Where to buy tomatoes and other vegetables
Lettuce and spinach may be growing already, but the real push to plant vegetables is a couple of weeks away, when the soil is warmer.
Most nurseries are considered essential, especially those growing agricultural crops. Some are open, some are handling orders for pickup only and some are doing both to allow for minimal contact with the public. All nurseries are required to follow state and national COVID-19 rules requiring masks, maintaining social distance and limiting the number of customers indoors at any given time.
We caught up with local growers to find out which vegetables they’re excited about this growing season. Before making the trip, you should call and confirm times and policies. Also check their websites to see longer lists of vegetables and herbs that are available. All of the nurseries below are currently open to the public, with a few exceptions as noted.
Bakerstown & Glenshaw Feed & Garden Centers in Richland and Shaler, respectively, accept telephone orders and will load purchases in your vehicle. Delivery is offered, but there is a charge (724-4437600, 412-487-5559). Hours: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Look for ‘Sun Gold’ cherry tomatoes and Hungarian hot banana peppers. ‘San Marzano Roma’ and paste tomatoes are customer favorites. Two-gallon pots with large tomato plants are also popular.
Bedner’s Farm and Greenhouse in Cecil offers online ordering, delivery and curbside pickup (724-926-2541). 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Greenhouse manager Erin Melbert recommends tall columnar ‘Emerald Towers’ basil. Also look for containers of ‘Tumbling Tom’ tomatoes, ‘Patio Snacker’ cucumbers, ‘Patio Baby’ eggplants and “Drinkables” with ingredients for mint juleps, bloody marys or mojitos. ‘Opalka’ is a favorite heirloom tomato.
Brenckle’s Greenhouses in Reserve is not accepting checks now but offers signature-free, tap-to-pay or mobile device checkout in the parking lot (412-821-2566). 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. Ashley Brenckle recommends tough Mighty ’Mato grafted tomatoes for long abundant harvests of tasty fruit. Favorites include ‘Tidy Treats’ cherry tomatoes and ‘Tidy Rose,’ ‘Heirloom Marriage Big Brandy’ and ‘Black Krim’ tomatoes. Also check out 40 pepper choices including Ghost peppers.
Cavacini Landscaping and Garden Center in Lawrenceville is open only for online shopping and payment (412-687-2010). Curbside pickup 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Customers must wear a mask and have their vehicle ready for loading. Cavacini has lettuce, tomatoes and peppers and just received strawberries. Zucchini and other squashes and herbs expected by May 10.
Chapon’s Greenhouse and Supply in Baldwin Borough offers telephone consults on vegetable choices and no-contact curbside pickup. They will deliver for a small fee. (412881-1520). 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. The greenhouse manager suggests ‘Great White’ beefsteak and dark purple ‘Indigo Rose’ tomatoes and pre-caged “cheater” tomatoes in large containers — no need to transplant and perfect for small gardens. Peanuts are among the many plants available.
Frankstown Gardens in Penn Hills offers curbside pickup (412-371-3518). 8 a.m.-5 p.m. every day. Owner Vince Tumminello’s bestselling tomatoes are ‘Cherokee Purple,’ ‘San Marzano’ and ‘Rutgers.’ Popular peppers include ‘California Wonder,’ ‘Sweet Banana’ and habanero. Tomatoes will be available around May 21.
Jim Jenkins Lawn and Garden Center in Upper St. Clair (412-221-3070) is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. TuesdaySunday. For containers or garden beds, owner Jim Jenkins suggests ‘White Cherry’ and ‘Little Sicily,’ a delicious and reliable 3- or 4-ounce slicing tomato with great yields over a number of weeks. He also likes super-hot Ghost and Carolina Reaper peppers and Basket of Fire, a prolific pepper with 1- or 2-inch fruits that go from creamy to yellow to orange and, finally, bright red.
Kaelin Farm Market in Frankin Park accepts phone orders and will load into customers’ cars (724935-6780). 9 a.m.-6 p.m. every day. Kurt Kaelin recommends ‘Mountain Fresh,’ an 8-ounce slicing tomato with reliable tasty fruit that does well here. Check out the selection of early, late, cherry, grape, plum and patio tomatoes.
Michael Brothers Nursery in West Deer is open only for curbside pickup at this time (724-2651222). Phone orders 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday -Saturday; 10 a.m.-noon Sunday. Dan Higgins recommends ‘Better Bush’ for containers and early ‘Plum Regal’ and later ‘Plum Crimson’ tomatoes for great sauce. Also look for ‘Carmen’ Italian bullhorn pepper, with versatile fruits that are delicious fried, roasted or stuffed.
Penn Hills Lawn and Garden permits outdoor shopping, online ordering and curbside sales (412- 2410411). 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, ThursdaySaturday. ‘San Marzano’ and ‘Potato Top’ tomatoes (popularized by garden writer Doug Oster) are big sellers. Vegetable plants will be delivered around May 8, which is a little later than usual.
Plumline Nursery (724327-6775) in Plum has hours 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. MondaySaturday and Mother’s Day. Vegetable and herb plants are to arrive soon and will be available in sizes ranging from 3-inch to 1-gallon containers. Staked tomato plants and heirlooms are popular with vegetable gardeners.
Quality Gardens in Middlesex, Butler County, accepts phone orders and offers no-contact curbside pickup (724-625-2770). They will load purchases in customers’ cars. 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 10 a.m.5 p.m. Sunday. Kiwi berry vine berry bushes and fruit trees are available plus heirloom and All America Selection tomatoes. Gardening kits for kids come with strawberry plants, soil and containers.
Soergel’s Orchards in Franklin Park offers free delivery within 10 miles and prepaid curbside delivery (724-935-1743). 10 a.m.-5 p.m. every day. Container varieties include ‘Eight Ball’ zucchini and ‘Tumbling Tom’ or ‘Husky Red’ cherry tomatoes. ‘Cherokee Purple’ heirloom beefsteak tomatoes are garden favorites.
Trax Farms in Finleyville offers drive-thru and curbside pickup for annuals and vegetables. Greenhouses and outdoor areas are open; the gift shop may open this weekend (412-835-3246). 10 a.m.-6 p.m. every day. Ross and Bryan Trax both favor ‘SunSugar’ yellow cherry tomatoes for their sweet flavor, thin and crack-resistant skin, abundant fruit and suitability for containers. Bryan recommends ‘Roulette’ habanero pepper, a 2018 AAS winner with less heat. It’s a prolific producer that matures early for a long season’s yield.