Welcome to

  Laurel's Heirloom Tomato Plants

        We're gonna' need a bigger basket....

        Laurel with Jaune Flamme 

          "Life is short, my gardening friends. 

      Let's stop awhile to rake away the rocks and weeds,

        Dig deep into the Earth and dream of a bountiful harvest."

  In Lycopersicon Veritas. ~ Laurel

 

 

Welcome to the Astonishing World of Heirloom Tomatoes!

 

Hawaiian Pineapple

 

Great News About Lower Shipping Costs...

We are very encouraged to find the new Priority Mail shipping protocols are getting our plants safely to the majority of our customers' addresses.

Your plants are arriving in 2 to 4 days and always perk up after a few days in your garden with full sunshine and TLC.

Priority Mail is about half the cost of Express.

We normally ship Priority Mail to California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Arizona and major hubs of The Midwest and certain cities in The East. Average transit times to these areas: 1 to 3 days from the time they leave Los Angeles but it can take 4 days. They normally arrive safely.

NOTE: For longer journeys or to outlying areas, or if you want your plants in pristine condition when they arrive, we highly recommend you choose 1 - 2 day Express, and your plants will arrive within 1 to 2 days from leaving LAX, money back guarantee.

Of course you have the option to choose Priority Mail which can take 2 to 4 days with no money-back guarantee of transit time.

Because we ship large 12" to 18" plants, we use large, heavy boxes. This makes Express Mail expensive, but your plants arrive in pristine condition within that time frame -- guaranteed -- or your shipping cost is refunded.

When you call you'll have all the time you need to decide on a shipping method. We start with an estimate of  cost and transit time -- then you choose either Express or Priority Mail. We do not ship FEDEX or UPS.

Order by phone for an instant estimate.  Emailed estimates requests will take several days.

Tomato Love,

Laurel ~ 310 534 8611  (This is a landline - not for texts.)

 

 The BIG LIST for 2024 is Posted!

 

Blue Chocolate 

Shipping nationwide from Los Angeles in Sunny Southern California

Phone Orders: Call Laurel ~ 310 534 8611

Email: tomatoplants@pacbell.net

 

Black Beauty

We are your Southern California source for 75 luscious varieties of organically grown heirloom tomato plants, a couple of carefully chosen great-tasting hybrids, plus a fine selection of gardening products for your garden and for growing in containers and greenhouses.

2024 will mark our 24th year shipping organically grown tomato plants right to your garden.

My gardening career began in 1954 when I was 4 years old. I dropped a pumpkin seed into Grandma and Grandpa's bird bath in Idyllwild, California. It sprouted. Ah, germination. I was hooked. Forever.

Now I'm 73, almost a grown-up -- and still thrilled by watching a seed pop and become a beautiful little plant. It grows big and gives us fruit, then the seeds from those fruits give us teeny plants of the same magical variety again and again and they grow and grow, year after year. This is the miracle of germination.

Our 2023 gardens produced one of our best crops ever! Jutland, Brown Derby, Polish, Green Giant, Black Cherry, Chocolate Stripes, Momotaro Gold, Belle Rouge, Dirty Girl, Blondcopfchen, Ruby Gold, Tati's Wedding, Paul Robeson, Anthony's Passionate Heart, Marianna's Peace and so many more!  We harvested hundreds of tomatoes, and they're still goin'! On September 14th I picked 14 ripe gorgeous Jutland tomatoes to save seeds for your plants! Jutland, the sweetest tomato we offer!

We grow and ship about 20,000 tomato plants all over the USA every year during spring and summer to all 50 US States and Territories.

 

Helsing Junction Blue

 

If you are not yet on my newsletter list, fun and informative, send your email address to tomatoplants@pacbell.net and I'll include you!

 

Red Mamba

 

 Come See What We Have For 2024!

Order by email or phone.

Some varieties sell out.

Order early to book your shipping week and reserve your plants:

April and May shipping periods get booked solid!

Click the link:

Our Tomato Varieties and How to Order 

 

A gorgeous BLT with one big slice of a huge Bear Claw tomato.

From Dan Hornbaker in New Jersey

 

    

Come see us on soon on Facebook for the updates, latest news, plant care and events.

I haven't had time to update the Facebook page for a while, but I will! ~ Laurel

 

Some of our babies getting their start in one of our greenhouses.....

 

 

 

 

 

Look how they've grown! Full size plants getting ready to ship...

 

 

 

My customer Dean Saling's 'grandgardeners' harvesting homegrown tomatoes in Kentucky.

