UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County

Spring Garden Fair Tomatoes

Events Calendar > Spring Garden Fair

We offer a wide selection of delicious tomato seedlings, from huge beefsteaks to bite-size cherry tomatoes, both heirloom and modern varieties, in a rainbow of colors. All have been trialed by UC Master Gardeners and chosen for great flavor, productivity, and vigor.

Check back in February for our 2027 list

2026 Public Tomato Trial

In addition to the varieties listed below, we are inviting members of the public to join us in growing and evaluating three new tomato varieties. Your input will help us decide whether to add one or more of these to our tomato line up. Learn more about the exciting proposed varieties and how to participate in the Public Tomato Trial.

2025 Trial Results: Green Doctors, one of our 2025 trial tomatoes, was highly ranked across the board for flavor, vigor, and productivity. We are pleased to add this beautiful and tasty tomato to our Spring Garden Fair tomato line up.

Additional information:

Please understand that some varieties may sell out quickly or not be available due to germination difficulties.

Explanation of terms

Classic — Medium-small to medium-large, round & smooth
Beefsteak —Large to very large, somewhat irregular shapes
Cherry — Small & bite-size
Paste — Elongated & meaty

Determinate — Short, typically 4 feet tall or less
Indeterminate — Tall, 5 feet or more, continues growing until frost
Semi-determinate — In between

OP — Open pollinated (saved seed should be true unless cross pollinated)

Disease resistance
V — Verticillium wilt 
F — Fusarium wilt 
FF — Fusarium wilt (races 1 & 2)  
N — Nematode (root knot) 
T — Tobacco mosaic virus 
TSWV — Tomato spotted wilt virus

Tomatoes

A large, ripe red tomato on a digital scale reading "3.0," with a quarter beside it for size reference, set against a wooden background. Feel free to adjust any specific details if needed!

Beefsteak: Aker’s West Virginia
Vigorous plants produce big harvests of delicious 1-pound tomatoes with sweet, rich flavor and very little cracking or other blemishes. Family heirloom from West Virginia. Taste test winner! Red, indeterminate, OP, 80 days

Two tomatoes on a white plate: one sliced, showing light green flesh, and one whole, deep green, round tomato.

Beefsteak: Aunt Ruby’s German Green
Beautiful, large, juicy, light bright green fruit with pink blush, tender skin. Deliciously sweet and slightly spicy taste. Keeps on bearing and bearing. One of our favorites every year. Green, indeterminate, OP, 80 days

A hand holding a large, ripe red tomato with slight ribbing and imperfections, set against a garden background with green leaves and a wooden post.

Beefsteak: Aussie
Huge red tomatoes, 1 to 2 pounds. Borne abundantly on large, vigorous plants. Full old-fashioned tomato taste. Heirloom variety from Australia. Red, indeterminate, OP, 85 days

A cluster of eight ripe orange tomatoes on a red-and-white striped tablecloth.

Beefsteak: Big Rainbow
Beautiful, very large bi-color fruit, golden yellow with pinkish red swirl inside and out. Mild sweet flavor, juicy, and productive. Gorgeous when cut into slices on a plate. Bi-color, indeterminate, OP, 90 to 100 days

A close-up of a ripe Brandywine tomato with smooth, orange-red skin and a green stem on top.

Beefsteak: Brandywine OTV
Vigorous, sturdy, highly productive plant with huge potato leaves, huge thick stems. Rich complex flavor, huge tomatoes. A favorite! Red, indeterminate, OP, 85 days

A person’s hand holding a cluster of three ripe Brandywine tomatoes, showcasing their vibrant red color and irregular shapes against a dark background.

Beefsteak: Brandywine from Croatia
Productive, large, meaty pink tomato with delicious, complex flavor. Very tender skin. Regular leaf. Rare, only available from Santa Clara Master Gardeners. Pink, indeterminate, OP, 85 days

Three large pink tomatoes sit on a digital kitchen scale, weighing 2.37 pounds, against a granite countertop.

Beefsteak: Caspian Pink
Very heavy producer of large, flattened sweet pink delicious fruit. Curly leaves, healthy plants. Must clip fruit as it does not detach. Taste test winner! Pink, indeterminate, OP, 80 days

A ripe, glossy red tomato with a slightly irregular shape, topped with green leaves and a stem, resting on a light-colored tile surface.

