Before placing a seed request, consider that it is physically impossible for me to save seeds from 3,000+ varieties of tomatoes every year, as Delectation of Tomatoes is a 1-person operation, working on a very small plot of rented garden space, and I personally produce and save 100% of the seeds that I offer. This means that some of the 25,000+ batches of tomato seeds in inventory are as old as 13 years, though the vast majority are less than 7 years old.
If you are of the firm conviction that tomato seeds are not viable after 2, 3, or 5 years (or whatever), then please use the published year on the Tomato Seeds tab as your guide: don't just assume that I grow and save seeds from at least 1,500 varieties every year: that translates to around 4,000 batches of seeds every year, or 400 days of very intense, focused, uninterrupted, 15-hour work days -- a luxury I simply don't have. If no year is indicated, that means my most recent batch of seeds for that variety is from between 2013 and 2021, with over 90% of those older batches being from 2017 to 2021. Populating all the rest of the varieties with latest date of harvest is a task (a BIG one) in progress.
If you are someone who is open to learning from research results and from experts, rather than simply "going with the flow", then consider reading this blog post, then making an informed decision accordingly:
Myths about Germination Rates of Tomato Seeds
Update April 17, 2026
All seed orders placed before 4:30 p.m. (MST) on April 17th have shipped. Email notification will be sent once your seeds have shipped. Barring delays by the USPS, if you live in the USA, and ordered seeds before April 17th, you "should" have your seeds by Friday, April 24th (add 10 to 15 days for international orders).
April 15th - that dreaded TAX DAY. Taxes were filed on time (barely), but the preparation took a huge toll on my time: about 25 hours total - 25 very unpleasant hours. Thus, I continue to fall further behind with planting seeds, potting up, and preparing gardens of other people for planting (since I am not allowed to grow anything here this year...).
Before sending an email asking, "where are my seeds", or "what is the tracking number for the seeds I ordered", please read the relevant section at the Store page, specifically the paragraph that begins with, "NOTE ABOUT SPEED".
Also, it might be worth keeping up with the latest Service Alerts at USPS.com:
https://about.usps.com/newsroom/service-alerts/
I am trying my best to stay "caught up" (fewer than 10 days from placing seed order until seeds ship). Of course many people, including myself, hope for much faster service. Insights into the full process are discussed in various blog posts.
Tomato seed extraction from the 2025 growing season is now complete, including data entry and integration with the rest of the tomato seed inventory.
I finally started planting for the 2026 growing season on March 7th, but am already more than three weeks behind schedule. Unfortunately, this means that seedlings will be smaller than planned.
The annual, "biggest event of the year": Ogden Seed Exchange has left things in rather a state of chaos, and it may still be a week or two before I manage to fully untangle from that setback -- of time in particular.
Availability status, at least for tomato seeds, will be updated periodically at the "Tomato Seeds" tab from the menu above. This includes frequent updates about availability of seeds harvested in 2025.
= = = = =
Here's a link to an unsolicited, independent review of seeds ordered here: Delectation of Tomatoes SEEDS HAUL
A big thanks to Jen and the time and effort she put into this - I really just never expect anything like this!
= = = = =
Update August 9, 2020
Podcast Interview, Misfit Gardening
Listen to an in-depth interview at the Misfit Gardening podcast
Link to Supplemental Files
I've created THIS LINK to a folder on Google Drive where I plan to keep an updated version of spreadsheets such as The Big Tomato List, List of Tastiest Tomatoes, Guide to Growing Giant Tomatoes, DT Disclosure, Latest lists of available seeds, etc.
