E-newsletter
Heritage Tomatoes for 2016
Heritage or heirloom tomatoes are old style varieties that have been in production for at least 50 years. Over the years, advances have been made to plant breeding and production methods and these varieties are now rarely grown commercially. Heritage tomatoes are available in a huge range of sizes, shapes and colours and have fantastic flavor. However, they are not resistant to a wide range of diseases like most hybrid varieties are. They breed true to seed, meaning that seed can be kept and started the following year again. Most are indeterminate plants, which need to be staked, growing very large and producing fruit for several weeks on long vines.
BIG RAINBOW – Mid season. Very large, 1-2lb very pretty bicoloured fruit. Delicious and sweet. Striking when sliced as the yellow fruit has neon red streaking through the flesh.
BLACK KRIM – Late. Very large, dark coloured, thin skinned, meaty fruits are incredibly juicy and can grow up to 1.5lb under semi drought conditions. Slightly smoky, salty flavor is great for salads or eaten straight off the vine. Heavy producer.
BONNY BEST – Mid season. Medium sized smooth red fruit. An all time favourite with wonderful old fashioned flavour.
CHEROKEE PURPLE – Late. Large sized 12oz fruits. Productive plants that are good in dry conditions. Both the skin and interior of this flat, globe fruit are a unique dusty rose colour. Flavourful, with a sweet rich, low acid smoky flavour that rivals Brandywine. From Tenessee, pre 1890.
GREEN ZEBRA – Late. Medium sized, 2” or 4oz yellow and green fruits with dark green vertical stripes. Emerald green flesh is juicy, sweet and mild with a slight tangy taste. Very productive plants. Plants stay fairly small. Unusual!
I CANDY – Mid to late season. Small sized 1” yellow – gold cherry tomato with red / pink marbling and a sweet fruity taste. Productive plants. Beautiful in salads.
MORTGAGE LIFTER – Early. Large, many over 1lb, meaty and vigorous red beefsteak type. Great flavour and good slicer with few seeds. Plants are highly productive and disease resistant.
PEKING PANDA – Early. Small sized, sweet and juicy pear shaped yellow fruit. Very prolific. Low in acid and easy to grow.
RED BRANDYWINE – Late. Large, up to 1lb beefsteak type. Ideal for slicing or salads. Pinkish red fruit. One of the most famous heirlooms (1885, Amish) and the winner of many taste tests. Bright tangy flavour. Reliable performer.
RED PEAR – Late. Small sized, red, pear shaped fruit. A very old variety, known since the early 1800s. Flavourful and perfect for gourmet salads. Productive with long rambling 6’ vines.
SAN MARZANO – Mid season. Large, deep red Italian paste tomato. 3” long and 1.5” thick. Good crack resistance and great productivity. Excellent for sauces, canning or drying. Medium sized plant.
THAI PINK EGG – Early. Medium, oval, salad sized fruits that are true pink in colour. Terrific flavor and abundant production that just keeps on going. Great for snacking and salads. From the ‘Land of Smiles’ – Thailand.
TIGERELLA – Early. Medium sized, 2 – 3” sweet tart red fruit with orange stripes is a good producer. A delight in any garden!
Related Tomato Plants
GROUND CHERRY –1” yellow, tomato type, pineapple flavoured fruit that is sweet and delicious. Eaten fresh, dried or used in pies. 2ft. high bushes spread 3-4ft. wide. Fruit, which falls to the ground when ripe, grows inside an attractive papery husk. Keeps in a dry, dark place for up to 6 months.
Heirloom Tomatoes
Writer Nancy Falconer interviewed me for her article on heirloom tomatoes in the Spring/Summer 2012 issue of Food In The Hills. Check it out, grow your own varieties and then try these yummy recipes:
- Heirloom Tomatoes with Buffalo Mozzarella
- Pappardelle with Marinated Heirloom Tomatoes
- Roasted Heirloom Tomatoes
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