Grow a Beautiful Basketful of Heirloom Tomatoes in Your Garden

Part of the Fall Harvest

In this photograph I took on September 2nd, you will see some of our 130 varieties including our new favorite for 2009, Brown Derby, along with Yellow Brandywine, Black Zebra, Paul Robeson, Japanese Black Trifele, Black Cherry, Green Zebra, Hillbilly, Black Plum, Sun Gold (a delightful hybrid), Green Grape, Tangella, Azoychka, Green Giant, Gary Ibsen's Gold, Big Beef, Sara Black, Striped German, Valencia, Gardener's Delight, Costoluto Genovese, Marianna's Peace, Brandywine OTV, Kellogg's Breakfast, Julia Child, and Eva Purple Ball.

These wonderful tomatoes are as easy to grow as the common hybrid varieties and need no special care other than fluffy, deeply amended, healthy soil, lots of sunshine, 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 about 100 choices 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 fall-winter climates are usually available year round. Call for availability.

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.

 

 

Vacation Schedule and Ordering Plants for 2011

We will be closed for our 2010 vacation (and to update the website with our new varieties) from August 16th to September 6th.

On September 7th the new Big List for 2011 will be posted including some new-to-the-list fabulous heirloom tomato choices for 2011 along with your old favorites.

Ordering for next season's shipping will begin on that day at 9:00 am Pacific time.

As in years past, all customers who order on September 7th and 8th will receive a valuable gift with their orders.

Laurel and the Tomato Elves.

 

 

                                                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 5" 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 (and copied exactly by one of our competitors--quite a compliment), 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 San Marzano Redorta, some thick and hearty like Blue Ridge Mountain, Earl's Faux, Boondocks, Stupice and Marianna's Peace and everywhere in-between, in varying shades of green. Some plants can reach 7 to 8 feet, with vines up to 15 feet or more, 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.

 

Tomato Love

Chompin' a 3 lb. Zogola Tomato

 

Ordering Your Plants for 2011

Ordering For 2011 begins on September 7th.

Order early! Order volume is lightest from September to the end of January. After that the big rush begins and it can be challenging to get the shipping period you want.

Call or email your order to reserve your plants and choose your shipping period. After March 15th, orders are taken by telephone only and by then call volume is extreme so please call until you get through -- like 'psycho' calling.  :).

The new list for 2010 has been posted. After attending tomato tastings across the country, we have brought home seeds of some fabulous new-to-the-list varieties along with the old favorites.

 

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 when it arrives or have any advice, grumblings (or compliments  :) , please call or email us right away and we will do whatever it takes to make you happy!   310 534 8611

Laurel

 

 

Laurel holding a Flamme tomato.

Life is good. Eat more tomatoes!

In Lycopersicon Veritas,

~ Laurel

 

 

Sorry! As of August 12th all summer plants are sold out.  We do not have any plants in stock now but expect to have our new crop ready for late fall and winter shipping. 

Please call Laurel at the end of October to see what's available. 310 534 8611

 

New Varieties for 2011 Coming September 7th!

 

 

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

 

1. Take a look at The Big List of tomato plant varieties below -- or the categorized links -- and make a list of the plants you need. Minimum order is one plant. You can order any number of plants you want. (Orders of more than 64 plants receive a volume discount.)

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

3. Choose your shipping period from the list above.

 

Telephone: (310) 534-8611. 

 

Summer and fall office hours are :

 

Monday through Wednesday, 10 am to 2 pm Pacific Time.

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 

Payment is made when you place your order.  This reserves your shipping period.

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

 

 

To Order By Email or FAX

 

 

Email: tomatoplants@pacbell.net

 

FAX #  310 494 0518 Our FAX line is secure for credit card numbers.

 

NOTE: Order early! Ordering began September 8th. During mid March, April and May, orders are taken by telephone only. Please keep trying until you get through as we get more than 30 calls per 5 minute period during that time.

 

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

 

Payment is made when you place your order. This reserves your shipping period.

 

Make a list of your plants alphabetically, along with fertilizers, books, etc. from our Growing Tips and Garden Products page Growing Tips and Garden Products  (Please don't send it with prices or in a spreadsheet format, just a simple list using the format below. Thanks!)

 

Choose your 15 day shipping period from the list above and email with:

 

1. Your name

2. Your address

3. Your 'anytime' telephone number

4. Your email address

5. Your preferred shipping period.

6. Some alternate plant choices in case a plant is too small to ship.

 

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

 

1. Laurel, please choose an appropriate alternate for me.

2. A second plant of one on my list.

3. Store Credit Plus (a certificate for 2 free plants next season.)

4. A refund.

 

We will email your invoice, you call us with payment information to reserve your plants.

NOTE: From mid March through April and May, orders are taken by telephone only.

 

Important Information

 

VERY IMPORTANT:  After we receive your order we will acknowledge it with an order number and cost. This takes up to 4 days. You will then call us with credit card information and we'll send a copy of your receipt by email. Please check your receipt carefully to be sure the information is accurate. If there is an error in the shipping address and you have not corrected it, we may have a wrong shipping address, your plants will get lost and we cannot re-ship without a new order being placed.  :(

 

If you do not get your receipt within 2 days of talking to Laurel, please call to be sure we have your correct email address.  Thank you ~ Laurel

 

 

 

Summer and fall office hours are :

 

Monday through Wednesday, 10 am to 2 pm Pacific Time.

 

We will be closed from August 16th through September 6th, 2010.

 

 

To Order Heirloom Tomato Seeds

Click here for seeds: www.tomatofest.com This will take you to TomatoFest® for more than 500 varieties of organically grown heirloom tomato seeds! 

 

       

Photographs by Gary Ibsen/Tomatofest.com

 

When Will My Plants Ship?

Shipping begins about March 30th. (or as soon as Laurel determines the plants are big enough to travel; it could be later) and continues throughout the spring, summer, fall and winter. 

Your delivery will be scheduled during a 2 week period 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 10th as your shipping period, your plants will ship between May 10th and May 22nd. Orders are shipped on a first in, first out basis.

 

Expedited Shipping

 

For exact day shipping or for expedited shipping, fees range from $30.00 and up depending on the number of plants in your order. Please call to make arrangements. 310 534 8611

 

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. 

 

Tomatoes are a Hot Weather Crop. Don't Plant in Cold Soil!

If you choose earlier shipment, you risk the chance of cold soil and cold air triggering dormancy, undermining the health of your plants and setting back their growth progress, reducing and delaying your harvest. This can cause stunted growth, uneven ripening and low production during the season.

Two to three weeks after your last frost date is usually the best time to plant. Wait for the warm weather when soil temperatures are above 50º; 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 80 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 normally available during the fall and winter from late August through February. Custom orders are welcome; please see information below for custom grown plants.

 

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 at least 32 - 36 inches apart in rows at least 4 feet apart.

For example, a garden bed 6' by 15' will accommodate no more than 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 priced from $4.95 to $6.95; some of our very rare plants are priced higher. Plant prices are next to their names on The Big List below. Shipping is not included in the plant price.

Minimum order is 6 plants. 

      Sun Gold

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 and June we will not be able to consult with you regarding the variety we substitute. During this period of 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 noted in your order or choose an alternate for you.

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 and shipping weight can vary.

Since we start new seeds every 2 weeks there is a wide range of plant sizes. A plant can weigh from 12 oz. to 2 lbs. and be from 6" to 20" tall This means variable shipping weights and dimensions, so your order is taken by telephone or email so we can determine accurate shipping cost using these factors. 

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.

 

When To Order 

 

Please order early. Waiting until after February to place your order means you may not get the shipping period you want or the plants you want.

 

Ordering begins September 8th at 10:00 am Pacific Time.

 

Our shipping schedule fills up early and quickly for the shipping periods during April, May and June. Although we will have a great selection of plants, we may be fully booked for the week you want.

 

Your delivery will be scheduled during a 2 week period beginning on a Monday for your desired spring or summer planting time (or fall and winter for zones 10, 10b and 11.) 

For instance, if you choose May 3rd as your shipping period your plants will ship between May 3rd and May 15th.

 

Shipping usually begins in late March, as soon as the plants are big enough to travel, and continues throughout the entire year. Your plants will be shipped during the period you select -- as long as that period is still available and the plants are big enough. The ordering rush begins in mid-March with many thousands of plants being ordered and shipped. Order early.

