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To be honest, I'm afraid the quality of plants I got from this company will make me lazy in years to come.
Here's the deal usually I save seeds and/or order seeds to start myself, because I've found ordering tomato plants by mail to be not always a great experience - one year I got some so bad that I had to leave the roots in pure water for about three days before even thinking about hardening them off for actual planting (though even that turned out just fine, but those plants would've probably been dead if they'd taken any longer to get to me). Though most times it's not that bad I just find companies tend to ship seedlings that aren't quite strong enough to withstand travel and so there's usually some die-off either before or after planting.
Alas this year I had no saved seeds, because last year I had a weird experience - started a group of seeds, they came up but when they got about an inch high they just started dying. So I used pretty much all my seeds (ordered and saved) to start over and then the year itself was bad - extremely hot and extremely dry and so didn't have enough toms to save seeds for this year.
(Seriously, last year I lost lots of flowers/plants I'd had growing for years, as well, it was very bad year for gardens, or at least for mine.)
So, this year, early, I ordered seeds from a company that I won't mention here because I don't blame them for this, but the same thing happened again - they sprouted but then when they was almost ready to start hardening off they started dying (I think maybe I've figured out what went wrong, but...). And because I got very busy with work and stuff around that time I did not have time to restart and try again and then suddenly it was May and that's too late in my area to start seeds if I want tomatoes sometime this year, so I knew I needed to buy some plants.
I started locally, but for whatever reason the local selection was lacking this season (I did buy four plants), so I started looking around Dave's Garden for a company that had a fairly good rating and was basically all about tomatoes so I'd have a shot at getting some good plants. And I got to tell you I hit the jack-pot here.
According to the email these plants shipped Wednesday and Friday morning they was here. It's kinda funny when I saw the box I wondered why it was so tall. Yes, I had requested large plants, but now I suspect small plants from this company would equal large plants from other companies. I'm saying the box was tall because the plants was tall.
(For example, the plants I bought three weeks ago locally and have actually been planted for two weeks now are three times smaller than the plants I got today, and even when I plant the tall plants I suspect they'll still be twice the size of the local plants.)
If I have one complaint it was all the tape around the package and around the plastic bag around the wet-paper covered roots, but I understand why it was necessary it was just a bit of pain to not just get into the box but to unwrap the plastic around the roots. So, yeah, while it was a bit of a bother to me I have no doubt that it was good for the plants themselves, so not an actual complaint.
And, yes, as I said in the email to TomatoGal there are two that was a bit wilted, but I just checked about an hour ago I think they're already looking better (though it was dark enough it was hard to tell for sure), but I wanted to report that just because it does seem like TomatoGal cares enough she'd want to know, but otherwise the rest look good - maybe a yellow leaf here and there, but unless this year turns off hot and dry I can't see any reason why they won't take off for me.
So, I'm very happy, and as I said above, afraid TG is gonna make me lazy because why struggle with seeds when I can just get awesome plants from her.
(And I'm looking forward to sampling some from the extras she included.)
Great plants, excellent customer service from beginning to end - I don't think I can say enough good things about my experience this year. I can't manage peppers from seed in my home setup and have been looking for years for a place to order good quality pepper seedlings. Places local to me never have a good enough selection, or the problem is poor quality plants. Alainia goes out of her way to make sure your experience ordering with her is top-notch, and even included a TON of samples in case something got damaged during shipping or doesn't make it through transplanting. She even included tomatoes, which i didn't order - the seedlings she sent put my homegrown tomato babies to shame! This has been the best plant ordering experience I have ever had.
When I received my order I noticed that a few of my plants were damaged. I emailed Alainia to let her know and she sent me a duplicate order and checked with me to make sure the plants arrived safely! GREAT SERVICE! Her selection is very diverse and interesting, the descriptions of the plants - informative and interesting, she includes detailed instructions for transplanting, her prices are very reasonable, and she always includes a couple of "samples" in case some plants don't survive transplanting. What more could you ask for!