Beefsteak: Cuostralee
Very large, 1 to 2 pounds, and 4 inches in diameter, blemish free. Deliciously intense and balanced flavor. Taste test winner! Red, indeterminate, OP, 85 days

A large, ripe red tomato hangs from a green vine, displaying a shiny surface and slightly irregular shape.

Beefsteak: Ed’s Millennium
Highly productive Brandywine-type that is a top taste winner. One of our very favorites. Saved by Master Gardener Ed Lo. Red, indeterminate, OP, 85 days

A ripe, glossy red tomato with a green stem, set against a light blue background.

Beefsteak: Galahad (Hybrid) F N TSWV V
Great flavor, excellent disease resistance, and early production on a short, vigorous plant. 7 to 12 ounce red fruits. Red, determinate, hybrid, 69 days

A large orange tomato and several pink-orange slices on a blue plate, set against a green background.

Beefsteak: Hillbilly
Huge fruit, 1 to 2 pounds, sweet, delicious, very productive. Gorgeous yellow with red streaking throughout the flesh. Slicing reveals its striking beauty. Bi-color, indeterminate, OP, 85 days

A large, ripe orange tomato with green leaves sits on a digital kitchen scale.

Beefsteak: Kellogg’s Breakfast
Vibrant orange 1-pound beefsteaks, very good flavor. Quite meaty with few seeds. Juice has the same bright color as orange juice and is delicious. Orange, indeterminate, OP, 80 days

Bright red, hand-size tomato held in a person's hand

Beefsteak: Magnum
Superbly flavored 1-pound or more beefsteak with outstanding production. The result of several years of selection of a volunteer. Disease resistance is super. Red, indeterminate, OP, 80 days

Two ripe, striped tomatoes on a green cutting board; one is whole, and the other is cut in half, showing its juicy interior.

Beefsteak: Marvel Striped
Medium to large-sized fruits are streaked with beautiful orange, yellow, and rose swirls. Sweet and juicy with few seeds. Bi-color, indeterminate, OP, 90 to 110 days

A hand holds a large, ripe tomato that is reddish-orange, with a green stem and leaves at the top, in a garden setting.

Beefsteak: Paul Robeson
Large fruits with a beautiful mahogany color. Wonderful, complex flavor. Taste test winner! Black, indeterminate, OP, 80 days

Two ripe red tomatoes hanging on a vine amidst green leaves.

Beefsteak: Pomodoro Red Pear Selezione
Huge red, pear-shaped fruits. Old North Italian variety specially selected by Franchi Sementi. Very tasty. (Note: This is a totally different tomato from the small red pear cherry.) Red, indeterminate, OP, 80 days

Two ripe tomatoes sit on a smooth dark surface; one is round and slightly flattened, while the larger one is irregular with ridges.

Beefsteak: Stump of the World
Dark pink 1 -pound beefsteaks, outstandingly rich, complex flavor, healthy potato-leafed plants. From the Ben Quisinberry Collection, which also contributed to Brandywine. Taste test winner! Pink, indeterminate, OP, 80 days

Beefsteak: True Black Brandywine
Dense, richly colored tomatoes weighing up to a pound. Flavor is sweet and deep with a good acid balance. Gorgeous sliced for a salad. Medium-sized plants are productive. Potato leaf. Black, indeterminate, OP, 80 to 90 days

Beefsteak: Virginia Sweets
Healthy, vigorous plants produce big harvests of huge, 1-pound or more fruits. Beautiful heirloom tomatoes are golden yellow, streaked with red inside and out. Very sweet, low acid, a favorite for slicing. Bi-color, indeterminate, OP, 80 days

Cherry: Beam’s Yellow Pear
Produces an abundance of cherry-sized, pear-shaped, brilliant yellow tomatoes. Sweet, mild and fresh flavor. Yellow, indeterminate, OP, 80 days

A hand holding a cluster of ripe red-brown cherry tomatoes and one green tomato on a white plate.

Cherry: Black Cherry
The first truly black cherry with classic black tomato flavor; sweet and complex. Heavy producer of large cherry tomatoes on tall vigorous vines. A hit for everyone who grew it! Black, indeterminate, OP, 65 days

A woven basket filled with elongated, glossy tomatoes ranging from deep red to orange-brown.

