Tomato Bob's

LoreD · November 10, 2006

I saw some of the Livingston varieties here and I wondered whether this was a good source. Gardenwatchdog only gave it a 50% but there weren't many reviews.

Anyone had any dealings with this company. Some companies offer a lot of varieties and then one finds out that the seed doesn't live up the hype.

LoreD

**carolyn137** · November 10, 2006

Lore, in the past I know of several folks who have not had good experiences with this company and I believe he reads at message sites such as GW and may well be reading here as well.

I haven't seen anyone recently who has bought seeds from him so can't directly speak to the here and now.

If he has something unique that you want you might try and see how it goes.

LoreD · November 11, 2006

Thank you Carolyn,

That was very helpful.

LoreD

bluelytes · November 13, 2006

LORE,
FWIW, (For What Its Worth)
I ordered first part of August, 2006, and its NOV, 2006, and none of my order has arrived as yet.

Sent several emails, and plausible (excuses) explaination was they were busy, had a small staff, working 14hr days, etc. But on the upside, he DOES support schools with free seeds.

Last email from them said in part: " Trying to run a seed business/hobby part time has been a real challenge. This fall has been extremely busy harvesting and processing seeds" and "I am setting aside some time over the long Thanksgiving holiday....Your personal seeds will be shipped with them". ALL of which is prolly true, so I am expecting my August order by Christmas. But Hey, its not like I NEED them NOW. Good thing, eh??

Best;
Bluelytes

feldon30 · November 13, 2006

Sounds like a hobby instead of a business.

I too have been guilty of trying to conduct trades when I am really too busy to do so.

That's why I made sure I had time cleared away this time.

**carolyn137** · November 13, 2006

I saw some of the Livingston varieties here

Lore, I totally forgot to comment that if it's the Livingston varieties you're after you should go to Victory Seeds.

There are three folks I consider to be experts in Livingston varieties; Jim Huber, Craig Lehoullier and Mike Dunton, owner of Victory Seeds, was the last of those three to get interested and Craig supplied him with quite a few that we had gotten out of the USDA back in the early 90's. And Mike has sought out as much info has he has time for.

Have you seen the wonderful special section Mike has just on Livingston varieties and status and histories?

LoreD · November 13, 2006

Yes I did Carolyn, and I just received notification that Victory Seeds has shipped my order. I ordered three Livingston and twelve non-Livingston varieties. I like to order from a variety of companies and was questioning whether Tomato Bob's would be another company in which to order.

I think that I'm too impatient to wait almost four months for an order.

Also, thanks for recommending GrowItalian (Seeds from Italy) I'm trying to pare down my order for them. Although, every time I pare it down it somehow keeps getting bigger.

LoreD

**tomatoaddict** · January 16, 2007

I have ordered from Tomato Bob. At first, I had trouble getting the seeds. No answer to e-mails. As soon as I got PP involved, he mailed the seeds. I have ordered from him again with no problem.

PeteD · January 21, 2007

Beware of unexpected substitutions. Not fun when you only order two varieties because you really want them.

Also, slow on delivery and not responsive to emails. On my personal "do not buy from" list, FWIW.

bluelytes · January 21, 2007

I recently got my Tomato Bob order in the mail. My order was slow, but I finally called, and gotta FAST reply. Order was here within several days after telephoning.

Also, he sent a LOTTA seeds to be used by our foster parent/foster family/ foster kids program, http://www.wheretheheartis.org

Regards;
bluelytes

bohica · February 25, 2010

I have been using tomatobob.com for 5 years, their seeds have given me the highest germination rates.
These folks are a small operation that truely cares about what they sell.

**carolyn137** · February 25, 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by bohica

I have been using tomatobob.com for 5 years, their seeds have given me the highest germination rates.
These folks are a small operation that truely cares about what they sell.

Bohica, here's a thread about some other experiencers that folks have had with the same seed source;

http://tomatoville.com/showthread.ph...mato+bob+seeds

Some have had good luck, others not such good luck, as you'll see when you read the thread. And I haven't seen anyone cite that seed source lately, so there's no way of knowing if the same problems some cited still apply.

bohica · February 27, 2010

Carolyn,
Thanks for the link. It's a shame that people experienced bad service, I find them to be the place where I buy the bulk of my seeds.
I aprreciate it.

brokenbar · February 27, 2010

Someone told me he is offering seeds on Ebay (Carolyns FAVORITE site!

) I went and looked but if he is, he is not using TomatoBob as his ebay id.

