Guide to Growing Heirloom Tomatoes

Introduction

Heirloom tomatoes stand as timeless treasures in the world of gardening, celebrated for their unique flavors, historical significance, and the joy they bring to the table. In this guide, we invite you to explore the fascinating realm of rare heirloom tomato varieties, each with its own story to tell and distinctive characteristics that set them apart.

Exploring Rare Heirloom Tomato Varieties

Venturing into the diverse world of rare heirloom tomatoes reveals a tapestry of colors, shapes, and flavors. Creating an adventure for the eyes and palate and bringing joy to the gardener’s heart. Before we start our adventure, we need to discuss a couple of topics.

Determinate and indeterminate tomatoes are two main types distinguished by their growth habits and fruit-bearing characteristics. Determinate tomatoes have a more compact and bush-like structure, growing to a predetermined height and setting fruit within a relatively short timeframe. Once they reach maturity, they tend to produce a concentrated harvest and then gradually decline. Indeterminate tomatoes, on the other hand, continue to grow and produce fruit throughout the growing season. They have a vining or sprawling habit, requiring staking or support. Indeterminate varieties continuously produce new flowers and fruit as long as environmental conditions permit. This key difference in growth patterns influences the timing and duration of harvests. Determinate tomatoes are often preferred for smaller spaces or for those desiring a more synchronized harvest, while indeterminate varieties are favored for prolonged and staggered fruit production.

The “VF” in the name of some tomatoes stands for “Verticillium” and “Fusarium,” indicating resistance to certain soil-borne diseases. The term “Verticillium” refers to Verticillium wilt, and “Fusarium” refers to Fusarium wilt. These are common fungal diseases that can affect tomato plants. The designation “VF” signifies that this particular variety of tomatoes has been bred to resist or tolerate these specific diseases, providing a level of protection for the plant in areas where these diseases may be prevalent in the soil.

Let’s journey through some exceptional varieties:

Paste Tomatoes

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Amish Paste Tomato (Days to Maturity: 80-85 days): Originating from traditional Amish farming practices, they boast an elongated, plum-like shape, ideal for paste and sauce making. These determinate tomatoes grow compactly, making them suitable for smaller garden spaces. With a primary use in creating rich and flavorful tomato sauces, Amish Paste tomatoes are known for their meaty texture and low seed content, making them a favorite for preserving.

Roma VF Paste Tomato (Days to Maturity: 75-80 days):   Roma VF Paste Tomatoes, with their plum-shaped profile, are classic choices for paste and canning. This determinate variety produces a concentrated harvest and has a bushy growth habit. These tomatoes are perfect for making thick, hearty sauces and canning due to their low moisture content, contributing to their dense flesh.

San Marzano Paste Tomato (Days to Maturity: 80-85 days):   Characterized by their elongated, pointed shape, San Marzano Paste Tomatoes originated from Italy. With an indeterminate growth habit, they continue to produce fruit throughout the season. Revered for their use in authentic Italian sauces, San Marzano tomatoes are known for their sweet flavor and minimal seed content.

Cherry Tomatoes

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Sweetie Cherry Tomato (Days to Maturity: 65-70 days): Celebrated for their burst of sweetness, Sweetie Cherry Tomatoes are small and round. Originating from indeterminate vines, these tomatoes continue to produce fruit until the first frost. Perfect for snacking, salads, or adding a burst of flavor to dishes, Sweetie tomatoes are exceptionally sweet, making them a favorite among gardeners.

Matt's Wild Cherry Tomato (Days to Maturity: 55-60 days): These tomatoes are tiny, prolific, and boast a wild, trailing growth habit. This indeterminate variety from Mexico offers a robust, wild flavor, making it ideal for fresh snacking and adding vibrant color to salads.

Black Cherry Tomato (Days to Maturity: 64-69 days): A small, round, and boasting a deep, dark color with an indeterminate growth habit, these tomatoes continue to produce throughout the season. Perfect for adding a sweet and smoky flavor to salads, these tomatoes are prized for their striking, almost black color.

Bing Cherry Tomato (Days to Maturity: 65-70 days): Bing Cherry Tomatoes are round, red, and known for their classic cherry tomato flavor. With indeterminate vines, they provide a continuous harvest. Great for snacking and adding a burst of flavor to salads, these tomatoes have a balanced sweetness and acidity.