 

  Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries

 

Come see our new varieties -- and the old favorites!

    A Map to Our Website   

     Our Tomato Varieties and How to Order

Click the link to see The Big List for 2024 with prices, descriptions and photographs of our varieties of tomatoes for spring and summer along with detailed information for placing your order.

 

IMPORTANT! If you cannot receive Post Office packages on Saturdays please let us know and we will be sure your plants do not arrive on a Saturday!  We are happy to ship to PO Boxes, no problem.

 

Payment Information ...and shipping details (Please read before you order.)

Because plant prices do not include shipping and handling, please take a moment to familiarize yourself with shipping costs before ordering. This important payment & shipping information includes a detailed explanation of shipping and packaging costs and techniques and our guarantee.

 

(Cancellations: Cancellations must be made by direct telephone contact within 48 hours of placing your order to receive a full refund. After 48 hours, refunds will be made less 50% restocking fee.) 

 

Growing Tips and Garden Products Laurel's best growing tips, organic gardening products, SmartPots for your container garden and all organic plant nutrients and pest and disease control. Plus, learn how to easily and successfully grow even the largest tomato plants in containers.

 

Our 2024 On-Site Plant Sale Dates  We do not have a retail store but....

Join us on Sundays from early March through July to choose from more than 70 varieties of tomato plants and our selection of fine gardening products including 3 sizes of Smart Pots, organic fertilizers and natural, effective insect and disease control, along potting soil, planting mix and TomatOH! Holders!

 

 We are now your exclusive source for TomatOH! Holders, the world's best tomato cages!

 

 

Gift Certificates Will This Be a Gift? Laurel's Heirloom Tomato Plants offers personalized gift certificates for all occasions. Our gift certificates are themselves an elegant gift. You may choose certain varieties, or a certain number of plants or a dollar amount for your recipient's certificate.

What is an Heirloom Tomato? 

Discover why heirloom tomatoes have the fabulous old-time tomato taste you remember or may have never experienced.

 

Are Tomatoes Really an Aphrodisiac?

A definitive answer to this age old question.

 

My Personal Favorites  

A Photo Gallery of some 'Stranded on a Deserted Island' choices ...a few of Laurel's favorites.

 

SEEDS! Need Heirloom Tomato Seeds? click:  Go to Tomatofest.com

 Green Zebra

 

 

 

15" Paul Robeson plant, Laurel's Favorite, in its 4" shipping pot, ready for packaging and shipping to your door, along with a photograph of the fruit.   Not to scale   :)

 

 

Heaven at BJ's House. Copyright, BJ Miles 2012

 

A Fred Cook Cornucopia.  Copyright Fred Cook 2012

  

 

  

 

 

 

 

 Site Navigation

 

 

Our Tomato Varieties and How to Order - See all of our heirloom tomato plant varieties.

What is an Heirloom Tomato?

Growing Tips and Garden Products

Are Tomatoes Really an Aphrodisiac?

Go to www.tomatofest.com Click for seeds instead of plants! 600 varieties of heirloom tomato seeds.

What Our Customers Say

Payment Information  Shipping Costs and Privacy Policy  (Please read before you order.)

Gift Certificates

Big Red Tomatoes

Medium Size 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

Laurel's Favorites

Smaller Plants for Containers ....and small garden spaces.

Growing Tips and Garden Products

Our 2024 Plant Sale Dates

Favorite Tomato Recipes  Great Recipes for your heirloom tomatoes!

The Best Tomato Sandwich Great sandwich recipes from our customers!

Laurel's Blend Olive Oil  My Favorite!

More Olive Oil: www.californiagoldoliveoil.com

 

 

 

 

Tati's Wedding

 

 

Need Heirloom Tomato Seeds?

Click: Go to Tomatofest.com for 650 outstanding varieties of certified organically grown Heirloom Tomato Seeds!

 

 

Laurel's Blend

 Extra Virgin Olive Oil

 

Not sure if we'll have our Laurel's Blend Olive Oil blend again for 2024. Weather conditions may affect our grower's supply.

Golden, mellow, smooth and buttery with a discreet touch of earthiness to complement your heirloom tomato harvest, this superb quality, award-winning Extra Virgin Olive Oil was created by our friend and fellow heirloom tomato fan, Kevin Tazelaar, Founder of California Gold Olive Oil Co. in Oakdale, California.

Kevin sent us little bottles of different blends to try in a blind taste test. After many tastings, I chose my favorite; Kevin had it bottled and surprised us by naming it Laurel's Blend.

