Laurel's 

   Heirloom Tomato Plants 

    "The Enchanting Taste of Yesterday in Your Garden Today." ©

Welcome to the Astonishing World of Heirloom Tomatoes

       

          Laurel holding Jaune Flammée 

We are your year-round Southern California source for more than 160 luscious varieties of organically grown heirloom tomato plants, a few carefully chosen great-tasting hybrids, plus a fine selection of gardening products for your home garden, and for growing in containers and greenhouses.

Please grow organically to help renew the soil and get the best tasting tomatoes and other bounty from your garden.

Now in our 8th year of offering tomato plants online and here at our nursery on Sundays--sale dates will be posted here soon-- we are happy to include more than 25 outstanding new selections for 2008.

Plant Sales:  Our first plant sale here at our nursery will be Sunday April 6th, from 11 to 1 pm. See details here:  Our 2008 Plant Sale Dates

Amazing Terry and I did some tomato tasting at the heavily laden tasting tables featuring hundreds of heirloom tomato varieties at TomatoFest® this year and chose lots of new yummy and exciting varieties for 2008. 

They include Vintage Wine, Roman Candle, Blue Fruit, Gramma Climenhaga, Mirabell, Green Grape, Painted Ukrainian, New Big Dwarf, Cindy's West Virginia, Camp Joy, Heart of Compassion, Florida Pink, Cherokee Chocolate, Purple Russian, Orange Strawberry, Green Grape, Chocolate Stripes, Mrs. Houseworth, Elfin, Kennington's Big Red, Italian Tree, New Yorker, Gold Medal Yellow, Orange Russian #117, and some other new selections along with the old favorites and our new selection of tiny red, green, yellow and chocolate colored bell peppers. 

For 600 outstanding varieties of organically grown Heirloom Tomato Seeds, click here:  www.TomatoFest.com

Our new plant selections will be designated 'New for 2008'.

Purple Haze and Goose Creek are back, along with our 2 new delicious and beautiful introductions from last season, Laurel's California Gold and Gary Ibsen's Gold.

 

New this year is Yellow Submarine, similar in size and shape to Yellow Pear but with rich, deep, delicious flavor.

 

We will also have a nice selection of culinary chiles, sweet and hot, and 3 types of basil to pair with tomatoes in your kitchen. and mini bell peppers in 4 colors. Chiles and basil will be available for mid to late April shipping.

 

We are also introducing Laurel's favorite liquid compost fertilizer, Great Big Plants, The Energy Drink for Plants. It's a concentrated liquid compost fertilizer and, of course, all organic. We used it to feed our fall and winter plants. Great Big Plants has really impressed us with heartier, stronger stems, healthier foliage, bigger, better, yummier tomatoes and extremely healthy soil. You will find it on the Growing Tips and Garden Products page.

 

The brand new Big List for 2008 has been posted. Please take a look at our new selections and order early to beat the rush.

 

Ramapo Tomato Plants:  We will have Ramapo plants, 'The Real Jersey Tomato', for which so many of you are asking--available in early May.

 

Shipping windows fill up quickly. Please order early to reserve your plants and shipping time.

 

Telephone: 310 534 8611,

Telephone hours are : Mon through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm.  Saturday 9 am to 12 pm.

Hablamos Español

Fax: 310 602 6338

 

Email:  Tomatoplants@pacbell.net

Tomato plants are available beginning approximately March 20th for shipping to US destinations throughout the year to suit your climate. Chile plants and basil begin shipping mid April.

Local gardeners are welcome to pick up their plants by appointment at our nursery in the Torrance/Lomita area of Southern California, 30 minutes south of LAX, near Western Avenue and Pacific Coast Highway.

Our customers begin ordering in September for their spring gardens, so order now for spring and summer of '08. You can grow delicious heirloom tomatoes right in your home garden and in containers. 

Plants will be shipped when the weather is just right for planting in your town.  

Minimum order is one plant.

Gift Certificates are available year round.

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

 

     

 

"The federal government has sponsored research that has produced a tomato that is perfect in every respect, except that you can't eat it. We should make every effort to make sure this disease, often referred to as 'progress', doesn't spread."
~ Andy Rooney

            

      

Paul Robeson, Laurel's Favorite, in its 4" shipping pot, ready for packaging, along with a photograph of the fruit.

 

 

 

Please Join Us at TomatoFest This Year!