Beefsteak Tomatoes

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Brandywine Tomato (Days to Maturity: 80-100 days): Brandywine Tomatoes are large, beefsteak-shaped, and come in various colors. With indeterminate vines, they continue to produce fruit throughout the season. Perfect for slicing and enjoying fresh in sandwiches and salads, Brandywine tomatoes are known for their complex, sweet flavor and heirloom status.

German Johnson Tomato (Days to Maturity: 75-85 days): With a beefsteak shape, German Johnson Tomatoes are large and pink. These indeterminate tomatoes continue to produce fruit and are excellent for slicing and enjoying in sandwiches or on their own. Known for their sweet and mild flavor, German Johnson tomatoes are a favorite among tomato enthusiasts.

Cherokee Purple Tomato (Days to Maturity: 75-80 days): With roots in Native American heritage, they are large, dusky purple-brown tomatoes. With indeterminate growth, they provide a continuous harvest. Ideal for slicing, these tomatoes offer a rich and savory flavor, along with a unique, smoky taste and distinctive appearance.

Other Varieties

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Indigo Apple Tomato (Days to Maturity: 75-80 days): Indigo Apple Tomatoes are medium-sized, round, and have a purplish hue. These indeterminate tomatoes offer a continuous harvest. Excellent for fresh eating and salads, these tomatoes have a sweet and tangy flavor and a purplish color, indicating high levels of antioxidants.

Pink Boar Tomato (Days to Maturity: 75-80 days): Exhibiting vibrant pink stripes, Pink Boar Tomatoes are medium-sized and round. With indeterminate vines, they continue to produce fruit. Perfect for fresh eating and adding color to salads, these tomatoes are characterized by their striped pattern and sweet flavor.

Rose de Berne Tomato (Days to Maturity: 75-80 days): They derive their name from their place of origin—Berne, the capital city of Switzerland. These medium-sized, round tomatoes exhibit a distinctive 'Rose' pinkish-red hue. With indeterminate vines, they offer a continuous harvest, making them excellent for slicing and enjoying fresh in salads. Renowned for their exceptionally sweet and juicy flesh, Rose de Berne Tomatoes are a delightful addition to any garden."

Mountain Princess Tomato (Days to Maturity: 68-75 days): Cultivated for generations in the Monongahela National Forest region of West Virginia, Mountain Princess Tomatoes are medium-sized, round, and red. They provide a concentrated harvest with determinate growth, making them ideal for fresh eating and salads. These tomatoes boast a classic, well-balanced tomato flavor.

Green Zebra Tomato (Days to Maturity: 75-80 days): Developed by plant breeder Tom Wagner in the 1980s, Green Zebra Tomatoes are small to medium-sized, round, and distinguished by their green and yellow stripes. Bred for both visual appeal and culinary excellence, these tomatoes have indeterminate growth, ensuring a continuous harvest. Known for their tangy, citrus-like flavor, Green Zebra Tomatoes add a refreshing twist to salads and culinary creations, showcasing the creativity and innovation of tomato breeders in the world of gardening and gastronomy.

Moskvich Tomato (Days to Maturity: 60-70 days): Moskvich Tomatoes are medium-sized, round, and red. With determinate growth, they offer an early harvest. Excellent for fresh eating, these tomatoes have a rich and full-bodied flavor. Like all Russian tomatoes, it can stand up to cool conditions.

Pruden's Purple Tomato (Days to Maturity: 70-80 days): Pruden's Purple Tomatoes, medium to large and round with a deep purple hue, were discovered in the garden of Ben Quisenberry. Maintained by the Pruden family for generations, this heirloom variety, with indeterminate growth, offers a continuous harvest. Renowned for its outstanding flavor, often rich and sweet, these tomatoes are ideal for slicing. They are celebrated for their smooth, meaty texture, making them a favorite among gardeners and enthusiasts.

Crimson Sprinter Tomato (Days to Maturity: 65-75 days): Developed by Professor T. Graham in Guelph, Ontario, Crimson Sprinter Tomatoes are small to medium-sized, round, and red, showcasing the earliest cultivar with the famous crimson gene for high lycopene. With semi-determinate growth, they provide a concentrated harvest and mature early, making them perfect for quick, fresh eating and salads while focusing on durability and nutritional value.

