It's getting to be that time of year again, folks! Love Apple Farm will start selling tomato plants (also called starts or seedlings) Saturday, March 15, and continue selling them three days a week. Our open hours will be every Saturday, Sunday, and Wednesday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. We should have plants for sale through May (or while supplies last). Click here to go to our page that details special appointment needs, a map to the farm, and our complete list WITH description of the 125 different tomato varieties we will be selling this year.
Photo courtesy of Tana Butler.
i haven't been able to raise tomatoes due to lack of sun but things have changed and there's a chance they'll grow. i'm going to give it a try.
Posted by: ann | March 13, 2008 at 01:37 PM
Your class selections cover so many interesting subjects for us home gardeners. Have you considered putting them online?
Posted by: Dan Kozik | March 13, 2008 at 02:30 PM
I took a delightful drive to your farm last year and purchased a boatload of cherry tomatoes. I tried to get every color, including white, yellow, orange, red and even purple. Each grew beautifully and they all were incredibly tasty in their own special way. I am getting excited to visit again and try some different varieties. Well worth the trip!
Posted by: Silvia | March 13, 2008 at 03:01 PM
I'm so excited to come check out your collection. I've always been hooked on tomatoes, but what sealed the deal was a trip to Tuscany last summer. Unfortunately, my debut attempt to grow a variety of heirlooms last spring was cut short(literally) by the deer. So, I am looking forward to a visit to Love Apple Farm and advice on keeping the deer away.
Posted by: Bernadette | March 13, 2008 at 05:50 PM
Yahoo, its tomato time! I am going to be there on Sat! I am bringing my sister who will be there for the first time. I have told a couple of friends about your plants too. I am very excited. As usual, I am having problems picking out which ones I want because you have an outstanding selection. What I really appreciate about you selling plants that I get the variety without having to buy a bunch of seed packs and then end up with a bunch of extra seeds since I only want 1 of each type of tomato.
Its a mere 40 hours away! Yahoo!
Posted by: Brenda Feltham | March 13, 2008 at 08:10 PM
Enjoyed your highly informative class I took with my buddy Margaret on 3/9. Thought I knew it all, but boy was I surprised! Have grown many veggie gardens and tried many tomato varieties, but you have a bigger selection of seeds than I could've imagined. Had only heard of a few of them. Don't know where I'll find fish heads or tails for planting, but am really excited to see the results of my efforts as the many tomatoes produce.
How do you have such plump chickens and which are the best brown egg layers?
Posted by: Donna | March 13, 2008 at 08:37 PM
Donna: Thanks for the nice compliment. I don't really know what is the "best" brown egg layer. My lovelies are! But that's because I like how beautiful and sweet they are. If "best" to you means the highest number of eggs produced, you might want to do a google search on that.
Posted by: Love Apple Farm | March 14, 2008 at 12:41 AM
I have been coming to your farm for the past four years and I am so looking forward to seeing you again this year and your new additions. You are truly dedicated to making our choices the best ever and I so appreciate you and your farm. I have tried new ones every year along with my favorites and have not been dissapointed. I do tend to get carried away when I visit the farm and forget that I only have a certain amount of space. But, I do have such fun!
Marguerite
Posted by: Marguerite Miller | March 14, 2008 at 06:09 AM
Oh Cynthia, you tomato temptress! I'm trying so hard to resist because I've already started a bunch of plants myself. Some of your tomatoes sound too interesting to pass up though. I just have to grow every color and shape of delicious tomato that I have room for. I bought some tomato plants from you a couple of years ago when I was unable to start my own. They were so healthy and happy - all the way through the season. You have the BEST garden blog.
Posted by: Michelle | March 14, 2008 at 10:14 AM
I am looking forward to those summer days when the tomatoes fill the garden with jewel like glow and just standing amidst them one truly understands the definition of abundance. Thank you for your continued inspiration!
Posted by: Damara | March 14, 2008 at 11:02 AM
We're overflowing with tomatoes here. The dining room has no table or chairs, the kitchen is crowded with pots and plants and even my office has a plant stand and light--And my partner has three stands at her place. We haven't even got our other seed going much. But WE WILL have heirloom tomatoes. Many of them--LOL
Can't wait to plant out. We're so inspired by what you are doing.
Thanks,
Patricia & Heidi.
Posted by: Patricia Messer | March 14, 2008 at 04:42 PM
hi cynthia! i was at your class on how to grow monster tomatoes! i really enjoyed it since i am quite a newbie at growing tomatoes.. I am a huge tomato-freak-a-zoid because i could not believe how delicious and sweet the first ones i grew were!!! its like i've been born again!!! i took home my seedlings and have been treating then with such TLC that my friends tease me!!! thank you for all your help..Mimi
Posted by: mimi coppola-green | March 14, 2008 at 05:09 PM
Hi Cynthia,
Last spring we bought five seedlings and nurtured them as you taught us. They did beautifully. When we went on an extended vacation, three neighbors were allowed to babysit them, and enjoy the fruits until we returned. Now the neighbors are converts and will be getting seedlings of their own. See you this weekend.