TomatoFest "Early Bird" Ticket Sale  Save BIG by ordering your "Early Bird" tickets NOW to the 2008 NatureSweet Carmel TomatoFest. "America's Favorite Tomato Festival." 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 and Dagma along with Miss Hot Tomato and the Heirloom Tomato All Stars dancing to 'Mustang Sally' with pure tomato abandon. A perfect family event, children under 12 get in free! Laurel will be near the bandstand from 2:30 to 3:00. If you find Laurel at TomatoFest, introduce yourself! You will have a chance to talk tomatoes and receive a certificate for free plants next season! Warning: Watching the videos may induce a kitchen raid.

 

        

      The Little Red Headed Boy

 

 

    Site Navigation:

Our Tomato Varieties and How to Order - See all 160 plant varieties.

A Great Big Thank You Enter the 2008 drawing for some great prizes!

What is an Heirloom Tomato?

Growing Tips and Garden Products

Are Tomatoes Really an Aphrodisiac?

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

What Our Customers Say

Payment Information  Shipping Costs and Privacy Policy

New Varieties for 2008

Gift Certificates

Our 2008 Plant Sale Dates

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

The Best Tomato Sandwich The 'Best Tomato Sandwich'. Recipes from our customers.

Chile Plants, Sweet Peppers and Basil                       

 

Here's How to Order

Please Note:

 

If you are ordering after May 1st, please note we are shipping thousands of orders during this period to customers who ordered early. Our entire crew is working 24/7 and, as in May of every year, we do not even try to do an inventory this time of year, so, when you call to place your order, please have your wish list ready. We still have at least 80 fabulous varieties available.  Laurel will choose alternates to get as close as possible to the varieties you want, thus ensuring you will have a very delicious tomato harvest this summer and fall!

 

 

Shipping is now closed for the weeks of:

 

March 24th

March 31st

April 7th

April 14th

April 21st

April 28th

May 5th

May 12th

May 19th

May 26th

June 2nd

 

 

Shipping is still available for the 14 day window beginning June 16th and July, August and the rest of the year.

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 a Monday, 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. 

 

If you do not want alternates or want Laurel to choose for you please choose one option:

 

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  

(Do not email your credit card info)

 

Or fax it to:  310 602 6338

(Fax orders are secure and safe to include credit card info)

 

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

 

NOTE: We cannot take email or fax 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 5 pm and Saturday from 9 am to 12 pm.

We have a fine selection of our favorite gardening products for your garden. 

Growing Tips and Garden Products

We normally have about 10 or more wonderful varieties of tomato plants available all year, including late fall and throughout the winter for warm winter areas, greenhouse gardeners and student science projects. 

 

Do you live or work in Southern California?

 

Remember, if you live here in Southern California, in most areas you can plant right up to late August or early September for fresh homegrown fall and winter tomatoes! Please call for information and to arrange to pick up your plants.

 

 

Custom Grown Plants, Our Specialty

We specialize in custom grown plants for gardeners, chefs, gourmets and gourmands nationwide. If you would like to grow a variety of tomato or chile which is not on our list, let us know within at least 9-10 weeks of your planting date. Custom plants will be grown organically especially for you.  

 

The list of seeds we currently have in stock for custom grown plants is on the 'Our Tomato Varieties' page, below The Big List.

Place your order by telephone or fax,

Telephone: 310 534-8611   (Hablamos Español)

Fax: 310 602 6338

 

Or contact us by email for more information.

 

tomatoplants@pacbell.net

 

Phone hours are 9 am to 5 pm Monday-Friday, Pacific Time. 

 

A Map to Our Website

     Our Tomato Varieties and How to Order

Click the link to see The Big List for 2008 with prices, descriptions and photographs of our more than 160 varieties of tomatoes for spring and summer, and the varieties we have available for December, January and February for gardeners who can plant during those seasons, along with detailed information for placing your order. We will also have a nice selection of hot chiles, sweet peppers and basil plants; that list will be posted mid January.

 

Chile Plants, Sweet Peppers and Basil 

A basic culinary selection of chile plants, sweet and hot including our 4 Sweet Baby Bell collection and 3 types of basil.

 

Payment Information, Shipping Costs and Privacy Policy

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. 

Growing Tips and Garden Products  Laurel's best growing tips, organic gardening products, organic plant food, coco peat, and favorite tomato books. Plus, learn how to easily and successfully grow even the largest tomato plants in containers.

 

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.

What is an Heirloom Tomato? 

