Tomato seedlings in Chicagoland - where are the good ones?

Hi all,

After varying degrees of success growing tomatoes over the past few summers, we're gearing up to go at it again this summer. Before we get started, though, can anyone recommend a good place to get seedlings? I'm looking for a place that offers heirloom or other premium varieties, and preferably enough varieties so that I can choose a few that might do especially well in the conditions we have to work with at my house.

If starting with seeds and germinating them indoors is more likely to produce successful results, that's fine too. But if that's the case, should I still be seeking a local supplier or are quality seeds easier to source via the internet?

Thanks,

=R=

You might want to check out Seed Savers Exchange. It's a non-profit dedicated to saving rare and heirloom varieties of many plants. The link takes you to their tomato and pepper seedlings page, and includes a wide variety of heirlooms. The seed section has even more heirlooms, if you want to start the seeds yourself.

I have germinated seeds, and bought seedlings as well - I love to have 6-8 varieties of tomatoes, plus hot peppers and herbs in the garden. For seeds, I like Marianna's out of Tennessee. I haven't tried Seed Savers, but Marianna's has a few hundred heirloom tomato varieties, plus peppers, eggplant, etc.

For seedlings, I really like Gethsemane up in Edgewater. Great selection of heirlooms, plus all the supplies you need and a friendly, knowledgeable staff.

Edit: I just noticed on Gethsemane's site that they start their seedlings from seeds they buy from Seed Saver's Exchange...so I'll let them to the germinating for me this year.

Other spots of note:
Craig Bergmann up in Wadsworth (GF favorite)
Grand Street Gardens on Grand west of Damen
Sprout on Damen & Chicago

I can't wait to get started, this winter was a killah, mate!

nr706 wrote:You might want to check out Seed Savers Exchange. It's a non-profit dedicated to saving rare and heirloom varieties of many plants. The link takes you to their tomato and pepper seedlings page, and includes a wide variety of heirlooms. The seed section has even more heirlooms, if you want to start the seeds yourself.

I have purchased a number of seeds from Seed Savers Exchange, which is a very interesting organization that serves the good cause of preserving plant varieties that may be threatened with extinction.

When putting in a garden, I think SSE is a very attractive source because it enables novice gardeners like me to secure seeds for less common varieties of veg, which are more appealing to me than common garden varieties, and moreover you can take a hand in helping these more rare plants gain a foothold and thus ensure their continued preservation.

Although they have a relatively short menu of heirloom tomatoes, I've found the Meinke Garden Center on Touhy and Lehigh offers a big selection of very healthy tomato seedlings of many varieties (including a few heirlooms). The same is true of their selection of other veggies. After much trial and error, I now go there exclusively for all of my seedlings.

P.S. Avoid Home Depot like the plague. Even though they offer seedlings from companies with well respected names, I've had to replant in more than one season due to their seedlings mysteriously dying despite getting tender loving care.

Meinke Garden Center
5803 W Touhy Ave
Niles, IL
847-647-9455

I think you are probably too late to start tomatoes from seed. You have to order the seed, set up a light stand, and preferably a heating source....potting soil, the little plastic trays, etc. Your seedlings will be a month behind schedule. Plan ahead and do it next year instead.

I have usually gotten my seeds from seed savers exchange, but next year I may go entirely with Sand Hill Preservation Center:

http://www.sandhillpreservation.com/pag ... talog.html

It is a ma n' pa organization out of Iowa. They have a wide array of heirloom seeds and their germination rate has been outstanding compared to Seed Savers.

Last year, I purchased six superb little heirloom tomato plants from the annual Cheney Mansion sale in Oak Park. The price was right (I forget what it was, but I think around $5/plant), and the plants yielded abundant fruit. If I remember correctly, all were certified organic.

They also have lots of other veg and herb plants.

Spring Plant Sale
Sunday, May 18, 10am-4pm

Cheney Mansion
220 North Euclid, Oak Park, IL 60302
Phone (708) 383-2616
Fax (708) 383-6485

Like Steve, I am also a fan of Meinke Garden Center: I find them to be less expensive than other garden centers and more reliable than places like Home Depot or the Jewel (which actually can offer an excellent variety, but I've also recieved diseased plants)

My favorite offering there is not tomatoes, though I've bought an entire rainbow: Cherokee Purple, Green Zebra, I think Black Krim, Brandywine, Jubilee, and lots of kinds of salad tomatoes: Sweet 100s, Borghese, Yellow Pear, Grape. The selection isn't necessarily constant year to year, but it's always a wide variety. However, I go especially for the peppers, particularly the Inferno, a medium-heat, fruity hungarian pepper.

