I'm disappointed I won't be growing any Heirlooms this year

harleysilo · March 31, 2010

Didn't get started early enough, just too darn busy. I'll be going to an mom and pop 2 greenhouse operation to get seedlings this weekend. They'll have your run of the mill toms I could get at lowe's for 3x the price.

Last year they didn't have any yellow ones, they said they might this year. Next year i'm gonna get some seeds and start them like I did 2 season ago...it was fun having unique tasty toms.

**Dukerdawg** · March 31, 2010

Why not order a few heirlooms from Darrell? www.selectedplants.com

Very highly recommended and a nice selection.

Duane

travis · March 31, 2010

I agree with Duane. I know selectedplants must be extremely busy this time of year, but maybe he has a few larger transplants that were started early and could ship them out to you asap.

Meanwhile, there are some very good old hybrid varieties that the farm supply and big box stores have every year. Maybe not as good as some of the heirlooms, but certainly passable. I love Big Boy. Better Boy and Jet Star are great ones too. Beefmaster is a favorite among lots of folks. And Big Beef is a great tomato for the South.

Whatever you do, don't miss out on garden fresh tomatoes just because you were not able to start your own heirlooms this one year.

liannenc · March 31, 2010

I was at Home Depot day before yesterday and was checking out what they had as far as tomatoes go. What they had was from Bonnie, and I was surprised to find they had German Johnson along with the "usual suspects"... I thought it was a bit pricey at $6.00 but if I hadn't started from seed this year, I'd have bought one!

Suze · March 31, 2010

It might pay to do a few google searches to see if there are any nurseries in your area or within reasonable driving distance that have a good selection to choose from. You never know what you might find. I live in a small town and have at least a couple of nurseries with good to very good selections within a 30-45 minute drive.

travis gave you some good suggestions for hybrids IMO - I love Jet Star and Better Boy. Big Beef is pretty good too - and these usually aren't too hard to find. Also keep an eye out for Sweet Million or Sweet 100. Sometimes you will luck out even at a box store and find a Sun Gold plant, too.

For very good OPs that you might readily find - Rutgers or (Arkansas) Traveler come to mind. Maybe even Cherokee Purple.

harleysilo · April 1, 2010

Thanks for all the suggestions, i have the number for the greenhouse i'm going to, they didn't answer but i'll keep calling and get a list of available varieties and post it for ya'lls suggestions before i go and purchase.

natural · April 1, 2010

Harleysilo,

I live 15 minutes from you and have over 100 varieties growing.
I'll send you a PM.

Bill

Gobig_or_Gohome_toms · April 1, 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by natural

Harleysilo,

I live 15 minutes from you and have over 100 varieties growing.
I'll send you a PM.

Bill

Got to love the tomatoville members helping each other out!!

Craig

azgirl · April 1, 2010

"Got to love the tomatoville members helping each other out!!

Craig"

I agree with you, Craig. I have only been a member a short time, but I have already seen this more than once. Awesome group of people!

Melissa

RonnyWil · April 2, 2010

You might check if anyone in your area sells Chef Jeff's plants. The first heirlooms I ever grew were Chef Jeff's plants I bought at a farmers co-op.

b54red · April 2, 2010

I gave away around 25 or so beautiful heirloom plants yesterday and have 3 more people wanting a few more. If you were closer you would sure be welcome to some. I usually have around 100 or more to give away; but this year it looks like I'll have more than that since I am trying so many new varieties and planted extra to make sure I had enough.
It looks like I will be in the same boat with some of my pepper varieties.

Douglas14 · April 3, 2010

Giving seedlings away is one of the great joys of starting my own plants.

b54red · April 3, 2010

Keeping them all watered and moving them in and out is no fun after a while. It really is a great joy when you finally get rid of the ones you aren't gonna use. I just hate letting them die so I usually keep watering them until they are about 2 ft. tall and yellow and spindly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Douglas14

Giving seedlings away is one of the great joys of starting my own plants.

March 31, 2010	#1
harleysilo Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2007 Location: Woodstock GA Posts: 418	I'm disappointed I won't be growing any Heirlooms this year Didn't get started early enough, just too darn busy. I'll be going to an mom and pop 2 greenhouse operation to get seedlings this weekend. They'll have your run of the mill toms I could get at lowe's for 3x the price. Last year they didn't have any yellow ones, they said they might this year. Next year i'm gonna get some seeds and start them like I did 2 season ago...it was fun having unique tasty toms.

March 31, 2010	#2
Dukerdawg Growing for Market Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westland, Michigan Posts: 861	Why not order a few heirlooms from Darrell? www.selectedplants.com Very highly recommended and a nice selection. Duane __________________ May I aspire to live my life so that I may be the man my dog thinks I am.

April 1, 2010	#9
azgirl Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Arizona Posts: 113	"Got to love the tomatoville members helping each other out!! Craig" I agree with you, Craig. I have only been a member a short time, but I have already seen this more than once. Awesome group of people! Melissa __________________ Melissa in AZ

April 2, 2010	#10
RonnyWil Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Collierville TN Posts: 106	You might check if anyone in your area sells Chef Jeff's plants. The first heirlooms I ever grew were Chef Jeff's plants I bought at a farmers co-op. __________________ I'm two days older than dirt and I like to play in it.

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March 31, 2010	#3
travis Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 2,984	I agree with Duane. I know selectedplants must be extremely busy this time of year, but maybe he has a few larger transplants that were started early and could ship them out to you asap. Meanwhile, there are some very good old hybrid varieties that the farm supply and big box stores have every year. Maybe not as good as some of the heirlooms, but certainly passable. I love Big Boy. Better Boy and Jet Star are great ones too. Beefmaster is a favorite among lots of folks. And Big Beef is a great tomato for the South. Whatever you do, don't miss out on garden fresh tomatoes just because you were not able to start your own heirlooms this one year.

March 31, 2010	#4
liannenc Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Zone 7b in Concord, North Carolina Posts: 76	I was at Home Depot day before yesterday and was checking out what they had as far as tomatoes go. What they had was from Bonnie, and I was surprised to find they had German Johnson along with the "usual suspects"... I thought it was a bit pricey at $6.00 but if I hadn't started from seed this year, I'd have bought one!

March 31, 2010	#5
Suze Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 3,027	It might pay to do a few google searches to see if there are any nurseries in your area or within reasonable driving distance that have a good selection to choose from. You never know what you might find. I live in a small town and have at least a couple of nurseries with good to very good selections within a 30-45 minute drive. travis gave you some good suggestions for hybrids IMO - I love Jet Star and Better Boy. Big Beef is pretty good too - and these usually aren't too hard to find. Also keep an eye out for Sweet Million or Sweet 100. Sometimes you will luck out even at a box store and find a Sun Gold plant, too. For very good OPs that you might readily find - Rutgers or (Arkansas) Traveler come to mind. Maybe even Cherokee Purple.

April 1, 2010	#7
natural Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: North GA Posts: 530	Harleysilo, I live 15 minutes from you and have over 100 varieties growing. I'll send you a PM. Bill

April 2, 2010	#11
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	I gave away around 25 or so beautiful heirloom plants yesterday and have 3 more people wanting a few more. If you were closer you would sure be welcome to some. I usually have around 100 or more to give away; but this year it looks like I'll have more than that since I am trying so many new varieties and planted extra to make sure I had enough. It looks like I will be in the same boat with some of my pepper varieties.

April 3, 2010	#12
Douglas14 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2007 Location: Minnesota Posts: 602	Giving seedlings away is one of the great joys of starting my own plants.