If you are a First-Timer and have not grown tomatoes before - please scroll down and see our suggestions BEFORE placing your order. Take the time to view our favorite supplier’s amazing list of special tomato varieties (Oak Park’s Lissa Dyssart, aka “Tomato Lady”) and try something different - yellow, black, blue or from Napal! Lissa’s list also has lots of historical info and amusing stories - take some time to enjoy it!

NOTE: please remember to put DRP on your order form - so we can know that you saw our blog post.

MEET THE DRP TEAM AT MARCH 3 WEBINAR - HOSTED BY OAK PARK LIBRARY

Soil Health & Raised beds: DRP’s secrets to tomato growing success!

Of course, getting great seedlings is essential to having success with your harvest. That is why we encourage you to go with our trusted, local supplier. She sells the healthiest, highest quality plants. But - don’t forget to visit DRP’s STORE with the highest quality organic growing materials. Our products have been identified and selected with the help of our new team member, horticulturist, Rafa Crevoshay. Visit our soil, compost, mulch and fertilzer STORE page here.

In addition to having the best organic materials for planting - DRP is proud o the custome deigned raised beds built in-house (by co-Executive Director Will Schreiber, and his team). Be sure to visit our Raised Bed STORE page here.

DRP Core Method: our special organic growing method (DRP Core Method) can help all gardeners have a great harvest every year. Before you go to our STORE pages, you can start taking notes!

FIRST-TIMERS: BEFORE YOU ORDER THINK INDETERMINATE!

Most of us who have grown tomatoes know that like most things we love - they can be difficult sometimes. Truthfully, they are not the easiest plants to grow. First, because there are lots of animals who love them as much as we do. Then, because there are some devastating diseases that can destroy them. We have copied and pasted some of the tomato varieties fromLissa Dyssart’s list (aka Tomato Lady) that we think first-time gardeners should consider. We are sharing a few notes - but please consult Lissa’s list for detailed technical/growing info.

DRP Editors NOTE: we are not saying it is bedtime reading material - but Tomato Lady’s list is really fun - our favorite variety name (it was so hard to choose) is Mortgage Lifter: Apparently it was developed in the 1930's by a gardener who was so successful at growing it, he sold enough to pay off his mortgage!

FUTURE BLOG POSTS WILL SHARE ALL THE INSIDE INFO YOU NEED TO HAVE A GREAT TOMATO HARVEST.

We will write many future “tomato growing tips” blog posts - but for now, we want you to pre-order ASAP with a few suggestions that can make your tomato growing easier. For now, we offer a short and sweet (non-technical/user-friendly) definition of determinate vs indeterminate taken from Chicago Botanical Garden:

Determinate tomato plants grow to a certain size, then produce their fruit all at once and generally do not grow much larger after the fruit is set. (DRP editor: these are often referred to as the “bush” variety).

Indeterminate tomato plants, keep on growing and setting fruit at regular intervals along the main stem all season long. (DRP editor: these are the typical “vine” variety that may need a stake or trellis as they get taller).

Indeterminate tomato plants are the ones that we think will give inexperienced tomato growers a greater chance for success (from their first season!) because they are easier to take care of, to prevent disease. This is because of the watering technique which makes the plants less prone to disease and the manner of taking care of the leaves. Our tomato specialist-team member, Rafa Crevoshay, will be helping us write all the important details for our blog posts. (NOTE: make sure we have your phone number, so we can send you the links to the new blog posts as soon as they are published).

ESTELLE CAROL’S PERSONAL FAVORITES (DRP’s CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR)

“Green Zebra tomatoes are rarely bothered by squirrels since they never turn red. And they are delicious. Another absolute favorite on the list is Sun Gold”. (DRP Editor: both of these are on Lissa’s list - so pre-ordere ASAP because many people love them too). Estelle also suggests  her favorite “squirrel fighting technique” - brown paper bags hide ripening tomatoes from squirrels

Green Zebra’s sweet and zesty flavor is as appetizing as its appearance is spectacular. Always a ravishing table presentation, Plants just keep producing these breathtaking fruit throughout the season.

Sun God. Rare in grocery stores, 'Sun Gold's' plump, tangerine-colored fruits are a special treat at the peak of flavor in the garden-very sweet and juicy! So sweet a local producer uses them to make tomato jam. Disease resistant (DRP Editor: be sure to take note of Lissa’s suggestions on how to take care of this special treat).

