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.