Ronnie-

A gas saving idea for you: I havent been there for about 4 years, but Bahr's greenhouse on Ridge just south of West Park usually has some heirloom varieties in addition to the usual suspects. It can be hit or miss, but in the past I have bought brandywine, cherokee purple, as well as my personal favorites german and stripped german there. The seedlings tend to be in good shape. You might call them or stop by to see what their plans are for this spring.

-Will

I get heirloom plants from Hacker's. We always get a few varieties of tomatoes and several different peppers.

Hacker's Glenbard Gardens
640 N State Route 53
Lombard, IL
P: 630-495-4220

It's not local shopping, but I've been very happy with http://www.thechilewoman.com -- they're Indiana based so the climate's not that different, and they have a huge selection of heirloom chiles and a more modest but still decent selection of 'maters.

Their shipping prices are an arm and a leg, but the results have been very good.

I find that independent owned shops have the best selection of heirlooms. While the selection isn't large, its better than your corporate places.

Out in the Schaumburg area I frequent:

Plat Hill Nursery
222 W. Lake Street
Bloomingdale, IL

and

Random Acres
621 E. Schaumburg Rd.
Schaumburg, IL 60194

Last year at Platt Hill, I took home a Mr. Stripey that did incredibly well. This is a red/yellow bi-color heirloom known for its sweetness.

Please note that Platt Hill does publish a catalog every spring, but I find that they always have a few more varieties of tomatoes than listed.

For seeds, I like
Tomato Growers Supply Company.

However, with a teeny tiny yard, I've sort of given up on starting from seed until we buy a single family house. I can only plant 2-3 vines a year.

Kim

teatpuller wrote:I think you are probably too late to start tomatoes from seed. You have to order the seed, set up a light stand, and preferably a heating source....potting soil, the little plastic trays, etc. Your seedlings will be a month behind schedule. Plan ahead and do it next year instead.

Naw. It's better to start in March, but seeds planted now will still produce plenty of tomatoes, especially if you plant "early"/short-season varieties.

Given this year's weather, I think anyone who sets out tomatoes or other delicate plants before Memorial Day will be taking a big risk.

The supply of interesting seeds and plants is always much bigger by mail order.

That said, planting indoors from seed can be a hassle, if you're not really into the gardening process -- what with planting the seeds, germinating under plastic, rearing under lights, thinning and pricking out, playing nursemaid to the seedlings till they're ready to go out, setting the pots outside to season and bringing them in at night until it's time to plant, etc. If you garden mainly for the results, you're better off with plants. However, you can have those shipped, too.

Here are some of my favorite seed and plant sources for kitchen gardening:

Pinetree Garden Seeds (nice selection, inexpensive)

Le Jardin du Gourmet (wonderful culinary varieties available in small, inexpensive packets)

J.L. Hudson, Seedsman ("Preservation Through Dissemination")

The Gourmet Gardener (impressively conscientious service)

Nichols Garden Nursery (herbs, rare seeds)

Richters (wonderful herb seeds and plants)

Edible Landscaping (plants)

Johnny's Selected Seeds (good generalist, lots of short season varieties)

Evergreen Seeds (Asian varieties)

R.H. Shumway (old-fashioned)

The Cook's Garden (pricey, but some things you can't find elsewhere)

Seeds of Change (organic heirlooms)

I gave up growing from seeds only because our springs are so unpredictable..
Believe it or not I have had great luck with the tomato plants from Home Depot for the last couple years..heirlooms too...
I grow garlic from cloves I order from Johnny Seeds.

Kim3 wrote:I find that independent owned shops have the best selection of heirlooms. While the selection isn't large, its better than your corporate places.

Out in the Schaumburg area I frequent:

Plat Hill Nursery
222 W. Lake Street
Bloomingdale, IL

and

Random Acres
621 E. Schaumburg Rd.
Schaumburg, IL 60194

Last year at Platt Hill, I took home a Mr. Stripey that did incredibly well. This is a red/yellow bi-color heirloom known for its sweetness.

Please note that Platt Hill does publish a catalog every spring, but I find that they always have a few more varieties of tomatoes than listed.

For seeds, I like
Tomato Growers Supply Company.

