MARK YOUR CALENDAR
for the 2025 Great Tomato Plant Sale
in 3 Contra Costa County Areas!
We are looking forward to seeing your smiling faces very soon! Please note the dates and mark your calendar!
75+ varieties of tomatoes plus peppers, eggplants, squash, and more.
Description lists: Cherry and Paste Tomatoes, Beefsteak Tomatoes, Slicer Tomatoes, Peppers, and Other Veggies & Herbs.
Our Garden, Walnut Creek (located at corner of N. Wiget and Shadelands):
- Saturday and Sunday, April 5 and 6, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
ADA accessible station with all plant varieties will be held in the parking lot on these 2 days. - Wednesdays, April 9 and 16, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Shopping List for Our Garden, Walnut Creek
Rivertown Demonstration Garden, Antioch (located in the Contra Costa Event Park, 1201 W. 10th St.):
- Saturday, April 12, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Shopping List for Rivertown, Antioch
Richmond Civic Center Library (325 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond):
- Saturday, April 19, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Shopping List for West County, Richmond
Stay Tuned for More Details!
All plants are $4.00. We accept Visa, Mastercard, Cash, or Check.
Remember to bring boxes or containers to carry your new plants home!
For safety reasons, pets are not allowed inside the sales area.
Introducing New Dwarf Tomatoes!
Have you ever wished for the taste and quality of an heirloom tomato, but on a plant you could grow in a small space or container? This year, we are excited to introduce four new varieties from the Dwarf Tomato Project that achieve just that.
The Dwarf Tomato Project is a collaborative initiative that began in 2006, uniting tomato enthusiasts worldwide to develop compact, easy-to-maintain tomato plants without compromising on flavor or variety. The project's mission is to create delicious tomatoes of all flavors and sizes on dwarf plants, making them ideal for gardeners with limited space.
Exciting New and Returning Peppers 2025
Here we are again, preparing for the Great Tomato Plant Sale (GTPS); the excitement and anticipation are mounting. We are well on our way as we started seeding peppers in January. Out of our 39 varieties, you will find peppers which have become a staple in your garden as well as new varieties that we hope will capture your interest.
We are very excited about the lineup for 2025. Let’s look at what we have in store for you. Based on your feedback for hotter peppers, we are offering more heat in some of the new varieties. Aji Fantasy, Red Savina and Chocolate Habanero will be available in limited numbers so shop early!
Plant Sale Tips: Growing Tomatoes in Containers
If you have limited space, growing tomatoes in containers is a great alternative to planting in the ground. Make sure to choose a sunny spot that gets at least 6-8 hours of direct sun and follow these tips for a successful growing season.
1. Choose the right tomato variety.
Select either determinate, dwarf or cherry style tomatoes. Determinate tomatoes are smaller, bushier, and generally do better in containers than Indeterminate varieties. New to our sale this year are four varieties of dwarf tomatoes from the Dwarf Tomato Project that have been bred specifically both to give full-sized tomatoes on smaller plants and to grow well in containers. See more about dwarf tomatoes here. Depending on the variety you pick, they still might require some staking with a trellis or tomato cage. Container-friendly varieties are clearly marked in our GTPS Tomatoes lists with the blue “Small Space/Container Friendly” note.
2. Plant in as large a pot as possible.
Tomato varieties vary on how large of a container is required. Ideally, 18” to 24” pots provide enough container soil depth for deep-rooted tomatoes. But some will do fine in a container that holds as little as five gallons of soil, such as a 14” tall bucket from a home improvement store, while others will need more than twice as much soil and a deeper container to thrive. Don’t forget to add drainage holes in your plastic bucket! All containers need drainage holes. If you are recycling an old pot, you should disinfect it with a bleach solution of 9 parts water to 1 part bleach.
3. Choose a good quality “potting mix.”
Potting mixes are specifically formulated for containers and are a better choice than garden soil or even planting mix. They frequently contain coir to hold moisture and provide the good drainage necessary for healthy root growth.
Protecting Tomatoes during Hot Summer Days
We all know that tomatoes love warm sunny days, ideally daytime temperatures between 65 and 85 degrees. However, when summer temperatures rise above 95, problems with your plants can arise. Above 95 degrees, tomato plants will stop growing, their flowers are not able to pollinate and fruit cannot fully ripen. At high temperatures fruit can actually suffer sunburn and plant stress can lead to increased susceptibility to pests and diseases.
Here is a list of suggestions to help your plants survive during those “Dog Days of Summer” and enjoy a season of delicious fruit from your garden.
Here's What is New in '25
Based on our own experience as gardeners in Contra Costa along with the latest information we hear from growers, we regularly update our Master Gardeners’ collection. This year we’ve added nine new tomato varieties to our collection. After you read more about them, you’ll want them all!
CHERRIES:
Apricot Zebra
Cherry / Orange / 2-3 ounces / 65 days / Open Pollinated / Indeterminate
Stunning, large, richly tangerine-colored cherries. They are very unique in appearance, as the lime-green shoulders and extra-fine green striping of the unripe fruit morph to brilliant yellow at maturity. Vigorous, disease-resistant plants are wildly productive. One of the best-tasting tomatoes we have tried, both flavorsome and sweet with a wonderful texture. Available in Walnut Creek and Antioch only.
