Tomatoes
Heirloom and hybrid tomato varieties, from cherry to beefsteak.
Grow-to-order: We start most plants from seed after you order. Place your order early and we grow your plants until the weather is ready — then pick up in Big Pine or get local delivery. You can also find us at weekend sales at our home, farmers markets in Big Pine and Bishop, and tribal community events throughout the season.
Tomatoes
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.
$4.00
Tomatoes
Brandywine Tomatoes
The legendary Brandywine — often called the best-tasting tomato in the world. These large, pink heirloom fruits have a rich, complex flavor with the perfect balance of sweetness and acidity that modern hybrids have never matched. History: Brandywine dates back to 1885 and is an Amish heirloom variety. It has potato-leaf foliage, which makes it easy to identify in the garden. Growing tips: Brandywine is an indeterminate variety that needs a long season and strong support. It is not the heaviest producer, but every fruit is worth the wait. In Big Pine, start seeds early indoors (late February/March) to give them the head start they need. Provide consistent deep watering and don't let the soil dry out — cracking is the enemy of a perfect Brandywine.
$4.00
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.
$4.00
Tomatoes
Heirloom Tomatoes
Classic heirloom varieties, open-pollinated and full of flavor. These time-tested tomatoes bring old-fashioned taste to your garden with rich, complex flavors that modern hybrids can’t match. Varieties include: Cherokee Purple (deep dusky purple, smoky-sweet complex flavor), Valencia (bright orange, sweet with low acidity), Three Sisters (large ribbed fruits, complex rich flavor), Black Krim (dark mahogany, intensely savory and smoky), Rose (rosy-red with classic sweet heirloom flavor), and Rebekah Allen (rare heirloom, beautiful fruits with exceptional taste). Growing tips: Heirloom tomatoes thrive in full sun with consistent deep watering. Most are indeterminate and need strong support. In the Owens Valley, start seeds indoors early and transplant after last frost. These open-pollinated varieties let you save seeds year to year.
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Tomatoes
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.
$4.00
Tomatoes
Slicing Tomatoes
Perfect sandwich and salad tomatoes. Firm, flavorful, and sized just right for slicing. These reliable producers give you beautiful, uniform fruits all season long. Varieties include: Golden Jubilee (golden-orange, mild and low acidity — great for those sensitive to acidic tomatoes), Homestead 24 (compact with excellent flavor, heat tolerant), Early Girl Determinate (vibrant red, one of the earliest to ripen — bush habit), Early Girl Indeterminate (same great early flavor, vining habit for extended harvest), Ace 55 VF (productive and disease-resistant, classic slicer), Sunny Boy (bright red, sweet and juicy with compact growth), and Florade (disease resistant, high yield in hot climates). Growing tips: Slicing tomatoes do best in full sun with consistent watering to prevent cracking. In the Owens Valley, determinate varieties are great for shorter seasons and smaller spaces, while indeterminate types keep producing until frost. Stake or cage all varieties for best results.
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Tomatoes
Sun Drying Tomatoes
Small, meaty tomatoes bred specifically for sun drying. Intensely flavored when dried, these concentrate into rich, sweet morsels perfect for pastas, salads, and snacking. Varieties include: 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). 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.
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Tomatoes
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.
$4.00