Cherry: Bronze Torch (F1 Hybrid) 
Large grape tomatoes are a brick red color with greenish-bronze stripes. Early and productive, delicious flavor, crack resistant, performs well even under heavy disease pressure. Bi-color, indeterminate, 65 days

Four ripe red tomatoes with green stems on a granite countertop.

Cherry: Chadwick
Heavy producer of delicious, red 1 to 1½-inch fruits. Highly rated. Red, indeterminate, OP, 65 days

A cluster of tomatoes on a green vine, including two shiny reddish-brown tomatoes and one glossy green tomato.

Cherry: Chocolate Cherry
Delicious mahogany-colored cherry tomatoes have that wonderful, complex black tomato flavor. Round, 1-inch fruits are borne in trusses on healthy, vigorous vines. Black, indeterminate, OP, 70 days

A cluster of bright red cherry tomatoes on a light fabric surface, featuring smooth skins and one tomato with a green stem attached.

Cherry: Elfin
Same wonderful sweet flavor, size, and shape as the original Grape tomato, with the advantage of shorter plants. Red, determinate, OP, 55 days

A cluster of ripe red tomatoes with green leaves, one unripe green tomato, and a human hand for scale.

Cherry: Fox Cherry
Delicious large red heirloom cherry tomatoes. Sweet and juicy, firm texture, perfect for salads. May be wilt resistant. Red, indeterminate, OP, 80 days

A blue container filled with small, round, yellow tomatoes, some whole and others halved to show their interior.

Cherry: Galina’s
Flavor is delicious, complex, and sweet with good acid balance. Fruit size is ½ to1 inches and a beautiful yellow. A favorite of many. Yellow, indeterminate, OP, 75 days

A large group of golden green cherry tomatoes

Cherry: Green Doctors
*NEW* Golden-green cherry tomatoes with fabulous, sweet, balanced taste. For the best flavor, wait for them to soften and turn slightly golden before picking. Named for two tomato enthusiast doctors, Dr. Amy Goldman and Dr. Carolyn Male. Green, indeterminate, OP, 75 days

A close-up of a green unripe tomato next to a ripe red tomato on a vine, surrounded by green leaves.

Cherry: Gardener’s Delight
Tasty red cherry tomato of German origin. Grow in grape-like clusters on a vigorous, attractive plant. Good acidity. Red, semi-determinate, OP, 72 days

A cluster of six glossy red tomatoes on a white plate, connected by a green vine.

Cherry: Isis Candy
¾-inch cherry with orange-yellow marbled coloration and translucent skin. Winner at Carmel TomatoFest. Bi-color, indeterminate, OP, 67 days

Cherry: Koralik
Heavy yields of 1-inch sweet red cherry tomatoes. An early heirloom variety from Russia. Foliage is sparse but healthy. Production is heavy and consistent. Red, determinate, OP, 61 days

Three ripe red tomatoes hanging from green vines in a garden setting.

Cherry: Sugary (F1 Hybrid)
Very sweet and delicious, reddish pink oval-shaped cherry tomatoes in clusters on high yielding, compact plants that produce over a long season. Reddish pink, semi-determinate, hybrid, 60 days

A teal basket filled with shiny yellow tomatoes of various sizes, sitting on a neutral-toned surface.

Cherry: Sun Sugar (F1 Hybrid) F T
Incredibly sweet golden cherry size tomatoes, high in Vitamin A. Vigorous vines produce hundreds of fruit. Crack resistant. Gold, indeterminate, hybrid, 62 days

Cherry: Sweet Chelsea (F1 Hybrid) V FF N T 
Medium-large cherry tomato with excellent sweet flavor. Displays high crack-resistance, as well as drought tolerance. Low in acid. Red, indeterminate, hybrid, 67 days

A large, irregularly shaped Tomato-Ananas-Noir lies on a gray surface, displaying a mix of green, orange, and red colors.

Classic: Ananas Noire (Black Pineapple)
The multi-colored fruit is green, yellow, and red on the outside and green with pink and red streaks inside. Juicy and sweet, great acid balance. Not a black tomato, despite the name. Taste test winner! Bi-color, indeterminate, OP, 85 days

A blue plate with a whole Black Zebra tomato, two halved tomatoes, and several wedge-shaped pieces, all showcasing a dark reddish-brown color with a red interior.

Classic: Black Zebra
Stunningly beautiful bi-colored tomato, rich mahogany brown with green stripes. 1½-inch diameter fruits have a sweet, complex flavor with hints of smoke. Bi-color, indeterminate, OP, 85 days

A bowl filled with dark reddish-brown tomatoes, known as Black from Tula, varying in size and shape, with green stems on top.

