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Abraham Lincoln
This is an oldie and goodie. If you like a medium size, 6-10 oz. tomato, juicy, and reliable tomato, you can give this icon a try. Interiors are deep dark red. They are smooth, crack free, and ideal for ketchup, juice, or slicing. Indet. 85 days
Amish Paste
Dates back to the turn of the century with the Amish in Wisconsin, and is often called the best for sauces and canning. Its deep red fruits are large for canning types (about 8 oz.), with “real tomato” flavor. Not overly acidic. Indet. 74 days
Andrew Rahart's Jumbo Red-SOLD OUT FOR SEASON-
These brilliant, scarlet red beefsteaks weigh in at 12 to 16 ounces. This is the kind of delicious, juicy tomato to eat right off the vine. Sturdy vines with good disease resistance bear very abundantly. Very meaty and brimming with rich robust flavor that will delight your taste buds! Indeterminate. - 92 days.
Anna Russian
An heirloom oxheart variety from Brenda Hillenius, of Oregon, who got it from her grandfather, Kenneth Wilcox, who received seeds from a Russian immigrant. An excellent, gorgeous tomato. Early maturing for a heart-shaped tomato, the large, visually beautiful, pink-red fruit normally weighs about 1 lb. Superb rich old fashioned tomato flavors with lots of juice. Indeterminate. 70 days. (pictured tomato 15.5 oz.)
Aunt Ginny's Purple
This heirloom beefsteak variety has flavor so excellent and rich that some folks claim it is equal to or better than Brandywine. Deep pink tomatoes weigh 12 to 16 ounces and are mostly smooth with very little cracking. Potato-leaved plants are vigorous and give decent yields of these juicy and delicious tomatoes. This is one to plant for excellent flavor, not necessarily production. Indeterminate. 75-85 days.
Aussie
Heirloom variety from Australia. Seed company promises “huge”, “abundant fruit” with lots of “old-fashioned flavor”. That’s what we like to hear (and see)! New for 2009. Indeterminate 85 days.
Beefmaster
Okay, I know, it sounds too generic to some of you, but a customer requested it 2008 and we tried it here at TBC. We loved it in our own garden as it often had ready fruit that were also very tasty. (VFNASt) One of the most popular hybrid beefsteak types. Bright red tomatoes weigh up to 2 lbs. Large yields, fruit, and good tolerance to cracking/splitting. Indeterminate, 80 days.
Believe-It-Or-Not
Seed company boasts this plant will give an exceptional crop of tomatoes that will get up to 2 lbs. Smooth, bright red tomatoes that make for a good all-around garden type. Full flavored, juicy sandwich tomato. Indeterminate 85 days.
Big Dwarf, New
This is a cross of Ponderosa and Dwarf Champion by S.M. Isbell & Co. in 1919. Described as “Very flavorful type perfect for patio gardening in pots”. Expect large 1 lb. deep pink fruits on 2’ bushy plants. DETERMINATE, 90 days.
Big Zac
This hybrid prize winner was bred by Minnie Zaccaria, a New Jersey gardener who tirelessly sought the perfect cross-pollination of two heirlooms, finally creating this tomato with good fruit production of tomatoes that are consistently a pound each and have weighed in at 4 to 6 lbs for Minnie. An excellent tomato in every respect - meaty and delicious, very disease resistant. Indeterminate, 80 days.
Bloody Butcher
Very early and high yielding variety. Exceptional dark red color inside and out. Fruits are borne in clusters and average 4 ounces (golf ball size) on a sturdy potato leaf plant. Fruits have a full bodied flavor that is very unique to this variety. It is almost a “meaty” taste that we have found some customers to love and some to dislike. Indeterminate. 65-70 days.
Bradley
This is a semi-determinate variety with compact, bushy plants. Plant is disease resistant to include Fusarium Wilt. This is a good producer, with a very large crop ripening at the same time making it an excellent variety for canning and freezing. Expect dark pink fruits that are 7-10 ounces with the sought after old-fashioned flavor. This is a farmer’s market favorite in Southern regions. SEMI-DETERMINATE, 76 days.