Charlene
Posted by: Charlene | March 14, 2008 at 05:16 PM
I grew 35 different verities last year and I'm looking forward to a bigger crop this year. Following Cynthia's advice I had no problems. . . I am so thankful of her shareing her garden knowlege with us. xx Sharon Miller
Posted by: sharon Miller | March 14, 2008 at 10:19 PM
Can't wait to come to Love Apple Farm and get some seedings...Last year was my first year growing heirlooms, it was tough because there were so many varities to pick from. I bought to many and spent all my time with the tomato plants (you know they liked to be talked to) I didn't get much else done around the yard. Black Cherry was my favorite.
Posted by: Liz | March 14, 2008 at 11:36 PM
Spring is in the air and I am getting my planter beds ready for your tomatoes! My favorites from past years are Northern Lights, Black Zebra, Chucks Yellow and the beautiful Japanese Oxheart. I grew a bunch of my own from seed this year but I still can't resist coming to Love Apple to get some new and exciting heirlooms from you!
Posted by: Michelle Y | March 15, 2008 at 12:31 PM
Yahoo! It's tomato growing season!! I've never been to love apple farm, but I've been receiving the blog and living vicariously, as I love your story! I've been rooting for you since the beginning, and I'm so envious, to have the space for hundreds of tomato varieties!
I've got to drag my tomato loving friends up to your farm to get some plants- I'm sure curious about these underground sources for new tomatoes!
Grow on!
Posted by: S Marsh | March 16, 2008 at 10:17 PM
Well, I'm moving soon, so no 'maters for my garden, but I have to grow some somehow, right? So I'll be by soon to pick some up for my Momma's beautiful garden. I swear, is there anything on earth better than the smell of tomato vines in the sun?
Posted by: Jamie | March 19, 2008 at 12:13 PM
I wish I could turn my entire yard into a tomato garden! I am planting 18 tomato varieties from Love Apple Farm this year and can't wait till I can sink my teeth into a still-warm-fresh-from-the-vine tomato!
Posted by: Renee J | March 19, 2008 at 04:52 PM
While signing up for "Outstanding in the Fields" dinners, I thought of Love Apple Farm. It would seem to be a great spot to host an in the fields dinner! Do you have a secret space for the venue? Dave
Posted by: David Scholl | March 21, 2008 at 10:23 AM
Oh no! I bought a BUNCH of your tomato plants last weekend and don't know how to care for them until it's time to plant outside! What do I do now?! When exactly can I plant them outside? (I'm in Watsonville) I'm perfectly fine with a living room full of seedlings but I don't want to kill the little dears!
Yikes! HELP!
Thanks in advance,
Renee
Posted by: renee o | March 21, 2008 at 08:37 PM
Renee: Everyone at my sale should be picking up my 3-page variety sheet to take home. At the end of the list, there's information which I preface in bold type, saying, "IMPORTANT INFORMATION. PLEASE READ!"
It's quite a long paragraph about how to care for them when you get them home, till the date you can plant them outside. I will email you separately those instructions. If anyone else wants them, or neglected to pick up the variety sheet, please email me and I'll send it along to you.
Posted by: Love Apple Farm | March 21, 2008 at 09:50 PM
Hi Cynthia
I was up at the farm today with a few questions (and to pick up a few more plants) and of course got home forgetting to ask a couple more.
1. I'm ready to amend my beds for planting in about two weeks. Rain is predicted for this week. Should I postpone? Also do I need to put plastic over at this late date?
2. I am having an aphid problem with some of plants. I had no pest problems last year. They are planted in gallon containers. Can I spray them with anything? I have been trying to remove by hand but they are persistent. I have been spraying with the aspirin spray. I am two blocks from the coast if that makes a difference.
Thanks, Cheryl
Posted by: Cheryl Dunlap | March 30, 2008 at 08:05 PM
Cheryl: You can spray the aphids with Monterey Insect Spray. You can amend your beds now pursuant to my newly revised Grow Better Tomatoes booklet. I will post that on line shortly. You can lay down clear plastic directly on the bed now and when ready to plant, cut an 'x' in it and put in your plants. Later in the year, though, you will need to cover up that clear plastic with straw mulch in order to protect it from overheating in the sunlight. Good luck!
Posted by: Love Apple Farm | March 30, 2008 at 09:44 PM
Wow. I wish I had a car. I would SO drive the 6 hours... Consider yourself an early destination choice for when I get wheels.
If anyone would like to buy 2-4 seedlings and ship to me, I'll cover costs and buy a couple seedlings for you, too! Or, if you're in the L.A. area and driving up, same deal!
Email gallaure at yahoo dot com
Posted by: Jenna | April 12, 2008 at 11:49 PM