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BI - COLORS
Ananas Noire
This variety, also called Black Pineapple, was developed by a horticulturist from Belgium by crossing a black variety and Pineapple, a bi-color. On the smooth outside, this tomato wears red, green, yellow, grey, and purple. The inside flesh is bright green with deep red streaks. Fruits weigh about 1 ½ lbs. and are abundant. Seed company says it is “sweet, smoky, with a hint of citrus”. Very unique appearance and taste in this one. Indeterminate 85 days.
Picture compliments of Hanna
Big White Pink Stripe
Nice “white” type that was actually a pale peach color with pink blushing or faint pink stripes. Color and shape can vary. Sweet, tropical taste. Indeterminate, 85-90 days.
Chocolate Stripes
This one could have just as easily went into the “blacks” category, but it is another striped job. Boat shaped, u-shaped tomato. Its shape is similar to Purple Calabash. Plants yield a plentiful crop of 3-4 inch, mahogany colored fruit with dark, bold, olive green-striping. Seed company says that these fruits have a “delicious, complex, rich, sweet, earthy tomato flavor” which makes this tomato a “black” by looks and taste. So your neighbor is onto you and how you grow your black tomatoes? How about trying a black striped tomato now?!!! Indeterminate, 79 days.
Copia
This is a cross between Green Zebra and Marvel Stripe and named in honor of COPIA, the American Center for Food, Wine, and the Arts in Napa, California. Weighing in at about a pound each, they must take their size and flavor from Marvel Stripe. Their distinct, stunning combination of “fine-lined golden yellow and red stripes” would be derived from Green Zebra. Indet. 85 days.
Elberta Peach
This is a very unusual tomato variety that we got to sample in 2009. This plant has grayish, pale green foliage that really sets it apart from any other. (it is furry like an African violet plant) The 3 oz. plum shaped fruit is bright orange-red, striped with gold. They have a tangy flavor that customers remarked that they liked, but this one is mainly grown for its very attractive foliage and fruit. DETERMINATE, 80 days.
Hillbilly
Newly offered by us in 2011. Heirloom variety from West Virginia was highly recommended by one of our aficionados for its flavor sampled in 2010! Huge bi-colored fruit easily weigh 1 to 2 lbs. Sweet and fruity flavor in a yellow-orange package with red streaking. Indeterminate, 85 days.
Marvel Stripe
Beefsteak originally from Oaxaca, Mexico. Great producer of large yellow fruits with orange and red streaks throughout. Great taste in this one and one of our favorite bi-colors. We grew it as a custom order in 2008 and samplers asked for it to be added in 2009. Indeterminate, 95 days.
Pineapple
Red and yellow tomatoes are streaked inside and out. Fruit average one pound with full flavor. We have been loving Hawaiian Pineapple for its rich fruitiness for years, so I thought we would try the more common Pineapple, to see which is better. Indeterminate, 85 days.
Speckled Roman
This is a cross of Antique Roman and Banana Legs. Orange-red, 3” wide by 5” long fruits are a paste-type marked by irregular yellow stripes. Meaty fruits have hearty, “real tomato” flavor and almost no seeds. It is not a very large producer, but many people really like this one. One bite is sure to make it one of your favorites! Indet. 85 days.
Tye-Dye SEED CHARGE + 0.50
I got to see a picture and this was a pretty orange on the outside with uniform, bright (pink and yellow) striping on the inside like a sliced Ruby Red grapefruit….a neat looking tomato. Seed company promises “flavor-full heirloom flavor of Big Rainbow, Pineapple, and Georgia Streak with bigger yields”, more consistant form , and better disease resistance in this new hybrid. Smooth, 7 ounce fruit are sweet, mild, and non-acidic. Indet. 78 days. (This plant costs 50 cents more due to a much more costly seed for whatever reason.)