I attempt to post at least one new blog post every month. For the most recent updates on progress of the efforts of Delectation of Tomatoes to obtain, grow, propagation, promote and preserve heirloom seeds from around the world, please visit:
BLOG, Delectation of Tomatoes
= = = = =
Here is a link to a short video that encapsulates much of what I believe about our relationship to food and community, and underscores some of the reasons I started Delectation of Tomatoes in 2011 and continue to persevere, even through some tough times:
Food Revolution Tips
= = = = =
Biggest and Best Tomatoes of 2018
If you are of the firm conviction that tomato seeds are not viable after 2, 3, or 5 years (or whatever), then please use the published year on the Tomato Seeds tab as your guide: don't just assume that I grow and save seeds from at least 1,500 varieties every year: that translates to around 4,000 batches of seeds every year, or 400 days of very intense, focused, uninterrupted, 15-hour work days -- a luxury I simply don't have. If no year is indicated, that means my most recent batch of seeds for that variety is from between 2013 and 2021, with over 90% of those older batches being from 2017 to 2021. Populating all the rest of the varieties with latest date of harvest is a task (a BIG one) in progress.
If you are someone who is open to learning from research results and from experts, rather than simply "going with the flow", then consider reading this blog post, then making an informed decision accordingly:
Myths about Germination Rates of Tomato Seeds
Update April 17, 2026
All seed orders placed before 4:30 p.m. (MST) on April 17th have shipped. Email notification will be sent once your seeds have shipped. Barring delays by the USPS, if you live in the USA, and ordered seeds before April 17th, you "should" have your seeds by Friday, April 24th (add 10 to 15 days for international orders).
April 15th - that dreaded TAX DAY. Taxes were filed on time (barely), but the preparation took a huge toll on my time: about 25 hours total - 25 very unpleasant hours. Thus, I continue to fall further behind with planting seeds, potting up, and preparing gardens of other people for planting (since I am not allowed to grow anything here this year...).
Before sending an email asking, "where are my seeds", or "what is the tracking number for the seeds I ordered", please read the relevant section at the Store page, specifically the paragraph that begins with, "NOTE ABOUT SPEED".
Also, it might be worth keeping up with the latest Service Alerts at USPS.com:
https://about.usps.com/newsroom/service-alerts/
I am trying my best to stay "caught up" (fewer than 10 days from placing seed order until seeds ship). Of course many people, including myself, hope for much faster service. Insights into the full process are discussed in various blog posts.
Tomato seed extraction from the 2025 growing season is now complete, including data entry and integration with the rest of the tomato seed inventory.
I finally started planting for the 2026 growing season on March 7th, but am already more than three weeks behind schedule. Unfortunately, this means that seedlings will be smaller than planned.
The annual, "biggest event of the year": Ogden Seed Exchange has left things in rather a state of chaos, and it may still be a week or two before I manage to fully untangle from that setback -- of time in particular.
Availability status, at least for tomato seeds, will be updated periodically at the "Tomato Seeds" tab from the menu above. This includes frequent updates about availability of seeds harvested in 2025.
= = = = =
Here's a link to an unsolicited, independent review of seeds ordered here: Delectation of Tomatoes SEEDS HAUL
A big thanks to Jen and the time and effort she put into this - I really just never expect anything like this!
= = = = =
Update August 9, 2020
Podcast Interview, Misfit Gardening
Listen to an in-depth interview at the Misfit Gardening podcast
Link to Supplemental Files
I've created THIS LINK to a folder on Google Drive where I plan to keep an updated version of spreadsheets such as The Big Tomato List, List of Tastiest Tomatoes, Guide to Growing Giant Tomatoes, DT Disclosure, Latest lists of available seeds, etc.
I attempt to post at least one new blog post every month. For the most recent updates on progress of the efforts of Delectation of Tomatoes to obtain, grow, propagation, promote and preserve heirloom seeds from around the world, please visit:
BLOG, Delectation of Tomatoes
= = = = =
Here is a link to a short video that encapsulates much of what I believe about our relationship to food and community, and underscores some of the reasons I started Delectation of Tomatoes in 2011 and continue to persevere, even through some tough times:
Food Revolution Tips
= = = = =
Biggest and Best Tomatoes of 2018
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