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

My Personal Favorites  

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

 

What Our Customers Say...and photographs of their gardens

 

When Should You Plant?

 

Check Your Region's Average Temperatures:

To find your average temperatures click here www.weather.com Type your zip code into the Local Weather box on top and click GO. 

Scroll down to the row of 4 peach colored boxes and click on 'Averages' where you can explore the temperature graph for your city's month-by-month highs and lows, and determine your optimal planting time when the average low stays steadily above 50º. That is your best planting time.

 

 

About Frost Dates

You can usually plant safely about 2 to 3 weeks after your last predicted frost date. 

 

Many new gardeners plant too early. When the soil is cold, the plants go dormant. Dormancy weakens your plants forever--they never ever catch up or recover completely.

 

Be sure the soil is reliably warmed up to above 48º- 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.

 

Be patient, wait until it's warmer and you will 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 50º before planting tomatoes. 

 

About Blossom Drop During High Temperatures

 

Remember that pollen becomes sterile at daytime temperatures over about 96º and nighttime temperatures above 70º, 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 high temperatures.

 

Shipping Dates

Shipping is normally timed for when your nighttime temperatures stay reliably above 50º, or earlier if you desire. 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 late March depending on our night temperatures. If the ground is below 50º, we use season extenders or wait until earliest April.

For fall tomatoes and winter tomatoes we continue to plant seedlings of the quick-maturing varieties right through mid September and, if the weather holds, enjoy fresh, luscious, homegrown tomatoes for Thanksgiving, Christmas and into the new year.  

Choose Your Shipping Time

We ship your plants during the 14 day window of your choice. Each 14 day window begins on a Monday. For instance, if you choose May 5th as your shipping window your plants will ship between May 5th and May 17th.

 

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, as you wish.

Custom Grown Plants For Winter

If you live in Arizona, Texas or Florida in zone 11, or are a greenhouse grower, you may custom-order winter tomato plants or choose from the varieties in The Fall-Winter List which is right above The Big List here: Our Tomato Varieties.

Please place your custom plant orders at least 80 days before your desired planting time so we have time to start your plants. Call or email Laurel for availability; custom seeds will be started just for you by our VIP (Very Important Plant) specialist, in time for your plant-out date. 310 534 8611

 

Tomato Sandwiches!

This season we are having a great time collecting tomato sandwich recipes from our customers all over the US. Do you have a favorite way to prepare the perfect tomato sandwich?

 

Seems everyone prefers a certain way to make them. Some recipes are regional, some are passed from generation to generation. What's the best tomato to use? The perfect lettuce ? The perfect bread? Toasted? No? Which brand of mayo? Bacon? What brand? Onion? Avocado? Cheese? Salt & Pepper? More? Less?

 

If you are a new or returning customer we will post your recipe on our new page. We will include your first name, or your whole name if you like, and your state.

Please Email your recipe to tomatoplants@pacbell.net and we will post it at the new page we've created just for tomato sandwich recipes. I posted mine first so don't be shy. Send your recipes! Here's the link:  The Best Tomato Sandwich!

 

Consultations

In past years Laurel has been able to spend lots of time consulting with our valued customers talking about everything from tomatoes to planting tips, soil preparation, trellising, fertilizers, etcetera. We know how important it is to get good advice and we want to be able to continue offering expert advice about choosing plants and gardening tips. Unfortunately, the overwhelming increase in orders this year has Laurel working from 6 am to 10 pm most days and has forced us to make a slight policy change.

 

For all customers, we are happy to offer consultations of up to 10 minutes are at no charge whatsoever.

 

For extended consultations, fees apply as follows:

 

If you are not ready to place your order but calling for consultation with Laurel, the first 10 minutes are at no cost. For consultations of more than 10 minutes, including ideas regarding the best varieties for your growing conditions or climate, or about soil conditions, trellising and critter problems, etcetera, our fee is $12.50.

 

If, after placing your order, you would like extended consultation with Laurel of more than 10 minutes regarding your plants and garden, our fee is $12.50.

 

 

      Contact Us

        Phone: 310-534-8611 

       Fax: 310 602 6338

           Hablamos Español

Telephone Hours: 

Monday - Friday, 9 am to 5 pm, Saturday, 9 am to 12 pm., Pacific Time.

 

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

 

Tomatoplants@pacbell.net  

 

Mailing address:

Heirloom Tomato Plants

 

1725 W. 257th St

 

Lomita CA 90717

 

 

Please: Plants are available for pick-up by appointment only.