Vintage Wine
One of the very few pastel-hued tomatoes. A favorite of gourmet grocers, with attractive, 10-16 oz. pale pink fruits set off by golden stripes. Of all the bi-colors, this one has the boldest striping inside and out. This tomato has a very mild flavor, that is still elegant, sweet, and very tasty. Tall, plants with potato-leaved foliage. Indeterminate. - 85 days.
Virginia Sweets
Seed supplier spoke very highly of this bi-color’s taste and production compared to other striped jobs, calling them “beautiful and enormous”. Fruit weigh at least 1 lb. each. Golden yellow beefsteaks have red stripes that turn into a red top and bottom on the golden fruit. Indeterminate, 80 days.
BLACKS
Black
Russian heirloom. Plants bear plenty of wonderfully rich, dark mahogany-brown tomatoes that average about 4 ounces. Fruit is smooth and somewhat elongated with a pointed tip; in fact, this variety is what some gardeners grew as Black Prince years ago. Black tomatoes have a delicious blend of sugar and acid and a distinctive, complex flavor that is to be savored. Some folks say this variety is one of the best-tasting black tomatoes and prefer it also for its medium, nice plum size. Indeterminate. 80-85 days.
Black Ethiopian
Gorgeous bronze to brownish red plum shaped 4 oz. fruits. Plants grow quite large and are very productive. Tremendously rich and sweet. Fantastic saucer & salad type. Odd thing is……I get many people saying they absolutely love this tomato as their favorite. Then I get just as many people writing to say they do not care for it. It may be a hit or miss kind of plant with its environment affecting its taste drastically. Indet...80 days
Picture compliments of Hanna
Black from Tula
Russian heirloom that is a favorite black of many tomato aficionados. Unique, large 8-12 oz. dark tomato in a deep purplish-brown color. Indeterminate, 70-80 days.
Black Prince
**SOLD OUT**
Heirloom tomato originally from Irkutsk, Siberia. These deep garnet 5 oz. slicers are full of juice and incredibly rich fruity flavors. The small blemish-free fruits have rich green dark interiors. Expect a large crop and early to boot. Indeterminate. 70 days.
Carbon
This is among the darkest of the “black” tomatoes. Its flavor is exceptionally rich yet sweet. Medium to large, 8 to 12 oz. tomatoes are flattened round and smooth, without the cracking or blemishing that seems to plague some black tomatoes. They are purplish-brown on the outside with a deep brick-red interior. Indeterminate. 80 days.
Cherokee Purple
Pre 1890, Indian heirloom of “many colors”. Very productive plants set out 10-12 oz. dusky pink-purplish fruits, with dark brick colored interiors and green shoulders. This is a favorite among many heirloom gardeners. Exhibits tolerance to mild drought , cracking/splitting, and common diseases. Indet. 80 days.
Chocolate Amazon
This beefsteak tomato has an even, chocolate, brown hue over a pink flesh. The shoulders resemble Cherokee Purple in that it is a bit darker at the shoulders with the dusty color and a bit of green. This is a pretty tomato with nice ribbing. Although it is new for us, the seed company says its fruit are near a pound, and have a “distinct wine-y, rich taste” that is often used to describe the black tomatoes. Indet. 80 days.
Japanese Black Trifele
Another favorite black getting a lot of attention lately as we had growing requests urging us to add it to our list in 2009. Fruit is the shape and size of a Bartlett pear. Color is a purplish-mahogany and black with green shoulders. Expect many perfect, smooth, and crack free fruits from this plant. Indet. 80-90 days
Picture compliments of Hanna
Paul Robeson
Seed for this Russian heirloom was made available by Marina Danilenko, a Moscow seedswoman. This popular tomato was named after the operatic artist who won acclaim as an advocate of equal rights for Blacks. His artistry was admired worldwide, especially in the Soviet Union. This “black” beefsteak tomato is slightly flattened, round, and grows to 4 inches. It’s deep, rich colors stand it apart from others….a dusky, dark-red, with dark-green shoulders, and red flesh in it’s center. Very flavorful fruits with luscious, earthy flavors and good acid/sweet balance. Indeterminate. 90 days.
