The Extension Master Gardener℠ volunteers of Chatham County are again offering an online grafted tomato sale while supplies last. Plants are $7 each and are available to order now. Plants can be picked up by appointment at the Chatham County Agriculture and Conference Center on April 17th and 18th, 2026.

Why Grafted Tomatoes?

Many gardeners prefer the flavors of open-pollinated or heirloom varieties. However, often these cultivars lack the disease-resistance common in modern hybrid varieties developed with traditional breeding methods. Fungal diseases, bacterial diseases, and nematodes can make growing heirloom varieties challenging. But what if you could have the disease resistance of hybrid varieties with the flavor profiles of heirlooms? Enter grafted heirloom tomatoes!

Grafting involves joining a disease-resistant rootstock to a tasty scion, resulting in two genetically distinct individuals becoming one physiological individual.

Among the more pernicious soil-borne diseases of tomatoes is southern bacterial wilt. Somewhat  common in our soils, there is no treatment except by planting resistant cultivated varieties (cultivars).

The varieties selected are grafted onto ‘Shin Cheong Gang’ rootstock, which is resistant to bacterial wilt, Fusarium wilt, Fusarium crown rot, Fusarium root rot, Rhizoctonia, tomato mosaic virus, and nematodes.

Scion Cultivars Available (all indeterminate):

‘Black Cherry’ –The only truly black cherry tomato. Vigorous plants yield huge clusters of one-inch round deep mahogany-brown fruits. They are delicious with sweet, rich, complex full tomato flavor. This five-foot plant produces consistently throughout the summer. Cherry tomatoes are easier to grow than larger cultivars. 

‘Black Krim’ – An heirloom tomato with purple/black fruit and a rich sweet flavor. Fruits are about 1/2 pound and 4″ in diameter. Very productive.

‘Cherokee Purple’  – A beloved heirloom as valuable for its flavor as it is for its unusual look. When ripe, the Cherokee Purple tomato has a dark, dusty rose color with green-tinged shoulders. They are very sweet and have a rich, almost smoky flavor. The fruit is large and refreshingly acidic, thick-skinned with an earthy, lingering flavor. Cherokee Purple is indeterminate, so it is growing and setting new fruit all summer long. You will find it very easy to grow.

‘German Johnson’  – A highly productive heirloom with pinkish-red skin and nearly-seedless meaty, mild flesh. Large-lobed fruits weigh 3/4-1 1/2 pounds. Excellent for slicing or canning. Thrives in hot, humid areas.

‘San Marzano’  – A high-quality strain of this classic heirloom tomato, it is considered one of the best paste tomatoes of all time, with an old-world look and taste. Whole 4–6 oz. tomatoes peel easily and cook down quickly. The strain originates from Parma, Italy, and has a very traditional San Marzano shape and appearance and vibrant red color.

But wait, there’s more than just tomatoes!

Back by popular demand, we plan to offer a selection of non-grafted vegetables, herbs and other plants grown by our Extension Master Gardener Volunteers at a low price. Also there will be a home gardening “yard/garage sale” offering multiple items related to home gardening such as tools, pots, books, etc. These items will be available on tomato pick up days (April 17 and 18, no preorders).

Why does the Extension Master Gardener program have a fundraiser?

Our grafted tomato sale is the primary funding source for the Extension Master Gardener and Extension Horticulture outreach programs. We seek to educate and inspire Chatham County residents about the joy and benefits of home and community gardening. In 2025, this fundraiser helped us reach 1,488 residents in 50 programs offered across Chatham County, from vegetable gardening, native plants, composting, therapeutic horticulture, 4-H Youth education, as well as supporting our Demonstration Garden and the Seed Library Network. Through your help, we help further expand the reach and impact of our education programs!

To Order

Please read carefully before clicking on the order form below.

Complete the order form.

• Plants are $7 each. This project helps raise funds for horticultural education programs for adults and children.
• Payment is due at pick-up. Bring exact change if you can (we will have some change, but exact change helps), or make checks payable to Chatham County, with N.C. Cooperative Extension in the memo.
• Pick-up times will be scheduled by appointment on April 17th and 18th. We will send an email to you by early April with a link to sign-up for a time slot on one of those dates.
• Plants that are not claimed will be re-sold.