This year I started some tomatoes from seed but also purchased some transplants. I did not get any from the Big Box stores as IMO these can have many disease problems.

I have used SelectedPlants.com in the past with much success, but this year he did not have anything I particularly wanted. nevertheless, Darrell is a great source of Transtplants and I am sure you will be happy with his plants.

I ordered from Territorial Seeds, Burpee and Laurel. Territorial was what got me started ordering because they are now offering Grafted tomato plants. JSS (Johnnies) who offers grafting materials says a grafted plant can produce 40% more fruit than a normal plant.

Laurel (who had Goose Creek that I was anxious to try) sent me the prettiest plants..... they were generally big dark greeen plants, and have done well since they arrived and I planted them in SW contianers. the packing method was very good and the plants arrived in perfect condition.

The plants from Territorial were quite lovely and strong although they came in the smallest containers. their root systems were excellent, and I will update the list on their progress during the year. the packing was very good. One problem with grafted plants is that you cannot plant them with the soil level below the graft, so addiional root development will be minimal.

The plants from Burpee arrived in wonderful new plastic containers, but pardoxically they caused me the greatest problem, probably because their stems were not very strong. three of the Burpee plants broke off the stems. I called Burpee and they shipped me new plans almost immediatedly. all seem to be growing fine now....

will let you know how the season goes. as of today, all of my plants are planted in their final containers, about 30+.

Michael Hewitt

in the coastal swamp in Hampstead, NC.