grow.

 

 

 

 Aunt Gertie's Gold ($4.95) 85-95 days. This big beautiful 12 oz. golden jewel of a tomato is luscious, creamy, smooth as silk, with incredible flavor, in my top 10. A rare treat, sometimes late to ripen, but worth it a thousand times over. Introduced by the legendary Chuck Wyatt. 

 

 

 

  Aunt Ruby's German Green ($4.95)  (B) (E)75-78 days. You're going to love this beautiful Tennessee tomato. Big, sweet beefsteaks, bursting with a fragrant, complex, spicy-sweetness with a touch of tang. A gorgeous green-when-ripe color, this much sought after variety is a real treat to have in your garden, and is said to be the very best tasting green. Reaching an average of 1 lb, Aunt Ruby's German Green grows in clusters of 2 or 3.

With its intricate, earthy, unforgettable flavor, this one will broaden your tomato horizons. Very adaptable, and easy to grow with good disease resistance. From Ruby Arnold of Greeneville, Tennessee who passed away in 1997.

 

Available for fall  Azoychka (Ah-ZOYCH-kah)($4.95) 65 days.   (E) One of the first to ripen in your garden, this juicy, scrumptious, lemon-yellow, 7 to 8 ounce tomato has a rich, lingering sweetness with just a touch of acidity.

Ripening in only 65 days from planting out, it has a delightful yet subtle hint of citrusy flavor. A spectacular Russian heirloom, Azoychka has become a favorite of chefs and tomato lovers world wide. 

 

 

Beefsteak (AKA Red Ponderosa or Crimson Cushion) ($4.95) (BB) 85 days. Here is the original beefsteak heirloom tomato. Beefsteak will conjure memories of how real tomatoes taste. Huge, fragrant, delicious red fruits, up to 2 pounds, on a big vine, this amazing plant will need extra support to keep up with the giant, juicy, sweet and scrumptious old-time tomatoes. A classic.

 

 

 

  Beauty ($4.95) 78 days. This highly productive, very leafy smaller-type plant produces a huge amount of deep red 14 oz., slightly flattened 4 inch fruits with big juicy, very sweet flavors but well balanced with that perfect touch of acidity for full, complex tomatoey flavors. Outstanding production, marvelous flavor.

 

 

Beiju is back for 2008!   Beiju, 'Auspicious 88th Birthday' (Bay-ZHOO) ($6.25) (H) 72 days. This marvelous tomato has caused quite a commotion among our customers who've tried it during the past couple of seasons. Seems they can't live without it now, so it's back for 2008.

 

The seeds are not available commercially so I've had to track them down and have finally succeeded in getting some from Japan for the 2008 season. The name of this exceedingly rare, prolific and very precious 'low-acid' tomato means Auspicious 88th Birthday.  The hearty plants load up with huge harvests of 6 to 7 ounce red, round tomatoes sometimes with an elegant glimmer of green streaking at the shoulders just before ripening to pure red. Very sweet, deeply luscious and juicy with a lingering fruity flavor, Beiju is a gem and said to be one of the keys to good health and staying young. 

 

A special celebration for ones Auspicious 88th Birthday includes feasting on the finest foods--including delicious tomatoes--with the birthday celebrant wearing all red clothing from head to toe. On your Beiju, it is said that, at 88, it's a great time to feel joyful and childlike in celebration of reaching this fine old age.

 

We are honored to be the sole source in the US of this delightful plant. The seeds are rare and quite expensive so Beiju plants will be in rather limited quantity; please order early.

 

Available for fall  Big Beef ($4.95) (VE)    72 days. This awesome, big-flavored tomato offers huge yields of 12 oz. old-time, grand-flavored, smooth, red round tomatoes with superb disease resistance in only 75 days.  The early harvest and bountiful season-long production along with superior prize winning flavor have made it a big favorite for home gardeners. 

