Early Ripening Tomatoes

These varieties have an average ripening time of less than 70 days, many from only 50 to 60 days from plant out to mature fruit.

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 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) 65 days. This was the very first heirloom tomato I ever tasted.

Many years ago my mom brought me some perfect heart-shaped Anna Russians from her garden. I swooned. From 8 to 16 ounces, the fruits she brought had grown in beautiful clusters of 2 or 3.

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.

Anna Russian seeds came 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.

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 bear heavily during hot and cool weather. I wouldn't be without it.

Azoychka ($4.95) 70 days. (E) One of the first to ripen in your garden, this lovely lemon yellow 7 to 8 ounce tomato has a delightful sweetness with just a touch of acidity. Ripening in only 70 days from planting out, it has a delightful yet subtle hint of citrusy flavor. This Russian heirloom has become a favorite of chefs and tomato lovers world wide.

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 , Sungold, Green Grape, Snow White and Reisentraube, it makes an arresting display for any table. Just outstanding.

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.

Black Prince ($4.95) (E) (SM) 70 days. One of the most intensely 'tomatoey' flavored heirlooms, rich and juicy, a smaller plant, very prolific, easy to grow, it loads up in only 70 days with clusters of gorgeous 6-8 oz. deep, dark mahogany-red fruits the color of rubies at midnight.

Bloody Butcher ($4.95) (EE) 58-60 days. This marvelous early ripening fruit has an unmatched, spectacular deep red hue--juicy with an intense lingering flavor. The 2-4 ounce round red 2 to 3" fruits have a rich silky texture and grow in great abundance on potato leafed vines. With its bountiful harvest month after month, the strong depth of flavor in Bloody Butcher has made it a favorite among tomato gourmands worldwide.

Cerise Orange ($4.95) 70 days. (E) (Ch) Cerise Orange is rapidly becoming a favored cherry tomato among tomato lovers and especially chefs worldwide, its name is French for orange cherry. From Norbert Parreira of Helliner, France, Cerise Orange produces a huge harvest of tiny, luscious, ½" sunny orange cherries with a delicate subtle striping and flavor just bursting with gratifying deliciousness. Along with Hawaiian Currant, Bianca, Gold Currant and Peacevine, They are being used by chefs worldwide to create a spectacular edible miniature tomato display for restaurants and special events.

Crazy ($4.95) (EE) (Ch) 55 days. This plant produces so early and so well in all climates--it's just crazy. It grows tall, strong vines bearing bountiful clusters of six 1", round, red cherry tomatoes in only 55 days from planting out. Sweet, prolific, with a wonderful tangy-sweet balance; Crazy just keeps producing through cold and hot weather.

Eva Purple Ball ($4.95) 68 days (E) A beautiful, adaptable, and reliable choice for your garden. Easy to grow, virtually problem free, and often called the most beautiful tomato of all. Eva Purple Ball produces perfectly round, deep pink, 6-8 oz, juicy, sweet luscious globes with an outstanding rich and refreshing flavor. At first bite, the tanginess dominates, giving way a moment later to an enduring sweetness with overtones of tropical fruit and spice. Growing very well in high heat and humidity, its very high-yield and disease resistance makes this prolific garden staple an outstanding choice for novice gardeners and experts alike. Originally from the Black Forest of Germany in the late 1800's. This plant out produced all others in my 2005 summer garden.

Fireworks ($4.95) 50 days (EE) Ripe in only 50 to 55 days, this lovely bright red tomato, very large for a quick maturing variety, has splendid rich, sweet juicy flavor which runs deep for a super-early tomato. Fruits are 3", 6-9 oz., round, with a very distinctive slightly pointed tip, are heat resistant, cold tolerant and delicious.

Gold Dust ($4.95) (VE) 60 days. This beautiful, delicious, meaty variety was developed at the University of New Hampshire produces the prettiest, yummiest 2" round tomatoes you've ever seen. Early ripening and an abundant yield make this semi-determinate fruit a favorite for bountiful early tomatoes in your garden.

Gardener's Delight (AKA Sugar Lump)($4.95) (VE) (SM) (Ch) 65 days. You'll get an amazingly heavy production of precious sparkling-red 1" cherry tomatoes, which are loaded with sugary sweet tomato flavor. A special treat for tomato fans of all ages for eating right from the vine or in salads if they ever make it into the house. Gardener's Delight is also called 'Sugar Lump' for a very good reason.

Grape Tomato ($4.95) (EE) (Ch) 55 days (H) This vigorous adaptable plant produces long grape-like clusters of very sweet, richly flavored, elongated cherry tomatoes, about 1½" long, popularly sold in pints at the supermarket. Now you can grow them in your home garden, in any climate and, rather then being picked green as are supermarket Grape tomatoes, the taste will be far sweeter and richer. When homegrown and ripening before your eyes, the flavor is exponentially finer than those on market shelves; you won't believe the difference.