In the photograph you will see that some of the oil is missing. While shooting the photographs, I lost my mind, opened the bottle and had some for a snack with fresh-picked tomatoes, Greek olives and feta. I couldn't stop myself. You will get a full bottle, we promise.

For details and how to order click: Laurel's Blend Olive Oil  

 

Back for 2024

 Great Big Tomatoes!

       

 

                            

                             

Great Big Tomatoes Natural Liquid Compost, The Energy Drink for Tomato Plants.

It's a concentrated liquid compost to give your plants extra growing power, and is, of course, all organic. Use it in addition to your fertilizers.

Great Big Tomatoes has really impressed us in out garden with heartier, stronger stems, healthier lush foliage, bigger, better, yummier tomatoes and extremely healthy soil and our customers concur!

 

You will find it here on the Growing Tips and Garden Product page. Quarts and Gallon size!

 

Get the most from your tomato plants with Great Big Tomatoes!

 

Now in two sizes, one quart and one gallon.  

 

 

 

Growing in Containers?

Use our Smart Pots!

 

 

Go see them here:

Growing Tips and Garden Products

 

 

 

 

 

Here is Oliver W. Holmes guarding his owner Bob Holmes' tomato plants in Dunmore, PA.  Good boy, Oliver!

 

 

 

 

Growing in a Colder Climate or Planting Early?

 

 

Early-Start Plant Protectors.  18" tall water-filled teepees to insulate your plants and soil against frost and cold temperatures. Start tomato plants and all your warm weather plants a month or more earlier than usual.

Growing Tips and Garden Products

         

    Our customer Diane Fagerberg's tomato plants in Fort Collins, Colorado after a late snow storm in early May. She heard the weather report and covered them with Plant Protectors and inverted Smart Pots. 19 inches of snow fell!

           The temperature dropped to 16º F and the water in the Plant Protectors froze solid for 3 days....oh no!

Surprise! Diane's plants were alive and healthy after the storm and produced a great crop of yummy tomatoes. Yay, Diane!

Aunt Ruby's German Green

 

Here's How to Order Plants!

  Order By Telephone or Email. Easy as 1, 2, 3.

Our Tomato Varieties and How to Order  Choose your plants and shipping period.

 

Growing Tips and Garden Products  Choose your fertilizers and garden products.

Questions?  Call Laurel:

 

 Monday-Friday from 9:00 to 5:00, Saturday 9:00 to 3:00, Pacific Time

 

We are in Los Angeles, California.

310 534-8611 

Or Email:  Tomatoplants@pacbell.net

Fax: 310 494 0518   FAX orders must include your credit card information.

We have a few plants for October shipping to the high heat areas. Call me

Ordering for spring 2024 plants begins September 25th and continues through June-July and into the fall for 2024 planting. 

Plants will be shipped when the weather is just right for planting in your town or earlier if you wish.  If ordering for extremely early shipping we can triple insulate your plants a so they do not freeze in transit.

Minimum order is 4 plants. Orders of 64 plants or more receive a volume discount.

We do not sell wholesale. We do not sell plugs.

Gift Certificates are available year round.

Our tomato plants are lovingly grown from seed, using careful 100% organic methods and shipped to you in their large 4" deep nursery pots.

 

 

Brown Derby, Kellogg's Breakfast and 1884

            

                  

Do you live or work in Southern California?

 

You can call to reserve plants and arrange to pick them up on Friday, Saturday. By appointment only.

 

We do not have a retail store.

No walk-ins -- except during our Sunday Sales from 11:00 to 2:00. 

Please call for information. 310 534 8611

 

 

                    Black Krim

 

When Should You Plant?

 

First, check your region's average temperatures:

To find your average temperatures click here www.weather.com  or another weather site to explore the temperature graph for your city's month-by-month highs and lows, and determine your optimal planting time when the average low temps stay reliably above 50º. That is your best planting time.

About Frost Dates. Don't plant in cold soil!

 

Tomatoes are a hot weather crop. Hot...not "starting to warm up". You can usually plant safely about 2 to 3 weeks after your last predicted frost date. 

 

Many new gardeners want plant too early. It's exciting to get your plants in the ground.

 

Be sure the nighttime air temperature is reliably 48º to 50º or above and the soil is reliably warmed up to above 50º or your plants will go dormant and just sit there in the cold soil, staring at you and not growing until the weather warms up. This dormancy stage makes your plants very susceptible to disease and insect damage, delays fruit set and reduces yield.

