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The interest in organic and sustainable farming is encouraging people to grow their produce. Among all, heirloom tomatoes are seeing immense popularity.
What is an heirloom tomato? Well, it is a tomato seed that has been preserved for generations, hence named “heirloom.” Heirloom tomatoes can date back 100+ years.
Grown for their color, taste, and size, heirloom tomatoes provide many unique traits that are traditionally not found in the common tomato.
Being a mutation or variant of the common tomato, heirloom varieties differ in textures, sizes, skin thickness, acidity, and color.
Some of the best varieties of heirloom tomatoes to grow this summer in your own garden, known for their quality and quantity of fruit, are:
1. Black Cherry
As the name suggests, these are a cherry variety with darn reddish-black skin known for their sweet taste and juicy texture. Unlike their size, these plants need a cage structure for vertical support.
Black cherry tomatoes also have health benefits. It contains lycopene, which is an antioxidant to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and cancer. They also contain various vitamins including vitamin A, vitamin B, and vitamin C that keeps your eyes healthy and strong immunity. Other nutritional contents include vitamin B-6, fiber, and iron.
A black cherry tomato grows best between 50F-90F and can measure up to 1.5 inches. Buy the seeds here.
2. Brandywine (Sudduths Strain)
This tomato is a large Beefsteak variety, great for sandwiches and stews. Having pinkish-red skin, this tomato has a smooth texture and mellow taste with little acidity.
These are delicate varieties of tomatoes that demand special care. They need a sheltered sunroof that gets them 8 hours of sunlight. For healthy growth, plant them in fresh soil where no other crop has been grown previously.
Besides being a big one, it has a long maturity period of 80-90 days. Buy the seeds here.
3. Dixie Golden Giant
They were grown by the Amish since the 1930s. With fruits that regularly reach up to 2lbs, this variety is one for the tomato lover’s garden.
Its bright yellow skin makes it an interesting addition to any garden, and its mild flavor makes it a great eat.
Their maturity period is less than most of the heirloom tomatoes variant. Buy the seeds here.
4. Delicious
Delicious tomatoes are smooth with a firm texture and delicate skin, making them a great addition to sandwiches and salads.
As the name suggests, delicious tomatoes are juicy and flavorful. It has a maturity period of 77 days and can grow up to 4-6 feet in height. These can be identified by the yellow flowers sprouting on them.
With fruits that range from 1-2lbs, this tomato is a prolific producer with a great flavor. Interestingly, the heaviest tomato ever recorded is the delicious tomato weighing around 7lbs. Buy the seeds here.
5. Chocolate Stripes
This variety, known for its marbled and striped brown and red skin, has an earthy flavor that is firm and mild.
Watering them requires special attention to the soil. You should only water them when the top 1-3 inches are dry. This is important because excessive watering may create cracks that can spoil the fruit. You can also use nitrogen-based fertilizer to boost their growth. But keep in mind, that you need to stop it when the tomatoes begin sprouting as it may inhibit their growth.
Often growing in irregular shapes, this heirloom tomato creates fascinating shapes and sizes of fruits throughout the season. Buy the seeds here.
6. Blondkopfchen
These small oval tomatoes have an intense gold color and are grown for their sweetness.
A cherry tomato measuring only half-inch across is grown on large plants and is known to produce massive amounts of fruits all summer long. Buy the seeds here.
7. Azoychka
A Russian variety of heirloom tomatoes, Azoychkas are favored for their acidity, bringing a tart taste to dishes. They possess a juicy texture.
The fruits produced on this plant often reach half-pound, which is the size of a common red tomato. The maturity period is around 73 days. Buy the seeds here.
8. Amana Orange
This variety has a large Beefsteak fruit with a yellowish-orange skin and a smooth, firm texture.
Often growing to 1lb, this tomato is a large variety that is known for its flavor, which is rich and smooth. The maturity period is around 80-90 days and grows in the summer/spring season. Buy the seeds here.
9. Black Krim
Its purplish-red skin and sweet flavor are two defining attributes of this heirloom variety.
Its juicy texture and rich flavor make it a great addition to salads and sandwiches. Its size, often reaching 1lb, makes it an impressive tomato to grow in the garden. Buy the seeds here.
10. Brandywine
Pinkish red skin and a creamy texture mark this heirloom variety as a favorite among gardeners.
Often growing to over 1lb in size, the fruits have thicker skin and smooth and soft flesh. Buy the seeds here.
That’s a wrap! I guarantee you that any of these home-grown tomatoes will taste far better than what you can buy at the store, and with heirloom seeds, you can save them for the next season.
That’s homesteading and prepping!