 

 

When Will My Plants Ship?

 

Spring and summer shipping begins in March and continues throughout the spring and summer, extending into mid September and 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.

 

We do not ship the plants until they are big enough to travel, so first shipping may be later than March 30th.

 

Please order early to reserve your plants and shipping window.

 

Picking Up Your Plants -- by appointment only.

 

Do you live or work in Southern California?

 

Plants will be ready in late March or early April and throughout spring an summer.

 

Please call ahead for an appointment. 310 534 8611. Pick-up hours are arranged for Fridays from 11 to 5 pm, Saturdays after 4 pm 2, or Sundays during sales, 11 to 2 pm. Alternate hours can be arranged for orders of 20 plants or more.

 

From April through September we have plants for sale here at our nursery on Sundays.

 

Click to see: Our 2010 Plant Sale Dates

 

Laurel's Blend Olive Oil, My Favorite 

 

(Laurel is 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:

Monday

August 12th, 2010

 

 

 Our New Tomato Varieties for 2010

We have added some delicious varieties for 2010! They include Japanese Yellow Truffle, Goldman's Italian-American, Blood Gulch, Rainbow Tears, Cherokee Green, White Beauty, Summer Cider, The Dutchman, Hartman's Yellow Gooseberry, Valhalla, Grandfather Ashlock, Georgia Streak, Yellow Zebra, Big Zebra, Purple Brandywine, Purple Prince and Bull's Heart.

Photographs and descriptions are in The Big List below.

 

Big Zac will be back for 2010. 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 variety Goose Creek is also back in stock for 2010, along with my all time favorite, Paul Robeson, and a big hit from last year, Chocolate Amazon, a magnificent black tomato.

 

We will also have our 2 new delicious and beautiful introductions from last season, Brown Derby and Neves Azorean Red. This year I have saved a lot of seed so we will have plenty of Brown Derby plants for those who were so disappointed to miss out last season.

 

 

Part of Our Home Garden Harvest

A Guide to the Symbols used in The Big List, below

 

(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 96º. Pollen normally becomes sterile above 96º.

 

  Shown to be extra heat tolerant. Produces well at 95º temperatures.

   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. These tomato plants need night temperatures consistently above 45º 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.  The dwarf varieties can be grown in 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.

 

F/C  This denotes a tomato that grows well in foggy coastal areas but also does beautifully in full sun.

 

(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 2010!  This means we are offering these varieties this year for the first time. Not necessarily a 'new' variety.

 

 

 

Our 2010 Tomato Varieties by Category 

 

 

 

(Please see The Big List below for our

2010 varieties.)

 

 

New Varieties for 2010 

Our 2010 Plant Sale Dates Please join us for our Sunday Sales here at the nursery all summer! (Please check back for sale dates)

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

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 600 varieties of organically grown heirloom tomato seeds.)

Favorite Links ...some excellent resources!

Favorite Tomato Recipes  Great Recipes for your heirloom tomatoes; please send us your favorite recipe!

The Best Tomato Sandwich Recipes from our customers; please send us yours!

What Our Customers Say  And some photographs of their gardens

Laurel's Blend Olive Oil, My Favorite!  NEW!

                        

 

 

 

Cherry Tomato Bliss

 

 

 

 

All varieties in The Big List are sold out as of the end of August 12th :(

 

Please call Laurel after September 8th for a list of the plants we will have in November. 310 534 8611

 

The Big List for 2010

Our 130 Tomato Plant Varieties, A to Z

All varieties are indeterminate unless noted (D)

  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 lb. to 2 lb. deep dark pink fruit with luxurious flavor and sets fruit readily in hot weather. The original seeds were discovered in 1884 by James Lyde Williamson in the debris after the big Ohio River flood of 1884 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 famous old time 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.

Amana Orange ($4.95)    (BB) 80 days. This huge, extremlely 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.

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 and one of the finest of the oxheart tomatoes. The 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.  

 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.

 

 

Aussie  ($4.95) 82 days.   This big Australian heirloom plant produces a heavy yield of 1 to 2 lb. deep-red, round, meaty, bold-flavored beefsteak tomatoes, sometimes ribbed or lobed as in the photograph, always richly flavorful. Perfect for sandwiches and fresh eating, or right off the vine chomping-- great show tomato! The plant has also been shown to be very disease resistant and productive.

 

 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.

 Berkeley Tie Dye ($6.25) 80 days.    This rare and exotic fruit with big, bold, luscious flavors looks just like its name implies with spectacular showy streaks and swirls of green and yellow, red and orange, with green and red patterning inside and out. From 8 to 12 ounces, chefs nationwide are ordering these plants for their restaurant gardens  -- tomato lovers are clamoring for this fabulous variety.

Berkeley Tie Dye is another fabulous variety from talented tomato breeder Brad Gates of Wild Boar Farms here in California. 

Photograph used here with the kind permission of Brad Gates.

A portion of the proceeds of Berkeley Tie Dye will be donated to TACA, Talk About Curing Autism, in the names of two very handsome, winsome young fellows. www.talkaboutcuringautism.org 

Big Beef  ($4.95) (VE)    72 days. This awesome, big-flavored heirloom tomato offers huge yields of 12 oz. old-time, grand-flavored, yummy 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 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 ($7.95) 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.

New for 2010!  Big Zebra ($4.95)85 days.     This spectacular fruit is the largest of the Zebras.  Weighing up to 2 pounds, the ripe fruits are orangey-red and green on the outside and dazzling green and pink on the inside.  Growing abundantly on a huge plant, these tomatoes are absolutely loaded with deliciously robust flavors. A real show-stopper when ripening the colorful fruits of Big Zebra will astonish passers-by and become a showpiece in your garden.

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) F/C (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. These guys got eaten moments after the photograph was taken.  :)

 Black Ethiopian ($4.95) F/C    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. 

  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 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. 

    Black Plum  ($4.95) 75 days. F/C  (E) (P-S) This marvelous plant offers a very heavy production of rich, sweet, fruity, elongated, mahogany plum-shaped 3" fruits that fall into your hands by the dozens as you pick them. This one is outstanding eaten fresh, or sliced in a salad, with a rich smoky sweetness and a delicate touch of tartness to its creamy flesh, it makes a fabulous and perfectly balanced sauce or paste and is becoming a great favorite for canning. I like it fresh off the vine for straight-up garden snackin'. First place winner at the TomatoMania tasting of 2002.

 

 

 

 

  Black Prince ($5.25) F/C    (E) (SM) 70 days. Black Prince is the true Siberian tomato. 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. Black Prince has become a favored tomato among the best gardeners and chefs of America and throughout the world.

 

 

 

 

  Black Ruffles  aka Tim's Black Ruffles ($4.95)   85 days. In dazzling jewel-like shades of deepest dark purple, with the sweet smoky flavor of the finest black tomatoes, Black Ruffles is a cross of Black Krim and Zapotec Pleated. The depth of color in this luscious fruit is unequaled in the tomato world. Reaching up to 3-4" across and up to 12 ounces, it's amazingly prolific and produces like crazy right up until frost--its unique coloring and magnificent flavor make it real show-stopper.

Seeds of this exquisite black pleated tomato were sent to me by my sweet friend Lisa Von Saunder, owner of Amishland Heirloom Seeds in Pennsylvania. Lisa has graciously let me use her photograph here.

Check out her unusual vegetable and flower seed varieties: www.amishlandseeds.com 

 

 

Black Sara ($4.95) (E)    78 days. A fabulous New Jersey heirloom tomato! Flavor is out-of-this-world. The fruits are luscious: 3-inch pink-purple fruit with dark green shoulders and beautiful, unusual deep slate-purple streaks throughout the fruit. Marvelous flavor with a sweet and earthy background that lingers in your mouth. A Laurel's exclusive.

 

 

 

 

  Black Sea Man ($4.95) 75 days (D)    So many customers have gone wild over this tomato that I have decided to include it for 2009 as one of our premier varieties. A Russian tomato, the smallish determinate plants produce an enticing mahogany color fruit with olive green shoulders when mature.

Inside, the flesh is deep dark red with a beautiful hint of dark green and loaded with full-bodied, complex, intense, creamy tomato flavors.  Wonderful for medium sized (10 to 15 gallon) containers, Black Sea Man has entered the running for the best black tomato in the world.