Brandywine, Suddath's Strain
Mrs. Sudduth of TN gave seeds said to be in her family for 100 years, to tomato seedsman, Ben Quisenberry of Ohio. Prolific potato leaf plant producing 1-2 lb. large, pink fruit. This is a strain many believe to be that of the original Brandywine. Excellent flavor! Very large crops that can tend to slow down in the Summer heat. Plant this one for the flavor. A good tomato grower will pair these with more heat tolerant, prolific varieties for full season tomatoes. Indeterminate. 85 days. (pictured tomato 1 lb. 7 oz.)
Caspian Pink-SOLD OUT FOR SEASON-
This tomato has beaten Brandywine in taste tests! Heirloom Caspian Pink was originally grown in Russia in the area between the Caspian and Black Seas. Frequently compared to Brandywine in taste but with a longer season. Indeterminate. 80 days.
Country Taste
We tried this one first in 2008 and were very happy with its flavor. Seed company promises “real tomato flavor” in this hybrid tomato. High yields of deep red beefsteaks weighing up to a pound. Great for off the vine eating. Indeterminate. 70 days.
Creole
An heirloom developed in Louisiana for hot, humid climates. This variety has a very loyal following including our own local LA native friends. Expect 3 inch, round, firm fruit with lots of juice and delicious good acidic tomato flavors. Indeterminate, 78 days.
Costoluto Genovese-SOLD OUT FOR SEASON-
Old Italian heirloom type. Large, deep-red, juicy tomatoes are pretty and deeply ribbed. This is a pretty boat shaped tomato. This variety is hearty and does well in hot weather, but continues to produce even when the weather turns cool. Ind. 78 days. Picture compliments of Hanna
Delicious
Huge red fruit is smooth, nearly solid and often weighs more than 2 lbs. Excellent flavor, tiny seed cavities, and very little cracking. This is the variety that holds the world record for the largest tomato ever grown as set in 1986 with a giant 7 lb 12 oz fruit! Indeterminate. 77 days.
Dona
Open pollinated version of the wonderful French gourmet hybrid tomato “Dona”. Heavy crop of beautiful, smooth, slightly flattened, tennis-ball size, 4-6 oz. globes. Fruits are said to be “perfectly balanced flavor” and deep red in color. Good disease resistance. Indeterminate. 70-75 days. Picture compliments of Hanna
Earl’s Faux
This is an heirloom I have seen come up in tomato circles of late. I thought we would give it a try for 2009. Tall vigorous potato leaf plants yield a good crop of these smooth, deep Pink, 1 to 1 ½ lb. meaty beefsteaks. Since it is all about the taste for us…we were further swayed when we heard this one was a favorite in taste tests. Ind. 80 days.
Early Giant - Tomato Girl's FAVORITE Tomato-SOLD OUT FOR SEASON-
Hybrid. Height 6-8 foot. Early crops of large, smooth, bright scarlet fruits of finest quality. Vines display hybrid vigor, are large, have good disease tolerance and bear until frost. Excellent interior color and fine flavor. I still get people saying that this is the best tomato they have ever had….I don’t know if it is the TN soil, or what?! People that don’t even like tomatoes (Yes, I have met a few), say this tomato is great! This tomato was the one that got me started in all this! (VFN) Indeterminate. 60 days. Tomato in photo grown by Mrs. Shrader, Rosemark, TN.
Eernie's Plump
This 8-12 oz. tomato came highly recommended from our seed source, “Extreme producer” that “cooks down to the reddest, richest, flavorful sauce ever!” If it cooks that nice, I am sure it is excellent straight off the vine…..Yes! We tried this one in 2008 and we loved its wonderful taste packed in a nice, medium size tomato! Indet. 80 days.
Florida Pink
Huge beefsteak variety with fruit weighing 1-3 lbs. Light dusty rose color fruit with green shoulders. Heavy bearer with few seeds and lots of flavor making it also suitable for cooking. Sets fruit well even in high Summer temps. Indeterminate, 85 - 90 days.
Fred Limbaugh Potato Top
(aka Limbaugh’s Legacy Potato Top) Seeds were saved by gardener, Fred Limbaugh from Robinson, PA and his father and grandfather. Potato leaf vines yielding large amounts of 1-2 lb. slightly flattened and slightly fluted pink beefsteaks. Highly recommended by the seed company has having “exceptional, complex, fruity sweet flavors” and the “right amount of acidity to make for that old-fashioned tomato taste”. Indeterminate, 78 days.