Classic: Black from Tula
Rose brown with green shoulders, this very beautiful and very delicious Russian heirloom is highly productive. One of our favorites. Black, indeterminate, OP, 80 days

Classic: Box Car Willie
High yielding, reliable producer of medium large, round, juicy red fruit, with very good tomato flavor. Red, indeterminate, OP, 80 days

Three dark reddish-brown tomatoes with glossy skins, one larger and two smaller, arranged on a light surface.

Classic: Carbon
Smooth, 8 to 12 ounce tomatoes, deep reddish purple with greenish shoulders, free from cracking and blemishes. Exceptionally complex, sweet, full flavor. Great producer and beautiful too. Black, indeterminate, OP, 80 days

Two ripe red tomatoes with green stems, resting close together on a light background.

Classic: Carmello
Medium to large, round, red, juicy tomatoes with tender skin and excellent flavor, consistently productive. Good disease resistance. Open pollinated version from the original French hybrid. Red, semi-determinate, OP, 70 to 75 days

A hand is holding a large, ripe Cherokee Carbon tomato, characterized by its deep reddish-brown color and glossy skin, with green leaves and stem still attached.

Classic: Cherokee Carbon  (F1 Hybrid)
A cross between Cherokee Purple and Carbon. Produces delicious purple fruit on a stronger, more productive plant. Black, indeterminate, hybrid, 75 days

Three tomatoes in varying shades of red on a granite surface, with the largest centered and smaller ones beside it.

Classic: Cherokee Purple
Beautiful rose-purple fruit has a sweet, rich, complex flavor. Consistently productive. Often found at farmers markets. Cherokee Indian origin Purple, indeterminate, OP, 75 to 85 days

A person holding a large, ripe orange heirloom tomato with deep ridges and a green stem against a blurred garden background.

Classic: Copia
Medium size yellow fruit with striking hand-painted red stripes. Firm and juicy, sweet and fruity. A natural cross between Green Zebra and Marvel Stripe. Bi-color, indeterminate, OP, 80 to 90 days

A pile of vibrant red Costoluto Genovese tomatoes with ribbed surfaces arranged on a blue countertop.

Classic: Costoluto Genovese
Large, flattened red fruit with a fluted profile, deeply ridged and heavily lobed, of Italian origin, good disease resistance, meaty, full flavored with good acidity, great for sauces, and gorgeous sliced. Red, indeterminate, OP, 80 to 85 days

Classic: Dona
French variety, prolific producer, excellent flavor, small to medium size fruit, meaty with few seeds. A winner! Red, semi-determinate, OP, 80 days

A whole orange Glory of Moldova tomato next to a halved tomato on a green cutting board, showing its juicy interior and seeds.

Classic: Glory of Moldova
Gorgeous deep orange globes grow in clusters of 4 to 6. Flesh is deep golden orange, and the flavor is fruity and sweet. Highly rated in taste tests. Early and consistently productive throughout the season. Orange, semi-determinate, OP, 80 days

A collection of six tomatoes on a white plate, featuring three large yellow-orange tomatoes and three smaller red tomatoes, two of which are halved.

Classic: Gold Medal
Large, golden yellow fruit, streaked red; firm and smooth. Very little acid. The sweetest tomato you ever tasted. Taste test winner! Bi-color, indeterminate, OP, 90 days

Three green zebra tomatoes lie on a floral-patterned paper plate, showcasing their vivid yellow-green color and dark green stripes.

Classic: Green Zebra
Sweet sprightly flavor. Beautiful, yellow-green with dark green stripes. Small fruit (1¾ to 2 inches). Very unusual and ornamental on a plate. Wow your dinner guests. Green, indeterminate, OP, 78 days

Two whole Japanese Black Trifele tomatoes beside a sliced tomato, showcasing their rich brownish-red color and seeds within.

Classic: Japanese Black Trifele
Medium-sized pear-shaped tomatoes are a deep mahogany brown with rich, intense flavor, very productive. A taste test winner. “Trifele” is Russian for “truffle”. Black, indeterminate, OP, 90 days

A ripe red tomato held in a person's hand, with a green stem and leaves at the top, set against a blurred natural background.

