In and around Portland, various growers sell tomato plants, with many heirloom kinds. Just about everyone sells Sungold because, even if all other tomatoes fail, Sungold will thrive. The box stores are a source as long as you select fresh plants rather than shopworn kinds that have dried out one or more times. We also have numerous small garden centers which feature heirloom tomatoes in spring. Call around as previously suggested. Another resource for good quality plants are local farmer's markets Don't get too anxious about planting, though. Many folks wait until June or later to set out transplants so that the tomatoes receive the consistent warmth they require. You might be interested in "Growing Your Own" from Oregon State University. Lots of basic info, with a planting chart (lists suitable dates) on page 7. In that pub, Portland is in Region 2. http://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/xmlui/handle/1957/21092 Here is a link that might be useful: grow your own

Well, bad news today, Amazon is sold out of the Opalkas.. I will call Laurel later today and see if she has any. What I would do is do a search for "Tomato Plants for Sale, Bay are, or your city or a big city nearby. Why do I suggest that? Well I did a search for Tomato Plants "Orange County Calif". I didn't turn up any nursery that had the kind of maters I wanted, so I found Laurel and ordered them all from her. I had a dentist appointment Tuesday, and on the way home, I stopped at a local Nursery, (about 10 miles from Home). They had every mater I wanted, and nice size and price too!, GRRRRRR. I did not find that nursery when I did my search because it was in LA County!!!!! With Me, I want "Instant Gratification" with my maters, and had I done a better search, they would be in my garden now!!! I'm 70 and don't have the patience, time, or wish to take the chance on something going wrong trying to plant seeds, caring for them, light heat, water, etc, transplanting them a couple times, hardening off etc etc, so I always buy live plants. Hope you find your maters! Gary

No, they aren't Opalka. Did you buy the seeds from the SSE Public catalog as opposed to being an SSE member and getting them from someone else? I'm pretty sure I've seen someone else who got their seeds from the public catalog and they were Opalka but I don't remember the sepcifics as to when a sin this year or a preceding year. But mistakes can happen, that's for sure, and in the latest non SSE publication for members they were describing a new machine they have that can fill seed packs automatically and if indeed it's a goof I bet there should be others out there growing the non Opalka as well. If you're sure there was no mistake at your end you can go to the SSE website at seedsavers.org and contct someone that way or you can call direct at (563)-382-5990. Carolyn

I like them but I'm finding many of them this year to be a bit puffy, i.e. air gaps inside. I am more impressed with Mama Leone this year. This is a large (5 oz) pointed paste that looks a lot like hearts. The plants are wispy like Opalka, but the tomatoes are solid and meaty with a nicely balanced tomatoey flavor. Definitely invited back for next year! TomNJ