**Mischka** · February 28, 2010

Thread merged with previous thread - M

November 10, 2006	#1
LoreD Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Chicago Suburbs Posts: 306	Tomato Bob's I saw some of the Livingston varieties here and I wondered whether this was a good source. Gardenwatchdog only gave it a 50% but there weren't many reviews. Anyone had any dealings with this company. Some companies offer a lot of varieties and then one finds out that the seed doesn't live up the hype. LoreD __________________ Its not what you get to keep in life, its what you get to give away.

November 10, 2006	#2
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	Lore, in the past I know of several folks who have not had good experiences with this company and I believe he reads at message sites such as GW and may well be reading here as well. I haven't seen anyone recently who has bought seeds from him so can't directly speak to the here and now. If he has something unique that you want you might try and see how it goes. __________________ Carolyn

November 11, 2006	#3
LoreD Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Chicago Suburbs Posts: 306	Thank you Carolyn, That was very helpful. LoreD __________________ Its not what you get to keep in life, its what you get to give away.

November 13, 2006	#5
feldon30 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 5,346	Sounds like a hobby instead of a business. I too have been guilty of trying to conduct trades when I am really too busy to do so. That's why I made sure I had time cleared away this time. __________________ [SIZE="3"]I've relaunched my gardening website -- [B]TheUnconventionalTomato.com[/B][/SIZE] * [I][SIZE="1"]*I'm not allowed to post weblinks so you'll have to copy-paste it manually.[/SIZE][/I]

November 13, 2006	#6
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	I saw some of the Livingston varieties here Lore, I totally forgot to comment that if it's the Livingston varieties you're after you should go to Victory Seeds. There are three folks I consider to be experts in Livingston varieties; Jim Huber, Craig Lehoullier and Mike Dunton, owner of Victory Seeds, was the last of those three to get interested and Craig supplied him with quite a few that we had gotten out of the USDA back in the early 90's. And Mike has sought out as much info has he has time for. Have you seen the wonderful special section Mike has just on Livingston varieties and status and histories? __________________ Carolyn

November 13, 2006	#4
bluelytes Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 250	LORE, FWIW, (For What Its Worth) I ordered first part of August, 2006, and its NOV, 2006, and none of my order has arrived as yet. Sent several emails, and plausible (excuses) explaination was they were busy, had a small staff, working 14hr days, etc. But on the upside, he DOES support schools with free seeds. Last email from them said in part: " Trying to run a seed business/hobby part time has been a real challenge. This fall has been extremely busy harvesting and processing seeds" and "I am setting aside some time over the long Thanksgiving holiday....Your personal seeds will be shipped with them". ALL of which is prolly true, so I am expecting my August order by Christmas. But Hey, its not like I NEED them NOW. Good thing, eh?? Best; Bluelytes

January 16, 2007	#8
tomatoaddict Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: zone 5 Posts: 1,459	I have ordered from Tomato Bob. At first, I had trouble getting the seeds. No answer to e-mails. As soon as I got PP involved, he mailed the seeds. I have ordered from him again with no problem. __________________ Secretseedcartel.com

January 21, 2007	#9
PeteD Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: MA Z6a Posts: 72	Beware of unexpected substitutions. Not fun when you only order two varieties because you really want them. Also, slow on delivery and not responsive to emails. On my personal "do not buy from" list, FWIW.

February 25, 2010	#11
bohica Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: NY Posts: 113	Tomatobob.com I have been using tomatobob.com for 5 years, their seeds have given me the highest germination rates. These folks are a small operation that truely cares about what they sell.

February 27, 2010	#13
bohica Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: NY Posts: 113	Carolyn, Thanks for the link. It's a shame that people experienced bad service, I find them to be the place where I buy the bulk of my seeds. I aprreciate it.

February 27, 2010	#14
brokenbar Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: South Of The Border Posts: 1,169	Someone told me he is offering seeds on Ebay (Carolyns FAVORITE site! ) I went and looked but if he is, he is not using TomatoBob as his ebay id. __________________ "If I'm not getting dirty, I'm not having a good time."

February 28, 2010	#15
Mischka Tomatoville® Administrator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: The Bay State Posts: 3,207	Thread merged with previous thread - M __________________ Mischka One last word of farewell, Dear Master and Mistress. Whenever you visit my grave, say to yourselves with regret but also with happiness in your hearts at the remembrance of my long happy life with you: "Here lies one who loved us and whom we loved." No matter how deep my sleep I shall hear you, and not all the power of death can keep my spirit from wagging a grateful tail.