Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Looking forward to Heirloom Tomatoes?

Heirloom Tomatoes are available in a wide variety of colors, shapes, flavors and sizes. Heirlooms haven't been hybridized. Although some of them are considered ugly, are prone to cracking, or lack disease resistance, you can't beat their FLAVOR!

Heirloom tomatoes are the real deal. Some seeds are descendants of plants grown a hundred years ago. From Wikipedia, here is an excerpt of the history behind one Heirloom Tomato:
"Brandywine: ...excellent flavor and somewhat clouded history. A large fruited pink (red flesh, clear skin) variety produced on vigorous potato leaf foliage plants, Brandywine was passed on from the Sudduth family to an Ohio tomato enthusiast named Ben Quisenberry. Many seed savers traded seeds with Ben, and Brandywine eventually became widely available. ...likely that Brandywine is a descendant of two similar (if not identical) varieties offered in the 1880s - Mikado (Henderson seed company) or Turner's Hybrid (Burpee Seed Company). Though several other tomatoes (Red Brandywine, Yellow Brandywine, and Black Brandywine) carry the name of "Brandywine" in part, any true relation between them is pure conjecture. In fact, Yellow Brandywine most closely resembles an old Henderson variety only fleetingly available in the 1890s named "Shah".
As with most garden plants, Heirloom cultivars can be acclimated over several gardening seasons to thrive in a geographical location through careful selection and seed saving.
Last years' winner for best flavor and early fruit was Moskvich a heirloom variety from Russia.
Be sure to try one or two of the varieties offered at Woodbridge this year.

What is your favorite Heirloom Tomato?

Please add your favorite to the comments below.


Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heirloom_tomato
If you're interested in learning more visit http://www.tomatoville.com/index.php. They "speak Tomato" and have information for beginners and enthusiasts alike.

2 comments:

Renee B said...

I wish I could remember the tomatoes I planted last year. I'll have to start keeping notes if my memory doesn't improve soon.
Renee B

Layanee said...

Oh, I would have to say 'Green Zebra' with its' tangy flavor and saucy stripes.