German Johnson
This is a longtime favorite in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. It is one of the parent lines of Mortgage Lifter. This plant’s vigorous vines produce meaty, very flavorful, 1-2 lb. fruits. Pink great taste, great yield. Indeterminate, 80 days.
German Pink
Potato leaf plants produce large 1-2 pound fruits. These are meaty with few seeds making them excellent for canning or freezing. Seed company promises excellent yields and taste. We tried this one new in 2008 and got feedback such as, “that is the best tomato I have ever had!” Indeterminate 85 days.
German Red Strawberry
German heirloom. Red fruits are 10 oz to 16 oz. and look like very large strawberries. They are very meaty with few seeds and little juice yet big taste. Fantastic for saucing or slicing. Indeterminate. 85 days. (pictured tomato 9 oz.)
Giant Belgium
This is another for the big tomato search! Huge fruits average 1-2 lbs. and have weighed in at nearly 5 lbs. Very dark pink fruits have smooth blossom ends and medium ribbing on the shoulders. Very pleasing full flavored tomato. Indeterminate 82-90 days.
Giant Tree
How could I resist a tomato type with the word “tree” in its name? Seed company boasts of “vigorous 10 to 18 ft. vines with strong stems and heavy thick leaves”. Dark pink/red fruits with few seeds weighing in at 1 to 2 pounds. This was a new one in 2008 and we were quite pleased with size and taste. We are getting mixed reports of its production. Indet. 80-90 days.
God Love-SOLD OUT FOR SEASON-
A very productive heirloom, 1 X 2 inch, pink-plum with good tomato flavor. Customers that like this tomato, appreciate it for its early and steady fruit. The fruit is meaty with a very small core. It became a staple to our salsa despite drought conditions. Drought made it the size of a large, oblate cherry, however, under ideal conditions it will be a 2” small paste type. This is one that we know to be the “first”, AND the “last”, AND very forgiving to its caretaker. This type has a somewhat compact growth habit and may grow nicely in a container. Indeterminate. 75 days.
Goliath
Totally Tomatoes exclusive! Smooth bright red fruits averaging 10 – 15 oz. Good flavor. Tall vigorous plants produce abundantly. Modern disease resistance. (VFFNTASt) Indeterminate, 65 days.
Grandfather Ashlock
One of three Ashlock brothers who served George Washington in the Revolutionary War settled in Kentucky shortly thereafter. Carl Ashlock of Franklin, North Carolina is descended from that patriot. This variety was farmed by his grandfather in the 1920’s. Soft delicious pink beefsteak that is exceptionally delicious, 12-16 oz, sweet, and well-balanced. These do not keep well, but those of us gardening for taste, can make do, aye? Indeterminate, 85 days.
Italian Heirloom
Classic heirloom from Italy. Good production of 12-16 oz. fat, red, meaty, slightly pear-shaped tomatoes. Good choice for cooking, eating fresh, or canning. Personal favorite of the owner of one of my seed sources as he promises, “rich, complex, sweet flavors that are well-balanced with good acidity” and “BIG TASTE”. Indeterminate. 75 days.
Italian Tree Tomato
“Tree”? I just couldn’t resist AGAIN! Oh gees….seed company promises vines that “can grow to 15-feet” with many, many “meaty, 1-2 pound, 4-5 inch” red tomatoes with superior sweet flavors perfectly balanced with just the right amount of acid”. Some sort of trellis or cage recommended as this plant can bear bushels of all purpose fruit. We tried this for the first time in 2008 and were very happy with its many huge fruit that tasted among the best. However, we are getting mixed feedback as to its yield. Ind. 85 days.
Julia Child
Open-pollinated, heirloom. The tall potato-leaf plant produces lots of 4 inch, deep pink, lightly fluted, beefsteak fruits that have the kind of robust tomato flavors and firm, juicy flesh that invites tomato feasting and seed-saving. Indeterminate, 78 days.
Long Tom
Fruits are 2” wide and 5” long with very few seeds, firm, meaty flesh. This is described as a superior paste tomato or even a slicer. Very little cracking. Family heirloom originally sent to Ben Quisenberry by a friend living in Pennsylvania. We are trying this for the first time in 2009. Indeterminate 85-90 days.
