Heirloom TOMATOES 2015 MDPS
Heirloom TOMATOES 2015 MDPS RED Large Tomatoes Andrew Raharts' Jumbo Red Colour Red Size Large *D/I I Mature 80 Regular Leaf Beefsteak, Excellent Producer A great slicer that is very dense and meaty with exceptional taste and aroma. *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, nonGMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. Angelo’s Red Colour Size D/I Mature Red Large I 80-85 Heavy Producer Wonderful flavour Perfect for slicing *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, non-GMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. 1 Heirloom TOMATOES 2015 MDPS Ashleigh Colour Size D/I Mature Red Large I 85 Ribbing at stem end Huge, Meaty Abundant Fruit *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, non-GMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. Aussie Heirloom Colour Size D/I Mature Red Large I 90 Regular Leaf Outstanding Flavour *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, non-GMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. 2 Heirloom TOMATOES 2015 MDPS Boxcar Willie Colour Size D/I Mature Red Large I 85 Old Fashioned Taste *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, non-GMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. Crimson Cushion Colour Size D/I Mature Red Large I 80 Large fruit can weigh up to 2 lbs Old Fashioned Taste Excellent for tomato sandwiches or slicing for a platter *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, nonGMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. 3 Heirloom TOMATOES 2015 MDPS Sicilian Saucer Colour Size D/I Mature Red Large I 90 Very Large (Averages 2 lbs but can grow larger) Ribbed Have seeds *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, nonGMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. Nile River Egyptian Colour Size D/I Mature Red Large I 80 Ox heart Shaped Very Tasty Productive Great for sandwiches *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, non-GMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. 4 Heirloom TOMATOES 2015 MDPS RED Medium Tomatoes Beaverlodge Slicer Colour Size D/I Mature Red Medium D 55 Bred in Alberta Good Taste 2” Fruit *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, non-GMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. Brandywine (Landis Valley Strain) (1885) Colour Size D/I Mature Red Medium I 80 Regular Leaf Excellent Taste *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, non-GMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. 5 Heirloom TOMATOES 2015 MDPS Druzba Colour Size D/I Mature Red Medium I 70 Regular Leaf 8-12oz High Yields Tasty Very Disease Free *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, nonGMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. Early Annie Colour Size D/I Mature Red/Orange Medium D 65 Early Blemish Free Productive Extremely Rare! *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, non-GMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. 6 Heirloom TOMATOES 2015 MDPS Ailsa Craig Colour Size D/I Mature Red Medium I 85 Deep Tomato Flavour UK Variety Have Seeds *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, non-GMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. Stupice Colour Size D/I Mature Red Medium D 50 Red with Green Shoulders Sweet Taste Have Seeds *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, non-GMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. 7 Heirloom TOMATOES 2015 MDPS Moira Colour Size D/I Mature Red Medium D 70 Meaty Flesh Good Flavour Not many seeds Have Seeds *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, non-GMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. Silvery Fir Tree Colour Size D/I Mature Red Medium D 55 Carrot Like Foliage Tangy Good for containers Have Seeds *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, non-GMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. 8 Heirloom TOMATOES 2015 MDPS Russian Saskatchewan Colour Size D/I Mature Red Medium D 60 Compact Plant Perfect for Containers Wonderful in salads *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, non-GMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. RED SMALL Tomatoes Centennial Rocket (1967) Colour Size D/I Mature Red Small D 50 Regular Leaf Developed in Alberta Productive *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, non-GMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. 9 Heirloom TOMATOES 2015 MDPS Orange MEDIUM Tomato Caro Rich Colour Size D/I Mature Orange Medium I 80 Low Acid Contains lots of trace elements, which make it super-healthy eaten raw Have Seeds *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, non-GMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. Earl of Edgecombe Colour Size D/I Mature Yellow / Orange Medium I 73 Firm Exceptional Flavour Fruits are uniformly round, blemish free and resistant to cracking and blossom end rot. Have Seeds *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, non-GMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. 