Growing Heirloom Tomatoes
Have you ever heard of an heirloom tomato? Maybe not. I never had until I really got into tomato growing. Heirloom tomatoes are varieties of tomatoes that have been handed down from generation to generation. These tomatoes have valued characteristics that have kept them popular for many years.
There are four major types of heirloom tomatoes: Commercial Heirlooms, Family Heirlooms, Created Heirlooms and Mystery Heirlooms. Under these categories there are hundreds of different varieties. The names of heirloom tomatoes are as unique as their colors and textures. Black Krim, Prudens Purple, Brandywine, and Homely Homers are just a few of them.
Commercial Heirlooms are tomatoes that have been in circulation for more than 50 years.
Family Heirlooms come from seeds that have been passed down for many generations through a family.
Created Heirlooms occur when crossing two parents (these can be either two heirlooms or an heirloom and a hybrid) in an effort to dehybridize the seeds. Doing this will remove any unwanted characteristics and stabilize the desired ones.
Mystery Heirloom tomatoes are a product of crossing two different heirloom varieties.
Group of Heirloom Tomatos
Different varieties of heirloom tomatoes can offer different benefits or disadvantages. They are each unique in their uniqueness and their ability to resist pests and diseases. One of the best advantages of growing and eating heirloom tomatoes is that while most hybrids are picked green and artificially ripened, heirlooms remain on the vine until ripened and show up at farmers’ markets the day they are picked. This gives them that fresh off the vine sweetness that you can’t find in grocery store tomatoes. Another advantage to growing heirloom tomatoes is the variety of different flavors, colors and textures you can find. Heirlooms are found in white, yellow, red, green, and a red so dark, it is almost purple. Their flavors are exceptional, especially when compared to their hybrid cousins. Growing heirloom tomatoes can also give you a sense of heritage and history. Each variety has special heritage all its own. There are unusual varieties from all over the world. You may even be able to locate a variety that is hundreds of years old from your own area.
One of the disadvantages of growing heirloom tomatoes is that they are not disease resistant. Many of the diseases that hybrid tomatoes are grown to resist can wipe out your heirloom tomato garden. Also, garden pests love these types of tomatoes as well. This is no surprise, considering how tasty these tomatoes are. Another disadvantage is that these types of tomatoes don’t produce as much fruit. This means you should plant more than one heirloom tomato plant in your garden so you have insurance that you will be able to get enough tomatoes off the plants after they have been attacked by pests and disease.
When it comes right down to it, do the pros outweigh the cons of these tomato plants? In my opinion, they absolutely do. So give rise to the sweet, candy-like flavor! Bring me those strange and unique qualities! Send me the rainbow of colors that are available through heirlooms! And yes, even bring on the pests! Heirloom tomatoes are worth the hassle.
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