{"title":"Lauren’s AwesomeSauce Collection","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLauren’s Garden — Curated by Mrs. Tomato Head\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSome growers collect seeds.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOthers chase flavor.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLauren Zalewski has spent a lifetime doing both.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKnown to thousands as \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“Mrs. Tomato Head”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (@mrandmrstomatohead), Lauren is one of the most respected voices in the modern tomato world—an obsessive grower, flavor hunter, and educator who has spent \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eover 30 years growing, tasting, and selecting tomatoes from around the globe\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. \u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAlongside her husband Rob, she has built a passionate community of growers, collectors, and tomato enthusiasts, sharing knowledge through her YouTube series \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLauren’s Tomato Awesomesauce\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, her live shows, and the widely followed Tomato Lover’s Collective. \u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBut what truly sets Lauren apart isn’t just her reach—it’s her palate.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA Collection Built on Flavor, Not Hype\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLauren’s Garden is not a random assortment of varieties.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEvery selection in this collection reflects decades of hands-on growing, trialing, and ruthless evaluation.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThese are tomatoes chosen because they deliver:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eExceptional flavor complexity (sweet, tangy, rich, and unforgettable)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eUnique color profiles and visual appeal\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eProven performance in real gardens—not just catalog descriptions\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThat rare “wow” factor that turns casual growers into collectors\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLauren is especially known for championing overlooked categories—like \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003egreen-when-ripe tomatoes\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, which she has spent years promoting for their intense, balanced flavor and depth that many traditional reds simply don’t match. \u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFrom Lauren’s Garden to Yours\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis collection represents something deeper than just seeds.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt’s a direct line to:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA grower who has trialed thousands of varieties\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA curator who understands nuance in flavor and performance\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA voice that has helped shape the modern heirloom tomato community\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEvery variety offered here has passed through Lauren’s hands, her garden, and her standards.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhy This Collection Matters\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn a market flooded with generic seed listings and recycled descriptions, Lauren’s Garden stands apart.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCurated, not bulk-sourced\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eExperience-driven, not trend-driven\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFlavor-first, always\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhen you grow from this collection, you’re not just planting seeds—you’re planting selections backed by decades of real-world growing, tasting, and refinement.\u003c\/span\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLauren will be donating $1 per seed packet sold to the Lupus Foundation of America. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGrow What the Experts Grow\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf you’ve ever watched her content, followed her recommendations, or heard her talk tomatoes, you already know:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLauren doesn’t hype average.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eShe shares what’s worth growing.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"big-malaka","title":"Big Malaka","description":"\u003cp\u003eBig Malaka-REVIEW!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRob likes to grow at least one BIG tomato each year for fun. In my experience, most of these cultivars that claim to be big really aren't, and the ones we've grown just don't taste very good.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLast year, Rob finally got the 2 pounder he'd been wanting through a variety called Large Membranous...and it actually tasted pretty good (you can find my review of this tomato on my Instagram at https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DDxFyLnPL8I\/?img_index=1\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI certainly wasn't on the search for another massive tomato, but a friend in Australia sent me a pack of seeds for this rare variety only found in Australia called Big Malaka! Being that it was rare, of course I HAD to grow it! (Thank you Deborah Henderson!) (Not to mention, I'm told that \"Malaka\" is Green slang for \"jerk\" LOL)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBig Malaka is a large, ribbed, meaty Greek tomato variety, primarily popularized in Australia by Vasili's Garden, an organic gardening business run by Vasili Damiras (a Greek-Australian). You can find him on Instagram at @vasilisgardenofficial.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVasili's has a FB page dedicated to hosting annual \"Big Malaka Tomato Competitions\" featuring giant fruits from growers with videos of harvesting, weighing, and celebrating winners.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSo we were intrigued by this cultivar and were very pleased with the results!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBig Malaka was a late season variety for us, and they grew in clusters of 3-4 massive tomatoes with excellent production for such massive fruits. Every single tomato was over 1lb (450g) with some reaching almost 2 pounds! Foliage is regular leaf.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFruits were bright red beefsteaks with gorgeous deep red interior and ample pockets of the 'good stuff' (seeds and goo!)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI wasn't expecting much for flavor, but we were pleasantly surprised! They tasted rich and tomatoey with an old fashioned tomato flavor. BRIX was a 5.2 which was much sweeter than we expected for such huge fruits!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe flavor lingered and wasn't watery at all. Lots of umami taste with enough sweetness to make it a full-bodied flavor experience. Really such a nice surprise!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe really enjoyed this one and it is most certainly up there in our ranking of large tomatoes that really do get large and have good flavor! Thank you Vasili's for introducing this tomato to the tomato world, and thank you Deborah Henderson for sending me these seeds!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBRIX: 5.2 Overall: 7.5\/10\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Secret Seed Cartel","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43224572985407,"sku":null,"price":4.