10 Heirloom TOMATOES 2015 MDPS Early Annie Colour Size D/I Mature Orange/Red Medium D 65 Productive Blemish Free Extremely Rare! *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, non-GMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. PINK LARGE Tomato Brandywine (Sudduth’s Strain) Colour Size D/I Mature Deep Pink Large I 90 Potato leaf Delicious Beefsteak Rare *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, non-GMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. 11 Heirloom TOMATOES 2015 MDPS Cleota Pink Colour Size D/I Mature Pink Large I 80 Potato Leaf Pink Beefsteak Great Taste Extremely Rare! *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, non-GMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. Caspian Pink Colour Size D/I Mature Pink Large I 80 Juicy and Sweet Nice Flavour Good in Cold Climate Great for slicing Have Seeds *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, non-GMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. 12 Heirloom TOMATOES 2015 MDPS PINK MEDIUM Tomato Anna Russian Colour Size D/I Mature Pinkish Red Medium I 65 Regular Leaf Heart Shaped Sweet and Juicy Early, High yields *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, non-GMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. PURPLE MEDIUM Tomato Purple Calabash Colour Size D/I Mature Purple Medium I 85 Highly ruffled and lobed Acidic Taste Drought Resistant Resembles varieties depicted in old 16th century herbals. Have Seeds *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, non-GMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. 13 Heirloom TOMATOES 2015 MDPS 14 Heirloom TOMATOES 2015 MDPS Purple Russian Colour Size D/I Mature Purple Medium I 70 Plum Shaped Very Productive Gorgeous Fruit, Blemish Free Outstanding Taste, Very Sweet Ukraine Variety *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, non-GMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. PURPLE LARGE Tomato Aunt Ginny’s Purple Colour Size D/I Mature Purple Large I 80 Outstanding Slightly Sweet Flavour Originally from Germany *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, non-GMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. 15 Heirloom TOMATOES 2015 MDPS YELLOW Tomato Aunt Gertie’s Gold Colour Size D/I Mature Yellow Medium I 90 Potato Leaf Golden Beefsteak Often considered one of the best *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, non-GMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. Banana Legs Colour Size D/I Mature Yellow Medium, Elongated D 70 Lacy Foliage Mild Flavour Nice for adding colour and interest to salads or making a mild yellow sauce. *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, non-GMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. 16 Heirloom TOMATOES 2015 MDPS Azoychka Colour Size D/I Mature Yellow Medium I 70 Beefsteak Rich, Flavourful and Juicy *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, nonGMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. Fargo Yellow Pear Colour Size D/I Mature Yellow Medium D 70 Pear to Oval Shape Prolific Producer Excellent in Salads In 1936 this tomato was awarded the Market Gardeners Award of Merit. The 1937 McFayden Seed catalogue stated, "This medium large, self pruning tomato is the heaviest yielding tomato so far tested at the Experimental Station in Morden, MB." *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, non-GMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. 17 Heirloom TOMATOES 2015 MDPS GREEN Tomatoes Aunt Ruby’s German Green Colour Size D/I Mature Green Large I 85 Green Beefsteak Sweet and Spicy Have Seeds *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, non-GMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. Green Velvet Colour Size D/I Mature Green Medium I 80 Vibrant coloured interiors Blush golden when ripe Sweet Extremely Flavourful *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, non-GMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. 18 Heirloom TOMATOES 2015 MDPS 19 Heirloom TOMATOES 2015 MDPS BLACK Tomato Black Prince Colour Size D/I Mature Deep Red-Brown (Black) Large I 70 Juicy Wonderful Flavour Siberian *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, non-GMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. Carbon Colour Size D/I Mature Purplish Brown (Black) Large I 75 Complex and Flavourful Taste Winner of many tomato taste tests Have Seeds *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, nonGMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. 20 Heirloom TOMATOES 2015 MDPS 21 Heirloom TOMATOES 2015 MDPS WHITE Tomato Duggin White Colour Size D/I Mature White 6-10 oz I 80 Good Flavour *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, non-GMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. BI Colour Tomato Armenian Colour Gold with Red Mottling Size D/I I Mature 90 Nice Taste *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, non-GMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. 