 

However!  You can easily warm the soil for a few weeks before planting with clear plastic placed over the garden bed to absorb solar heat from the sun or use our Wall 'O' Water plant protectors and plant safely 3 weeks earlier than usual!

 

Be patient; wait until it's warmer. You'll be rewarded with robust happy tomato plants and a good harvest.

The most important thing to keep in mind is that night temperatures and soil temperatures should be steadily above 48º before planting tomatoes. 

 

 

About Blossom Drop During High Temperatures

 

Pollen becomes sterile at continual daytime temperatures higher than about 98º and nighttime temperatures above 72º, so don't expect fruit to set during those times. The plant knows that the pollen is not viable and drops the blossoms. When the weather settles down, the blossoms will stay on your plants and produce fruits.  We do have a few varieties that produce at higher temperatures.

Shipping Dates

Shipping is normally timed for when your nighttime temperatures stay reliably above 48º, or earlier if you desire.

 

We have Plant Protectors -- water filled 18" tall teepees -- which absorb solar heat during the day and release it gradually during the night to keep the air around your plants warm. This means you can plant a few weeks earlier than usual.

Click here:  Growing Tips and Garden Products for detailed information on planting.

Tomato planting here in Southern California, and in many areas of USDA zones 10 and 11, or Sunset Magazine zones 22-24, begins in March depending on our night temperatures. If the ground is below 50º, we use season extenders or wait until April.

Hey, Laurel! My Garden Center is selling plants in early February...it must be time to plant!

Yes, I know the local garden centers have plants for sale here in February. Why do they do this? Well, some folks have greenhouses. Most do not. You plant in bitterly cold soggy February soil and here come the wicked winds of March.

Of course the little plants don't make it in the cold weather or get diseased and die so you go back in April for more plants thinking you did something wrong.

You didn't. You were tempted. You caved. But that's tomato love. Try to control yourself and wait until it's steadily above 48º at night.

However, there is a solution. If you can't wait to plant, order our Early Season Wall O' Water Season Extenders and plant 4 to 6 weeks earlier than normal.  :)

Choose Your Shipping Time

We ship your plants during a 15 day period of your choice. For instance, if you choose the April 10th Period as your shipping period your plants will ship between April 10th and April 24th. Orders are shipped first in, first out.

 

We will help you choose the week when your climate is perfect for tomato planting. For example, if you order in January for your Minnesota garden, we ship your plants at the end of May. 

 

If you wish to experiment with growing in cooler temperatures we will ship them earlier with a disclaimer that they may freeze in transit and are not guaranteed to arrive alive.

 

Consultations

Do you need advice about planting tips, soil preparation, trellising, fertilizers, etcetera? I know how important it is to get good advice and I want to be able to continue offering expert advice about choosing plants and best growing technique for your area.

 

For all customers: when you place your order for 4 or more plants, I am happy to offer a basic 10 minute consultation at no charge whatsoever when we take your order and at times throughout your growing season.  

 

If you would like a consultation but do not plan to order, I am happy to work for you. My fee is $180.00 per hour or any part of an hour.

 

Specialized Consultation

 

For customers placing and order who need a specialized consultation by phone requiring dedicated, detailed research into your climate conditions and expert advice in creating a successful tomato garden in your particular climate, including soil conditioning, the best time to plant, season extenders, landscaping ideas, garden bed lay-out, detailed variety selection, customized fertilization techniques, disease and insect control or growing for market, etc., my fee is $150.00 per hour, minimum of one hour.

 

We do not do on-site consultation or landscaping.

    

         

     Contact Laurel         

Phone: 310-534-8611 

Fax: 310 494 0518

Hablamos Español

Telephone hours:

 

 Monday - Friday from 9:00 to 5:00, Pacific

 Saturday, 9:00 to 3:00

 

 

To Order By telephone, email or fax, see Here's How to Order above.

 

Email: Tomatoplants@pacbell.net  

 

 

 

Please, folks....

 

 

We do not have a retail store or walk-in hours except on Sunday Sale Days.

 

We are open to the public on Sundays in March, April, May and June for plant

 

sales.

 

These dates and times will be announced on the Plant Sale page--or just call me to

 

find out the dates. 310 534 8611

 

 

 

 

 

Here's Where to Get 

 

 

Heirloom Tomato Seeds!

 

 

 

 

Go to Tomatofest.com  

 

 

 America's finest and favorite source for more than

 

600 outstanding varieties of organically grown Heirloom Tomato Seeds.

