Yes, I've grown chocolate-colored tomatoes a couple times, but I don't know if they were the same variety that your cousin grew. They had a very different and delicious taste. If I remember right, they ripened fairly early but were small in size. The fruits needed full sun to develop the color---the tomatoes that were shaded by foliage stayed more red/green than brown.

I also grow chocolate colored bell peppers and they're wonderful in the years when we get enough warmth and sun for them to fully ripen.

I've planted a few early things already (red and yellow onions, sugar snap peas, regular peas, spinach, lettuce). And the chives are ready to be harvested. But here where I live, we have to wait until mid to late May to plant most things. Memorial Day is traditional for putting out tomato plants here.

I'm with you, Ruby! Tired of grocery store greens and ready for some fresh veggies straight from the garden.