BEEFSTEAK/SLICERS
Caiman
Beefsteak / Red / 8-12 ounces / 76 days / Hybrid / Indeterminate
From its excellent disease resistance package to its compact plant and consistent fruit set, Caiman is a strong performer. Beautiful, clean fruit on nicely sized trusses. With a full, rich flavor and attractive creased shoulders, it's reminiscent of an heirloom. ("This plant was so impressive in its season-long health and productivity. Beautiful 10-12 oz. tomatoes with good flavor for fresh eating, even held up well for canning")
Chef's Choice Black
Beefsteak / Deep red-brown / 8-10 ounces / 75 days / Hybrid / Indeterminate
If you have come to love the Chef’s Choice tomato series, try the Black, a beefsteak with dark green, brown, and black hues. The flesh is juicy and sweet. This All America Selections award winner has a good disease resistance package and good crack tolerance. It can produce 30 or more 8-10 ounce fruit on each plant, under good growing conditions. ("Master Gardeners who tested this one raved about it. Our most talked about tomato last season!")
Dwarf Boronia
Beefsteak / Purple /4-16 ounces / 70 days / Open Pollinated / Indeterminate
If you want sturdy, attractive and productive plants that take less room to grow, try one of the new dwarf varieties. These carefully developed varieties give full sized fruit on smaller plants. Dwarf Boronia grows to around 4 feet in height, producing flattened, ribbed beefsteak tomatoes. The fruits are dark-pink with an intense and delicious flavor, resembling 'Cherokee Purple’. Small Space/Container Friendly.
Dwarf Rosella Crimson
Beefsteak / Pink / 4-13 ounces / 78 days / Open Pollinated /Determinate
If you want sturdy, attractive and productive plants that take less room to grow, try one of the new dwarf varieties. These carefully developed varieties give full sized fruit on smaller plants. Dwarf Rosella Crimson is vigorous and productive, with an excellent to outstanding flavor, in some seasons approaching 'Pink Brandywine' in quality. Small Space/Container Friendly.
Dwarf Blazing Beauty
Slicer / Yellow-Orange / 3-8 ounces / 75 days / Open Pollinated / Indeterminate
If you want sturdy, attractive and productive plants that take less room to grow, try one of the new dwarf varieties. These carefully developed varieties give full sized fruit on smaller plants. This is the first dwarf orange tomato. Vigorous plants produce 3-8 oz. fruits, deep orange inside and out. Delicious flavor with plenty of sweetness and a pleasurable acidic bite. Small Space/Container Friendly.
Dwarf Tasmanian Chocolate
Slicer / Deep red-brown / 5-7 ounces / 65 days / Open Pollinated / Indeterminate
If you want sturdy, attractive and productive plants that take less room to grow, try one of the new dwarf varieties. These carefully developed varieties give full sized fruit on smaller plants. Tasmanian Chocolate is a 3' to 4' tall, dwarf plant producing a big crop of 5-7 oz tomatoes that ripen to a deep mahogany color. The flavor is well balanced, sweet and delicious. Small Space/Container Friendly
Marmalade Skies
Slicer / Orange / 7-8 ounces / 75 days / Hybrid / Indeterminate
The beautiful fruit has a slightly flattened shape with dark orange color and medium ribbing, and a consistent size. These robust plants yield a substantial amount of fruit on tall, healthy plants. Available in Walnut Creek only
RuBee Dawn
Slicer / Red / 6-8 ounces / 60 days / Hybrid / Indeterminate
This early producer will be a great start to your tomato season! With sweet, tangy flavor and impressive size, the smooth, rich red fruits avg. 6–8 oz. Hybridized with impressive disease resistance as well.
Plant Sale Tips: Choose the Right Tomato!
With 75 varieties of one-of-a-kind heirloom and hybrid tomatoes in our Great Tomato Plant Sale to choose from, how do you decide what to buy? We’re here to help! First, you need to determine which varieties will thrive where you live, so we’ve included two site-specific lists: tomatoes that grow well in the cooler climates of West County and those that need lots of heat, typically found in parts of Central County and throughout East County. Next, determine where your tomatoes will be grown. If you are planting in containers, we’ve highlighted some of the best choices for growing in pots. (Click here for more information on successful container gardening.)
Now to the fun part: what do you want out of a tomato plant? Our curated list shares some of the best traditional tomato choices, as well as unusual varieties for the avant-garde grower.
Ready to choose your tomatoes? Our complete list of tomato varieties includes detailed descriptions and is also organized to make shopping easy. Choose from beefsteaks and slicers—perfect for sandwiches; paste tomatoes if your goal is homemade pasta sauce; and cherry tomatoes for a sweet snack or to toss in salads.
Helpful Vegetable Growing Tips & Techniques
Love vegetables? Want to grow your own? Wondering how? Use these great tips from the UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County.
Tomatoes - Growing Tips & Abiotic Disorders
Dry Farming Tomatoes
Common Tomato Pests & Diseases
Tomatoes & Drought in Contra Costa
About Tomatoes-Frequently Asked Questions
Growing Peppers
