Tomatoes that we grow

Of all of the tomatoes that we have grown through the years, the Pink Brandywine is one of our top selections. Low in acid and still rich in flavor, it is a top choice for salads or to put on burgers.

The Pink Brandywine tomato is a heirloom variety that has a long and fascinating history. It is believed to have originated in the 19th century and was originally grown by the Amish community in Pennsylvania.

The tomato gained popularity due to its large size, excellent flavor, and beautiful pink color. Over the years, the Pink Brandywine tomato has become a favorite among gardeners and tomato enthusiasts.

Its unique flavor profile, which is often described as rich and sweet, has made it a sought-after variety for use in salads, sandwiches, and other dishes. Today, the Pink Brandywine tomato is still widely grown and enjoyed by many gardeners and food lovers around the world. Its history and reputation as a delicious and versatile tomato continue to make it a popular choice for home gardeners and chefs alike.

We came across the Gardener's Delight a few years ago. While typically not fans of cherry tomatoes, these are just a bit larger and have a wonderous flavor. Sliced in half and easily canned, they make an excellent addition to chili, soups and other recipes calling for tomatoes.

"Gardeners Delight" is a widely popular and cherished cherry tomato variety that has been enjoyed by gardeners for many years. This tomato is known for its sweet flavour and prolific production of small, red fruit.

The history of the Gardeners Delight tomato dates back to the 1950s when it was first bred by a British horticulturist named Jack Metcalf. He developed this variety by crossing different tomato strains to create a plant that would produce high yields of flavourful cherry tomatoes. Over the years, Gardeners Delight has become a staple in home gardens and has gained a reputation for its reliability and delicious taste.

It is a determinate variety, meaning that it will produce a defined quantity of fruit and then stop growing. This makes it ideal for gardeners looking to harvest a consistent supply of tomatoes throughout the growing season. Gardeners Delight tomatoes are well-suited for outdoor cultivation and can also be grown in containers or hanging baskets. They are relatively easy to care for, requiring regular watering and adequate sunlight to thrive. With proper care, Gardeners Delight plants can produce an abundance of juicy, sweet tomatoes that are perfect for snacking, salads, or cooking. Overall, the Gardeners Delight tomato has stood the test of time and remains a favourite among gardeners for its exceptional flavour, ease of cultivation, and reliable performance in the garden.

The Amish Paste tomato is an heirloom variety that we recently started growing and will certainly continue to grow as seedlings and as plants for our needs. Much like a roma, it has a meaty texture, very few seeds, and a sweet flavor that is milder and less acidic than many other paste tomatoes.

The Amish Paste tomato is a unique variety of tomato that has a rich history dating back to the early 20th century. It is believed to have originated with the Amish community in Wisconsin, USA, who developed the tomato for its excellent flavour and impressive size.

The Amish Paste tomato is known for its large, meaty fruits and sweet, tangy flavour. It is a popular choice for making sauces, pastes, and canning due to its high flesh-to-seed ratio and thick walls. The tomato is also favoured for its productivity, disease resistance, and ability to thrive in a variety of growing conditions.

Over the years, the Amish Paste tomato has gained popularity among gardeners, farmers, and chefs for its versatility and exceptional taste. It has become a staple in many home gardens and is often featured in farmer's markets and specialty stores.

Overall, the Amish Paste tomato is a cherished heirloom variety that has stood the test of time and continues to be prized for its flavour, productivity, and adaptability. Its rich history and unique characteristics make it a standout choice for anyone looking to grow delicious tomatoes with a bit of heritage.

Along with the Amish Paste tomato, Roma tomatoes and their derivatives yearly prove that they are indeed one of the best sauce tomatoes that can be grown.

Martina's Roma tomato is a variety of tomato that was developed in Italy in the late 20th century. It is named after Martina, a small town in southern Italy known for its rich agricultural heritage.

The Roma tomato is a plum-shaped tomato with firm flesh and few seeds, making it ideal for cooking and canning. It is known for its sweet, rich flavour and dense texture, making it popular for making sauces, salsas, and soups.

Originally bred for its resistance to disease and ability to withstand harsh growing conditions, Martina's Roma tomato has become a staple in Italian cuisine and is now grown in many regions around the world. In recent years, there has been renewed interest in heirloom varieties of tomatoes, including Martina's Roma tomato, due to its unique flavour and culinary versatility. It has also become a favourite among home gardeners for its reliable performance and high yields.

Overall, