GMO: Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO). These are intended for use in large-scale, mono-crop agriculture and are generally resistant to chemical sprays. Most of us will never have access to these seeds or plants.

Hybrids are specifically cross-pollinated/bred for desired traits (such as taste, production, how easily it ships, and disease resistance.)

Heirloom varieties are open-pollinated. They are generally grown because of their taste. They are not always the fastest growing, most productive, disease-resistant, and they often don’t ship well. Generally small farms and backyard growers are the only ones that get to enjoy heirlooms.

Determinate Tomato Plants: are smaller and require no pruning. You may or may not even need to stake them since they grow into a bush. The plant has a ‘determined’ number of fruit and leaves that will grow. Determinate varieties are generally hybrids and are bred to bloom and produce fruit all at one time. While this can be useful for those looking to can or preserve, they need to be ‘succession planted’ to allow for tomatoes all summer.

Indeterminate Tomato Plants: will continue to grow, vine, and produce fruit until frost. Most heirloom tomatoes are indeterminate. Generally, people prune and stake these plants.

Grow them in the ground. While it is totally possible to grow your tomatoes in raised beds or in pots, it is actually a more of an ‘intermediate’ or ‘advanced’ way to grow. This is because it takes time, knowledge, and experience to build soil that can maintain moisture and nutrients. In Utah, raised beds often dry out faster and require much more water than in-ground plants.

Water the Base, NOT the Leaves. Tomatoes are prone to diseases when their foliage gets wet. We do not recommend using the sprinklers in your yard to water your tomatoes but instead to water the base of the plants through drip irrigation or hand watering.

Proper Planting Size: The most common mistake with tomato seedlings is that they are bought and sold as ‘too mature.’ It is recommended to plant tomato seedlings when they are very small, 6-10 weeks old. While the tomato plants you get from us will be smaller than many you see in nurseries, they will fruit earlier and establish healthier than more mature plants.

Organically-Grown: We only use certified organic products and your plants will never be exposed to pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides.

Peat-Free: We make the soil that your tomatoes will be grown in. Peat is an extremely problematic material that we refuse to use on our farm.

Reusable Plastic Pots: Your tomato seedlings come in high-quality, rigid plastic pots that can be reused many times (not those flimsy nursery pots.)