However, with a teeny tiny yard, I've sort of given up on starting from seed until we buy a single family house. I can only plant 2-3 vines a year.

Kim

Kim - I go to Platt Hill for my firewood. I will have to check out the tomato plants there this year. Thanks for the tip

I found another resource in my annual fight against septoria leaf spot and early blight in tomatoes: the IL Extension office has an "Ask A Hort" page where you post questions and a horticulturist will post an answer He also sent me a recipe for the recommended Bordeaux mixture via email, which I will be happy to pass on via PM to any takers.

I buy my plants online from Territorial Seed Company. I like that you can buy individual plants. I buy a mix of heirloom, early and late. Never been disappointed yet.

I have long found Pesche's Garden Center, 170 S. River Road in Des Plaines, an amazing source of all kinds of vegetable and herb plants. In a typical year, Pesche's will stock many varieties of heirloom plants, including Red, Yellow and Black Brandywine, Black Krim, Old German, Mr. Stripey, Green Zebra, Purple Cherokee, Mortgage Lifter, Oxheart, and several others that I am forgetting. If you haven't tried planting Old German plants, by the way, I highly recommend them--they produce large, deep orange fruits that have a nice combination of sweet and earthy flavors. Pesche's is a huge enterprise and is definitely worth a visit if you've never been there.

I also like to shop the Evanston Farmer's Market for heirloom tomato plants. The Nichols stand always offers some beautiful plants in interesting varieties that you aren't likely to find elsewhere. Last year, for instance, I remember seeing some Black Oxheart and Black Pineapple plants, both of which produce great fruits.

Kenny from Rogers Park wrote:I also like to shop the Evanston Farmer's Market for heirloom tomato plants. The Nichols stand always offers some beautiful plants in interesting varieties that you aren't likely to find elsewhere. Last year, for instance, I remember seeing some Black Oxheart and Black Pineapple plants, both of which produce great fruits.

Yeah, we ended up picking some up today at the Nichols stand at the Green City Market (it was opening day).

=R=

I've liked the tomato and pepper plants that I've gotten from Paradise Gardens. They come to the Lisle French market and are very nice and helpful people. The tomato and pepper plants go on sale May 17.

Here's a list of their tomato varieties for this year: red grape, red pear, yellow plum, thai pink, black plum, juliet, galina's yellow, isis candy, snow white, small fry, pink grape, yellow pear, santa grape, black cherry, sungold, sweet chelsea, sweet million, yellow grape, martino's roma, red zebra, caspian pink, early brandywine, anna's oxheart, green zebra, persimmon orange, red rose, cherokee purple, big rainbow, great white, yellow taxi, purple ball, yellow brandywine, brandywine, old german, black prince, lillian's yellow, costoluto genovese, mortgage lifter, abraham lincoln, box car willie mule team, rutgers, lunch box, bush celebrity, bush goliath, bush early girl, better bush, oregon spring, better boy, big beef, big boy, miracle sweet, early girl, and sweet cluster.

They also have a nice variety of sweet and hot peppers. If anyone wants the description sheet, pm me, and I'll see if I can scan it for you.

Jen

Lisle French Market
Downtown Lisle on Burlington between Spencer and Center

Saturdays 9am-1pm

P.S. The market is very small. Besides the Paradise Gardens booth, I typically only get things from the olive booth and the pickle guy.

When are you guys planning to plant your tomatoes? Most of the calendars I've seen say today is the day, but I'm a little concerned about the chilly weather (and I haven't been hardening my seedlings anyway) Do you typically plant warm-weather crops on May 12, May 15, or Memorial Day?

You have to ask if they've been hardened, if you are buying from vendors. They should have been, but you never know. Here is what Teresa Santiago will be bringing to Evanston Farmer's Market on Saturday

Over 1500 individual plants, each in its own biodegradable peat pot filled with homemade organic potting soil. These plants were started in my greenhouse in February and March, lovingly tended, and then hardened off outside for the past couple of weeks. They are ready to be planted in your garden or corner of the yard, or even on your deck in a planter.

PLANT STARTS FOR SALE
Over 60 varieties of tomatoes— - heirloom, hybrid, cherry, and plum types.
3 varieties of tomatillos
26 varieties of peppers - —bell, sweet, and hot.
12 varieties of eggplants— - Italian and Asian varieties.
Over 20 varieties of herbs.
For a full list of varieties, each with a brief description, see Henry’s website http://www.henrysfarm.com and click on the Newsflash in the upper right. And come to the market early to make sure you get your first choices.

