Heirloom Tomatoes

Heirloom tomatoes are tomatoes that are not hybridized, and grow from seed that has been handed down for generations. Today’s tomatoes that are purchased at the grocery store have been bred so the skins are firm and they can be shipped long distances and still look presentable. They have a perfectly consistent size and shape, but the texture and flavor of a home grown tomato are gone. If you only have tasted a supermarket tomato, you cannot imagine the flavor you get when growing heirloom tomatoes in your garden. They will not have thick skins and keep for weeks, but the flavor out of the garden is hard to beat.

Heirloom tomatoes have become popular in recent years. Garden seed companies offer over a thousand varieties of heirloom tomato seeds. They come in many colors, textures, and shapes. Another benefit of heirlooms over hybrid varieties, is that the ripening process is staggered, so new ones become ripe throughout the season.

Growing heirloom varieties is similar to other vegetable seedlings. They are not disease resistant, so extra care needs to be taken to minimize exposure to disease. They can be started indoors in a growing medium. After they reach about six inches tall, they need to be gradually taken outdoors for short periods to become acclimated to harsher outdoor weather before they can be transplanted.

Growing and saving heirloom seeds is a living legacy that can be passed down through the generations. There are many garden clubs and organizations whose members collect and share heirloom seeds.