 

We do not have a retail store or walk-in hours.

 

Please call to schedule an appointment. 310 534 8611

 

 

     

     

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 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, in the style and wording you choose. 

Your Personalized Gift Certificate can be presented in two formats.

1. In flat format in a full sized 9" x 11" white presentation envelope.

2. As a scroll tied with beaded leather cord, beaded sisal cord, or with ribbon the color of your choice, in a white presentation box. For formal events, weddings, etc. we use a wide, iridescent, translucent butterscotch raffia with pale gold parchment and special beads to compliment the ribbon color. No extra charge.

 

      

 

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. $5.50 for flat format, $10.50 for scrolled format with the tie of your choice. See photos above. The beaded leather or sisal will have more beads than shown in the photograph included colorful glass, wood, leather and bone beads. Scrolled certificates ship in a box and require additional postage of $4.85. 

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. $10.50 for flat format. In scrolled format, $12.50. Scrolled certificates ship in a box and require additional postage of $4.85. For more than 3 pages of photographs, additional cost is $2.00 per page.

The Custom Created Gift Certificate 

These very special certificates are custom created for you by Laurel with the design style you select, depicting your recipient's hobbies or travel destinations or favorite memories, poems, color scheme, garden plants, quotes or photographs you provide for reproduction. Just let Laurel know what you would like. $18.50 and up.

Shipping charges will be included, so your recipient will be free to relax and choose from more than 150 varieties of heirloom tomato plants, basil plants and garden products. Plant cost will be averaged at $5.25 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 $30.00.

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 in flat format, $5.50 plus postage of $1.85.  

The Scrolled Personalized Gift Certificate on Parchment tied with beaded leather, beaded sisal or ribbon in the color of your choice, shipped in a box, $8.50 to $12.50 plus postage of $4.85

The Personalized Gift Certificate on Parchment with Detailed Descriptions and Full Color Photographs, $10.50.  If scrolled, $12.50 with postage of $4.85.

The Custom Created Gift Certificates, $18.50 and up.

The Emailed certificate. You can print this one yourself. Please use beautiful paper; our certificates are specifically designed for parchment, vellum or rag in a creamy color. $5.50

"Just call or email to tell me what you have in mind. I'll make it for you." ~ Laurel

310 534-8611

    Need Heirloom Tomato Seeds?

 

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

Click for 600 varieties of heirloom tomato seeds! https://store.TomatoFest.com/

Visit Carmel TomatoFest®,  the world's largest and finest selection of more than 500 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, and tickets to Carmel TomatoFest, the world's finest family tomato event.

Tomato Health Facts:

http://www.TomatoFest.com/tomato_health_facts.html 

 

Tomato Growing Help

Questions? Disease or Insect Problems? Need advice about cultivation? Everything you need to know about growing tomatoes, from my friend and tomato expert, Keith Mueller. Click here to visit The Online Tomato Vine: 

http://www.kdcomm.net/~tomato/

 

 

Do You Like Fried Green Tomatoes?

 Click the link for the world's best (and my favorite) breading mix.

www.timfishbreading.com 

It's from Iowa.

Favorite Links ~ click for some great resources!

"You need more tomatoes."© ...Laurel

COPYRIGHT INFORMATION

For specific and detailed attributions and copyright information, please see full details at the bottom of 'Our Tomato Varieties' page. Photos from this website may not be used without express written permission:  Our Tomato Varieties

All original materials, photos and copy contained herein are protected by copyright and are the sole property of Laurel Garza/Laurel's Heirloom Tomato Plants www.heirloomtomatoplants.com , or of Gary Ibsen, owner of Carmel TomatoFest® www.TomatoFest.com , or of Jimmy Williams/Hayground Organic Gardening, or of Cynthia Sanberg/Love Apple Farm  www.loveapplefarm.biz, or of Lisa VonSaunder www.amishlandheirloomseeds.com , or of Ruby 'Boo' Gangloff . These photographs may not be copied or reproduced in any way without express permission of the above named person holding ownership of said photographs. Unlawful use of any photograph(s) contained herein without express written permission will result in prosecution to the fullest extent of copyright law.

If you wish to ask permission to use photographs from this website as a teaching tool or for a personal album or for demonstration purposes, but not for selling seeds or selling plants, please call or email Laurel for detailed information: 310 534-8611 tomatoplants@pacbell.net

 

All rights reserved. 2001-2008