On Apr 30, 2013, optimist22 Fremont, CA (Zone 8b) wrote:
I have never had a better experience with buying plants online. The variety of tomatoes is beyond wonderful and I couldn't choose. I asked Alainia to choose for me; she asked me for a little information and then sent me a great variety; even more than I ordered to ensure I had enough if I lost some in the transplanting. I will never buy tomatoes anywhere else.
On Apr 29, 2013, Luvsdiggin Olive Branch, MS wrote:
This is my 3rd year ordering from TomatoGirl. The first year was just a bad tomato year but our Matt's Wild Cherry and White Currants still did very well. Last year, we had good luck with all the big tomatoes we tried and I had my first crop of the tiny tomatoes from seed. This year our plants arrived overnite (luckily we live close). They were beautiful. Alaina suggested not to plant until consistently above 50 degrees at night. Thanks to her extensive but easy to understand planting sheet, we have kept our plants wrapped and watered in the towels for almost 2 weeks and they still looked good. We put them in the ground 4/28 and they were happy as could be the next morning. Even on my small scale, I love working with someone who is so eager to help your garden to succeed.
Posted on April 19, 2011, updated April 29, 2013
Dealing with Alainia was a great experience. Living here in South Carolina makes it difficult to grow tomatoes in hot and humid conditions. Her selection of heat tolerant tomato plants is extensive. The seven varieties arrived as advertised in great condtion. A little TLC and attention for a few days did the trick. They've been in ground for more than a week and all are thriving. Will keep you posted on progress. Thanks again Tomato Baby!!! Mike S.
On April 29th, 2013, Mikeys16 added the following:
Once again great service and plants arrived in great condition. Look forward to another great crop of Tomato Babies! LOL
I was extremely happy to find out that this company is about 15 minutes from my home! The selection and quality was phenomenal ! I can't wait till this growing season!
This is my third year ordering from Tomato Baby Company. I love the selection of plants and they always arrive healthy and happy and produce well. Alainia's customer service is fantastic. She sends detailed instructions and advice and always sends extras for me to sample. I wouldn't order my tomatoes or peppers from anyone else.
On Jun 1, 2012, jerry_lavoie Crawfordsville, IN wrote:
Posted on May 1, 2010, updated June 1, 2012
This is one truly awesome company! The plants are robust, vibrant, and happy babies! Alainia gives each order personal attention and absolutely ensures that every baby is shipped to be received in top-notch condition. Plants are received on time, every time. The large number of heirloom and other interesting varieties available is awesome. This is my third year ordering from them, and I just can't say enough how satisfied I am. Superb value!!! Buy with confidence.
On June 1st, 2012, jerry_lavoie added the following:
Alainia continues to provide outstanding selection, service, quality, and value! This year I encountered problems with my order that were entirely out of her control (postal misrouting delivery delay - plants died), and I mentioned it to her in my reply when she emailed me to check up on the babies. To my surprise, a week later I received a complete no-cost replacement! I definately did not expect that!!! Tomato Girl obviously really wants a happy customer and does whatever it takes to make that happen! So I again say: Buy with confidence.
Great experience. This was my first year ordering with Tomato Girl (Tomato Baby Company). I received my order as promised. It was followed by an e-mail asking how they were doing, condition, suggestions.......... Fantastic customer service with a real person to talk to. No need to go anywhere else but Tomato Girl from now on.
On May 18, 2012, ChocolatePlease Longmont, CO wrote:
I have ordered 2 years now from Tomato Girl (Tomato Baby Company). They have reasonable prices, great service and a Wonderful selection of plants including Heirlooms. In fact it was their selection of Heirloom tomato plants that lured me in the first time. They communicate well by email to answer all your questions. I live in Colorado so it is a long trip from Tennessee to my house for the plants. Their information on how to treat the plants when they arrive is truly appreciated. And it is fun to see which Free plants they will include with your order.