Mhays wrote:When are you guys planning to plant your tomatoes? Most of the calendars I've seen say today is the day, but I'm a little concerned about the chilly weather (and I haven't been hardening my seedlings anyway) Do you typically plant warm-weather crops on May 12, May 15, or Memorial Day?

If you're planting heirloom tomatoes, I would wait until next weekend to be on the safe side. For the past several years, I have waited until Memorial Day to plant my heirlooms and haven't had any problems getting a bountiful crop. Planting too early likely will, however, diminish the quantity of tomatoes your plants produce simply because their growth may be stunted for as long as a month.

Hi,

The average frost free date for our area is May 15th. Of course, average may mean we can have frost later. It will be in the 40's at night over the next few evenings. It seems a little cool for those tomato seedlings.

I recall going to a lecture where they compared early planted tomatoes to those planted later as Kenny just suggested. They found comparable growth rates because those planted early retarded their growth until it warmed, then they took off.

I went to a gardening conference in Florida. I learned they could not grow decent tomatoes locally because they didn't have our ideal weather conditions for ripening tomatoes: hot days and cool nights.

Regards,

Good deal - I'll start hardening mine off (need to get them out today!) and will wait until Memorial Day - too much to do this weekend anyway. Thanks for the advice, the weather's been so weird this year I was inclined in that direction...

I planted mine out last weekend. Yes, I know I was taking a big risk, but since I'm due for a baby any day now, I wanted to get my gardening done before my water broke.

I only planted two plants this year, as I suspect I'll have little time in the next 10 weeks to tend to my garden. I got a beautiful, bushy, Rutgers and a Mr. Stripey that was every so slightly leggy. Both were bought at Platt Hill Nursery in Bloomingdale.

The Rutgers went into my 5 ft circular raised bed and the Mr. Stripey went into my largest planter. I striped the Mr. Stripey of its lower leaves and branches and planted it a bit deeper than I usually would to compensate for its legginess and to encourage new roots.

Kim

All

So I was fortunate to have a couple of friends buy 35 acres and then decide they are going to plant a nice sized garden. I have offered to help out with the work and seeds/seedlings in exchange for some of the harvest.

Next weekend (Memorial day) we wil be doing all the planting. At that point should I be only planting seedlings for tomatoes and peppers?

I need to do some reading but would also like to plant the following:

zucchini
garlic
peppers - jalapeno, poblano, red/green, and some heirlooms
squash
lettuce of some sort

Pretty excited!

jpeac2 wrote:Next weekend (Memorial day) we wil be doing all the planting. At that point should I be only planting seedlings for tomatoes and peppers?

I need to do some reading but would also like to plant the following:

zucchini
garlic
peppers - jalapeno, poblano, red/green, and some heirlooms
squash
lettuce of some sort

Yes, it's too late to start tomatoes and peppers from seeds. You can probably still plant zucchini from seed. Lettuce will need some protection and you should try for cut and come and again rather than head lettuce. Garlic is best fall planted for crops next year, but you can plant now for greens.

I finally put my 22 heirloom plants in the ground this weekend at a community garden. The cold spring has really punished gardeners who planted their tomatoes early. At my community garden, for instance, many gardeners who planted shortly after the 15th now have seriously stunted or visibly dying/dead plants.

Kenny from Rogers Park wrote:
I also like to shop the Evanston Farmer's Market for heirloom tomato plants. The Nichols stand always offers some beautiful plants in interesting varieties that you aren't likely to find elsewhere. Last year, for instance, I remember seeing some Black Oxheart and Black Pineapple plants, both of which produce great fruits.

Ronnie Suburban added:
Yeah, we ended up picking some up today at the Nichols stand at the Green City Market (it was opening day).

One of Lloyd's kids talked me into it again, dadgummit! They have the best-looking tomato plants to be found - and he homed in on me like a heat-seeking missile. The Sungold I bought at the EFM two weeks ago is being transplanted into its giant pot tomorrow - I wanted to make absolutely certain that it was warm enough before shocking it. Though I don't suppose I should worry; the damn thing is now well over two feet tall.

They had Green Zebras, too, but I resisted - those seem best when field-grown. Even if one can avoid blossom-end rot, the stress of pot culture seems to give them unpleasantly thick skins. I'll leave those (and the Brandywines, Mortgage Lifters, and such) to the professionals.