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 Growing Tips for Rare Heirloom Tomatoes

Tomatoes thrive best in well-drained clay or loam soils rich in organic matter. While they can tolerate acidic soil with a pH as low as 5.5, they prefer a slightly acidic to neutral range of 6.0-6.8. Tomatoes have a high demand for calcium, and maintaining a base saturation of calcium between 65-80 percent with calcitic lime or gypsum is beneficial. Caution should be exercised not to over-fertilize with nitrogen, as this can lead to excessive foliage growth at the expense of yields.

The days to maturity are measured from transplanting. Begin seeds 6-8 weeks before the planting date, ensuring an optimal soil temperature for germination of 75-85°F. Avoid starting too early to prevent transplants from becoming root-bound and leggy. Harden off transplants by reducing water and placing them outside for longer periods until transplanting them outdoors after the last frost.

For the transplanting process, dig a hole three times the size of the root ball, adding pulverized eggshells, compost, worm castings, and spent coffee grounds to provide immediate soil nutrition. Plant the transplant with the first set of leaves buried, watering well to eliminate air pockets and provide immediate water access.

Additional considerations include using black plastic in cooler climates to warm the soil, maintain moisture, and reduce weed pressure and soil-borne diseases. Floating row covers can offer extra warmth early in the season, but they should be removed when temperatures exceed 85 degrees. For staked varieties, place stakes every two or three plants and use twine to create a support structure, ensuring plants are sandwiched between the twine on both sides.

Enhancing the growth and flavor of your tomato plants involves thoughtful companion planting, and several plant allies can contribute to a thriving garden. In addition to basil, consider planting tomatoes alongside marigolds. Marigolds release compounds into the soil that help deter nematodes, providing a natural form of pest control. Furthermore, the vibrant colors of marigolds add visual appeal to your garden. Another beneficial companion for tomatoes is nasturtium. Nasturtiums can repel certain pests like aphids and whiteflies while acting as a sacrificial plant, attracting these insects away from your tomatoes. Additionally, the trailing nature of nasturtiums can help create ground cover, reducing soil erosion and conserving moisture. Combining tomatoes with these companion plants not only contributes to a healthier garden ecosystem but also enhances the flavors and aromas of your homegrown produce, creating a harmonious and bountiful space.

Pest Management

Effective pest management is essential for a thriving tomato crop. Hornworm larvae can be handpicked, and their populations are often naturally controlled. Aphids, which can be washed off with water, have natural predators like lady beetle larvae and lacewings. Whiteflies, detectable before bringing plants home, can be managed with insecticidal soap, and their predators include lady beetle larvae, lacewings, parasitic wasps, and songbirds. The Colorado potato beetle (CPB) is combated with Bacillus thuringiensis var. tenenbrionis or spinosad, like Entrust™. Strategies like crop rotation, barrier trenches, and trap cropping aid in CPB management. Collars protect against cutworms, while floating row covers are effective against flea beetles.

Disease Management

Effective disease management is vital to safeguard tomatoes from various threats. Early blight, caused by Alternaria solani and Alternaria alternata with cooperation from Septoria lycopersici, is best treated early with regular applications of fungicidal sprays like oxidate and/or copper hydroxide. Bacterial diseases like bacterial speck (Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato) and anthracnose (Colletotrichum coccodes) affecting fruit quality can be prevented by using disease-free seeds and avoiding contact with plants during moist conditions. Bacterial canker (Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis) has become more common in greenhouse tomato operations, and diseased plants must be promptly removed and destroyed to prevent spread, as many sprays are largely ineffective and can contribute to disease spread. 

Please read my post on The Essential Guide To Heirloom Plant Care And Propagation for a more holistic view.

Conclusion

As we conclude our delightful exploration of the diverse world of rare heirloom tomatoes, each variety telling its own unique story through history and flavor, we invite you to become a part of this flavorful journey. Whether you're cultivating these treasures in your garden or enjoying their distinctive tastes in your kitchen, share your experiences and discoveries with fellow gardening enthusiasts. Connect with us on social media, join the conversation, and let's celebrate the joy of heirloom tomatoes together. Happy growing and happy tasting!