Green Giant ($4.95) (E) (B) 60-70 days. Occasionally a tomato comes along which deserves very special attention. This big, up to 2 lb., green when ripe tomato resoundingly stole the show August 27th at Cincinnati's famous CHOPTAG Tomato Taste Fest last year taking Best Of Show. We had the immense pleasure of tasting it at TomatoFest in Carmel, California where it captured the hearts of tasters and garnered a great deal of attention. I have not been this impressed by a tomato since discovering Goose Creek in the summer of 2004. On a flavor scale of 1 to 100, Green Giant is a resounding 100. Incredible. Unforgettable.

It arose originally in the garden of Reinhard Kraft of Germany in 2000 when he planted 30 seeds called 'Green Giant' from a friend in Canada. 29 of them grew out regular leafed except for one which had big potato leafed foliage. Reinhard cultivated that one, selecting the best fruit for several seasons, and continued to save seeds. Yay, Reinhard. Seeds are not available commercially but I have managed to secure some for the 2006 season from my buddy Cynthia Geske, owner of Love Apple Farm in Ben Lomond, CA. www.loveapplefarm.biz Cynthia grew the magnificent Green Giant fruits we tasted at TomatoFest and graciously let me use her photograph here.

Green Grape ($5.25) 60 days. These 1" by 1 ½" ripe fruits are yellow-green with an amber blush on the blossom end, and lovely translucent pale-green on the inside growing on a small yet very prolific plant. After tasting it again at TomatoFest this year I decided to include it on the list for 2008. You will love it.

This compact plant was developed by Tom Wagner who crossed Yellow Pear with Evergreen. Its fruit has become wildly popular in restaurants and markets because of its unique and very elaborate flavor, a certain tanginess balanced with just the perfect touch of sweetness, stunning beauty and marvelous flavor--Green Grape really stands out as great choice for the discerning tomato maniac.

Green Sausage ($4.95) (D) (VE) (SM) 65 days. Look at this gorgeous fruit! Easy to grow and early ripening, its resplendent shape, sparkling green and amber color and tantalizing taste have made Green Sausage one of the most sought after tomatoes this season and a huge favorite at Farmer's Markets. Very prolific, Green Sausage is a small plant and produces an early, abundant harvest of 4" long fruits in clusters of 6 or 7 fruits. With flavor similar to Green Zebra but with a meatier flesh, it is tangy, rich, and juicy and sweet--just out of this world. This photograph was taken by my friend Cynthia Geske, grower extraordinaire and owner of Love Apple Farm in Ben Lomond, California. www.loveapplefarm.biz

Isis Candy ($4.95) (Ch) (VE) 60 days. These precious little 1½" morsels of red and gold garden candy have a dazzling starburst pattern on the blossom end when ripe. Sweet and fruity, Isis Candy has become a top 10 winner at tomato tastings, rivaling Sun Gold's flavor as a best-of-show cherry. Crack-resistant, a spectacular top seller.

Jaune Flammée AKA Flammée ($4.95) (E) 70 days. Very prolific and stunningly beautiful, Flammé is an unforgettable tomato. Intensely orange with a reddish blush on the blossom end, these flame-colored 2 ounce globes have a rich, tangy and exciting flavor that literally bursts in your mouth. Cut open to reveal a reddish interior; this fruit reminds me of a blood orange with its spectacular contrasting colors. At certain times of day, the fruits of Flammé seem to glow on the vine against the deep green foliage. Just marvelous.

Lime Green Salad ($4.95) (VSM) (D) (E) 52 days. This tomato has become one of my passions. I grew only one Lime Green Salad plant the first season and wish I'd grown10.

This petite plant, about 18 to 20" tall--great for small containers like 2 to 5 gallons, or in your main garden, produces early abundant harvests of luscious tangy-sweet 3 to 4 oz. round lime-green tomatoes which literally burst with intricate, sweet refreshing citrusy flavors when you bite into them. The flesh inside is a gorgeous chartreuse, juicy...the flavor lingers. Unforgettable.

Momotaro ($4.95) (H) (VE) 62 days. (HG) This very popular early-ripening hybrid variety, (and Dolly Parton's favorite tomato), is being offered due to hundreds of requests from my customers who have found Momotaro fruits at Farmer's Markets. It is exceptionally sweet, low-acid, juicy and just beautiful with a very long shelf life. The 6 ounce fruits are a stunning shade of pink, full flavored, luscious and bountiful on the vine, with superb disease resistance.

I smuggled one into an heirloom tasting party, and the folks loved it. The revelation that it's a hybrid was a splendid surprise to the gathered heirloom aficionados and motley crew of tomato gourmets and gourmands.

Named for an ancient legend of Momotaro, or Peach Boy, Momotaro was a baby boy found inside a giant peach by childless peasant farmers who had longed for a child of their own. He grew to be a famous warrior for peace. Among his many achievements: conquering, and then encouraging the ogres of Ogre Island to stop pillaging and be nice ogres. Each year the Momotaro festival in Japan celebrates the legend of this brave and wondrous child.