22 Heirloom TOMATOES 2015 MDPS Cherokee Purple Colour Dark Purplish Pink with Green Shoulders Size Large D/I I Mature 75 Reliable and Very Productive Delicious Originally grown by the Cherokee, this wonderful heirloom is more than 100 years old. *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, non-GMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. Arbuznyi Colour Stripe Size D/I Mature Purple with Occasional Green 8 oz I 75 Reliable, Very Productive Delicious, Unique Flavour Extremely Rare Originally from Russia *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, nonGMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. 23 Heirloom TOMATOES 2015 MDPS 24 Heirloom TOMATOES 2015 MDPS Black Altai Colour Purple Red with Green Shoulders Size 6-8 oz D/I I Mature 75 Drought Tolerant Originally from Russia *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, non-GMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. Black Krim Colour Dark Purplish with Green Shoulders Size D/I I Mature 85 One of the Tastiest A very popular heirloom that originates from the Isle of Krim in the Black Sea off the coast of the Crimean Peninsula. Excellent for slicing, salads, and tomato sandwiches. *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, non-GMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. 25 Heirloom TOMATOES 2015 MDPS Black from Tula Colour Size D/I Mature Red Black with Green Shoulders 10-12oz I 80 Rich Taste Originating from Ukraine Add color to salads and make delicious tomato sandwiches. *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, non-GMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. Cherry/Grape Tomatoes Andrina Colour Size D/I Mature Red Cherry D 60-65 Dwarf For Containers Plant grows 6” high Pairs well with Hahm’s Gelbe in containers *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, non-GMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. 26 Heirloom TOMATOES 2015 MDPS 27 Heirloom TOMATOES 2015 MDPS Riesentraube Colour Size D/I Mature Red Large Cherry I 80 Sweet Rich Tomato Taste Large Clusters Have Seeds *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, non-GMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. Hahm’s Gelbe Colour Size D/I Mature Yellow Cherry D 60 Dwarf For Containers Pairs well with Andrina in containers Originating from Germany *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, nonGMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. 28 Heirloom TOMATOES 2015 MDPS Black Cherry Colour Size D/I Mature Purple Cherry I 70 Extremely Sweet and Delicious Very Vigorous Great for eating out of hand or summer salads Excellent paired with red and yellow cherry tomatoes *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, nonGMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. Cherise Orange Colour Striping Size D/I Mature Golden Orange with Faint Cherry I 70 Very productive Very small Great for snacking and salads *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, non-GMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. 29 Heirloom TOMATOES 2015 MDPS Cheesemen’s Colour Size D/I Mature Orange Red Cherry D 60 Small Oval Grape Productive Great for snacking or tossing into salads *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, non-GMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. Peacevine Colour Size D/I Mature Deep Red Cherry I 75 High Vitamin C and Amino Acid content Have Seeds *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, non-GMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. 30 Heirloom TOMATOES 2015 MDPS Thai Pink Egg Colour Size D/I Mature Pink Grape I 65 Ornamental Turns from white to pink Tart to bland taste Have Seeds *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, non-GMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. Droplet Colour Size D/I Mature Red Cherry D 60 Productive Good for containers *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, nonGMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. 31 Heirloom TOMATOES 2015 MDPS White Currant Colour Size D/I Mature White Small I 75 Creamy white fruit all summer Half the size of a cherry tomato *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, non-GMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. ROMA Tomatoes Amish Paste Colour Size Roma D/I I Mature 85 Regular Leaf 6-8 oz Elongated Great for eating fresh or for sauce *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, non-GMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. 32 Heirloom TOMATOES 2015 MDPS Dix Doights de naples Colour Size Roma D/I I Mature 75 Productive Disease Resistant “10 fingers of naples” *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, non-GMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. 33 Heirloom TOMATOES 2015 MDPS Green Sausage Colour Size D/I Mature Green with Yellow Stripes Roma D 85 3-4”long Cool Colouring Cool Shape Have Seeds *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, non-GMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. 