I suggest ordering them from Seed Savers and have included their website below. I usually start my tomatoes in the 1st or 2nd week of April, so there's still time to place an order with them.

Here is a link that might be useful: Seed Savers website

Email sent.

Kate

Another option is the Friend's Plant Sale at the State Fairgrounds over Mother's Day weekend. They ALWAYS have heirloom varieties there - usually Cherokee Purple. I'm growing some Amish Paste from seeds ordered from "Totally Tomatoes" who have the largest variety of heirlooms I've found. I do recommend that plant sale... hehehe... either bring a wallet full of money, or bring a teensy bit - just a few dollars - or you WILL be poor! :)

Just a thought...spend some time at the tomato forum right here at GW.

I'm kinda interested in heirloom tomatoes myself; Black Krim and Amish Paste are OK, not great here. Cherokee Purple won't do much in a cool year, and a year of no summer...like last year...pretty dissapointing. Try Pruden's Purple, Anna Russian.

I like Tomato Grower's supply for a mail-order source.

I purchased some heirloom seeds online (Ebay) from someone who seems to know what he is doing. I spent only $1.50 or so (including shipping) and now have way too many plants! The seeds have all germinated into some great plants that are waiting for warm weather to go outside. I guess the proof will be in the fruit to see what I really get. I'm trying 'Black Krim,' Black Prince,' and seeds from an unknown heirloom variety I purchased at a farmers market (I think 'Cherokee Purple).

I'm trying some this year too. Mine came from Baker Creek Heirloom Seed. I have Brandywine (at 17 days from planting growing like a weed and the ODDest looking leaves of any tomato I've ever seen. I'd have had a hard time guessing they were tomatoes), Pantano Romanesco, and a freebie they threw in, Green Zebra. They had such a great selection, I had an awful time narrowing it down! I should end up with about 9-10 dozen plants and don't have room to plant more then 2-3 plants of each, so anyone looking for these varieties, look for me at the plant swap!

There is a seed exchange at the Hennipen Co Co-op (??) Very close to where they used to do auto emissions testing in Golden Valley close to Hwy 55 and I 169. I am not sure what types of seed they carry- but they pack alot into the tiny space they have. I will drive by and check out more info...
Julie

Gerten's, in Inver Grove Heights, has many, many heirloom tomato plants available this year. They are not cheap, at $2.99 each, for plants in 4" pots, but they had 'Black Krim' and many others. Actually, each plant is about the same cost as a packet of seed.

It's actually getting a little late to be starting tomatoes from seed anyway, especially if you still need to order the seed and have the seed shipped to you. By the time you receive the seed, you really should have plants available to put into the ground.

I also purchased 'Green Zebra' and another that had "German" in the name (they actually had two types with "German" and "zebra" in the name).

I, myself, cannot stand fresh tomatoes, but I purchased the plants for my folks who love fresh tomatoes.

You should be able to save seed from any plants you purchase this year, so will have the seed for future years.
Good luck,
Mike

Well,
The little shop I was thinking of for the heirloom seeds is long gone I guess- So much for keeping track of my surroundings.....
Mike, you have a fellow tomato "hater" here- I also grow them for my folks and my husband. They seem to like the Sweet 100's best....
Good luck in your quest Ted...
Julie

I collected seeds from several heirlooms that I grew last year. They have come up at very near 100% germination.

Brandywine- initial source 2002 plants from Linders.
Caspian Pink- initial source 2003 seed from swallowtail garden seeds.
Anna Russian- initial source 2003 seed from swallowtail garden seeds.
Pruden's Purple- initial source 2003 seed from swallowtail garden seeds.
Giant Belgium- initial source 2003 seed from swallowtail garden seeds.
Cherokee Purple- initial source 2003 seed from swallowtail garden seeds.
Black Krim- initial source 2003 seed from swallowtail garden seeds.
Green Zebra- initial source 2003 seed from swallowtail garden seeds.
Old German- initial source 2003 seed from swallowtail garden seeds.

I am also growing some test seed that I refer to as "Red" Krim. Its from a Black Krim plant whose tomatoes ripened red (I'm guessing an accidental outcross from the Swallowtail seeds) that may have interesting F2s.

Then this year I got four new varieties to try from Paquebot (Martin) throught the garden web.

They include.

WI 55
Black Cherry
McClintock
Pink Ponderosa

I'm hoping that this year fairs better for these longer seasoned tomatoes than the cool July we had last year. I got lots of green zebras, had good production from a giant belgium, gave out some Pruden's purples that did very well, but otherwise had a few decent tomatoes from each of the other varieties during the 2004 season. I heard they all did quite well in 2003 but missed most of that season. I am happy though that the seedlings from my seeds germinated better and look stronger than from the seeds I purchased. Hopefully, that will mean stronger more productive plants too.

Although it is getting a little late to start seeds for this year for most of these varieties, I would be happy to send you some seeds for next year. I might also have a few extra plants if things continue to go well, and they all survive transplanting and hardening off.

Good luck with your exploration into heirlooms.

Karl

I grew Prudence's Purple and Brandywine last year. Not real impressed with the amount of tomatoes I got from these but trying them again this year. Both produce large tomatoes just not very many per plant. And the gophers seems to love the Purdence's tomatoes. Hardly touched my other 4 types of tomatoes but only left me a couple purples.