 

 

   Black Zebra ($4.95) F/C   75 days. This stunning, perfectly round 1½" to 2" fruit with tender, deep dark red to caramel colored skin beneath vertical dark green and mahogany  streaks is the favorite tomato of Amazing Terry. Black Zebra has opulent, rich flavor with hints of smoke and sweetness, a big favorite around here which somehow disappear mysteriously from the plants as soon as they ripen.

 

 

 

 Bloody Butcher ($4.95) F/C (EE)   52 days. This marvelous early ripening fruit has an unmatched, spectacular deep red hue--juicy with an intense lingering flavor. The 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. A favorite for canning .

 

New for 2010!      Blood Gulch ($6.95)    85 to 90 days. Wow! This tomato is my new favorite. Cut into this magnificent fruit to reveal the deepest, darkest, blood-red flesh I've ever seen in a tomato. Decadent and delicious! A deep reddish-purple with luminescent green streaking, this 2 to 3 ounce fruit is an offspring of a pure platinum-silver tomato with darker silver stripes.  This beautifully bizarre and stunning tomato is descended from that silver tomato discovered by Krystal Elser in a patch of Black Zebras.  Krystal saved 8 seeds, 2 germinated. Grown out and stabilized, two delightful varieties resulted from that silver pearlescent fruit. Blood Gulch and Valhalla , also available this season. This is how a lot of the heirlooms came about. Mother Nature at her best!  A Laurel's exclusive.

 

This photograph of Blood Gulch is the property of Krystal Elser or Elser's Country Farms and used here with her very kind permission. www.elserscountryfarm.com

 

 

 Blue Fruit ($4.95) 76 days.     Astonishing color and sublime flavor make this 2”- 3” round, purplish-gray, almost blue tomato a rare and wonderful surprise for your garden. Averaging about 8 ounces, with all the enticing flavor of the legendary black tomatoes, its unmatched color makes it a real delight. Growing on a potato-leafed plant, Blue Fruit is rich and smoky, easy to grow and very prolific. A Laurel's exclusive.

 

 

 

  Boondocks  ($4.95) (B) 72 days. These big beauties are a bright reddish pink with green shoulders, and have a superbly rich flavor, luscious, high in both sugar and acid. Fruits are from 1 to 2 lbs. each, very smooth in shape, growing on a huge plant with the biggest potato type leaves I've seen on a tomato plant--huge leaves.  Boondocks is often compared to Brandywine but produce more tomatoes than most Brandywines, especially in the humid South and areas with very hot summer climates.

 

 

 

  Box Car Willie ($4.95) 80 days.    This New Jersey variety produces an abundance of 12 to 16-ounce, smooth, bright-red fruits with a beautiful orange glimmer. These excellent tasting tomatoes are very juicy, dependably tasty and abundant throughout the season, Box Car Willie is a staple in many home gardens. Most likely named for the country western singer, it has excellent resistance to disease and cracking, very easy to grow. Bred by Joe Bratka's father.

 

 

 

Bragger  ($5.25) 80 days. This is the old time Bragger tomato so many folks have been trying to find for years. This gorgeous ,passionately flavored, big, one to two lb. red juicy tomato has been a long-ago memory for many gardeners --but now it's back.  You may have heard stories from old time gardeners about Bragger, its heavy production and sublime flavor.  I have spent many years tracking down the seeds and have finally found them; now you can grow Bragger in your home garden.

It is truly a classic old fashioned grand flavored tomato and grows well in all climates.  Warm weather and rich soil will encourage a heavy harvest and the best flavor!

Bragger photograph is the property of Gene Steinman and used here with his kind permission.  A Laurel's exclusive.

 

 

 

 

 

Brandywine OTV ($4.95)  (B) (E)  72 days. A truly marvelous stand-out member of the great family of Brandywines, this one arose in Craig LeHoullier's garden years ago. Big 1 pound red fruits with orange shoulders and complex rich flavors. An outstanding tomato for your garden; it also sets fruit very well during high temperatures and bears all season. A reliable producer, very disease resistant, and easy to grow; OTV stands for Off The Vine, which was a wonderful online tomato newsletter published by Carolyn Male and Craig LeHoullier.  They describe this tomato as "the best strain of Brandywine set apart from others by its smooth, creamy, almost buttery texture, and harmonious sweet flavor." It originated from a natural cross-pollination of Yellow Brandywine and an unknown red parent, and was further developed and stabilized by Carolyn Male. 

 

 

 

  Brandywine Red, Landis Valley Strain ($4.95)   ((HG) (E) 78 days. This old time legendary and very special strain of Red Brandywine is named for Brandywine Creek and comes from Chester County Pennsylvania where it originated in 1885. These big, vigorous vines produce 8 -12 ounce, deep bright-red round fruits in clusters of 4 to 6. Outstanding, prolific, robust, with intense tomato flavor which stands up to its legendary 100 year history. Among my favorites. (This is a different strain from regular Red Brandywine which is slightly larger, later and more ribbed.)

 

 

 

 

Brandywine, Pink ($4.95) 82 days. (B)  (HG)  This is the first heirloom tomato to achieve cult-like adoration in the world of tomato lovers. From Legendary tomato seedsman Ben Quisenberry of Ohio, this variety has been around for 100 years and was Ben's favorite tomato.

 

This is thought to be the old-time original Brandywine tomato. Many gardeners consider this strain the best Brandywine of all, with fruit that is superior in taste and smoothness. Its tomatoes are indeed special, 1 to 2 pound reddish-pink beefsteaks with the delectably complex, rich, sweet flavor that has made Brandywine justifiably famous. Legendary for its big, succulent overwhelming deliciousness, it is the tomato to which other heirlooms are compared. "Is it as good as Brandywine?" Not as high yielding as some other varieties, but each fruit is a treasure.  Most folks buy more than one plant to get enough of this delightful fruit. Not a high producer, but oh so delicious; it's wise to get 2 plants.

 

 

 

New for 2010!  Brandywine, Purple ($4.95) 75 days. So many customers have asked for this fabulous variety that I am including it for 2010. With classic, rich Brandywine flavor, yet a deeper purple hue, meaty texture, about 3" to 4" and 12 to 16 ounces. Delicious robust flavors make Purple Brandywine a tantalizing treat in your tomato patch.

 

 

 

 

  Brandywine Yellow, Platfoot Strain ($4.95) 85 days.   (B) From Gary Platfoot of Ohio, this magnificent big 1 to 2 pound brightly-colored smooth-shaped yellow tomato with marvelous complex taste is a special strain of Yellow Brandywine which has a higher yield than regular Yellow Brandywine and offers the same elaborate, delicious tomato flavor. Gardeners who try this variety continue to grow it in their gardens.  Disease resistant and very easy to grow. It's a classic. I love it.

 

 

 

 Brown Berry (also being sold as Chocolate Cherry) ($4.95) 72 days. The first brown cherry tomato, Brown Berry yields an exceptionally large crop of chocolate colored 1" cherry tomatoes. Semi-sweet, elaborate flavors finish with a fine hint of tang just over its fruity sweetness.  Wonderfully juicy and a great snacking tomato!  Adds another layer of color and flavor to your cherry tomato presentation.

 

 

 

 

Brown Derby (Elser's) ($6.25) 75 days.  My absolute favorite discovery this season, no contest. Combining the sweet succulence of the black tomatoes and the tangy spiciness of the greens, this is a spectacular cross of my all-time favorite, Paul Robeson, and the legendary Aunt Ruby's German Green.

It arose about 5 years ago in the garden of Maria & Darrell Elser of Elser's Country Farm in Yucaipa, California and they have been selling it to adoring customers at their Southern California heirloom tomato farm stands for several years. The flavor is tantalizing--tart and sweet, a perfect combination of tang to sweetness with plenty of juice and a rapturous brown and green color. When Amazing Terry and I first tasted it in August, our eyes got wide, we grinned and  stared at each other with the 'Oh-my-God-this-is-incredible' look.  I could barely believe my mouth.

Elser's Brown Derby has become a much sought after favorite at Maria and Darrell's Farmer's Market stands  where customers arrive early to get their hands on one of these treasures. I had to scramble to get this one. True story. I picked it up, another customer implored me, but I did not budge, wouldn't give it up. I wanted it for the photograph because it was so beautiful. Then we ate it.  A Laurel's exclusive.

 (This fruit is not related to Tom Wagner's Brown Derby line, arose independently from that line and was named without knowledge of it.)