 

 

 

Big Orange Stripe ($4.95) (B) 82 days. This marvelous fruit has set off quite a commotion in the tomato world. A wonderful heirloom from the Carter family in Kentucky, Big Orange Stripe fruits are huge--up to 2 lbs. with delicate red striping outside and in. Delicious and sweet, one of the best orange beefsteaks available. With all the attention being garnered by the orange tomatoes and their health benefits, this one deserves a place in your garden.

 

 

 

 

  Big Rainbow ($4.95) 75 days. (BB) Big it is...2 lbs. or more, sweet and voluptuous, fruity, juicy, rich tri-colored tomato, dappled red, orange and yellow, inside and out. Just enchanting. Big Rainbow is a best seller, and among my all-time favorites. Heavy, juicy and gorgeous, growing singly or in pairs, it takes me 2 hands to pick. A prize worth every luscious bite.

 

 

 

     Big Zac ($7.00) 80-85 days. (H) (BBB)    (HG) The biggest tomato of all! This gigantic and very delicious tomato normally reaches 4 lbs., and can reach 5 to 7 lbs., with luscious meaty fruits growing on a hearty disease-resistant plant. Big Zac is very easy to grow and reliably produces gigantic tomatoes in all climates.

 

Big Zac was developed by Minnie Zaccaria of New Jersey, a kind and kindred spirit, who has been growing big championship tomatoes for more than 20 years and has won the biggest tomato contest 7 times. Minnie, shown in the photograph with a 5.2 lb. Big Zac fruit, worked tirelessly to create this humungous fruit by crossing the largest heirloom tomato varieties she could find and finally came up with this amazing and yummy whopper of a tomato.

 

Please order early to reserve your plants; Big Zac is grown in limited quantity and sells out quickly. 

 

 

 

Available for fall  Bisignano #2 ($4.95)   (E)  (P-S) 75 days. This superior old-fashioned Italian tomato is a family favorite of the wonderful tomato loving Bisignano family of New York, NY. Known for its outstanding rich flavor, perfect for fresh eating, fabulous for sauce, Bisignano produces 3 distinctly different medium-sized bright red fruit shapes on each plant: plums, pears, and perfectly round fruits. Extremely productive, it's a classic garden staple and a top favorite of tomato growers worldwide.

 

  

  Black Cherry ($4.95) (Ch) (VE) 65 days. A perfectly round cherry tomato with classic black tomato flavor, sweet, yet rich, smoky and complex. Fruit picks easily from the stem and is produced in abundance on vigorous, tall plants. These cherries are irresistibly delicious: look like a  black cherry, taste like a sweet cherry-- a unique addition to the color and flavor spectrum of cherry tomatoes for your garden, along with Sun Gold, Green Grape, Snow White, Crazy and Reisentraube and our other cherries, it makes an arresting display for any table. Just outstanding. 

 Available for fall   Black Ethiopian ($4.95) 80 days. This spectacular tomato has an exquisite flavor and a beguiling shape.  Be prepared for extremely heavy production of deep reddish brown-bronze 5 oz. luscious plum shaped tomatoes, sweet, rich and tangy--just ambrosial. Black Ethiopian's exceptional production and splendid flavor have made it highly prized in the tomato world.  We are proud to be offering it for the first time.

Available for fall     Black From Tula ($4.95) (E) 70 days. Big, splendid, 10 to 12 oz. fruits with a beguiling color: deep dusky reddish-mahogany, with slightly green shoulders, and a sweet, lingering, ambrosial flavor. As a bonus, this Ukrainian variety offers a bountiful production. Pictured on the cover of  '100 Heirloom Tomatoes for the American Garden', by Carolyn Male. 

 .

Available for fall     Black Krim ($4.95) 75 days (E)

This much sought after Russian variety is unique and unforgettable, originally from Krim on the Black Sea in the former Soviet Union, Black Krim has a superb smoky sweetness with a delicate lingering touch of tang in a 4-6" slightly flattened, mahogany-colored fruit with lovely, deep green shoulders. Setting fruit at higher temperatures, it is superb and very easy to grow. (It is not the same variety as Noir de Crimeé).