Handing Down Tomatoes

An Heirloom is something that has been passed down for generations through family members. This is where the name of Heirloom Tomatoes is derived from.

Heirloom seeds are seeds that have been retrieved from plantings going back generations.  They are often considered the best cultivars of our past.  They may have been selected for the flavor or texture of their fruit or for their ability to grow in certain conditions.  It is generally considered that heirloom seeds are the result of open-pollination, a result of nature's endeavors.  When the fruit of the plant is prepared, some of the seeds are retrieved as a means of preserving those particular attributes. We are merely the caretakers as we hand these trophies down from generation to generation.

At this point, there are three distinct thoughts as to what may pass for heirloom.  The most forgiving would be the fifty year mark -- if records can prove a lineage of fifty or more years, your cultivar may pass for heirloom.  The median would set the end of WWII (1945) as your target.  The most stringent would suggest that an heirloom must be at least 100 years or more.  

The proliferation of hybrids (the counter-heirloom), began in the 1970s.  It was at this time that the commercial seed trade began more intense pollination procedures, in an effort to find more appealing varieties. For the more discerning palate, there may well be over 600 varieties of heirloom tomatoes, flaunting colors, flavors and textures distinct enough to please even the most finicky eaters.