 

 

   Camp Joy ($4.95) F/C      80 days. Fantastic! This delightful 1” prolific cherry tomato has big-time elaborate tomato flavor. Along with excellent disease resistance, it produces an abundance of luscious little gems in your garden all season. Perfect for salads and snacking; Camp Joy is one of Gary Ibsen’s favorite cherry tomatoes and one of my favorites from our 2007 TomatoFest tasting experience. I give it 5 stars out of 5.

 

 

Carbon  ($4.95) 78 days. This big hearty plant produces a prolific harvest of gorgeous 10 to 14 oz, beautiful deep purple/brown tomatoes, many darker than the photograph here, making carbon among the darkest of the black tomatoes with delicious, rich, sweet complex flavor. Because of its high production and outstanding award-winning flavor--it placed first in a Cornell University tasting--it is in great demand in the tomato loving community and among market gardeners whose customers are in search of the finest black tomatoes.

 

 

 

  Carmello  ($4.95)       (E) 75 days. An extremely popular French tomato. This one has become a great favorite among my customers. A very reliable and bountiful producer of heavy, juicy, 8 oz. red fruits with immense flavor, this plant is among the most prolific ever bred, and produces so many fruits; you will be giving them away by the basketful. The Carmello plant in my garden proved to be disease resistant, and produced through late December with night temperatures about 42 degrees. The flavor alone puts it in my top 10. Wait 'til you see all the tomatoes on this plant; bring the big harvest basket. The photograph above, and at the bottom of the Growing Tips page, is of a Carmello fruit which grew into 'twins'-- 2 fruits connected to each other at the stem, and grown from one blossom.  

 

 

 

  Cerise Orange   ($4.95) 70 days. (E) (Ch) Cerise Orange, French for Orange Cherry, is rapidly becoming a favored cherry tomato among tomato lovers and especially chefs worldwide. 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, Gold Currant and Peacevine, they are being used by chefs worldwide to create a spectacular edible miniature tomato display for restaurants and special events. 

 

 

 

 

Cherokee Chocolate  ($4.95) 75 days.    This gorgeous tomato is sweet, rich and luscious, with a very distinctive dark chocolate mahogany hue, and brownish-black shoulders. 12 ounces and plentiful on the vine; this  stunning beauty which arose as spontaneous 'rogue' tomato in Craig LeHoullier's garden several years ago. Craig stabilized it and now this 4-inch beefsteak variety has developed a great following among celebrity chefs because of its exceptionally rich color and flavor.

 

 

 

New for 2010! Cherokee Green   ($5.25) 75 days. Another marvelous tomato from Craig LeHoullier. As Craig was growing out Cherokee Chocolate, one plant gave him ripe fruit which remained green! Growing on a big leafy plant, Cherokee Green fruits reach to 12" to 16" ounces and deliver the classic knock-out flavor and probably in the top 3 of the green varieties. Amber green with a yellow hue when ripe, they deliver a tangy rich sweet taste with meaty juicy texture.

 

 

 

 

Cherokee Purple ($4.95) (HG) (E) 75 days. A legendary and beautiful tomato, at least 100 years old and said to be grown by the Cherokee People. 12 oz. deep dark dusky rose-purple, deep red inside, with sweet, rich and smoky, luscious flavor. Cherokee Purple is a garden staple, in everyone's favorite list for a good reason-- disease resistant, reliable and easy to grow, and great one for your heirloom or heritage garden. Seeds were sent to Craig Lehoullier by JD Green of Tennessee who got them from a neighbor whose family had grown them for more than 100 years.  In 1990 Craig named it Cherokee Purple.

 

 

 

 

   Chocolate Amazon  aka Amazon Chocolate ($5.25) 80 days. This exceedingly rare, beautiful and incredibly delicious variety is the first tomato that I can say rivals my all-time favorite, Paul Robeson. Everyone who tastes it goes mad with tomato love and says it is the best tasting tomato they have ever tried, bar none. The flavor of this deep chocolate-brown tomato, as described by Lisa of Amishland Heirloom Seeds, " a distinctive, winey, smoky, rich taste and fabulous color."  Lisa was the first to offer seeds of Chocolate Amazon which were sent to her by her Ukrainian friend, Sergey. Double the size of most other black tomatoes, reaching 1 lb. or more, extremely prolific and pumping out sweet, luscious, juicy tomatoes right into the cooler weather, Chocolate Amazon is in our top three discoveries for your 2009 garden. Lisa's beautiful photographs are used here with her kind permission.  A Laurel's exclusive.

She has some really unusual vegetable and flower seeds from all over the world. Check it out:  www.amishlandseeds.com 

 

 

 

 

  Chocolate Stripes  ($5.25) 78 days.     This big gorgeous yummy 4" fruit was among the top 3 favorites at TomatoFest 2007. Chocolate Stripes is a stunning mahogany with swirls and streaks of deepest dark olive-green, almost black, inside and out, and a flavor similar to Black Zebra which stands up to the best of the blacks.  Smoky, rich, earthy and sweet, with a silken texture, Chocolate Stripes is taking the tomato world by storm. Growing on a really big plant and standing up to cooler weather, it continues to produce well into fall.

 

 

 

 

Clint Eastwood's Rowdy Red  ($5.25) (HG) (E) 78 days. From Gary Ibsen, owner of Carmel TomatoFest, "Clint Eastwood's Rowdy Red is a deep-red, round, beefsteak  type fruit with a robust unruly tomatoey flavor and firm, juicy flesh that invites tomato feasting and seed-saving. The tall, indeterminate, very disease resistant plant produces loads of 3" to 4", 10-12 oz. fruits. "

 

"This is one of those big, bold tasting tomatoes that is not for sissies," said Ibsen. "Although it has some of the highest sugar levels I've ever seen from a tomato, the sweetness is in the background and its fruity flavors are balanced beautifully with plenty of acidity, earthy nuances and flavor complexity. It's a perfect tomato for eating fresh, cooking or canning."

 

"Clint Eastwood's Rowdy Red has proven resistant to several of the most common tomato diseases: verticillium wilt, fusarium wilt, nematodes and tobacco mosaic virus."

"Within the hundreds of varieties of heirloom tomatoes I've grown each year has been a selection of previously undistributed, un-named varieties, the seeds of which have been handed down within different families from around the country for generations, then tucked into letters from gardeners wanting to share their legacy with me."  

"For years I've wanted pay tribute to our neighbor Clint Eastwood for the generosity he's bestowed upon our Carmel-Monterey community, for his actions to preserve the natural beauty of our coastline and for the years of support he's given to the Carmel TomatoFest," said Gary Ibsen. With Clint's permission I chose to name it 'Clint Eastwood's Rowdy Red', after Clint's character, Rowdy Yates, from the old television series Rawhide."

"The seeds of this variety came from Archie Millett who is now 8 and living in the foothills of the Sierras. Archie was a tomato breeder with the University of California at Davis since the early 50's. Following years of crossing thousands of tomato varieties at the university to produce a disease resistant tomato with intense flavor, he retired in 1987 and continued cross breeding to enhance the flavor qualities of his favorite tomato from his small home garden."

"Archie gave me these seeds by pressing them into my palm while we were in his garden," said Ibsen. "He said, "Here Gary, these are for you. I've only shared these with friends and family. This is the best tasting tomato of my 50 years of growing tomatoes. Name it what you want, share it with others. You are the person I'd like to introduce this tomato to the public." 

Gary named this fabulous tomato for his friend and fellow environmentalist, Clint Eastwood. 

Gary Ibsen's friendship and encouragement continue to inspire my love for heirloom tomatoes. He has been my mentor and finest inspiration, and his award winning book, The Great Tomato Book, is always nearby. 

Archie Millett is a national treasure. If I have a tomato question that even Gary can't answer, he points me to Archie," Time to call Archie..." 

I called him with a question one summer. Archie's sweet wife answered and asked me to hold the phone for a moment. She called to him--he was way out in the tomato field. Gracious and kind, this wonderful 81 year old gentleman came to the phone and helped me solve my gardening question.

We are very proud to be the exclusive source for Clint Eastwood's Rowdy Red.