 

     

Black Sara, Chuck's Yellow, Gary Ibsen's Gold and The Dutchman.

©copyright photo courtesy TomatoFest.com

 

We're feeding the world
with Heirloom Tomatoes
- Gary Ibsen & Dagma Lacey

 

 

Gift Certificates

Will This Be a Gift?

Laurel's Heirloom Tomato Plants offers several different styles of personalized and customized gift certificates for all occasions. Our gift certificates are themselves an elegant gift. You may choose certain varieties, or a certain number of plants or a dollar amount for your recipient's certificate.

Laurel will personally create and send or email a beautiful full-sheet antiqued parchment gift certificate for any occasion: All holidays, Valentines Day, birthday, wedding, anniversary, graduation, promotion, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, house or garden warming, sympathy, congratulations, remembrance, or just pure tomato love. 

      

 

The Personalized Gift Certificate

Your recipient's Personalized Gift Certificate will feature a full-color array of 12 beautiful heirloom tomato photographs printed on full sheet parchment, along with your personal greeting of any length. $7.50.

The Personalized Gift Certificate with Detailed Descriptions and Photos

If you will be selecting specific varieties for your recipient, Laurel will add additional full sheet antiqued parchments printed with detailed descriptions and full color photographs of each tomato you choose. This stunning certificate is a spectacular gift in itself. $12.50. For more than 1 page of photographs, additional cost is $2.00 per page.

Shipping charges will be included, so your recipient will be free to relax and choose from more than 75 varieties of heirloom tomato plants and garden products. Plant cost will be averaged at $8.95

each so your recipient can choose from among our more expensive plants. 

You may also select a dollar amount in $10.00 increments beginning at $50.00.

These elegant full sheet certificates add a heartwarming touch to your gift. Your recipient and Laurel will get together and determine the perfect shipping week when the weather is just right for planting in their garden.  

Laurel will be happy to personally assist your recipients in choosing plants for their climates and preferences when they call to redeem their certificates.  

Price List:

The Personalized Gift Certificate on Parchment, $7.50 plus postage of $5.05.  

The Personalized Gift Certificate on Parchment with Detailed Descriptions and Full Color Photographs, $12.50.

The Emailed certificate. You or your recipient can print this one out. Please use beautiful paper; our certificates are specifically designed for elegant papers including parchment, vellum or rag in a bright white or cream color. $7.50

310 534-8611

Gold Medal Yellow, Kellogg's Breakfast, Marvel Striped, Grandma Oliver's Green & Vintage Wine.

©copyright photoes courtesy TomatoFest.com

Click for 600 varieties of heirloom tomato seeds!

Click: Go to Tomatofest.com

 

 Visit TomatoFest® for TomatoFest Garden Seeds ~ the world's largest and finest selection of more than 600 varieties of certified organic heirloom tomato seeds, gorgeous photos of luscious heirloom tomatoes for your garden, the very best in gardening supplies and organic gardening information.

"You need more tomatoes." ...Laurel

Copyright Information

All original materials, tomato descriptions, photographs and original copy contained herein are protected by copyright and are the sole property of Laurel's Heirloom Tomato Plants, www.heirloomtomatoplants.com  or of Gary Ibsen and Carmel TomatoFest® -- www.TomatoFest.com  or of the people, companies or entities noted nezxt to the photograph.

Photographs on this website are the sole property of Laurel Garza and Laurel's Heirloom Tomato Plants or the property of other persons and entities as noted and attributed herein and may not be used without the express written permission of the persons and entities named herein. All rights reserved.

Laurel Garza.  310-534 8611:  www.heirloomtomatoplants.com   All rights reserved.

'The images on my pages are available for viewing only and may not be used for any other purpose without my express written permission. The images may not be linked to, or posted to other websites. The United States of America provides the right and the protection of and to “Original Works of Authorship” and certain Intellectual Property works. As the Owner of copyrighted works I hold the exclusive rights to duplicate, distribute and create derivative works from my works. All the text, photographs, images, products: their titles and descriptions, designs, etc. used on my web site and in the finished products which I design, create, produce, sell, etc. are protected under the U. S. Copyright Laws (Title 17, U.S. Code). I will seek, accordingly, to protect my works and rights against unauthorized use and infringement. Please note: a criminal investigation may be initiated in cases of willful infringement for profit.

 All rights are reserved. Any unauthorized use of any photograph or description contained herein will result in prosecution and penalties to the full extent of US copyright laws. 1999 - 2024