On May 17, 2012, TomMc27 Rockville Centre, NY wrote:
This is by far the best tomato plant company. No one comes close. The variety, the size, the on time delivery, and a real person at the other end that's knowledgeable, friendly and really in to tomato plants. No need to look any further.
It is very nice to find a supplier who not only is proud of their good products, but who also goes further by volunteering all sorts of useful information regarding their plants...ah, it is a dream come true,,,that of old-fashioned customer service along with excellent plants still available in these hurried times. Thanks, Tomato Girl, for being singularly
excellent!
I accidentally found Tomato Baby when I was looking for a local plant seller, but I was hooked on the variety and the fact that I didn't have to get 3-6 of each type. Finally, I could get everything I wanted to try! So I ordered. She sent me an email giving me suggestions on how to open the box and how to take care of the plants. When they arrived yesterday, I followed her suggestions and they are super!! I'm planting this this evening. They look great. I've gotten plants from many places since I stopped doing seedlings and this was the most ecological and rational way of sending them. I'm so happy and I expect them to be fabulous. I was so impressed by their concern that I have a good experience.
On May 17, 2012, Cattitude101 Salt Creek, CO wrote:
I love Tomato Girls--- this is my 8th year of ordering, planting and enjoying!
Great customer service-- fast friendly service! Plants arrive on time--- and usually inlcudes a few extra "surprise" ones!
Will continue to shop!!!! Favorite is the Hawwiian Pineapple! Keep a salt and pepper mix in the garden-- most do not make it to the house;-)
My tomatoes arrived as soon as she said they would. I ordered 18 plants and she sent 22 which is awsome! I have been growing tomatoes for about ten years now and just found her website which is great becasue of her variety. I plant an early batch and a late batch to stagger my production and have found that my late batch will last late in the year sometimes until mid november in GA depending on the weather. I look forward to getting them into the ground and see them grow. With the 22 that she sent puts me at 52 plants caged and staked for the year I am hoping for a plentiful late crop with the ones sent from her.
These are, by far, the healthiest, biggest, plants I've ever received in the mail. Great selection, and reasonably priced. Communication with the company is great, and they are always eager to give advice when you need it. Keep up the good work!!!
This was my first year ordering from the company. The transaction was very smooth. The pepper plants I ordered arrived promptly and in good condition. I even received an email prior to shipment verifying that I was ready for them as the weather had turned cool. I received very personal attention and great plants at a reasonable price. Couldn't have asked for more--and the sample plants sent along with my purchase were just an unexpected bonus. I will be ordering again and again.
I have bought plants from tomato baby company for the last 3 years. Plants are always very healthy and there is a much bigger variety to choose from than the big box stores. But if the tomato plants aren't enough you should try the FAB pepper plants too!!
I have been buying tomato plants from Alainia of Tomato Baby Company for 5 or 6 years and have always had great satisfaction. The plants have arrived healthy, have produced as expected, and moreover, Alainia gives lots of excellent, friendly advice and her chatty style makes her fun to deal with. She always sends extra plants in case one does not survive or just because she wants me to try a new variety. I originally found Alainia when I was searching for a variety I could not find elsewhere.
We have a mid-size organic farm and also humanely raise goats and cattle on free range pasture with organic feed only.
We struggled to find quality tomato plants that were not only healthy, but shipped well and professionally, not to mention varieties that do good in our central Texas heat...
The Tomato Baby Company supplies all of this and more. We have had unbelievable success with our plants, our tomato and have never lost a plant or had one arrive in poor shape. Absolutely the best on line tomato company around.
Yummy tomatoes. Incredible service. When we were having a colder-than-normal spring a couple of years ago, Alainia contacted me and asked for permission to ship later. I was very glad she did, because the plants would not have survived... We kept in touch, and once the forecast looked clear, she shipped. And I love the variety and personal comments about the plants. I know what I'm getting when I get my plants.
This is my first order from Tomato Baby Company. Plants arrived in excellent shape and are doing great in my garden. Couldn't ask for better service. I will order even more plants from the Tomato Girl next year!