 

 

 

Costoluto Genovese ($4.95) F/C (P-S)   (E) 78 days. A big beautiful and classic Italian heirloom, the deeply fluted, ribbed intensely-red 8 oz. fruits are mouthwatering and utterly scrumptious.  This stunning tomato has a splendid, complex old-time flavor which makes it a perfect choice for sauce and fresh eating. Does will in high heat and cooler areas both.

 

 

 

 

  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.  

 

 

 

 

 

 Cuostraleé ($4.95) (Koo-struh-LAY) (BBB)    85 days. Big, hearty, prolific plant, with huge red beautiful beefsteak tomatoes, up to 4 lbs. I have to use both hands to pick them. Gigantic fruits have a superb, classic tomato flavor. Very easy to grow, disease resistant and a reliable producer, in my top 10 favorites. Another hot weather favorite which will grow easily and wonderfully in all gardens.

 

 

 

 

  Dagma's Perfection (DAHK - mahs) ($4.95) (E)   72 days. As described by Gary Ibsen, renowned tomato expert, gourmet, author, connoisseur, and owner of Carmel TomatoFest, who named this extraordinary tomato for his lady love. "This vigorous and abundant plant offers a bountiful harvest of medium-sized, 3" 12 oz., light yellow beefsteak fruits with beautifully delicate red striping. Deliciously flavorful with lingering sweet overtones of tropical fruit and subtle hints of lime, it is firm, juicy and elegant in the mouth. An enchanting tomato...delightful and jewel-like, just marvelous. "

Dagma's Perfection is a best seller.  

 

 

 

 

  Delicious ($4.95) (BBB)     80 days. These huge beautiful bright red globes have a magnificent flavor which stands up to their name. Delicious gives you a bountiful season-long production of scrumptious, juicy, sweet, up to 3-4 pound ribbed beefsteaks.  This grand American classic holds the current record for the world's largest tomato, a 7 lb.12 oz. fruit grown by Gordon Graham in 2001. 

 

 

 

  Dona ($4.95) (E)        75 days. This delightful French heirloom was carefully bred for discriminating French market customers, for whom great flavor and superb quality are mandatory. The bright red fruit is perfectly round and lovely with a sweet, juicy and slightly tangy aftertaste. The heavily producing plants yield 6 ounce fruits and shows very good disease resistance.  

 

 

New for 2010!  The Dutchman ($4.95) 80-85 days. (B)  I have grown plants of this huge, old pink heirloom variety as a special order for a customer who is crazy about it.  When I tasted the fruit recently (wow), I understood why he loves it. The Dutchman's luxurious silken flesh, heady fragrance and big, bold old-time luscious flavors blew me away. My eyes rolled back in my head -- I knew it was a must-grow for our 2010 variety list. Reaching 2 lbs., it is sweet, gorgeous and divine with lingering notes of melon and a subtle background of sweet lime. A Laurel's exclusive.

 

 

  Earl's Faux  (pronounced Earl's Foe) ($4.95) (E)   76 days. From Ohio, this terrific fruit won best of show at Cincinnati's famous CHOPTAG (Cincinnati Heirloom & Open Pollinated Tomato Associate Growers) Taste Fest in 2003. From among more than 50 great varieties, Earl's Faux was the hands-down winner and is now the talk of the tomato world.

It arose in 2000 in the Ohio garden of well know heirloom tomato grower Earl Cadenhead from a seed which was expected to produce Red Brandywine. To Earl's surprise, the delicious fruit grew out a beautiful pink, weighing 8 to 12 ounces, on a big hearty potato-leafed plant--a fruit which no one had seen before. Initially called Earl's Faux Red Brandywine, it is now officially named Earl's Faux.  Because of its smooth texture, and lingering flavor which has been described as a 'bases loaded home run' by the guys, and 'enchanting'  and 'a symphony' by the ladies, it has become highly prized among tomato-loving folks fortunate to have gotten some of these precious seeds. We are proud to be offering plants of this marvelous variety for the first time. Wise to order early; Earl's Faux has become a top seller. Photo used with the kind permission of Earl Cadenhead.

 

 

   

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.  

 

 

 

 Flammée aka Jaune Flammé ($4.95) F/C   (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 when the light is just right, the fruits of Flammé glow a brilliant amber against the background of deep green foliage.

 

 

 

 

Gardener's Delight (Aka Sugar Lump)($4.95) F/C  (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. 

 

 

 

 

Gary Ibsen's Gold ($4.95) 75 days. (E) Seeds for this tall, leafy variety were sent to Gary in 1990 from a gardener in Boone County, West Virginia who had been growing these for 40 years. He was given the seeds by his uncle who had grown them in Tennessee.

Gary says, "In 2006 while eating some of this fruit just off the vine, I found myself so pleased with the flavor that I said to my wife, "Now this (slurp) is my kind of gold!"

"She suggested I call it Gary Ibsen's Gold, harvest more seeds, and share it with our friends. This big plant produces lots of very juicy, 14 oz., brilliant orange-gold globes with tropical fruit flavors with enough acid balance to guarantee a burst of tomato delight." 

 

 

 

 

New for 2010! Georgia Streak ($4.95) 85 days. Sweet and fruity, this gorgeous tomato is a stunning golden yellow with brilliant streaks of red inside and out. The flavor is divine, the color is rapturous. Rich sweet juicy and meaty, its heady tropical nuance backed by a very forward and robust finish and will delight you. A gourmands treasure! From 1 to 2 lbs., this tomato from the great state of Georgia will become a favorite in your garden year after year.

 

 

 

 

  German Giant ($4.95) (BB) (E) 75 days. German Giant, an old family heirloom, produces humungous deep pink smooth tomatoes with huge luscious flavor. Sweet and juicy with a rich lingering aftertaste, it reaches 2 lbs-3 lbs. in only 75 to 78 days. Very productive with potato-leafed foliage, this fine old favorite is scrumptious!  

 

 

 

 

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

 

(Photograph of sliced Gold Dust is the property of my friend Annapet Isidoro and used with here kind permission.)

 

 

 

New for 2010!    Goldman's Italian-American ($6.95) 80 days.     Due to unprecedented customer requests, I am including this marvelous tomato for 2010. Heirloom Guru Extraordinaire, Amy Goldman, found this delightful full-figured, big-flavored tomato at a roadside stand in Cernobbio, Italy and named it after her father's Brooklyn, NY grocery store.

With very few seeds, Goldman's Italian-American is a terrific choice for cooking--makes a very silky sauce, creamy paste and adds some magic to soups and stews.  Pear shaped, blood red, juicy and meaty, growing to about 12 to 16 ounces with a beguiling ruffled shape, it is in such high demand that seeds are almost sold out everywhere. I managed to get my hands on 250 seeds only, so please order early!

 

Photograph of Goldman's Italian-American is the property of Baker Creek Seeds and used here with their gracious permission.

 

 

Goose Creek ($7.95) 75-80 days.      (HG) (E)

This delectable historical family heirloom is one of the rarest plants we offer and our top seller. The flavor and color run deep in Goose Creek, a stunning, deeply red fruit, round or slightly flattened, sometimes lobed, with occasional gold streaks or speckling, faintly visible in the photo. Juicy, very sweet and intensely tomatoey as if injected with concentrated tomato flavor, it is ambrosial. I've rarely tasted a tomato to compare. Averaging 6-7 ounces, with very few seeds; it has now made my top 3 list. 

 

This family treasure comes to us from my dear friend and edible landscape expert, Jimmy Williams, owner of Hayground Organic Gardening in California whose home garden is an enchanting escape. Jimmy and his Native Island Gullah-Geechee family are descendants of slaves brought in bondage from The Caribbean to the coastal islands of the Southern United States to grow rice for plantation owners.

The Gullah are still keepers of a fascinating culture of food, language and beloved traditions--a most extraordinary and delightful people.

The seeds of this sublime fruit have been passed down through generations since the 1800's when Jimmy's great-great grandmother, a young Caribbean slave, smuggled them with her aboard ship. When the ship docked at Charleston near Goose Creek, South Carolina, she had the treasured seeds with her, hidden deep in her skirt pocket and planted them that first spring. Jimmy's grandmother, Elouise Watson, shared this precious heirloom with him more than 45 years ago, assuring Goose Creek 's place in his family's garden for generations to come. Among its extraordinary qualities: A very high fruit yield and very few seeds. 

Along with being very heat tolerant, it shows remarkable cold-tolerance along the cooler coastal areas where the fruits continue to set and ripen through November and December. It is a wonderful choice for growing in containers.

