One of the most common questions I’m asked is “What is the right time to buy and plant tomatoes?”  This seemingly simple questions is actually not that easy to answer, with many variables involved.

One is weather.  Strictly speaking its is definitely too early to plant tomatoes outside. I usually hold off on planting tomatoes outdoors until at least May 1st (depending on your location).

But that doesn’t necessarily mean its too early to buy tomatoes.  In fact, there are a number of good reasons to consider buying tomatoes now or soon:

• Choice – The sooner you buy your tomato plants, the more varieties you will have to choose from
• Price – Buying tomatoes in small pots costs less than buying bigger pots
• Earlier Harvest – The Sooner you plant, the sooner you eat!

In fact, if you have a greenhouse, a covered porch or a sunny window now is an excellent time to buy tomatoes.

This year, Urban Futures Farm is offering 16 varieties of carefully selected, region-appropriate tomatoes.  And we will start selling them this weekend, along with 14 varieties of peppers, 2 varieties of eggplant, and tomatillos (scientific note: all of these plants are in the solanaceae family).  All plants are $6 for a 4 inch pot.  We will need to start potting them up into bigger pots in the coming weeks, and when we do the price will increase.

Tomatoes are my passion, and long time customers know that our tomatoes are the best in town. The seeds were planted back in February, and they’ve made the trek from the propagation room to the greenhouse to the plastic tunnel.  The next, and final step in the journey, is to your garden.

So, stop by and see us this Saturday or Sunday, 9am-2pm, and pick up your favorite solanaceaes, along with a long list of other plants that are ready to go into the garden now.  Here’s the full list: