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Heirloom Tomatoes (Heritage Tomatoes)

The term heirloom or heritage just means an old variety Whilst breeders are always looking to improve existing cultivars and develop new ones, the rush of progress sometimes leaves a real gem behind.

Recently some of these old varieties have been re-discovered and are again becoming popular with home growers who have different priorities to the commercial tomato grower. You may wonder why people bother - surely the modern varieties are best? Certainly they are more disease resistant and stronger growing than the heirloom varieties but there is one over riding reason - flavour.

The flavour of heirloom tomato varieties is different to modern tomatoes. Some are much stronger flavoured, some more tart and some milder. They are different. Give them a try and see what you think. If you don't like one type, then try another next year. You may well discover what is, for you, the ideal tomato. A flavour without compare.

Like the modern tomatoes, the red heritage varieties contain lycopene, an antioxidant, cancer protecting compound. Incidentally, lycopene is more readily available to us and easily absorbed from cooked tomatoes rather than raw.

Growing Heirloom Tomatoes

Growing heirloom tomatoes is just like growing ordinary tomatoes except that they may not be quite so tolerant of poor cultivation.

Best Heirloom Tomatoes

It's impossible to say what are the best heirloom tomatoes, it all depends on your personal taste and what appeals to you and your family. Try them and see.

Heirloom Tomatoes from Thompson & Morgan (Seeds)

Black Russian Heirloom Tomato

Cordon (Indeterminate). These medium sized black tomatoes grow on compact plants bearing plenty of dark mahogany-brown fruits, with a delicious blend of sugar and acid, making a distinctive, complex flavour that has to be tasted to be believed.

(Lycopersicon esculentum).

More Information from T&M

Brandywine Heirloom Tomato

Cordon (Indeterminate). This variety dates back to 1885 and is regarded as one of the world's finest flavoured 'beefsteak' tomatoes ever offered.

Yields a heavy crop of firm, clear skinned, light rosy pink fruits on plants with potato like leaves.

More Information from T&M

Sub Artic Plenty Heirloom Tomato

Bush (Determinate). T&M first sold this variety in 1976. However it was first developed in the 1940's to provide the US Air Force stationed in Greenland with fresh tomatoes. It has a unique ability to set fruit under cool conditions, producing small red fruit ripening very early with plenty of flavour. Much hardier than normal, makes this particularly advantageous when spring weather after planting out can turn cold.

More Information from T&M

Green Sausage Heritage Tomato

Bush (Determinate). Elongated, green, sausage-like fruits with conspicuous yellow stripes and delicious green flesh. Bushy plants bearing 4in. long tomatoes of 1½in. diameter, with an average of 6-7 fruits per truss.

Tomato Green Sausage is best grown under glass for early crops; grows outdoors in warm summers.

More Information from T&M

Heirloom Tomatoes

These heirloom tomatoes can sometimes be found as seed or as plants from some suppliers.

Purple Russian Tomato

Purple Russian Tomato Plum shaped 7-10cm (3-4in) long purplish-black fruits weigh up to 170gms (6oz) with a great sweet and meaty taste and skins that rarely crack. A heavy cropper, with good cold tolerance.

Black Sea Man Tomato

Black Sea Man Tomato A small bush 'potato leaf' variety producing medium-sized, deep brown fruits, rich in flavour. Incredible inner colour when sliced adding interest to salads.

Speckled Roman Tomato

Speckled Roman Tomato A heavy crop of attractive 13cm (5in) long fruits with jagged orange and yellow stripes. A very fleshy variety with few seeds and that traditional tomato taste.

Nebraska Wedding Tomato

Nebraska Wedding Tomato A reliable cropper, producing clusters of beautiful 7-10cm (3-4in) round shiny orange fruits with attractive bright orange inner flesh. Only grows 90cm (36in) making it perfect for containers.

Cherokee Purple Tomato

Cherokee Purple Tomato Unique dusky rose-red coloured fruits with an intriguing inner flesh pattern. Plants produce a heavy crop of extremely sweet 340gms (12oz) fruits, with superior flavour rivalling 'Brandywine'.

Soldacki Tomato

Soldacki Tomato A Polish heirloom ‘potato leaf’ variety dating back to 1900. Pinkish-red flat, globe shaped fruits weighing up to 450gms (1lb) with an incredibly sweet flavour and meaty inner flesh.

Hungarian Heart Tomato

Hungarian Heart Tomato A huge pink oxheart, with very few seeds and almost no cracking of the skin. One of the best for eating fresh, canning or for making fresh roasted tomato sauce.

Hillbilly Potato Leaf Tomato

Hillbilly Potato Leaf Tomato A heavy cropping, gorgeous slicing tomato from Ohio, with beautiful yellow fruits streaked with red on the blossom end. Each flattened 10- 15cm (4-6in) fruit is incredibly juicy and capable of reaching 450gms (1lb) in weight.