There are two detrminate plants we suggest - they are listed below under “Determinate Suggestions”. . The first is “42 Days” because it is ready to harvest earlier than all of the others (in 40 - 50 days). The second is Other suggestions include:

Cherry tomatoes can be determinate and indeterminate . The indeterminate varieties will keep growing taller and the determinate plants will be more like a bush. Both types produce lots and lots of tomatoes - if the conditions and care are right. Lissa will indicate this on her list. We have chosen the varieties below, but check the list for specific, technical info. We suggest cherry tomatoes because they an be covered easily so squirrels and other animals don’t feast on them before you’ve had a chance to harvest.

TOMATO LADY CHERRY TOMATOES (beware - you will have tons and tons to share!).

!!!! super easy Napa Chardonnay:  this variety is very easy to grow and does especially well in containers. (DRP Editor: not only does Lissa tell us this is one of the easiest - but she als tells us that “this one has “a super-amazing flavor,” with many who tasted it for the first time proclaiming it the very best cherry type they had ever tasted”)!

!!!! great for limited space Patio Hybrid. Perfect for container gardening or limited space. Vines are extremely compact, yet produce medium-sized, deep oblate fruits that are smooth, firm and flavorful on plants with rugose leaves. Dwarf Determinate.

Barry’s Crazy Cherry: Pale yellow cherries are delicious, and grow on some of the largest clusters known!

Bi-Color Cherry : An interesting and still unknown cherry tomato variety with exceptionally flavored fruits. The fruits are quite unlike most common cherry tomatoes in appearance and their excellent flavor sets them apart as well. (DRP Editor: this sounds super uniue!!!).

Mary’s Cherry Dwarf: Perhaps the most prolific dwarf variety, Dwarf Mary’s Cherry tomato is awesome! There is some sweetness and a bit of earthiness also - a really good tomato for snacking and fresh tomato salsa. Another good variety for growing in containers or in the ground, with side disease resistance. (DRP Editor: I am a tortilla and salsa lover - so if you are too, please try this one for making their salsa & send in the results!).

Matt's Wild Cherry : Deep red cherries are smaller than average with an exceptional flavor many consider the best. Matt’s keeps producing copious quantities when every other tomato in the field is down for the count with early blight. Pick frequently!

Micro Tom: Astonishing! The world's shortest tomato plant, fit for a fairy garden, reaching a mere 6-8” tall!. These dainty, dwarf determinate plants were developed by the University of Florida and are the ultimate potted vegetable plant.

Midnight Snack: A unique indigo-type cherry tomato that ripens to red with a beautiful glossy black-purple overlay when exposed to sunlight. Plentiful fruits will ripen all season long! Midnight Snack is great in salads or eaten straight off the plant. (DRP Editor: this variety is bountiful - but take note of Lissa’s suggestions on how to take care of it as it keeps growing and growing and growing!)..

Pink Cherrywine: a pink tomato with green shoulders that fade with time, Pink CherryWine's flavor is bright and complex. It is an indeterminate vine and is very productive. (DRP Editor: be sure to follow Lissa’s suggestions about how to take care of this plant so you can enjoy the tons and tons of cherry tomatoes)!

DETERMINATE SUGGESTIONS

42 days: Could this be the earliest ripening tomato variety? Quite possibly. Fruits can ripen in as little time as its name implies, just 42 days. Believed to be from Mexico, so the variety performs well in both cool and warm climates. Bears 1 oz, salad-ready, red fruits.

Micro Tom: Micro Tom  Astounding! The world's shortest tomato plant, fit for a fairy garden, reaching a mere 6-8” tall! These dainty, dwarf determinate plants were developed by the University of Florida and are the ultimate potted vegetable plant. Super productive little plants are completely enveloped in bright red, tasty 1 oz fruit. The possibilities are endless with this novel dwarf tomato.

ONE-STOP SHOPPING: PRE-ORDER ALL YOUR VEGGIES TOO!

 While you are pre-ordering your tomatoes - don’t forget to look at Lissa’s list of Summer & Winter Squashes, Melons, Peppers, Eggplants, Cucumbers, Kale & Greens, and more. She’s got a great selection of herbs too!

COME MEET DRP TEAM AT MARCH 3 WEBINAR

FUTURE TOMATO-TIPS BLOG POSTS

Our new tomato-specialist team member, Rafa Crevoshay is a tomato specialist with over a decade of experience as Certified Crop Adviser to an organic tomato farm. She will be helping us create some new blog posts with successful tomato growing tips.

NOTE: Make sure we have you telephone number so you can receive our text message alerts when we publish new blog posts.

DRP is really excited to have a new gardener support team - so we will be able to support you and answer any questions you might have.

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