This is my 3rd year ordering plants from Alaina and I could not be happier. My wife and I have been experimenting and searching for the "best" tomatoes in the world. Each year we read through Alainas extensive list of types and descriptions and order 10 - 15 different plants to try... plus our 10 favorites (so far). The plants have always arrived quickly and in great condition. It has been a blast deciding which tomatoes that we all like the best. I even contacted Alaina about a hybrid type of tomato that my dad used to grow in St Louis MO that we all loved growing up. Alaina and her husband jumped right on it, they did the research and found a close relative of that tomato and it was just like I remembered... Delicious. No more going to the store and/or nursery and just taking whatever plants they have available for us. We are never going anywhere else for tomato plants. I would encourage anyone out there to give Tomato Baby a try. You wont be disappointed.
Wonderful selection of tomatoes and peppers. ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC CUSTOMER SERVICE. Shipping was on time as scheduled, and my plants arrived in very good condition. Extensive instructions for adapting plants from travel mode to grow mode were very helpful. Will order again next year.
On May 14, 2012, mangoman52 Highland Acres, DE wrote:
I am extremely pleased with the quality, size, and the healthy plants I received from Tomato Girl. I did not have any success germinating my "Pepperfish" Pepper seeds this spring. Alainia came to my rescue. I can enjoy my peppers again this summer. Thanks Alainia. You will have my business again and again. Sincerely, Bruce
I have ordered from Alainia (Tomato Girl) for at least 7 years...probably longer. Her selection of heirloom tomato varieties is superb. When I wanted to buy heirlooms, I checked out ebay and found Alainia who has since opened her own estore. I ordered early in April and received my plants last Friday--I specified my planting dates and Alainia accommodates by offering a choice of shipping time frames. The plants are always well packaged and extremely healthy...this year was no different. I ordered about 30 tomato plants, at least 12 pepper plants, and a half dozen eggplants. Alainia packed in 8 "samples" of tomato, pepper, and eggplant plants (FREE), for me
to try out.
I follow Alainia's exacting directions to help the tomato babies to acclimate to my area...fortunately we are having perfect weather. This morning my plants are in buckets with some water sitting in the shade. Tomorrow I'll move to partial sun and on Wednesday, I'll plant them deep (tomatoes), since tomato plants develop roots far up their stems. I can't wait
for the tomatoes--especially my new favorite, Black Cherry!
Alainia's plants can't be beaten--for healthy plants, for great varieties. I heartily recommend Tomato Baby Company ...I've been gardening 50 years so I know a good tomato plant from a great one--Alainia's are great!
I ordered from Alainia at TomatoBabyCo on April 30th, 2012 and received my plants within a week.
Here are the things I loved most about this transaction:
- It was easy (I used the website)
- It was fast (both ordering & delivery)
- The prices are very reasonable
- The packaging was great
- The communication from Alainia was great, before shipping, during shipping and after I received the shipment
- The plants were GORGEOUS, healthy & in great shape when I received them
I ordered (3) plants & received one as a "sample". Alainia sent me a very detailed email about how to ease the plants out of the "shock" of being in the dark for 2-3 days, along with tons of other information. I had a couple of questions after receiving the plants (about using them in planters) and her response was quick, personable & very helpful. I'd ordered (2) tomato plants from a "big name" grower that were tiny, tiny seedlings with almost no root system - they were in terrible shape when I got them & died soon after. Tomato Girl's plants were huge (probably at least 6-8 inches tall, maybe more) and again, were in beautiful shape when I got them.
I wish there were more businesses out there that offered that personal touch along with great products. Very highly recommend Alainia & Tomato Baby Co.
TomatoBabyCompany is still open for business and their website is active. Very smooth transaction and the plants are doing great. Alainia was a pleasure doing business with. I recommend them very highly.
I loved Tomato Girl, got great service and tomato plants that neither I nor the lack of rain in GA last year could kill. I AM SO BUMMED that they seem to have closed. When you go to their website, it takes you to page that says "TBC has closed its doors. Thank you for your support the past few years. ".