Marianna's Peace
This is a pink heirloom that originated in Czechoslovakia. Seeds were brought to America during WW2. Potato leaf variety producing moderate yields of 1-2 lb. beautiful, pink beefsteaks. Dense, creamy, sweet flesh with rich, complex, old tomato flavors. Indeterminate. 85 days. Picture compliments of Hanna
Mexico
Brought to the U.S. by a Mexican family living in the Midwest. Regular leaf plant yielding huge sets of 1 lb. pinks with good acid and great flavor. Flesh is a bit unsmooth but tomatoes are uniformly round, large, and slightly flat. I have to admit, I just picked it for 2007 because I like that song by James Taylor, but now its one of my favorites for size and flavor! Indeterminate. 80 days (pictured tomato 1 lb. 10 oz.)
Money Maker
Old English heirloom. Red 4-6 oz. globes in clusters of 5-10 fruits. This variety grows well in hot humid climates and greenhouses, sets in most any weather. Indeterminate.
Mortgage Lifter
Also called Radiator Charlie as the whole story goes. I think this man “who sold these plants for $1 to pay off the mortgage on his house”, is the owner of one of the best known heirloom tomato stories. Longtime favorite with good yields of very large, smooth, pink-skinned fruits even in droughts. Meaty with few seeds. This is a very mild, sweet flavor. Indet. 85
Mr. Underwoods's Pink German Giant
This is another big one! Fantastic, immense, highly ribbed, oblong beefsteaks with 3 lbs. not uncommon. Very dense and meaty with few seeds. Indeterminate. 90 days
Mrs. Benson
Productive potato leaf plant yielding medium size rosy beefsteaks. Seed company highly recommended this new one as a personal favorite of the owner for having both tang and “succulent sweetness”. Indeterminate, 80 days.
Mrs. Houseworth
Prized heirloom from the 1930’s, originally from Mrs. Houseworth’s garden in Centerville, Pennsylvania. 3-4 inch heart-shaped, pink fruit. I have a customer who says he could plant his entire garden with this type. Indeterminate, 78 days.
Mule Team-SOLD OUT FOR SEASON-
Heirloom saved by generations of gardeners and reintroduced because of its endurance qualities: vigorous fruit set, round, baseball-sized globes that weigh approximately 8 oz, with a sweet, mild flavor. Meaty, textured fruits are produced continuously right up until frost on sturdy plants. Good all purpose tomato, with Good disease and heat resistance. Indet. 85 days.
Neves Azorean Red
(Aka. NAR) Developed by Anthony Neves who brought seeds from the Azores. Seed company describes this plant to grow like “wildfire” and produce an abundance of big 1-3 lb. beauties that have a “huge flavor punch that is fantastic”. Great disease resistance promised. This is a new try for 2009. Indeterminate, 75 days.
Omar's Lebanese
Another big one to try! Huge, somewhat irregular, pink fruit that can consistently grow 1-2 lbs. Taste is described as “superb, sweet, and perfect tomato taste”. Said to have “excellent yield”. Heirloom from Lebanon. Indeterminate, 80 days.
Pink Accordian
This is a very unique tomato. Large pink fruit is extremely ruffled like an accordion. It almost looks like a squash type. Great for markets! This tomato is semi-hollow so it would make an excellent stuffer. Flavor is described by the seed company to be sweet and mild. Low acid tomato. Indeterminate 80 days.
Pruden's Purple
Heirloom variety on potato leaf plants. Deep pink (purple-ish) fruits are early although they average 10-16 oz. Taste has been said to be comparable to Brandywine. Not a huge producer, so plant this one for its wonderful flavor not necessarily its production. Few seeds in a tomato with a nice, plump shape. Indeterminate 75 days.
Red Brandywine-SOLD OUT FOR SEASON-
Scarlet-red, version of the typically pink Brandywine. Indeterminate. 90-100 days
Richardson Tomato
This is another “monster”. If you're looking for the biggest bragging tomato, give this one a try. This heirloom came from the Richardson family in Tennessee. Juicy and meaty pink beefsteak fruit between 1 to 1 ½ lbs. Flavor is good and so is the production. Indet. 90 days
Russian 117
Huge, red heart-shaped fruit is often doubled and can weigh up to 1 lb and more. Meaty tomato with few seeds as most oxheart varieties, but with a bit better production than typically seen. I am getting more and more requests for this one’s “excellent flavor” so we are adding it for 2009. Indeterminate 90 days.
Rutgers Heirloom
All-purpose variety, great for canning. Bright red fruits averaging 7 oz. Old time favorite with full flavor. Don’t let this generic sounding name discourage you from this reliable, full flavored tomato. Disease resistant. Indeterminate, 75 days.
(San) Super Marzano
We had San Marzano in 2008 and loved the full flavor hiding in this paste type. We are giving Super Marzano, an improved variety, a try for 2009. Giant, slightly pear-shaped, blocky roma type are about 4” long and weigh approximately 4 oz. Fruits are high in pectin, giving sauces and pastes a natural thickness. Resistant to Bacterial Speck. (VFNTA) Indeterminate 90 days.
Siberian
Dwarf sprawling plants with very early sets of 2-3” egg-shaped fruits with good strong flavor. This plant is not to be confused with Siberia, because this one is superior in all qualities. Great candidate for a patio type. DETERMINATE, 57-60 days.
Sioux, Super
This is Super Sioux, the improved version of “Sioux”. You must try this one if you get the heat of the South! 4-6 oz. smooth fruits are bright scarlet red with rich acid flavor. Ind. 75 days
Solar Fire
This is a hybrid type that will take the heat, humidity, and wet climates! This tomato was developed by researchers at the University of Florida. Fruits are glossy red, crack free and average 9 to 10 oz., and best used for fresh eating. Compact plants have high yields, very good disease resistance, and also exhibit tolerance to fruit soft rot. (VFFFSt) DETERMINATE, 72 days.
Sunset’s Red Horizon
Native to Southern Russia, this heirloom tomato was introduced to the U.S. by Nik Peplenov who immigrated here in 1999. Huge, red, 4 to 6 inch fruit are heart shaped and “delicious with huge tomato flavor”. Early variety the seed company states is “proven resistant to frost, blossom end rot, and cracking”. New for us in 2009. Indet., 72 days.
Supersonic
Hybrid tomato popular in the Northeast. Tomatoes are 8 to 12 oz. with good flavor and structure. Tomatoes are smooth and resistant to cracking. Plants are vigorous, disease resistant and do best when staked or caged. Very large production. (VF)
Indeterminate. 75-79 days.
Supersteak
This is the other hybrid that sounds too generic for many of you. I grew it first in 2008 as a request for someone who has had great luck with them. I taunted it all the way, but hey we DID really like it. This is Burpee’s widely adapted Supersteak. It has good disease resistance. Smooth, round, red, large fruits. (VFN) Indeterminate, 80 days.
Todd County Amish
This is an Amish heirloom beefsteak from Minnesota. Seed company promises “excellent” productivity, “pure heaven on a plate” flavor, and “big, luscious” dark pink tomatoes. We are trying this one new in 2009. Indeterminate 75-80 days.
Ugly
Strong, vigorous plants stay a manageable size and produce a heavy crop of 12 to 16 ounce extremely ribbed beefsteak-shaped fruit with wonderful, old-fashioned tomato flavor. This variety is early and productive and it keeps well after harvest. Indeterminate. 75 days.
Ultimate Giant
This is a big one for the bragger in you! This one has been shown to produce a tomato 9 inches across when cropping all but one tomato per plant. Otherwise, expect your tomatoes to be 4-5 inches on average. No info on its flavor. Indeterminate, 88 days.
Variegated-SOLD OUT FOR SEASON-
Now I ordered this one because it is described as a “showy heirloom” with “attractive variegated foliage”. This heirloom is originally from Ireland. The seed company writes, “Fragrant plants look pretty when trellised with clusters of 2” fruits.” An early type producing fruits all season long. Indeterminate, 70-75 days.
Wanda's Potato Leaf
Pinkish-red 1 lb or more fruits. Excellent flavor and definitely worth a personal try on your taste buds. Indeterminate. 75 days. (pictured tomato 1 lb. 4 oz.)
Wolford's Wonder
Seeds from this heirloom variety came from a Big Tomato contest winner grown by Max Wolford. Produces large, firm, heart-shaped, 4 X 5 inch fruits that have thick, pink-red skins, but few seeds. Exceptionally juicy and very tasty. I have more than one customer planting an entire garden of these. Indeterminate. 90 days.
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