Northern Lights ($4.95) (VE) 60 days. An absolutely striking tomato. This big, heavy 4-5", 10 oz. gorgeous yellow-orange beefsteak, with a red blush on the blossom end and spectacular red patterning in the center, is reminiscent of the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, for which it is named. The flavor is sweet, intense, tangy and luscious. This marvelous tomato, only about 60 to 65 days from plant out until ripe fruit, bears beautiful tomatoes right through the cold weather up until the first frost.

Opalka ($4.95) (P-S) (E) 70 days. This wonderful heirloom originated in Poland. To me, and many other tomato lovers; it's absolutely the finest tasting paste tomato, with 5-inch long, thick red fruit, shaped like little red bananas with a pretty round nipple on the tip of each fruit.

The foliage is wispy but the plant is very vigorous and prolific, often the tallest plant in the garden. Very meaty, virtually seedless and loaded with exquisite, refreshing, sweet flavors, marvelous for sauce and fresh eating. I was actually eating the Opalka in this photograph, fresh picked from my garden, as I typed this description. Yum. Despite the plant's large size, it's also done very well for me in 20 gallon containers.

Paul Robeson ($4.95) (VE) (HG) 65-70 days. This is my all-time favorite tomato and our top seller. It is a gorgeous, dark and dusky-hued fruit with intensely sweet earthy taste with a hint of tanginess, a luscious velvety smooth texture, beautiful skin, rich with juice. The seed was made available by Marina Danilenko, a Moscow seedswoman.

This luxurious tomato is named for Paul Robeson (1898-1976), the elegant, renowned and charismatic operatic singer, law school graduate, champion athlete, film star, stage actor, and boundlessly brave champion of civil and personal rights throughout the world. This marvelous plant will give you its perfect 3"- 4" fruit in only 65 days from planting. Incredible; a symphony. I do believe this is the finest tomato in existence.

Super Snow White ($4.95) 70 days. (E) A gourmet's delight. I can't say enough about this exquisite white cherry tomato which ripens from white to ivory to palest yellow with a bright, rich and sweet juicy flavor. Very prolific, easy to grow, pretty as starlight and a top seller.

Sophie's Choice ($4.95) 50 days. (D) (VSM) (EE) From Canada, this succulent family heirloom is unique among the super-early producing plants. The slightly flattened round red fruits are borne in clusters of 3, quite large for an early bearer, with firm-when-ripe great flavored fruits from 6 to 8 oz. Sophie's Choice is a very small compact determinate plant.

This little shrub of a plant reaches about 18" tall and bears loads of delicious tomatoes. It tends to fall over with its heavy fruit burden, so be sure to give it some support. With its very high fruit production, tenacious growth habit and sweet refreshing taste, it's a fun and rewarding plant to grow. Very disease resistant, it is one tomato plant which requires more water than other varieties during early growth.

Stupice ($4.95) (EE) (Stoo-PEECH-kuh) 52 days. A great tomato! For me, this is the absolute very best tasting super-early cold-or-hot weather variety and among the first I plant each season. Big flavor, sweet and luscious. Stupice is a 3 to 4 oz. red round fruit, first to ripen and very high yielding. Produces quickly, heavily, reliably early and continuously throughout the season. Even when fruits are smaller as the season wanes, they maintain their marvelous flavor becoming even sweeter with colder weather. A garden staple.

Sun Gold ($4.95) (EE) (H) 55 days. This is the one of the best cherry tomatoes I've ever tasted, rivaling Isis Candy, and ready to pick in only 55-60 days. It has the big, rich flavor of a full-size tomato, in a beautiful little deep-golden fruit growing in bountiful clusters on a huge plant. Sweet, rich, so beautiful...just left of center in top photo. Most of them won't make it into your house from the garden. If you send someone to pick them for you, keep your binoculars trained upon the picker.

Sweet Baby Girl $4.95) (H) (SM) (Ch) (VE) 60 days. This vigorous little hybrid plant from Holland has long clusters of sweet, flavorful dark red 1 oz. cherry tomatoes, producing abundantly on small, compact yet indeterminate plants. Its easy-to-pick fruit is produced all season long.

Sweet Baby Girl's long shelf-life, marvelous taste and disease resistance have made it a new favorite for fitting into smaller gardens and producing bountiful bunches of fruit right up until first frost in containers and in the garden. Kids of all ages love it. Right after shooting this photograph of some of the 150 we picked on February 8th, my employees and I ate the fruits. Every single one.

New for 2010! Yellow Zebra ($5.25) 65 days Look at this fruit! This dazzling tomato was such a surprise for me this summer during my tomato tastings. I saw it relaxing on the table there and hollered "Hey there, who are you?!"

I found it a local farmer's market and one bite convinced me to include it this year. The tantalizing appearance just blew me away. Its bright zingy flavors have a perfectly balanced sweetness with plenty of juice. High productivity, long shelf life and incredible beauty make Yellow Zebra more than a new discovery. It's a new favorite! The same size and shape of Green Zebra, bigger than a gold ball, smaller than a handball. Fabulous!

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