Picture compliments of Hanna
Purple Calabash
A beautiful, drought tolerant variety producing small to medium (2½ to 3 inch), flat, deeply ruffled, chocolate-brown to deep purple-burgandy fruit. (Mine were u-shaped, boat shaped and large, but very, very tasty) If you want a nice even slicer, this is not the one for you! Many fruits can be very odd shaped. Intensely rich, almost wine-like flavor. Crack resistant. Indeterminate. 85 days.
(From the garden of Jeff Crook, Olive Branch, MS)
Sarah Black
Okay, I have compared descriptions from everyone and these are “pretty” and “attractive” by everyone’s standards! Purplish brown fruit that is smooth and blemish free. Rich and intense black tomato taste. You will hear more and more of this black type. Indeterminate, 78 days.
Picture compliments of
Hanna
Tim’s Black Ruffles
Tim Mountz’s cross of Black Krim and Zapotec Pink Pleated. Plant produces moderate to heavy 8-10 oz. fruit that are brilliant garnet purple and very fluted. This is one you may not want to try if you need to have a perfect slice. This is one of those “ugly” tomatoes that we grow for taste and oddity. Makes a great purple tomato sauce and is highly recommended by the owner of one of my seed company sources. Indeterminate 78 days.
(From the garden of Tim Mountz)
GREENS
Aunt Ruby's German Green
A great heirloom from Ruby Arnold of Greenville, TN. Beefsteak fruits, 5” by 4” deep, weigh one pound or more. These fruits may have a slightly pink end, but are otherwise very green when ripe. When they are soft to the touch….and squeeze just like a red one does…..they are ready to pick. Indeterminate. 80 days.
Green Giant
Originally from Reinhard Kraft in Germany, this is a vigorous potato leaved variety that we are trying for 2009. Did someone say, “Giant”?! Smooth 12 to 18 oz. tomatoes with no cracking are ripe when they are chartreuse/lime green. You will pick them when they soften a little. Seed company promises a “complex and delicious combination of sweet and spicy that is very rich, well-balanced, and pleasing”. Ind. 85 days.
Green Zebra
Green with light green/yellow stripes…these add a very unique color to dishes and salads. Fruits are 1 ½” to 2 ½” and tangy. Popular heirloom. Indeterminate. 75 days.
Lime Green Salad (compact)
Small, compact plants that produce a nice, very early harvest of 3 to 5 oz. lime-green tomatoes. If allowed to ripen longer, they will turn an amber color. Interior is chartreuse, full of juice, and a “luscious, tangy flavor”. We are trying this type new in 2011. SEMI-DETERMINATE, 58 days.
Tomatillo Verde
A widely known variety of tomatillo. Richly flavored deep green fruit. Seed company promises huge yields. I was never a fan of commercial canned tomatillo sauce. I should have known the “real thing” was something great! Please note, that for this variety, two or more plants are needed for proper pollination.
ORANGE
Amish Gold (paste)
Cross between Amish Paste and Sungold. Source promises “HUGE” yields of 1.5 to 2” oblong paste type, and meaty fruit with “sweet/tart tomato flavors”. We thought these would pair up nicely with our other new yellow paste (Wonder Light), and any of the reds for a colorful canning combo. Indet., 80 days.
Dad's Sunset
If you are looking for a nice orange, try this one. Seed company says it is the “perfect orange tomato” and “one of the best flavored tomatoes we have tried”. This is a large, 10 oz. tomato that seems to keep very well. Indeterminate 90-100 days.
Kellogg’s Breakfast
Seeds originally came from Darrell Kellogg of Redford, Michigan. Medium to large orange beefsteaks are both meaty and juicy. This is a well known heirloom. We got many requests so we are adding it in 2009. Indet. 80-90 days.
Nebraska Wedding (compact)
Produces 3” – 4” rich, orange fruits in clusters. Smooth skins with no cracks or blemishes. This is a well known and very adaptable variety. Plants require staking but stay a manageable size of less than 36” tall. Would probably be a good candidate as a patio plant. DETERMINATE 85-90 days.
Persimmon
Beautiful, golden-orange tomatoes have one of the best flavors of all the orange tomatoes. Average 5 inches in diameter and between 1 and 2 lbs., quite meaty with few seeds. Vigorous plants bear well. Indeterminate. 80 days.
Picture compliments of Hanna
WHITE
White Tomesol
We first tried this variety in 2007 as it was supposed to be truly white! Seed company states that it is one of the best tasting tomatoes being both sweet and rich. Our fruits were smooth, flattened, oblate beefsteaks and weighing in around 8 oz. They were of the palest yellow….well, almost white….with light pink striping on the outside. Slices were the palest yellow with a pink trim, very pretty. Very unique and very pleasant tasting but we didn’t yield many fruit….this is one for flavor, not production. Indeterminate.
YELLOW
Big Rainbow
Bright golden yellow beefsteaks sometimes weighing up to 2 lb. with slight pink center. Color pattern must vary a lot on this one. Sweet tomato taste with a tanginess. One of the best yellows and an old heirloom favorite. Ind. 95 days. (pictured tomato 1 lb. 1 oz.)
Garden Peach
Light yellow opaque fruits that have a very slight fuzz texture to them resembling mini peaches. Some have a light pink blush when fully ripe. Plants are loaded with fruits that withstand cracking. Expect them to be the size of a golf ball. It is just one of those plants that you will want to put in a location for others to see. It is a snacking tomato. Sweet, fruity, and sort of peachy! Indeterminate
Golden Queen
This is a strain obtained from the USDA seed bank. This heirloom cultivar best matches the description noted in 1882 by Livingston, the well-known seedsman. This cultivar’s superior flavor sets it aside from others commonly sold as “golden queen”. Yellow 8 to 12 oz. tomato with a pronounced pink blush on the blossom end that extends up towards the stem. Source describes this tomato as, “delicious with a full tomato taste that is also sweet and most pleasant”. Indet., 75 days.
Hawaiian Pineapple
Large, golden-orange heirloom beefsteak with fruit that grows up to 1½ lbs. When fruit is ripe it has a luscious, very rich, sweet pineapple-like flavor. Wonderful tasting striped job inside and out. Indeterminate. 93 days (pictured tomato 10 oz.)
Hugh's
**SOLD OUT**
Heirloom variety from Indiana in the 1940’s. Tall, heavy plants grow very large, 1-2 lb., beefsteak tomatoes that are pale yellow, thin-skinned, with a touch of pink on the blossom end. They are very meaty, and delicious seemingly bursting with summer sweetness. Truly one of the absolute best yellows. Indeterminate. 85 days. (pictured tomato is 1 lb. 12 oz.)
Summer Cider
Vigorous potato leaf plant yields many 1-2 lb. golden beefsteaks. Seed company compares this, “bright, sweet, and fruity taste” to Yellow Brandywine and Aunt Gertie’s Gold. Indeterminate, 85 days.
Wonder Light (paste)
a.k.a. Plum Lemon. A friend tried these in 2010 and recommended them for 2011. This is a small, 2” x 3” (6 oz.) roma shaped tomato, with the solid meat characteristics that we often look for in a processing tomato. “Mild sweet flavor” that is to be “perfect for salads, tomato sauce, or even a wonderful, yellow catsup”. This is a faithful type yielding well throughout the season. We thought they would pair up nicely with our newest orange paste (Amish Gold), and any of the reds for a colorful canning combo. Indeterminate, 78 days.
Yellow Perfection- One of Tomatogirl's favorites
This potato leaf heirloom originally from an old British seed company produces bright yellow golf ball sized, thin skinned, tangy, and delicious fruits. This one gives oodles of tomatoes. They are very unique in taste! Indeterminate. 75 days.
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