Tomato

The Seed Savers Exchange -(aka Flamme) Beautiful tomato that originated with Norbert Perreira of Helliner, France. Commercialized by Tomato Growers Supply Company in 1997. Early crops of apricot-colored 4-ounce fruits borne on elongated trusses. Excellent fruity flavor with a perfect blend of sweet and tart. Great for drying or roasting, retains deep orange color. Indeterminate, 70-80 days from transplant.  Characteristics:  Organic Apricot-orange 4 ounce fruits borne in elongated trusses Fruity flavor is a blend of sweet and tart Great for drying or roasting, retains deep orange color Indeterminate - Fruit ripens throughout the season 70-80 days from transplant 25 seeds per packet Instructions - Sow seeds indoors ¼" deep. Tomatoes are sensitive to freezing temperatures, so wait to transplant outdoors until the soil is warm. Plant in full sun. Sow indoors 6 weeks before the last frost Germination 7-14 days Plant Outdoors: 24-36” Apart Support: Cage, stake, or trellis Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability

The Seed Savers Exchange - From the Bonny group of tomatoes that includes Chalk’s Early Jewel. Introduced in 1914 by J. Bolgiano and Son of Baltimore (Maryland). Bright red, meaty, smooth fruits with very good flavor. Once a leading canning variety, also great for fresh eating. Heavy producer. Indeterminate, 60-80 days from transplant.  Characteristics:  Organic Red, round fruits with good flavor Very productive Once a leading canning variety, also great for fresh eating Indeterminate - Fruit ripens throughout the season 25 seeds in packet Instructions -   Sow seeds indoors ¼" deep. Tomatoes are sensitive to freezing temperatures, so wait to transplant outdoors until the soil is warm. Plant in full sun. Sow indoors 6 weeks before the last frost Germination 7-14 days Plant apart 24-36"    Support: Cage, stake, or trellis Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability

The Seed Savers Exchange - Donated by SSE member Reverend C. Frank Morrow of Minnesota. In his donation letter, Reverend Morrow states that the variety originated in Germany and has been in his family since 1916. Red beefsteak fruit 4-5" in diameter, 1½ lbs. Double fruit common. Good flavor, low acid, moderately sweet. Indeterminate, 80-90 days from transplant.  Characteristics:  Red beefsteak fruits grow to 4-5 inches, 1.5 pounds Double fruits are common Good flavor, low acid, moderately sweet Indeterminate - Fruit ripens throughout the season 80-90 days from transplant Instructions - Sow seeds indoors ¼" deep. Tomatoes are sensitive to freezing temperatures, so wait to transplant outdoors until the soil is warm. Plant in full sun. Sow indoors 6 weeks before last frost Germination 7-14 days Plant apart 24-36"  Support: Cage, stake, or trellis Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability

The Seed Savers Exchange - Originally from West Virginia. Named by SSE member Darrell Kellogg of Redford, Michigan who received it from a friend. Large orange beefsteak fruits weigh 1-2 pounds. Delicious rich flavor with a good acid/sugar balance. Very productive. Indeterminate, 80-90 days from transplant.  Characteristics:  Large orange beefsteak fruits grow to 1-2 pounds Rich flavor with good acid to sugar balance Very productive Indeterminate - Fruit ripens throughout the season 80-90 days from transplant Instructions - Sow seeds indoors ¼" deep. Tomatoes are sensitive to freezing temperatures, so wait to transplant outdoors until the soil is warm. Plant in full sun. Sow indoors 6 weeks before the last frost Germination 7-14 days Plant apart 24-36"  Support: Cage, stake, or trellis Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability

Kiwi Beefsteak Tomato - My first bite of Kiwi hooked me for life. The flavor is complex - citrusy, sweet and with a rich tomato profile. They are easy to grow and vey juicy. This variety was first listed in Seedsaver Seedsaving Directory in 2008 by Norbert Pikovsky of Pennsylvania. We grow this one out and happy to offer seeds so you can enjoy it too.  It is resistant to blight and has not had any issues of blossom end rot or other fungal diseases.  Ready to harvest when soft to the touch and yellow-green steioes. Indeterminate, 80-95 days from transplant.  Characteristics:  Green fruits grow 8-14 oz Beefsteak tomato Fruit ripens throughout the season 80-95 days from transplant Instructions - Sow seeds indoors ¼" deep. Tomatoes are sensitive to freezing temperatures, so wait to transplant outdoors until the soil is warm. Plant in full sun.  Sow indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost Germination 7-14 days Plant apart 24-36"  Support: Cage, stake, or trellis Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability

The Seed Savers Exchange - Introduced in the 1983 SSE Yearbook by Sally Jo Baldwin who received the seed from her aunt, Mrs. Art Lundt. She indicated that the seeds originally came from the Kolb greenhouse in Storm Lake, IA (circa 1933). Good yields of one-pound pink beefsteak fruits with rich tomato flavor. Indeterminate, 85 days from transplant.  Characteristics:  Pink beefsteak tomatoes Fruits grow to 1 pound Rich tomato flavor Good yields Indeterminate - Fruit ripens throughout the season 85 days from transplant Instructions - Sow seeds indoors ¼" deep. Tomatoes are sensitive to freezing temperatures, so wait to transplant outdoors until the soil is warm. Plant in full sun. Sow indoors 6 weeks before last frost Germination 7-14 days Plant apart 24-36"  Support: Cage, stake, or trellis Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability

Large Barred Boar Tomato - This tomato exceeded our expectations of how many tomatoes we harvested. The fruits are heart shaped and multi-colored skin that Brad Gates is known for!  Indeterminate, 80 days from transplant.  Characteristics:  Fruits grow 8-12 oz Slicing, sauces tomato Fruit ripens throughout the season 80 days from transplant Instructions : Sow seeds indoors ¼" deep. Tomatoes are sensitive to freezing temperatures, so wait to transplant outdoors until the soil is warm. Plant in full sun.  Sow indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost Germination 7-14 days Plant apart 24-36"  Support: Cage, stake, or trellis Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability

The Seed Savers Exchange - Originally from Ben Quisenberry, a tomato collector from Syracuse, Ohio. Extremely productive plants yield large 1½-2" cherry tomatoes. Great full flavor. Ben preferred this variety for canning whole. A favorite for salads and fresh eating. Indeterminate, 75-80 days from transplant.  Characteristics:  Organic Cherry tomatoes grow to 1-2 inches Great full flavor Very productive Indeterminate - Fruit ripens throughout the season 75-80 days from transplant 25 Seeds per packet Instructions - Sow seeds indoors ¼" deep. Tomatoes are sensitive to freezing temperatures, so wait to transplant outdoors until the soil is warm. Plant in full sun.  Sow indoors 6 weeks before the last frost Germination 7-14 days Plant Outdoors: 24-36” Apart Support: Cage, stake, or trellis Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability

Southern Expsoure Seed Exchange - Large Red Tomato - Original seed from the USDA. Historical notes by Hank and Linda Trent. Prior to the Civil War, one of the most commonly grown and best documented tomato varieties in the country. Listed in the 1843 Shaker seed catalog at New Lebanon, NY, the Large Red tomato is vital for ante-bellum garden recreations and historic farms. Fearing Burr in his 1865 book stated, "From the time of the introduction of the tomato to its general use in this country, the Large Red was almost the only kind cultivated, or even commonly known." 2 x 4 in. deep-red fruits are heavily ribbed or lobed and flattened in shape - quite distinct from modern tomatoes. Sweet with a bit of tang and some flavor intricacy. Vines provide medium foliage cover. We introduced Large Red for historical reasons, but we were surprised and pleased during our 1996 trials to find that it became a favorite of a local restaurant's chef. Organic & Open-Pollinated Indeterminate 85 Days .16grams - 40-50 Seeds per Packet Instructions - Sow seeds indoors ¼" deep. Tomatoes are sensitive to freezing temperatures, so wait to transplant outdoors until the soil is warm. Plant in full sun. Sow indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost Germination 7-14 days Plant apart 24-36"  Plants need trellising or staking Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability

Legend Tomato - This is a fantastic slicer and is almost always blemish free. It does a very good job of resisting blight in our valley gardens and provides fruit right until frost when we do late plantings. The fruit is juicy and sweet. We love them for sandwiches and salads! The downside is they are q determinate so if you want a steady supply, it is best to do 2 or 3 or waves of them ir just get all your canning out of the way at one time.  Non-GMO & Open Pollinated 3-5" fruits Juicy and sweet Excellent for fresh eating and canning Determinate 60-70 days from Bred and released by Oregon State University Dr. Jim Baggett. Instructions - Sow seeds indoors 1/8" deep. Tomatoes are sensitive to freezing temperatures, so wait to transplant outdoors until the soil is warm. Plant in full sun. Sow indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost Germination 7-14 days Plant apart 24-36"  Plants need trellising or staking Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability

The Seed Savers Exchange - Winner of SSE’s 2010 Tomato Tasting. Seed originally from Florida SSE member J. T. Sessions, who found this sport growing with his Snow White Cherry plants. Heavy sets of ½-¾" translucent yellow-green cherry tomatoes. Refreshing tart-sweet flavor. Continues producing even in cold wet growing conditions. Indeterminate, 80-90 days from transplant.  Characteristics:  Organic Winner of SSE’s 2010 Tomato Tasting Translucent yellow-green fruits grow to a ½-¾ inch Refreshing tart-sweet flavor Tolerates cold and wet weather Indeterminate - Fruit ripens throughout the season 80-90 days from transplant 25 seeds per packet Instructions - Sow seeds indoors ¼" deep. Tomatoes are sensitive to freezing temperatures, so wait to transplant outdoors until the soil is warm. Plant in full sun.  Sow indoors 6 weeks before the last frost Germination 7-14 days Plant Outdoors: 24-36” Apart Support: Cage, stake, or trellis Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability

The Seed Savers Exchange - Large, red, globe tomato, midseason maturing, indeterminate growth habit. Paragon has a good flavor but is not as sweet as today’s gardeners often expect. Alexander W. Livingston (1821-1898), probably did more to popularize the tomato in America than any other individual. His company bred and released 35 tomato varieties between 1870 and 1941. His breeding program and vigorous promotion transformed Americans’ perception of tomatoes. His first tomato introduction in 1870, “The Paragon Tomato,” was described by Livingston as the first “perfectly and uniformly smooth tomato ever introduced.” Mike Dunton’s Livingston Project:  Our Paragon strain comes from longtime SSE member Mike Dunton’s Victory Seed Company. By the late 1990s, the Livingston tomatoes had all but disappeared from the seed trade. Those few being sold were often not true to type for their historic descriptions. Mike Dunton has spent the last twenty years researching and locating authentic Livingston tomatoes. In recognition of the strong historic value of Livingston’s contributions, SSE has been working for the past two years to assess the Livingston tomatoes in our Collection for purity and historic authenticity. Mike Dunton has provided invaluable consultation, and in several cases, we are acquiring his strains. Our goal is to preserve historically accurate strains of all the remaining Livingston tomatoes. Characteristics:  Organic Bright red fruits grow to over 1 pound Extremely productive Fruit ripens throughout the season Heritage Farm Collection Variety in 2017 Instructions - Sow seeds indoors ¼" deep. Tomatoes are sensitive to freezing temperatures, so wait to transplant outdoors until the soil is warm. Plant in full sun.  Sow indoors 6 weeks before the last frost Germination 7-14 days Plant Outdoors: 24-36” Apart Support: Cage, stake, or trellis     Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability

Southern Exposure Seed Exchange - LONG KEEPER WINTER STORAGE - Fruits become ripe 6-12 weeks after harvest. Some customers report storing Long Keeper 4-6 months. Though the quality doesn’t match that of a fresh garden tomato, flavor and texture is superior to most winter supermarket tomatoes.  The 4-7 oz. fruits ripen in storage to a satiny, red-orange color. Flesh ripens to medium-red. Best planted in late spring or early summer for fall harvest; we start seeds in early May. Long Keeper is often grown as a supplement to the main crop. Pkt. Heat Tolerant  Organic & Open-Pollinated Semi-Indeterminate 4-7 oz fruit 78 Days 40-50 Seeds per Packet Instructions - Sow seeds indoors ¼" deep. Tomatoes are sensitive to freezing temperatures, so wait to transplant outdoors until the soil is warm. Plant in full sun. Sow indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost Germination 7-14 days Plant apart 24-36"  Plants need trellising or staking Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability

The Seed Savers Exchange - Ted Maiden of LaFollette, Tennessee, has grown and saved seeds from this variety since his father, Ernest Maiden, gave it to him in 1964. Ernest stewarded the variety in his own garden in Bristol, Virginia, after receiving its seeds from his father, Reverend Frank Maiden of Saltville, Virginia, at some point prior to 1956. In 2009 Ted rediscovered the seed he had grown in 1987 stored in a box of photos that had remained packed during several moves he made while in the Air Force. Indeterminate. 60-75 days from transplant.  Characteristics:  From the Collection for 2023  Organic  Heirloom  Dark orange fruits average 8-10 oz  Indeterminate - Fruit ripens throughout the season  60-75 days from the transplant  Instructions - Sow seeds indoors ¼" deep. Tomatoes are sensitive to freezing temperatures, so wait to transplant outdoors until the soil is warm. Plant in full sun. Start Indoors: 6 weeks before the last frost  Germination: 7-14 days  Plant Outdoors: 24-36" apart  Support: Cage, stake, or trellis    Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of the availability

The Seed Savers Exchange -Donated to SSE in 1995 by Alicia Brown-Matthes of Iowa. This variety was a favorite of Alicia’s grandmother, Mamie Brown, who grew it in her West Virginia garden. Large, pink beefsteak type with a perfect sweet/acid flavor balance. Indeterminate, 80-90 days from transplant.  Characteristics:  Organic Pink beefsteak fruits of varying shapes Perfect sweet/acid flavor balance Double fruits are somewhat common Indeterminate - Fruit ripens throughout the season 80-90 days from transplant 25 seeds in packet Instructions -   Sow seeds indoors ¼" deep. Tomatoes are sensitive to freezing temperatures, so wait to transplant outdoors until the soil is warm. Plant in full sun.  Sow indoors 6 weeks before the last frost Germination 7-14 days   Plant Outdoors: 24-36” Apart   Support: Cage, stake, or trellis Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability

Marglobe VF - Do not let the letters VF scare you away. Marglobe VF is open-pollinated like all of our seed offerings but was selected from its parent stock Marglobe.  Marglobe has been in demand for several generations while many other varieties have come and gone. This strain has been selected for disease resistance. Red, medium-sized, 5-8 oz. fruits with firm walls and good flavor. Stocky, vigorous plants with excellent disease tolerance. Vines provide good protection from sunscald.  Marglobe was first developed in 1917 from a cross between ‘Marvel’ and ‘Globe’ and released by the USDA in 1925. Wide Range of Disease Resistance Organic & Open-Pollinated Determinate 5-8 oz fruit 70 Days 40-50 Seeds per Packet Instructions - Sow seeds indoors ¼" deep. Tomatoes are sensitive to freezing temperatures, so wait to transplant outdoors until the soil is warm. Plant in full sun. Sow indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost Germination 7-14 days Plant apart 24-36"  Plants need trellising or staking Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability

The Seed Savers Exchange - Italian variety with pretty rugose (puckered) foliage. Very heavy set of mild 2-3 ounce fruits perfectly suited for making sauce, salsa, and paste. Tends to fall off the vine when fully ripe. Determinate, but requires trellis, 75 days from transplant.  Characteristics:  Organic Fruits grow to 2-3 ounces Rugose (puckered) foliage Fruit tends to fall off the vine when fully ripe Determinate - Fruit ripens over a 2 week period 75 days from transplant 25 seeds in packet Instructions - Sow seeds indoors ¼" deep. Tomatoes are sensitive to freezing temperatures, so wait to transplant outdoors until the soil is warm. Plant in full sun.  Sow indoors 6 weeks before the last frost Germination 7-14 days Plant Outdoors: 24-36” Apart Support: Cage, stake, or trellis Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability

Renee's Garden - Heirloom with strong, climbing vines bearing large sunny gold fruits shot through with rose-red, giving them a beautiful marbleized effect. The flavor is mild, sweet & smooth. Characteristics:  Organic  Heirloom Big, rosy-red color with gold patterns  Mild and sweet flavor  80 days  Approx 45 seeds Instructions - Zucchinis need full sun, rich fertile soil, and warm temperatures. Plant only when spring weather is warm and settled and night temperatures stay above 50°F (10°C). Sow groups of 2 to 3 seeds 1 inch deep and 2 feet apart. When seedlings have 4 leaves, thin to 1 strong seedling per group. Or, plant in slightly mounded hills, 2 feet in diameter, sowing 4 or 5 seeds in each hill. Thin hill-planted seedlings to the 2 or 3 strongest plants.  Sow seeds indoors: February - March  Transplant outdoors in full sun: May - June  Mature Height: 5-7 feet  7-14 days to germinate  Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers due to availability. 

Matina Tomato - This is such a robust producer and is one of the first slicers to set fruit and be ready around mid July for us in zone 4. The flavor is absolutely what is needed in a tomato - sweet, juicy, balanced acidity, and fruity.  Matina is a an indeterminate potato leaf variety, and her fruit is 4-7oz. I would recommend her in the south as she does not stop flowering no matter the heat we receive in Wisconsin  Characteristics:  Green fruits grow 4-7 oz Salads and Slicer hot tomato Fruit ripens throughout the season Sets fruit in hot weather 45-55 days from transplant Instructions  Sow seeds indoors ¼" deep. Tomatoes are sensitive to freezing temperatures, so wait to transplant outdoors until the soil is warm. Plant in full sun.  Sow indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost Germination 7-14 days Plant apart 24-36"  Support: Cage, stake, or trellis

Copious quantities of small, deep red cherries with exceptional flavor. High Mowing Organic Seeds - Matt's keeps producing prolifically when every other tomato in the field is down for the count with early blight. Pick frequently as skin is thin and cracks easily. Trellis or let sprawl and naturalize. Shows moderate field tolerance to late blight. Characteristics:  Organic, non-GMO, and open-pollinated Indeterminate .25 oz  55 days  1/10 gram  Instructions - Tomatoes are warm-season tender annuals. Tomatoes yield best in clay or loam soils that are well-drained and high in organic matter. They can tolerate acid soil as low as 5.5, but they prefer to grow in the 6.0-6.8 range. Days to maturity are from transplants. Start seeds 6-8 weeks before the planting date.  Planting depth: 1/8-1/4"  Plant spacing: for determinate varieties 12-18", for indeterminate 24-36" Row Spacing: 4-6’ centers"  Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers based on availability