34 Heirloom TOMATOES 2015 MDPS Black Plum Colour Size D/I Mature Blackish Roma I 70 Juicier then other Romas Prolific Complex Flavour Have Seeds *Indeterminate=staking Determinate=bush * All of our seed is open pollinated, non-hybrid, non-GMO, untreated, natural heirloom seed. 35 Heirloom TOMATOES 2015 MDPS Tomatillo Tomatillo Purple Colour Purple Size Mature 70 Purple is sweeter then Green NOT Self-fertilizing. MUST have 2 plants for fruit to be produced. Tomatillo Green Colour Green Size Mature 65 NOT Self-fertilizing. MUST have 2 plants for fruit to be produced. 36 Heirloom TOMATOES 2015 MDPS Interesting Tidbits There are tasty tomatoes, there are super-tasty tomatoes and there are tomatoes with almost no taste at all. With seedsowing time upon us, it’s worth knowing which are the varieties at the top of the flavour scale. Last August, I visited Worton Organic Garden in Oxfordshire to try out lots of new and exotic varieties. Every good vegetable chef will tell you it’s preferable to have a mix of tomatoes in any dish – raw or cooked. Each one has a different level of sweetness and acidity and, combined together, this gives a greater depth of flavour, as well as looking more interesting on the plate. Discerning types always look out for the more unusual varieties when choosing what to eat, steering well clear of the middle-sized, neatly round, bright red supermarket version. I remember the National Trust café at Knightshayes Court in Devon testing this on their salad counter. They added yellow 'Sungold’ to some plates, and red cherries to others. The more interesting yellows outsold the red plates three times by the end of the day. I’ve always grown a few plants of at least three or four types of tomato, which I can then harvest into the same bowl. My first always-grow variety is good old 'Sungold’, hard to beat with its intense sweetness, pretty orange-yellow skin and huge productivity from the end of June until at least November (if grown under cover). Add to that the large cherry variety 'Gardener’s Delight’, which also has good flavour and a useful long but light cropping pattern so that you don’t get too many all at once, but can go on eating from your plants for at least three months if grown inside. 'Gardener’s Delight’ famously has the other advantage of the fruit ripening on the vine at much the same time, the first fruit nearest the plant, red and sweet only a couple of days before the one at the tip, so you can harvest the whole vine and roast it all together. Also on my sowing list every year is the strange-looking but utterly delicious 'Black Krim’. It is outstanding eaten raw – with a sprinkle of salt – in a salad. In a good year, the lovely pleated fruits of 'Costoluto Fiorentino’ will compete in terms of texture and flavour, but in a wet, low-light summer, they’re not so good. TOP FIVE HERITAGE TOMATOES ’Stupice’ This was David’s tried-and-tested number one. This is from the Czech Republic and is a determinate type (which means it gets to a certain size, stops growing and bushes out, rather than continuing to climb like a vine). The advantage of the determinates is that they need no training, with no need to pinch out lateral shoots. I love the pinching part, but it can be a bit of chore and puts some beginners off growing tomatoes. 'Stupice’ does not even need a cane to support it – it prefers a bed of straw on the floor. I don’t usually grow determinate types as they tend to be very heavy croppers but for only a short time. That’s not true of 'Stupice’, which is very early to fruit (from mid June inside), prolific until September (one plant will produce about 10kg/22lb of fruit) and is the last to succumb to blight at Worton, so could also be grown outside. The fruit is small to medium-sized (about 125g/4½oz), very thin-skinned, does not crack and has a sweet but gentle flavour. It’s always in the top three in taste trials in Australia and very widely grown there. David usually does three sowings of 'Stupice’, one in January in a warm greenhouse (these fruit by the middle of June, weather permitting), the next batch in early March, with a final lot in mid April to keep him in tomatoes until the first frost. ’Orange Banana’ 37 Heirloom TOMATOES 2015 MDPS This was David’s next choice, a very tall indeterminate type (i.e. vine-growing, which needs support and training) which will grow to 7ft plus if you let it, with very little leaf compared to stem. This makes it look oddly gappy as it grows, but it’s a huge producer (again 10kg/22lb of fruit per plant), even with quite bad light levels. The fruit is medium to large (150g-200g/ 5oz70z), with excellent flavour, lovely texture and a great shape. It starts to crop early and continues to the first frost. 