Introduction
Stop me if you've heard this one before: If tomatoes are a technically a fruit, then why don't they go in a fruit salad?
The scientific answer is that tomatoes are indeed a fruit, and also a vegetable. Fruits are defined as a seed-bearing structure produced by a flowering plant. So, yep - tomatoes qualify as a fruit! However, the definition of vegetables is much more open to interpretation, and few would deny that in culinary terms, tomatoes should be classed as a vegetable.
Are you planning to grow your own tomatoes? We would highly recommend it! One of the first questions to ask is whether you want a determinate or indeterminate variety. On our farm, most tomato plants for sale are indeterminate varieties - what this means is that the plant's vine will keep growing until it reaches the end of its life cycle. For the home gardener, it is thus important to plan how you're going to train the vines (decide where they will grow) and prune (keep the plant healthy and productive). If you decide on a determinate variety instead (Ace 55 or Sunrise Sauce), you don't have to pay as much attention to the training and pruning, because the bush produced will be a fixed and predictable size.
We made two short videos to help explain the most important concepts and skills to practice. We highly recommend watching them in order to best care for your tomato plants.
Detailed Care Instructions
Indeterminate varieties should be staked, trellised, or caged, and pruned for best results; fruit ripens over an extended period.
CULTURE: Grow tomatoes in rich, slightly acidic soil. If you use fertilizer, pay close attention to the chemistry, because too much nitrogen can cause rot.
TRANSPLANTING: Don't start too early—leggy, root-bound, or flowering transplants can cause stunting and reduce early production. For earliest crop, plant under row cover around last frost date. Avoid exposing unprotected plants to consecutive nightly temperatures below 45°F (7°C).
In rows 4–6' apart, space determinates 12–24" and indeterminates 24–36". Plant deeply to encourage adventitious rooting. Water seedlings with a high-phosphate fertilizer solution at planting to help boost early yields.
TRELLISING: Basket-weave by pounding 5–6' stakes every 2–3 plants, using heavier t-posts intermittently and at ends of beds. For tall indeterminates, consider short extensions or pruning once they outgrow a manageable size for easy harvest.
PRUNING: Indeterminates likely benefit by removing all suckers under the first strong branch directly below the first flower cluster. The lower bottom suckers often miss trellis supports, set fruit closer to soil, take energy from upper parts, and encourage spread of disease from soil. If needed later in season, consider thinning out leaves to increase airflow or topping plants to help finish ripening last fruits.
DISEASES & INSECT PESTS: Learn your common pests and options for control, including resistant cultivars and pesticides. Avoid wet leaves and handling when wet or using tobacco products. Don't allow plant debris to accumulate near the plants.
HARVEST: Fruits ripen gradually from the blossom end to shoulders and from the base of clusters to the tips. Harvest softer fruit unstacked into shallow, padded trays. Fully ripe fruit should be eaten immediately. Do not refrigerate. Any fruit breaking color will still ripen post-harvest. Calyx can be removed or kept to prove freshness. If staking larger fruit with calyx on, consider trimming below shoulders when harvesting.
Adapted from: Johnny's Selected Seeds
Our Varieties
Tomatoes

Abigail
Nearly perfect pink heirloom-type.
Bred For
Disease and Blight Resistance
Texture
Ribbed shoulders, meaty taste
Yield
10-16oz fruit
Days to Maturity
75 Days from Transplant

Ace 55
Large, deep red fruit with low acid content. Determinate variety.
Bred For
Wilt Resistance
Crack Resistance
Texture
Firm
Yield
10-12oz fruit
Days to Maturity
76 Days from Transplant

Beefsteak
An old time favorite that has been popular since the mid 1800’s due to its excellent productivity and wonderful taste.
Bred For
High Productivity
Texture
Ribbed, meaty
Yield
12-16oz fruit
Days to Maturity
90 Days from Transplant

BHN 871
High yields of attractive golden-orange tomatoes. Determinate variety.
Bred For
High Yield
Disease Resistance
Texture
Low Acidity
Yield
10-12oz fruit
Days to Maturity
74 Days from Transplant

Black Krim
Russian heirloom, indeterminate
Bred For
N/A - Heirloom
Texture
Bold, smoky
flavor
Yield
8-16 oz fruit
Days to Maturity
80 Days from Transplant

Celebrity
Long-popular determinate variety with good flavor.
Bred For
Disease Resistance
Texture
Firm, flavorful,
globe-shaped
Yield
7-8 oz fruit
Days to Maturity
72 Days from Transplant

Cherokee Purple
Unusual variety with full flavor.
Bred For
N/A - Heirloom
Texture
Rich, full
flavor.
Yield
8-12oz fruit
Days to Maturity
72 Days from Transplant

Golden Jubilee
Favorite heirloom tomato plant with good tomato size and yields.
Bred For
N/A - Heirloom
Texture
Sweet and mild
Yield
8-12oz fruit
Days to Maturity
72 Days from Transplant

Large Cherry
Red fruit, heavy yields.
Bred For
Wilt Resistance
Crack Resistamce
Texture
Sweet flavor
Yield
0.8oz fruit
Days to Maturity
75 Days from Transplant

Mortgage Lifter
A cross of German Johnson, Beefsteak, Italian, and English varieties, from the 1930s.
Bred For
N/A - Heirloom
Texture
Large and pink
Yield
16oz fruit
Days to Maturity
79 Days from Transplant

Mr. Stripey
Large, deep red fruit with low acid content. Determinate variety.
Bred For
N/A - Heirloom
Texture
Soft and juicy, with a mild, low-acid flavor
Yield
9-12oz fruit
Days to Maturity
80 Days from Transplant

New Girl
First early, great flavor.
Bred For
Disease resistance
Texture
Firm
Yield
4-6 oz fruit
Days to Maturity
62 Days from Transplant

Oaxacan Jewel
A pre-Columbian Mexican heirloom tomato.
Bred For
N/A - Heirloom
Texture
Yellow, rich, acidic
Yield
16-32oz fruit
Days to Maturity
78 Days from Transplant

Pink Ponderosa
First introduced in 1891 by Peter Henderson & Company, who claimed it to be their most popular tomato ever
Bred For
N/A - Heirloom
Texture
Rich and meaty
Yield
16-32oz fruit
Days to Maturity
80 Days from Transplant

Striped German
Bicolor red-and-yellow fruit.
Bred For
N/A - Heirloom
Texture
Smooth
Yield
12+oz fruit
Days to Maturity
78 Days from Transplant

Sun Gold
Intense fruity flavor.
Bred For
Sweetness
Texture
Firm
Yield
0.6oz fruit
Days to Maturity
57 Days from Transplant

Sunpeach
Delicious pink cherry tomato with leaf mold resistance.
Bred For
Productivity, crack resistance, flavor
Texture
Deep-pink and shiny
Yield
0.6oz fruit
Days to Maturity
60 Days from Transplant

Sunrise Sauce
Low-maintenance orange paste tomato.
Bred For
Disease resistance
Texture
Sweet taste, squat shape
Yield
4-6oz fruit
Days to Maturity
57 Days from Transplant

Supersweet 1000
The classic, sweet, red cherry tomato.
Bred For
Productivity, disease resistance
Texture
Sweet and red
Yield
0.6oz fruit
Days to Maturity
60 Days from Transplant