If I were buying assorted tomato 6-packs I could see three kinds of packs that would interest me:

First, a "salad in a pack" -- 3 tomatoes, 2 peppers, and a basil. This would be great for casual gardeners who keep a few pots on their deck and don't need too much. My mother, who lives alone, griped a great deal about having to buy too many plants to get what she wanted last spring.

Second, a color assortment -- red, yellow, pink, purple, black, and ???. This would be great for people who love to try something new.

Third, a variety assortment -- beefsteak, cherry, standard round, yellow, black, plum or grape or some such assortment of distinctly different tomatoes. A different approach to people who like to try something new.

Of course you know your market best and, if you've been selling plants before, know what sold well in the past.

I would grow them individually and sell them as a package deal and let them pick the varieties. The reason I say this is if you grow a 6-pack, and the person has space for 2-3 plants they may pass on your 6-packs. Also 6 packs limits your marketing options.

Just an idea from a guy that had to cut up 4 packs to meet the needs of my customers.

Jay

No yellow or orange?

I sow and donate hundreds of toms each year--they all are sown into styrofoam coffee cups with the name scribed into the rim with a bic pen. They sell for a buck each or 6 for $5.00. Giving people their own choice is going to work out well for you. I also provide full plant descriptions. You might want to add some hybrids to your selections as well as varieties recommended by your local extenions.

T

Talk about tunnel vision! I've been growing for myself and my family for a couple years and this is the first time I'm expanding out beyond my own garden. So thank you Trudi, Jay, and iam3killerbs. I completely overlooked the varieties I'm not personally into.

I have started a lot of seed in soil blocks, but I have never seen an heirloom variety six pack. Everyone I mentioned the idea to thought it was a good idea. Here in Austin it is hard to find some of the more exotic heirlooms as transplants, so I thought I would just put some of my favorites together in one package.

Unfortunately, I don't have anything but pink, red and black tomato seeds. I do have some great hybrids (Martin & Juliet) and sweet peppers, so what do you think about a 6 pack like :

1. Round Salad (Martin) Hybrid
2. Sweet Grape (Juliet) Hybrid
3. Yellow to Orange Bell Pepper Hybrid
4. Green to Red Bell Pepper Hybrid
5. Black Heirloom Tomato (Cherokee Purple)
6. Red Paste Heirloom Tomato (San Marzano)

I know Sungold and Green Zebra do well here, but it might be a little late for me to try and acquire those seeds for this project.

Thanks again for your comments. I was especially curious about how people would feel about mixing Hybrids and Heirlooms. For me personally, I love having a mix of high output hybrids and classic varieties.
-Aaron

I would suggest "Texas Special" instead of (San Marzano) as it really stands up to heat in summer. It is a sport of San Marzano but it's pollen remains viable in 90*+ heat.

If I were buying I wouldn't want the paste tomatoes. I would want to chose my varieties.

Personally, I think I would stay away from the six packs and go with Trudi's suggestion of individual pots, either styrofoam cups or some other inexpensive container. A number of years ago, I did heirloom six packs and I think I sold one, IIRC, but I had quite a few people buy 6 or more individual plants even though they paid a bit more for them that way. They seem to prefer to be able to choose what mix they want.

Just
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Betsy

I would do Roma or San Marzano, but not both (or neither as not everyone is into sauce/paste tomatoes). Also, more variety (color, size, shape, etc.) would be good.