Yes Angie, would you like to try some seeds?

Sure, Melissa! I'll try anything in the tomato family. Is it an heirloom variety as well? I'm moving more and more toward strictly heirlooms, because you can't beat the flavor. That's why I was so upset with the hailstorm we had, but as Shoe said, all may not be lost. I do see a few new little leaves on several stems and I've replanted some of the seeds. At the rate we're going this year, we'll have (some of us anyhow) will have tomatoes by the end of May instead of first of July! We leaped directly from fall into summer here.

I'm just starting out in the Tomato & Pepper dept., so I rely heavily on trades and local garden centers (I know, probably not the best resource) - so far, everything seems to be growing really well.

Q, they're great sources for beginners, but as your taste (yum!) develops, you'll probably want to try some heirlooms, which are hard to find at big box stores.

I am really late to this thread having just noticed it in the newly merged Edibles and Preserving Forum. But the absolutly BEST selection of varieties is from TomatoFest.

http://store.tomatofest.com/

I like the way you can browse by season or by color or even more catagories. And they have varieties you just can not find anywhere else!

The second place I absolutely must mention is Heritage Tomato Seed. Mostly because I intend to get seed from some of the New Dwarf Varieties.

http://heritagetomatoseed.com/

Never heard of the New Dwarfs? They are from The Dwarf Tomato Project. Exciting news!

http://www.dwarftomatoproject....

I think these dwarf plants be a great addition to any garden but especially if one is low on space or for container gardens.

And just the greatest tomato resource out there on the net. Tatiana's Tomatobase! If you are interested in tomato varieties you have just got to take a look at this site.

http://t.tatianastomatobase.co...

Casey's Heirloom Tomatoes of Airdrie, Glecklers, Baker Creek, Tomatofest, Tatiana's TOMATObase, and Tomato Growers Supply.

Rita, wow. Tatiania's been added to my favorites!

Here is a place that only sells their own intros but what fabulous tomatoes! I have seen some of these varieties listed at Heritage but not all of them. In fact, until I stumbled upon their own website I didn't know there were more to be had. Place called Wild Boar Farms. He hybridizes tomatoes and like I said, what fabulous tomatoes. I am going to have to have many of these for myself next spring!

http://wildboarfarms.com/index...

I watched some of the videos linked (Y-tube) on that website. Enjoyed the one at the market and was really astounded at the one where he just walks the tomato field. The tomatoes are all tall and thick and look like tomato shrubs. Wow. And loaded with blooms.

Well, never been one to have any patience, I ordered tomato seeds from Wild Boar Farms. I read on their website that tomato seeds are good for ten years so I guess mine will be fine until I start them next spring!

I ordered -
Black And Brown Boar
Red Boar
Pink Boar
Sweet Carneros Pink
Pink Berkley Tie Dye

Here is the link to Wild Boar Farns again in case you want to see-
http://wildboarfarms.com/index...

Rita: I've added Wild Boar Farms to my favorites. I'll try some of his next year, along with some of my favorites from this year. The best new ones I've tried thus far have been Black from Tula and Rose. My Caspian Pinks and Prudens Purples are just now starting to ripen, so the jury's still out on them. Manalucie is not worth the bother IMO. My Cherokee Purples have not done well this year, nor have my Black Krims.

Thanks for the link to this wonderful tomato site!

Wow, seems late to me for tomatoes just starting to ripen. I have had tomatoes now for weeks.

I was so taken by these tomato varieties because they are so unusual. In the pictures the tomatoes are just so beautiful. I like the flavor descriptions. Of course, best will be when I can judge for myself. I like the fact that many are described as very productuve. I have no use for tomato plants that produce only a very few.

Found a great E-bay seller of Heirloom tomato seeds.
BlueRibbonTomatoes
http://stores.ebay.com/Blue-Ri...

Mostly have all these localised Heirloom varieties from the Kentucky area.

I ordered PURPLE DOG CREEK seeds because I loved the description on that one. And I ordered COWLICK BRANDYWINE in spite of the fact that I SWORE I would never try another Brandywine strain again. (Bad luck, no fruits with any of the Brandwines I have tried).

WOW Rita

So many varieties to try and so little time.

I wish I would have got into heirlooms 40 years ago.

I'm like a kid in a candy store except I don't have that much space.
My wife has already given up 2 of her flower beds for my maters.

Well Paul, I am no spring chicken myself! I think I am a very frustrated wanna be tomato farmer. I just seem to want to try so many varieties. No matter how many tomato plants I set out, I want more. Don't have that much room myself but somehow I manage to make it all work.

maybe there's a Tomatoes Anonymous for folks like us

My seeds came today from BlueRibbonTomatoes. So hopefully I will be growing these two varieties next year. :-))

There are so many suppliers of heirloom tomato seeds these days, and I have never had trouble with any of them. I like to save my own seeds each year so that I don't have to keep buying the same kind and can use my money for trying out new varieties, and if properly cleaned and stored, they last for a long time. Unfortunately, the heirloom seeds and plants are often more expensive than those of regular tomatoes, but there's really no valid reason for it. An heirloom tomato has as many or as few seeds as other tomatoes - it just depends on the variety - and they are as easy to grow as any other tomatoes. I agree that the heirloom taste better and have more interesting names, and that's what I always grow, but I think sometimes the public is duped into thinking they are getting a bargain when they pay $3.50 for one tomato plant just because it is labeled "heirloom."