'Aunt Ruby’s German Green’ This is a huge variety which I want to grow for its name alone. This is easy – disease-free and bountiful, with large fruit (up to 650g/23oz) which are extremely juicy. They’re thin-skinned which makes them all the more delicious, but means they crack a bit when nights get colder. This has a distinctly melony, sweet flavour, delicious with Parma ham. It is a late-cropper which needs a little defoliating to keep the fruit free from leaves. ’Jaune Flamé’ This is a great colour and hugely popular in Australia and New Zealand. It is very sweet, with a rich aromatic flavour. It’s a prolific indeterminate variety (at least 10kg/22lb per plant), but the crop tends to come thick and fast and then stops. 'Caro Rich’ This is so-called because it has very high carotene levels and apparently lots of trace elements, which make it super-healthy eaten raw. The fruit can get huge but it is easy to grow, with a delicious salty, rich and acidic flavour and a perfect texture for slicing for salad. America's Favorite Tomatoes This lineup of America's 20 favorite tomatoes will fill your growing season with an array of colors and fabulous flavors. How We Picked Winners We tapped into the minds of all kinds of experts to help narrow the field. First, we invited members of the Seed Savers Exchange who have a special passion for tomatoes to nominate their favorite varieties. We also consulted people like Carolyn Male of Salem, N.Y., who has personally grown and tasted more than 2,000 varieties, and Robbins Hail, who tends 600 tomato varieties each season at Bear Creek Farms in Osceola, Mo. After collating variety recommendations from Maine to California, we compared our emerging list of names with those that won top ratings in tomato taste tests around the country. Then we compared them with all the field trial performance data we could find, and checked the online variety ratings hosted by Cornell University and Dave's Garden. Hybrid vs. Open-pollinated Varieties Before we reveal our top 20 picks, a few words on the hybrid versus heirloom variety debate. It's a fact that hybrids are generally more productive and disease-resistant than open-pollinated varieties (most heirloom varieties are openpollinated). But open-pollinated tomatoes generally offer the richest flavors, plus you can save their seeds to plant in future seasons. Hybrid tomato breeding focuses on the needs of commercial producers who favor tomatoes that resist diseases and ship well, often allowing flavor to take a back seat. For home gardeners who want top flavor, open-pollinated varieties often are your best choice. Of hybrids, only 'Sungold' consistently ranks with revered heirloom varieties in lists of taste-test winners. 38 Heirloom TOMATOES 2015 MDPS Since many open-pollinated varieties tend to take their time ripening, they grow best in climates where summers are long enough to allow them to fully mature. Low productivity or disease susceptibility also can be issues. But when they are properly grown in well prepared soil, the open-pollinated varieties profiled here stand strong long enough to produce good crops of such richly flavored fruits that you will want to eat every last one. Additionally, open-pollinated varieties with broad, potatolike leaves (such as 'Brandywine') often put up a good fight when challenged by diseases. Kicking Off The Season Everyone wants homegrown tomatoes as soon as they can get them, so a great patch starts with varieties that mature early?--?in 65 days or less after transplanting. Since these early varieties will be eaten fresh, we suggest growing two?--?one orange and one red. 'Sungold' (57 days) is a shoo-in for the orange slot because of its outstanding sweet, fruity flavor and its ability to bear heavy crops over a long growing season. Mother Earth News Editor in Chief Cheryl Long reports that she has shared 'Sungold' with several people who claimed not to even like fresh tomatoes, and they each exclaimed, "This variety is delicious!" Among early reds, the favorites for both flavor and productivity are Swedish-bred 'Glacier' (58 days) and 'Stupice' (62 days), from Czechoslovakia. Both are open-pollinated varieties. 'Glacier' is often described as determinate or semi-indeterminate, which means it loads up with fruit all at once, then declines. In comparison, indeterminate 'Stupice' continues to bloom and produce tomatoes long after the first fruits have ripened. A couple of early tomatoes are enough for most gardeners, but in short summer climates you should round out your planting list with some early hybrids. In a 2004 field trial at Colorado State University, a cool spring followed by a hailstorm in early August led to so many problems with heirlooms that early hybrids such as 'New Girl' (62 days), a smaller-fruited, more flavorful rendition of 'Early Girl,' made the difference between having tomatoes and having none. Data collected by master gardeners in Green Bay, Wis., tell a similar story: Except for 'Stupice,' all of the successful tomatoes in their trial garden were fast-maturing hybrids like 'Crimson Fancy' (75 days), and 'Beefy Boy' (70 days), a naturally stocky producer of sandwich-worthy red beefsteaks. Four Perfect Pastes The color parade continues as we venture into tomato varieties used to make sauces, or for drying into tidbits to jazz up pizzas or pasta all year long. Paste varieties have thick flesh with few seeds and little gel, so they cook into sauce quickly. You also can chop them into a chunky salsa. 