Sun Drying Tomatoes
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Small, meaty tomatoes bred specifically for sun drying. Intensely flavored when dried, these concentrate into rich, sweet morsels perfect for pastas, salads, and snacking.
Growing Tips
Sun drying tomatoes thrive in hot, dry climates — Big Pine is ideal. Let fruits ripen fully on the vine, then halve and dry in direct sun or a dehydrator. Plants are prolific and compact, well-suited to smaller garden spaces.
Choose Varieties
Principe Borghese
Owens Valley only. Pickup in Big Pine or local delivery.
Varieties We Carry
- •Principe Borghese (small, intense Italian heirloom — the classic sun drying tomato, produces heavy clusters of small oval fruits that dry beautifully in our Owens Valley sun)
More Tomatoes
Cherry Tomatoes
Sweet, bite-sized tomatoes perfect for snacking straight off the vine, tossing in salads, or roasting for pasta. Our cherry tomato selection includes a range of colors and flavors — from classic red to golden and even dark varieties. Varieties may include: Sweet 100, Sun Gold, Black Cherry, and other proven performers for high-desert gardens. Growing tips: Cherry tomatoes are among the most productive plants in the garden. They thrive in full sun with consistent watering and benefit from sturdy caging or staking. In the Owens Valley, plant after the last frost (mid-May) and expect harvests from mid-July through first frost. Pinch suckers for larger fruits or let them bush out for maximum yield.
Beefsteak Tomatoes
Large, meaty slicing tomatoes that are the crown jewel of any summer garden. These hefty fruits can weigh a pound or more and are perfect for BLTs, thick slices on burgers, or simply eaten with a pinch of salt. Varieties may include: Beefsteak, Big Boy, Mortgage Lifter, and other large-fruited selections suited to our climate. Growing tips: Beefsteak types need the longest season of any tomato — start early indoors and transplant after last frost. In Big Pine's climate, provide afternoon shade cloth if temperatures exceed 100°F, as blossoms may drop in extreme heat. Heavy fruits need strong caging or staking. Water deeply and consistently to prevent blossom end rot.
Paste Tomatoes
Thick-walled, meaty tomatoes with low moisture content — the gold standard for making sauces, paste, salsa, and canning. These workhorses of the kitchen garden produce abundantly and process down into rich, concentrated flavor. Varieties may include: San Marzano, Roma, Amish Paste, and other paste-type selections bred for sauce making. Growing tips: Paste tomatoes tend to ripen in a concentrated flush, which is ideal for canning days. They are generally more disease-resistant than slicing types. In our Owens Valley climate, the dry air and intense sun actually benefit paste tomatoes by concentrating their sugars. Plant in full sun, cage or stake, and water at the base to keep foliage dry.
Zebra Tomatoes
Striking striped tomatoes with gorgeous green, red, and yellow patterns that look almost too beautiful to eat — but you should, because the flavor is exceptional. These heirloom beauties add visual drama to salads and garden alike. Varieties may include: Green Zebra, Red Zebra, and other striped heirloom selections. Growing tips: Zebra tomatoes can be tricky to judge for ripeness since they stay green-striped even when ripe. Give them a gentle squeeze — they should yield slightly when ready. Full sun, consistent water, and good air circulation keep these beauties happy in our dry mountain climate.