 

Goose Creek has two distinctly different and superb flavors during two phases of its growth: when partially ripe and still showing some light green at the shoulders it has a brisk citrusy taste balanced with a fine, lingering touch of sweetness, and again at full red ripeness when it develops an intensely rich, earthy sweet flavor and luxurious, silken texture. 

Very prolific, this exquisite variety has been featured recently in Fine Cooking Magazine,  The Los Angeles Times Magazine, and Visiting with Huell Howser on PBS. This season it will be featured in Sunset Magazine, Mother Earth News, Weekend Magazine and The Victory Garden on PBS

Television.

 

Now available to the home gardener and online exclusively from Laurel's; it is a rare and exquisite selection for your table and your historical garden. A perfect gift for the tomato lover on your list.

A Laurel's exclusive.

 

Note: A portion of the proceeds from your purchase of Goose Creek are donated to Habitat For Humanity.

 

  

 

Gramma Climenhaga (Klimen-hay guh) ($4.95)  ((HG) 78 days. I am madly in love with this tomato; it has been a huge favorite of mine for years. With a luminous orange hue and brilliant, citrusy sweet flavor, it's perfectly balanced and absolutely delicious. Grown in Canada by T. McIntee's Gramma, it is easy to grow, a very reliable producer of 6 to 10 ounce meaty fruits, about 3" across, round and smooth -- a truly memorable tomato. Give this gorgeous Gramma a try!

 

 

 

 

New for 2010!  Grandfather Ashlock  -- AKA Grandpa Ashlock ($4.95) 85 days. (HG)  This extremely rare and hard to find variety was grown by the Ashlock family of Franklin, North Carolina.  Descendents of 3 Ashlock brothers who served with George Washington during the Revolutionary War, this has been their family heirloom for many, many years. Carl Ashlock and his father grew this outstanding big red fruit during the 1920's in Kentucky and shared seeds of this elegant tomato with fellow tomato growers. These hearty plants produce large, stunning, exceptionally delicious beefsteak tomatoes in the 12 to 16 ounce range.  Fabulous! 

 

 

Grape (Heirloom) ($5.25) 60 days. (EE)        This old heirloom variety is similar to the type of grape tomato found in pints of hybrid grape tomatoes at the market but has an exponentially sweeter and richer flavor. Grow it in your home garden and you won't believe the big tomato flavor you'll get from these 1" grape-shaped morsels.  Growing on a strong hearty plant, this variety produces abundantly during high heat and right up until frost and is often the first to ripen in your garden; you'll be giving them away by the basketful. Grand sweet flavor, superb production, strong disease resistant plants and crack resistant fruits make this heirloom grape tomato a real winner!

 

 

Great White  ($4.95) 85 days. (B)  Look at this beauty! This huge, 16-20 oz. creamy-white beefsteak heirloom has a dazzling pink blush on the blossom end when ripe, and wonderfully sweet, tropical melon-like flavor. Stunning on the vine, enchanting at the table. My favorite white tomato.

 

 

 

  Green Giant  ($4.95)  70 to 80 days  (E) (B)   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. 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. F/C (VE) (SM) 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. Another great one developed by my friend Tom Wagner who originally called it Green Sleeves, the 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 Sandberg, grower extraordinaire and owner of Love Apple Farm in Ben Lomond, California. www.loveapplefarm.biz  

 

   

 

  Green Zebra ($4.95) F/C (E)  72 days. Visually enchanting, abundantly productive, this 2-inch round fruit ripens to a beautiful amber gold with dark green zebra-like stripes over the amber background. Inside, the flesh is beautiful, sparkling green. Another wonderful variety from Tom Wagner, it is gorgeous to behold, tangy and deeply sweet with lingering flavors.  This exquisite tomato was chosen by chef extraordinaire, Alice Waters, for her restaurant, Chez Panisse in Berkeley, California and was among the first varieties to trigger the renewed interest in heirloom tomatoes. In my top 5.  

 

 

New for 2010!   Hartman's Yellow Gooseberry ($5.50) 75 days.(HG)      This very old variety from the 1860's is a brilliant 1" to 2 " yellow cherry tomato with big sweet flavors that explode in your mouth with an elegant irresistible pop! Just try to get more than a handful into the house after picking them fresh and warm from the summer sunshine.  A rare treat. Huge harvests! Incredibly prolific. Probably the best tasting yellow cherry and you will have enough to give them away by the basketful.

 

Hartman's Yellow Gooseberry photograph courtesy of my good friend Lisa VonSaunder of Amishland Heirloom Seeds  www.amishlandseeds.com in Pennsylvania.

Photograph of the individual fruit is the property of Gary Ibsen www.tomatofest.com                                                                                  

 

 

 

  Hawaiian Pineapple  ($4.95) (B)  90 days. A huge, breathtaking and much sought after golden-orange beefsteak with fruit that grows up to 1-1/2 lbs. When fruit is ripe it has a luscious, very rich, sweet pineapple-melon like flavor and heady tropical fragrance. Add the unusually high production of this plant, and it makes my top 10 list. A real knock-out and a top-seller. 

 

 

 

Hawaiian Currant ($4.95) (Ch) 80 days. This magnificent miniature morsel of a tomato amazed me and the other tasters at TomatoFest in September of 2003. Festival guests were going back for more, causing a traffic jam in the joyous meandering line of tomato fans. It grows in abundant grape-like clusters, each cluster holding onto its little red pea-sized fruits, until all are perfectly ripe. Be sure to snip off the entire cluster as you would with a cluster of grapes on the vine, rather than trying to get these teeny little guys off one at a time.

The flavor of Hawaiian Currant is unbelievably deep, rich, sweet, and lingering on the palette, a tiny terrific dream of a tomato.

 

 

 

 

Hillbilly ($4.95) (BB)  (E)  78 days. This old time heirloom from the hills of West Virginia, growing to 2 lbs., has stunning yellow and red dappled skin with sunset-hued rainbow stripes inside; makes gorgeous slices. Very sweet. Another top vote getter at TomatoFest in Carmel, California. This one has sold out early every year.  

 

 

 

 Homer Fike's Yellow Oxheart ($4.95)  (HG) 85 days. This stunning, sweet, yellow-gold, heart-shaped fruit reaches up to one pound and produces a bountiful crop. As Gary Ibsen says, "Truly a wonderful gift to place in the hands of a loved one or friend. Guaranteed to get "WOW!" in response. Meaty flesh, very few seeds and delicious fruit-sweet flavors." Seeds of this luscious and stunning tomato were sent to Gary Ibsen by Karen Teets of West Virginia who told him: "This variety was grown by Mr. Homer Fike for as long as his 78-year old daughter can remember."  A Laurel's exclusive.

 

  Ildi (pron. ILL-dee)($4.95) (Ch)     52 days. Sweet and prolific, this is the earliest high-yielding little grape tomato we offer.  Immensely popular with chefs and gourmands, Ildi grows in huge clusters of 75 bright yellow oval shaped fruits on a big bold 6 to 7 foot plant with light green foliage. The 1" cherries are richly flavored, very sweet and delicious, producing right up to frost. With its extremely high yield, you will have lots of fruit to eat fresh right off the vine, toss into salads and share with family and friends. 

 

 

    Isis Candy ($4.95) F/C (Ch) (VE)    60 days. These precious little 1½" morsels of red and gold garden candy have a dazzling starburst or 'cat's eye' 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.  

 

 

 

  Italian Giant Beefsteak ($4.95) 85 days. This fabulous old variety was brought to the U.S. from Italy more than 80 years ago. Its big one to two pound sweet, meaty fruits are a huge favorite in Italy for fresh eating and cooking. The yield is high, the flavor terrific. A great slicing and sandwich tomato.

 

 

 

  Italian Tree ($4.95)(B) 84 days. This huge prolific vining plant is called Italian Tree because it grows to 15 feet and produces enormous harvests of meaty 1 to 2 lb. gorgeous 4" to 5" red tomatoes with superior flavors and a perfect balance of sweetness and acidity.

Great for fresh eating or canning, be sure to give it extra support like a trellis as each plant can produce bushels of big tasty tomatoes. When laden with fruit it becomes very heavy.

One of the best for Tomato Sandwiches. (This season we will be posting tomato sandwich recipes from new and returning customers. Call Laurel for more information, 310-534 8611) One of the best tomatoes for market growers because of its excellent productivity, heartiness and old-fashioned tomatoey flavor.