Classic: Kootenai
Stocky plant with dark-green leaves. Fruits are 2 to 3 inches across, thin-skinned and tasty. Abundant yields all summer. Red, determinate, OP, 70 to 75 days

A blue plastic basket filled with round, green tomatoes of varying sizes, with glossy skins and slight blemishes.

Classic: Lime Green Salad
Delicious, tangy, small fruit, chartreuse inside, excellent for a container. Beautiful compact plant, only 1 to 1½ feet tall (but a small cage or stake is still recommended). Green, determinate, OP, 58 days

A ripe German Bi-Color tomato, cut in half, revealing its bright yellow and orange inner flesh with red accents, resting on a wooden cutting board.

Classic: Mary Robinson’s German Bi-Color
Large, meaty, golden fruits have even more red streaking than most bi-colors. Delicious, productive, and beautiful. Bi-color, indeterminate, OP, 80 days

A large heart-shaped orange tomato with a smooth surface and green leaves on top, sitting on a dark textured surface.

Classic: Orange Strawberry
Beautiful, bright orange, strawberry-shaped fruit with rich, very sweet, fruity flavor and succulent texture. Great sliced, excellent for sauces. Almost no seeds. A favorite. Orange, indeterminate, OP, 80 days

Three ripe orange tomatoes on a wooden surface, with a quarter placed in the center for scale.

Classic: Orange You Glad
Medium-sized orange fruits are sweet, balanced with a little acidity. Wonderful! Bushy, productive plants reach Grows 4 to 5 feet tall. Orange, determinate, OP, 60 days

A freshly cut large red tomato, split in half on a white decorative plate, revealing its seeds and juicy interior.

Classic: Palo Alto
Extremely large, vigorous vine giving a heavy crop (up to 70 pounds from one plant) of large, meaty (small seed cavities), full-flavored red tomatoes from mid-season into November. Red, indeterminate, OP, 70 to 80 days

Two ripe red tomatoes on a wooden surface, one slightly larger than the other.

Classic: Santa Clara Canner
Delicious, large fruit, very prolific. Juicy yet solid. Big, robust, healthy plant. Historically used in the CA canning industry. Red, indeterminate, OP, 80 days

A large, ripe tomato with a glossy red surface and irregular shape, sitting on green grass.

Classic: Southern Night
Russian heirloom. Delicious pinkish/purple fruit with vertical green striping and rich, complex flavor. Tender flesh. Use a narrow (18-inch) diameter cage as the plant is not aggressive. Purple, semi-determinate, OP, 84 days

Three ripe red tomatoes on a light textured surface, alongside a quarter for scale.

Classic: Stupice
Czech origin, very early, cold tolerant, highly productive, small, very flavorful fruit. Holds well. Red, indeterminate, OP, 52 days

A cluster of orange-yellow Amish Gold tomatoes on a white background, varying in size and shape, with one larger tomato having a green stem.

Paste: Amish Gold
Beautiful brilliant golden color 1½ to 2 inches long, oblong with pointy end fruit. Flavor and color of Sungold, but the denser meatier flesh is good for sauces. A favorite. Gold, semi-determinate, OP, 80 days

Two ripe red tomatoes with smooth skin, one larger in front and a smaller one behind, sitting on a textured gray granite countertop.

Paste: Amish Paste
Sweet flavor is great for canning, sauce/paste, or slicing fresh. Paste tomatoes are excellent for salads and salsas because they’re firm and flavorful, and won’t leak a lot of juice. Red, indeterminate, OP, 75 days

Paste: Jersey Devil
4 to 5 inches long, bright red fruits are shaped like banana peppers. Prolific, very meaty and sweet, with few seeds. Excellent for canning and eating fresh. Taste test winner! Red, indeterminate, OP, 80 days

A cluster of six shiny, ripe Principe Borghese tomatoes, varying in size and shape, with green stems, on a dark textured surface.

Paste: Principe Borghese
Excellent for drying, little juice, good acidic old-fashioned tomato flavor with few seeds. Prolific producer. Red, determinate, OP, 70 days

Three elongated, glossy red tomatoes with orange and yellow streaks arranged on a speckled granite countertop.

Paste: Speckled Roman
Gorgeous 3 inches wide by 5 inches long fruits with jagged orange and yellow stripes, red inside. Meaty, great taste, especially cooked. Very productive, few seeds. Cross of Antique Roman and Banana Legs. Bi-color, indeterminate, OP, 85 days