On Apr 17, 2011, Jewelgirl04 Englishtown, NJ wrote:
This has been, hands down, the best experience purchasing ANY product online that I've ever had.
Back in January, I started receiving gardening catalogs in the mail and got incredible excited at the prospect of deciding what to plant in my yard this year. Having noticed a ton of positive reviews on DG, and dissatisfied with my last online plant purchase, I reached out to the owner of Tomato Baby, Alainia, and inquired about when ordering began. After receiving a reply within 24 hours, I wrote her back with a few questions. Not only was she incredibly knowledgeable and informative in her reply, she was also as sweet as could be.
I eventually asked her for advice on picks for both tomato and pepper plants based on my region, 2010's gardening issues, color/taste preferences, planting medium, and overall production. This began a series of detailed emails back in forth in which we figured out exactly which plants I should order, three and a half months ahead of time!
Even after ordering, I received a phone call from Alainia's husband, who helps her run the company, letting me know that in their opinion, I had ordered TOO many of one plant in particular. Having ordered 3 of the Matt's Wild Cherry, they were concerned that I would have a tangled mess on my hands and more cherry tomatoes than I could ever keep up with. In addition to rectifying the over-order and substituting in two different cherry tomato plants at my request instead of a refund, he spent nearly a half an hour on the phone, walking me through how everything would be delivered and the planting methods they found worked best in containers.
I was planning on waiting until my plants were delivered to review this site, but after Alainia emailed me this morning to recommend the delivery be postponed, based on the weather conditions she had checked in my area, I just had to review. They're in Tennessee, I'm in New Jersey, yet she had made a point of ensuring to the best of her ability that my plants would grow to their full potential.
While I will post an update when my plants do arrive, I highly recommend ordering from Tomato Baby. Their customer service is second to none.
On May 21, 2010, iteach3rdgrd abington United States wrote:
I KNOW summer is here!!! My tomato plants just arrived!! Packaged for their travel from TN to MA PERFECTLY!! The only problem is there are SO MANY VARIETIES TO CHOOSE FROM!! And if you love heirloom varieties YOU'LL love this company!!
Thanks for the wonderful plants!!!
This is my second year ordering from Alainia and the Tomato Baby Company. I was a first time vegetable gardener and I had HUGE success last year with the 18 heirloom varieties I planted.(and some free samples too!) All thanks to the incredibly beautiful and healthy plants that I received and to all the great growing advice. Awesome eggplant and peppers too!! My babies are in the ground and looking healthier than ever. I would never purchase my plants from another source. Customer service is outstanding and the selection is amazing!
I have been absolutely amazed by the service and products provided by this company. I am quick to criticize and hard to please, but I was wonderfully surprised with the Tomato Baby Company! I could not believe the beauty and value of the plants that I received. Not only did I receive remarkable follow up but was given some great advise to help with some of my horrible mishandling of my plants. Aside from the unbelievable customer service that went far beyond my expectations, the selection was quite extensive. The Tomato Baby Company has won my loyalty for my future purchases! This company exhibits a quality that is not easy to find.
My daughter bought a few plants for me through Tomato Girl and they arrived in excellent shape. They are very healthy plants even after being shipped to her home, then brought to my house. I enjoyed my daughters tomatoes so much last year that I decided to try growing my own. I look forward to the harvest.
I am so pleased with this company! This is my second year ordering from her. The plants are healthy, large, rare varieties and the prices very reasonable. Best part is the customer service- good email updates and quick responses to questions. You can't go wrong ordering from Tomato Girl!
I received my tomato plants about ten minutes ago. They are large, healthy and superly packed. Prices are great, also received free samples.This company has excellent customer service, I could not expect any better.I would not buy tomato plants from anyone else. Yonkers,N.Y.
On May 13, 2010, justnthyme2010 Indianapolis, IN wrote:
best plants i have bought on the the internet or from nursery. plants were in great condition and was please to receive the free samples. i would recommend the tomato girl to anyone who is planning on gardening