 

 

 

  Japanese Black Trifele AKA Japanese Black Truffle ($5.75)      (SM) 80 days. Japanese Black Trifele, which translates to truffle, is a medium sized, juicy 3 to 4" inch long 6 -8 ounce pear-shaped, deep purple-black tomato with pretty green shoulders. In Russia the Trifele varieties of tomatoes--of which there are several colors--are highly prized and command high prices. Growing on a short potato-leafed plant, it's the size and shape of a Bartlett pear and among the darkest hued and finest flavored of the black tomatoes.

The skin is smooth and crack resistant and production is huge. Flavor is deep, chocolaty, smoky and rich, just wonderful. Took their picture and ate 'em.

 

 

New for 2010!  Japanese Yellow Trifele aka Japanese Yellow Truffle ($5.25)      (SM) 80 days. I love this tomato. Its winsome shape and tangy-sweet flavors are a delight for your tomato salads, fresh eating and sauces. High productivity and long-keeping qualities make it a true treasure for your heirloom tomato collection. Served on a platter with Japanese Black Truffle, it is a treat for the palate and the eyes. Took the photograph, ate 'em.

 

  

Jaune Flamme, See Flamme above

 

 

The 'Jersey' Tomato, see Ramapo, below.

 

 

 

  Julia Child ($5.25) (E)   (HG) 78 days. The talk of the tomato world, borne on a big, elegant potato-leafed plant, Julia Child's 4" 1 lb. lightly fluted deep pink beefsteak fruits have gigantic flavor--robust, hearty, with classic old-time tomato taste, bursting with divine richness. Juicy, beautiful, just splendid. Named for Julia Child by her dear friend and owner of Carmel TomatoFest, Gary Ibsen.

 

 

 

  Kellogg's Breakfast ($4.95)     (E) 78 days. Wow whatta tomato!  These big 1 to 2 lb. bright orange beefsteak beauties from West Virginia are exactly the color of orange juice. This terrific fruit with its sweet, buttery, ambrosial flavor with a perfect balance of bright tanginess is a favorite of gourmets and gourmands everywhere. Sliced open, it reveals a rich creamy bright-orange flesh, just bursting with juice. A top seller year after year. 

 

 

 

 

    Laurel's California Gold ($4.95) 80 days. 

This very sweet, tropically delicious variety arose in my garden in the summer of 2001. I walked out to the garden one golden summer morning, saw the fruit and yelled "You're yellow!"  This is one of the best tasting fruits I've ever had. Fruity, sweet with tropical overtones, it's among my favorites.

 

We expected it to ripen deep pink from a Brandywine-Cherokee Purple cross called 'Brandokee', developed by Keith Mueller, but from one of the plants we got this magnificent yellow-golden fruit with pink streaking here and there and a winsome blush on the blossom end. I took one bite and was hooked.

Sweet as it can be with just a touch of tang, Laurel's California Gold is juicy and rich with a tender skin and rich, fruity, tropical flavor. Weighing from 12 to 16 ounces it measures about 4" across. It was first nicknamed 'Blondokee' by Keith, after my hair color and its parent plants. I asked Amazing Terry to give it a permanent name; he decided on 'Laurel's California Gold'. Growing on a big hearty, long-vined regular-leaf plant, it is very sweet and satisfying--a beautiful, delicious tomato!

 

My tomato buddy Cheryl, AKA Mountain Lady, has helped us grow it out to be sure it remains true-to-variety. Two of the photos are shared here with the gracious permission of Keith Mueller.  A Laurel's exclusive.

 

 

 

Lemon Boy  ($4.95) (H)       (E) 72 days. A perfect jewel. Lemon Boy is sunshine yellow, perfectly round and occasionally lemon-shaped, from 6-10 oz. with a rich satisfying flavor, bright, smooth, juicy, luscious and very prolific. Slightly tangy, low-acid, very sweet with lingering overtones of citrus. Bountiful on the vine, easy to grow, beautiful and all around winner--one of my top 5 favorite hybrids. So prolific, you will be giving fruit to your friends and neighbors.

 

 

 

 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 grown 10.  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.  

 

 

 

 

Marianna's Peace ($5.95) 80 days. (B) (HG)      One of our top 3 sellers. The sugary nectar of this huge 5" tomato's creamy, dense, red flesh is intensely rich, with perfect sweet-acid balance and sublime, complex flavors reminiscent of the finest of the "old-fashioned" tomato flavors.  This big, beautiful irresistible up to 3 lb. deep red fruit is the talk of the tomato world and has found its way into Top 10 favorite tomato lists of gourmands worldwide. It is perfection. Supply is limited, please order early. It is said that Marianna's Peace is among the 3 finest tasting tomatoes in existence.

Marianna was from a family of farmers in Bohemia, Czechoslovakia. During World War II, in May of 1945 when she was 17, Russian soldiers came to her school and forced Marianna and all her schoolmates into a truck to be taken to Siberia. During the journey, she and a few others escaped by jumping from the moving truck, but Marianna was shot in the leg just as she crossed the Czech border. With the help of her friends, she was able to continue on to the town of Weiden, Bavaria. She lost all contact with her parents and brothers for the next ten years, but after a long and diligent search with the aid of The Red Cross, she finally found them in 1955. 

Before he died, her father gave her a little bundle of the seeds. 

Marianna married, and in 1957 moved to Washington State with her husband where they raised four children.

The legacy of these seeds reaches back to the early 1900's and year after year the tomatoes borne from this marvelous heirloom continue to be treasured for their outstanding taste and beauty. Incredibly sweet, creamy, with dense red flesh, rich and luscious, reminiscent of the finest of those "old-fashioned" tomato flavors, the memories of which are the stuff of dreams for all tomato lovers. 

For those who want the best; these plants are precious and worth the cost. A Marianna's Peace plant makes a delightful and treasured gift for any tomato lover.

 

Martino's Roma (D) ($4.95)  (P-S) (E) (SM) 75 days. This extremely prolific plant produces a huge yield--the fruit loads up in amazing quantities on a small 3 foot plant. Its yummy crop of  3" red pear-shaped Roma tomatoes that are great for cooking and sweet and luscious enough to enjoy fresh right out of your hand. Very meaty with few seeds, highly productive, marvelous for canning, and for your favorite tomato sauce recipe. The flavor intensifies exponentially during cooking.  

 

   

 

  Marvel Striped ($4.95) (BB) (E)     75 days. My favorite multi-colored tomato, this big splendid fluted heirloom has become a gardeners' favorite among the very colorful tomatoes because of its beauty, size, and taste. Gorgeous  yellow-orange fruits are streaked with stunning ruby red and have a sweet, fruity taste that is absolutely delicious. Tomatoes weigh about 2 lb., although they often grow to 3 lbs. or even more. Originally from Oaxaca, Mexico, its large harvests on vigorous vines make Marvel Striped a garden staple.  

 

 

 

 Momotaro  ($5.95) (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 was 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.  

 

 

Mortgage Lifter aka Radiator Charlie's Mortgage Lifter ($4.95)(BB) (HG)    80 days.          

       

  Radiator Charlie and his big tomatoes in

  a newspaper photograph from 1964.   

This gigantic legendary heirloom from Logan, West Virginia  developed by M.C. 'Charlie' Byles in the 1930's, is huge, sweet, juicy, delicious and prolific, with splendid old time tomato flavor. The meaty pink-red fruits weigh at least a pound, averaging 2½ lbs. and reaching up to 4 lbs. A very prolific plant which continues to bear fruit in high heat and right up until frost, it also keeps very well.  

 

Marshall Cletis Byles, who much preferred to go by MC or just Charlie, owned a garage specializing in radiator repair. 

He developed Mortgage Lifter over a six year period by crossing German Johnson, Beefsteak and 2 other really big varieties, all chosen for their huge size and grand flavor. He sold the resulting plants for a dollar each (in the 40's), and was able to pay off his $5000.00 house mortgage in only 6 years with the profit from his plant sales. "I didn't pay but six thousand dollars for my home, and paid most of it off with tomato plants", said Charlie in a tape recorded interview with his grandson which aired recently on National Public Radio.