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0629\/6957\/7535\/files\/IMG-9644.jpg?v=1778153375"},{"product_id":"triumph-of-sophia-f7-tomato-seeds","title":"TRIUMPH OF SOPHIA (F7) TOMATO SEEDS","description":"\u003cp\u003eTriumph of Sofia (F7)-REVIEW!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eO....M....G....\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSometimes I find that the tomatoes I'm most looking forward to growing end up being a bit underwhelming.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut this is NOT the case for this absolute TRIUMPH of a tomato bred by Russian breeder Sofia Saakova aptly named Triumph of Sofia!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat a lucky girl I was to have been sent seeds for this last winter from Sofia herself. As she says on her website, Triumph of Sofia is her absolute favorite of her varieties, and I can see why.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe regular leaf plants are very tall and currently topping out at 8-9'! They are like tomato \"trees\", as they are simply loaded with these stunning red and green striped hearts decorated with anthocyanin dripping down the shoulders.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI'll admit, I REALLY wanted to like this one, but I didn't think I would due to the amount of antho at the top. I'm not a fan of that soapy (to me) antho flavor, but sometimes I find that tomatoes that are decorated with it do not have that funky taste.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd that is most definitely the case with this OUTSTANDING variety!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFruits are averaging about 8oz (226 grams) each.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI hesitated to slice into our first one last night, because looking at this tomato was like looking at a work of art that I didn't want to tamper with. But my curiosity got the better of me, and as I sliced into it, Rob and I gave collective \"ooohs\" and \"aaaahs\" as we witnessed even more tomato art on the interior!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe interior...oh my! Triumph of Sofia has a multitude of colors in there with amber yellow, pale green, and bright coral veining throughout. We are growing a lot of varieties this season with this color interior, but so far none have compared in the sheer intensity of flavor to Triumph.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWOWZA! Upon first bite we experienced immediate sweetness followed up with a layup of citrusy tanginess that made my tastebuds sing. I didn't detect any antho flavor, much to my delight! The flavor runs deep and each bite is a buttery mouthful of heaven.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTriumph of Sofia is, indeed, a triumph...and we will be adding it to our future gardens for sure! Flavor, production, and looks...this tomato has it all!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOverall: 9\/10 BRIX: 4.7\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Secret Seed Cartel","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43257131860031,"sku":null,"price":4.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0629\/6957\/7535\/files\/IMG-9720.jpg?v=1778764201"},{"product_id":"emerald-comet-sofia-f7-tomato-seeds","title":"EMERALD COMET SOFIA (F7) TOMATO SEEDS","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e10+ Organically Grown Seeds — Emerald Comet Sofia (F7) Tomato\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf you love discovering the next standout tomato before everyone else, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEmerald Comet Sofia (F7)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e deserves a place in your garden. This exciting newer variety, created by Russian breeder \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSofia Saakova\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, has been generating buzz among tomato collectors for its unusual beauty, rich flavor, and the intrigue that comes with growing something still relatively fresh in the tomato world.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAs an \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eF7 generation selection\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, Emerald Comet Sofia is approaching stability but may still show some variation from plant to plant or fruit to fruit. That is part of the fun with emerging varieties like this one. Growers may notice slight differences in shape, coloration, or expression while the variety continues to settle into its final form.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe fruit itself is striking, offering the kind of appearance that makes fellow gardeners stop and ask, “What tomato is that?” Expect beautiful, eye-catching tomatoes with a flavor profile that has already earned praise from serious tomato growers. Reports describe a balanced, memorable eating experience with the kind of depth that makes fresh slicing straight from the garden hard to resist.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is the sort of tomato that feels special the moment it hits the harvest basket. Whether you are a collector of rare varieties, chasing standout flavor, or simply love trialing promising new tomatoes, Emerald Comet Sofia offers the excitement of growing something not everyone has discovered yet.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGrowing Details\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e• \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePlant Type:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Indeterminate\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e• \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFruit Type:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Specialty slicer\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e• \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFruit Color:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Green-when-ripe \/ unique coloration (may vary slightly)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e• \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFlavor:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Rich, balanced, complex tomato flavor\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e• \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDays to Maturity:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Mid to late season\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e• \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLeaf Type:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Regular leaf\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e• \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGeneration:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e F7 (some variation possible)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e• \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBest Use:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Fresh eating, slicing, tomato collectors, specialty gardens\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEmerald Comet Sofia is one of those varieties that reminds us why growing tomatoes is so addictive. Every plant feels like part of the adventure, and when a newer variety turns out to be exceptional, you get to say you grew it before everyone else caught on.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Secret Seed Cartel","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43257209421887,"sku":null,"price":4.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0629\/6957\/7535\/files\/FullSizeRender_abc91e09-7e44-4177-bfbc-ab3d2f9f9b1c.jpg?v=1778767078"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0629\/6957\/7535\/collections\/IMG-9635.jpg?v=1778082392","url":"https:\/\/www.secretseedcartel.com\/collections\/lauren-s-awesomesauce-collection.oembed","provider":"Secret Seed Cartel","version":"1.0","type":"link"}