Remaining Plants for Sale - 2009

I just received a count of the remaining plants for sale at our June 5th event. Please note that these are rough and conservatively low counts for each, so I hope we have a touch more than advertised.

If you'd like to buy a particular variety, please remember that the sales are first come, first serve, so please arrive early. Not sure which variety is for you? Google any of the names for descriptions, or head to this page on the Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds' web site. I bought all the seed from BC and they have good descriptions. When possible, I have a link to a picture of the plants we grew last year. All of these pictures were taken at the end of harvest - a few of the plants had seen better days, but all contributed bravely to Chicago TomatoFest 2008. To view the entire album from last year, please see my picassa album.

Plants for Sale:

Black Brandywine - 16 (Slightly under-ripe here, but it was the end of the season).

From Casten Tomato Log, 2008

Black Cherry 8
Cherokee Purple 8
Cuor di Bue – 5

From Casten Tomato Log, 2008

Dad’s Sunset 5
Early Pink Cherry 10
Granny Cantrell German 8
Illini Star 2
Japanese Black Trifele 20 (A great example of a wonderful tomato that would never sell in a standard supermarket. Great, dark, flavor).

From Casten Tomato Log, 2008

Kellogg’s Breakfast 12

From Casten Tomato Log, 2008

Marmande 6

From Casten Tomato Log, 2008

Mortgage Lifter 9
This is a Slow Food Ark of Taste Variety!
Pics and description from Tomato Basics

Pantano Romanesco 2
Paul Robeson 7 (As deep, broad, and inspiring a flavor as the voice of its namesake).
http://pics.davesgarden.com/pics/melody_1160502424_104.jpg
Persimmon 12
Plum Lemon 4
Principe Borghese 12
Purple Russian 4

From Casten Tomato Log, 2008

Riesentraube 20

From Casten Tomato Log, 2008

Tappy’s Heritage 18

From Casten Tomato Log, 2008

Tatar from Mongolia 2

From Casten Tomato Log, 2008

Tess’s Land Race Currant 12

From Casten Tomato Log, 2008

Thai Pink Egg 18
Tonados des Conores 6

From Casten Tomato Log, 2008

Wapsipinicon Peach 18
Pearly Pink Cherry 10

Lou: One of Chicago's Heirloom Tomato Groupies

From Conservatory Tomato Plant Sale 2009

At 3:40 on May 27th, an entirely new class of food lover came to my attention: The Heirloom Tomato Groupie. This is a picture of Lou, waiting patiently for us to set up the 150 + plants that we brought to the Garfield Park Conservatory. Never in a million years did I suspect that we would have people waiting to buy the plants. What were we selling. Pearl Jam tickets?

With specific directions from his wife encouraging him to "buy as many varieties as possible" Lou was our first customer. He snagged about 12 plants, including Black Brandywine, Tess's Land Race Currant, Mortgage Lifter, and Paul Robeson. I hope they have room. Thanks Lou, and best of luck this season.

Within minutes after we opened, we were swamped. Here is the scene at 4:15:

From Conservatory Tomato Plant Sale 2009

What this does not show is that included in the customers where young women with kids in tow, older couples, younger couples, kids, serious gardeners, serious Garden Bloggers (that's you, Mr. BrownThumb) and people who were just walking by at the right time. Great stuff. All told, we sold nearly $500 worth of plants that was split 50/50 between the Garfield Park Conservatory and Slow Food Chicago.

If you are among the people who were shut out, I apologize. We will have more plants for on June 5th at Uncommon Ground on Devon and June 6th at the Green City Market. For more, please follow this link.

Finally, a big thanks to our co-conspirators, Michael Thompson of The Chicago Honey Coop, and Leslie Swibes and Kassia Perpich of Slow Food Chicago. Robin Cline of the GPC is not pictured, but she made the space available. To see all my pictures from the event, visit the album here.

From Conservatory Tomato Plant Sale 2009