Charlie's repair shop was at the bottom of a steep hill so travelers whose radiators over-heated during the climb had to coast back down to Radiator Charlie's for repair. Other folks heard about these huge luscious tomatoes and came from hundreds of miles to buy the plant. As my customer John in Virginia says, "It's just not a real tomato garden without Mortgage Lifter."  Charlie Byles lived to be 97 years old. Here is a link to the story, in Radiator Charlie's own voice:

http://www.loe.org/shows/segments.htm?programID=06-P13-00027&segmentID=6

 

Our deepest thanks to Jeff McCormick, a famed seed saver, for keeping Charlie Byle's tomato seeds and so many other great heirloom varieties alive and thriving for gardeners worldwide.  Without Jeff's efforts many of these grand old family heirlooms would have been lost forever.

 

 

 

Neves Azorean Red  ($5.25)aka NAR. (Pronounced Neh-ves Ah ZOR ee uhn) 75 days. Boy are you in for a treat! This terrific, boldly flavored, 1 to 3 lb tomato is produced on a big hearty plant with a large central stem branching out into loaded branches of big beefsteak tomatoes so delicious they have become the talk of the tomato world.  I have been custom growing this variety for certain very discriminating customers for the past couple of years, and now that the world is catching on to this spectacular fruit, it could become the ultimate sandwich tomato or to show off your special tomato salad. This one packs quite a flavor punch--not for sissies. Featuring great disease resistance and an excellent production right up until frost, we heartily thank Anthony Neves who brought the seeds home with him from a trip to The Azores, a Portuguese archipelago in the Atlantic about 900 miles west of mainland Portugal.

 

 

 

Northern Lights  ($4.95) F/C    (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, gold and yellow patterning in the center, is reminiscent of the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, for which it is named. The flavor is sweet, intense, slightly 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. 

 

 

 

 

 

Omar's Lebanese ($4.95)  (BBB)     80 days. The really big one! Omar's Lebanese has a passionately sweet and complex flavor. These immense fruits--deep dark pink and juicy--grow to 3-4 lbs, with excellent disease resistance. A spectacular tomato. Really easy to grow, out of this world. Takes 2 hands to pick it. In my top 5.

 

 

 

  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.

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. Yum. Despite the plant's large size, it's also done very well for me in 20 gallon containers. A top seller.

 

 

 

 

 

    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. You will love it. 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. 

 

 

 

  Peacevine Cherry ($5.25) F/C      70-75 days. The tiny tomato with the gigantic taste. Developed from Sweet 100 by Alan Kapular of Oregon, the Peacevine currant type tomatoes grow in clusters of 18 to 20 fruits on a big, strong, vining plant with vines that can reach 15 feet, and ripen in only 50 to 60 days from plant out. 

When ripening, these marble-sized tomatoes can range from deep dark red to orange and yellow. The elaborate sparkling flavor of Peacevine literally changes from rich and sweet to tart and tangy and back again as you munch them--the Everlasting Gobstopper of tomatoes.

The Peacevine name was chosen because of the high amino acid content which has a calming effect on the body.  This indeterminate variety had the highest vitamin C content in a cherry tomato among 30 varieties analyzed by Rutgers University.

 

 

  Persimmon ($4.95) (B) (E) 78 days. This vigorous and prolific heirloom, introduced in 1983, yields a bountiful crop of creamy, stunning, persimmon colored fruit. Its rich distinctive sweetness makes it one of the best among the marvelous family of orange heirloom tomatoes. The fruits range from 12-ounces to 2 pounds and glow so beautifully on the vine you won't believe your eyes. Smooth, meaty, creamy, very sweet with few seeds and spectacular flavor. Persimmon is a customer favorite and has been a big winner at numerous tomato tastings. 

 

 

  Pineapple ($5.25)     80 days. This huge, sumptuous 2 lb. bi-color yellow and pink fruit has a spectacular interior.  Cut open, it reveals a stunning red starburst in the center.  Sweet, fruity, tropical and complex flavors make Pineapple a top seller. Shown here with my friend Dagma Lacey (of Dagma's Perfection fame, another fabulous tomato), it is a heavy producer of big, beautiful tomatoes on a large unruly plant.

Photos by Gary Ibsen.

 

 

 

     Purple Haze ($12.95) (E) (HG)     70 to 75 days.  Purple Haze is our rarest plant; there is nothing like it in the world. The seeds for this exquisite deep purple fruit are from Kansas City tomato grower and developer and my favorite tomato guru, Keith Mueller. Keith developed this perfectly round 2" to 3" tomato with rapturous flavor, a seductive shape and sensuous color.  It's name was inspired by its beguiling color and parental lineage which combines Brandywine, Cherokee Purple and Black Cherry.

The flavor, for the lucky few who have eaten one, is lively and sparkling with a fine tanginess, passionate with earthy nuances and lingering sweetness.

Early ripening growing in abundance on a huge plant in clusters of 5 to 7 fruits, it ripens in only 70 days from plant out.

Adding to its extraordinary attributes, it has a subtle yet seductive saltiness--challenging to describe.  Whatever it is, this fruit put a spell on me.

Exceedingly rare, its ravishing beauty and flavor are unequaled in the tomato world.  This is a rare opportunity for you to enjoy the Purple Haze Experience. Supply is very limited, please order early. A Laurel's exclusive.

NOTE:  A portion of the proceeds from Purple Haze will be donated to TACA, Talk About Curing Autism, to assist families autistic children. Donations will be made in the names of a couple of very fine and winsome young fellows.  www.talkaboutcuringautism.org.

 

 

 

 

New for 2010!    Purple Prince ($4.95) 75 days.    From Virginia, this beautiful, luscious tomato gives you armloads of big yummy 10 to 12 ounce irresistible deep purple  tomatoes with outstanding flavor. At sunset when the light hits them they take on a jewel-like glow, like a sunset at midnight and glow purple on the vine. Heavy in the hand, rich with juice, a sinful pleasure.

 

 

 

 

New for 2010!      Rainbow Tears  ($5.95)     70 days. This rare and delightful little teardrop tomato with a starburst on the blossom end is a fortuitous accidental cross of Isis Candy and an unknown little pear-shaped tomato. Reaching about 1½" to 2" long with a beguiling shape, the richness and 'big tomato' flavor of Isis Candy along with the famous productivity of the small pear tomatoes, this succulent little gem out-produces most of the plants in the garden. Another outstanding variety from Elser's Country Farm.  A Laurel's exclusive.

 

This photograph of Rainbow Tears is the property of Krystal Elser or Elser's Country Farms and used here with her very kind permission.

www.elserscountryfarm.com

 

 

 

 

Ramapo, The Real 'Jersey' Tomato  ($6.95) 75 to 80 days

"Even if you’re not from New Jersey, you’ve likely heard about the legendary taste of the Jersey Tomato. Many of us can close our eyes and remember holding a firm deep red tomato, still warm from the sun, with that fresh off the vine smell. The flesh is smooth and juicy and each tangy bite is full of luscious flavor. Is this just a memory or can you still find this tomato? "This Jersey Tomato taste comes from a sweetness balanced by tart fruit acids that leave the sides of the mouth and tongue with a memory we strive to recapture every summer. It’s in our memory, and we know it when we get a real Jersey Tomato, but how can we describe it? ".... from Rutgers Cooperative Extension.

Read more here: Real Jersey tomato makes triumphant return

 

Red Brandywine, see Brandywine Red.

 

 

 

 

San Marzano Redorta ($5.25)    80 days. The best of the Italian sauce tomatoes, this big, luscious high-producing Roma type fruit is named for Pizzo di Redorta, (Redorta Peak) one of the highest peaks in the Bergamo Alps of Lombardy, Northern Italy.

At 8 to 10 ounces-- with reports of up to 16 ounces-- and 4" to 6" long, it is a much larger tomato with much better flavor than its cousin, San Marzano. San Marzano Redorta is marvelously rich, extremely productive and good enough to eat fresh, right off the vine.

 

 

 

  Sister ($5.95)     80 days. This strong, beautiful and amazing tomato plant out-produces other varieties, stands up to cold and heat, resists disease, tastes marvelous and gives you a whopping crop of big, gorgeous, incredibly delicious 4" pink beefsteak fruits. Rich, luscious, sweet on the vine, with unforgettable old-time tomato flavor, this hearty potato-leafed plant is bountiful, resilient and reliable. Even during the most challenging seasons, Sister will come through for you. A wonderful gift for family and friends.  A Laurel's exclusive.