'Orange Banana' (85 days) ranks highest for flavor among orange and gold paste tomatoes at Fedco Seeds in Maine, where dozens of paste tomato varieties are evaluated after they're stewed with a little garlic and olive oil. If you want really red tomato sauce, or need resistance to verticillium or fusarium wilts (two common soil-borne fungal diseases), try sturdy, dependable 'Roma' (75 days), which Cricket Rakita of Southern Exposure Seed Exchange says is the most reliable paste tomato he's ever grown. Personally, I like the way 'Roma' bears its crop over a three to four week period, making it easier to can big batches of sauce and salsa that smell and taste like summer. If you're on a flavor quest, look at Polish heirlooms with pepper-shaped fruits such as 'Opalka' (85 days). This variety was discovered by Male and is quickly becoming a favorite among gardeners who have canning and drying on their minds. Rounding out our fab four is 'Amish Paste' (79 to 85 days), an heirloom from Wisconsin described by Nashville, Tenn., gardener Tracy Carter as "a great paste tomato that's heat tolerant and good for fresh cooking." Although it is sometimes labeled as an indeterminate, 'Amish Paste' produces a huge concentrated set of orange-red fruits, followed by a few more fruit clusters in good seasons. 39 Heirloom TOMATOES 2015 MDPS Sandwich Superstars When it comes to the main crop of summer tomatoes, people like Brookeville, Md., gardener Susan Belsinger are devoted to 'Brandywine' (78 days). "It produces all summer, though not in huge quantities. I like the size, flavor and texture of this Amish heirloom," Belsinger says. Others praise 'Brandywine's' rich balance of acidic and sweet notes, which pleases so many palates that it's always the one to beat in taste tests. But 'Brandywine' can be challenging to grow; common problems include diseases, uneven ripening, fruit cracking and aborted blossoms due to humid heat. More dependable varieties that deliver huge, juicy fruits include 'Big Rainbow' (90 days), an orange tomato with red streaks and blotches inside that give each slice a stained glass look. In Berea, Ky., Bill Best reports that 'Big Rainbow' shows good disease resistance, and master gardener David Woods, of Peters Seed and Research in Riddle, Ore., says that the 16- to 20ounce fruits are worth the wait. Both Male and Hail nominated another gold/red bicolor variety for our list. Hail says that 'Lucky Cross' (90 days) "literally melts in your mouth," and Male thinks it's the best bicolor tomato she has ever grown. With 'Brandywine' as one of its parents, 'Lucky Cross' is mostly orange with a glowing red heart. So-called black tomatoes are really purplish, and their complex, smoky flavor often is associated with these dark fruit pigments. Although it's a modest producer under the best conditions, 'Cherokee Purple' (80 days) is quickly forgiven by thousands of gardeners who are addicted to its fruity, yet rich, tomato flavor. Released through the Seed Savers Exchange in 1991, 'Cherokee Purple' often appears in the top three taste test varieties, neck and neck with 'Sungold' and 'Brandywine.' A deep purple color, inside or out, is a common hallmark of Russian heirloom varieties like 'Black Krim' (69 to 90 days). Wade Collins, farm field leader at the Seeds of Change Research Farm in San Juan Pueblo, N.M., names 'Black Krim' as his favorite "for pure gastronomic pleasure," noting hints of wine and saltiness in its flavor. In Oregon, Woods thinks 'Black Krim' carries a taste of honey. Compared to 'Cherokee Purple,' 'Black Krim' is more productive and less prone to cracking. However, both of these gourmet picks should be harvested just as they become ripe, and then eaten within a few days before they turn soft. Great Greens and Zebras Green tomatoes lack the rich supply of lutein and other antioxidants found in red and orange tomatoes, but they earn a place on our list with their kiwi colors and tart, citrus flavors. "Forced to pick one tomato, it would be 'Aunt Ruby's German Green,'" (80 days) says Clarksville, Tenn., gardener Jim Fitch. Describing the flavor as "authentic tomato," Fitch says this green variety with faint yellow streaks is "moist without being watery, and meaty without being mealy or pulpy." Woods names it as his favorite for "rich, zingy, tangy flavor," but because of its tendency to melt down in steamy weather, we recommend growing 'German Green' as a culinary treat, rather than as a main crop variety. You can sample the spicy, piquant bite of green tomatoes with fewer production risks by planting 'Green Zebra' (75 to 80 days). Like most varieties that produce small, 3-ounce fruits, 'Green Zebra' prospers under a wide range of growing conditions. If you want the emerald green color and spicy flavor of green tomatoes, 'Green Zebra' is the "better-safe-thansorry" choice. Oranges, Strawberries and Lemons Once you're covered for early tomatoes, cooking varieties and tasty lovelies for fresh eating, perhaps you still have room for another delicious tomato. In Newtonville, Ontario, Mary Brittain, owner of The Cottage Gardener, suggests 'Kellogg's Breakfast' (80 days), a melon-orange beefsteak tomato named by Darrell Kellogg of Michigan. "The 1-pound fruits are both meaty and juicy, with a taste that packs a wallop," she says. 40 Heirloom TOMATOES 2015 MDPS A comparable heirloom from Virginia, 'Aunt Gertie's Gold' (75 days), is one of Male's favorites because of its unique flavor, unmatched by "any other variety, of any color or shape," she says. Others feel the creamy texture of 'Aunt Gertie's Gold,' combined with her bold fruity notes of melon or mango, make her a true garden treasure. Male also loves 'German Red Strawberry' (80 days), a bright red tomato shaped like a giant strawberry. It's also a better producer than most heart-shaped varieties. Jere Gettle, owner of Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds in Mansfield, Mo., notes its unforgettable flavor. "In red tomatoes, 'German Red Strawberry' is one of the best I have tasted," Gettle says, calling its flavor "sweet and rich." Just to be on the safe side, consider allotting a planting hole or two to proven, disease-resistant hybrids that grow well in your area. Orange/yellow hybrids that deliver both disease resistance and great flavor are listed in "15 Tasty Hybrid Varieties," below. 15 Tasty Hybrid Varieties Tomatoes are more frequently weakened by diseases than by insects, but several diseases are easily prevented by growing resistant varieties. The disease-resistant hybrids named below are famous for good flavor and represent a range of forms and colors. The letters indicate disease resistance: V?-- Verticillium wilt is caused by a soil-borne fungus that causes plants to wilt and die while they are still green, usually when they begin loading up with fruit. F?-- Fusarium wilt fungi enter through roots and cause plants to turn yellow as they slowly wilt to death, often while holding green fruit. Two Fs indicate resistance to two different strains of fusarium. N -- Nematodes are a concern mostly in warm, sandy soils. These microscopic pests cannot attack the roots of resistant varieties. T?-- Tobacco mosaic virus is seldom a serious disease in gardens, though sometimes it occurs in serious regional outbreaks. * • 'Early Cascade': 55 days; small to medium size red fruits (VF) • 'Sungold': 57 days; golden cherry (VFNT) • 'New Girl': 62 days; red slicer (VFF) • 'Milano': 60 days; red paste (VF) • 'Jelly Bean': 60 days; red grape (VFFNT) • 'Sweet Tangerine': 68 days; orange slicer (VFN) • 'Golden Girl': 69 days; yellow-orange slicer (VFFNT) • 'Sun Leaper': 69 days; heat-resistant red slicer (VFF) • 'Beefy Boy': 69 days; red slicer (VFT) • 'Crimson Fancy': 69 days; red slicer (VF) • 'Carmello': 70 days; red slicer (VFNT) • 'Lemon Boy': 72 days; yellow slicer (VFN) • 'Viva Italia': 72 days; red paste (VFN) • 'Roma': 75 days; red paste (VF) • 'Supersonic': 79 days; red slicer (VF) 41 Heirloom TOMATOES 2015 MDPS Recipes Roasted Purple Tomatillo Salsa 2 lb purple tomatillos, husks removed and rinsed 1 rather large onion, peeled and quartered 1/2 lb of mixed peppers/chilies 1 or 2 cloves of garlic, finely minced Juice and zest of one large lime 1/4 to 1/2 cup of cilantro, chopped (depending on taste) 1 tablespoon of fresh oregano, chopped 1 teaspoon of sugar 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of cumin (optional and depending on taste) 1 teaspoon of kosher salt (or more to taste) Green Enchiladas 2 lbs tomatillos – chopped 1 large onion – chopped 2 cloves garlic – minced 1 large bag spinach – chopped 1.5 C cooked black beans 1/2 jar New Mexico Green Chili (optional) 1 bunch cilantro 1 package corn tortillas (blue or yellow), torn into quarters 1/2 tsp cumin 1/2 tsp coriander 2 tsp salt, or to taste Instructions 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 2. Saute onion and garlic in canola oil until slightly brown. 3. Add tomatillos, salt, cumin, coriander and green chili (for medium heat, use 1/2 jar, for hot use whole jar, or leave out if you’re not a fan of real spiciness). Cook covered for 5-7 minutes. 4. Add spinach and beans. Cook uncovered until most of the spinach is wilted. 5. Add cilantro just before assembling the enchiladas in the pan. 6. In some kind of oven pan (rectangular brownie pan, or whatever you have), put down one layer of tortillas, followed by a layer of tomatillo mixture. Keep alternating layers until pan is almost full, ending with the sauce on top. 7. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Variations: Experiment with throwing just about anything into the green sauce, like yellow squash, mushrooms, or potatoes. If you’re feeling ambitious, or want to impress people, roll the enchiladas instead of layering. 42
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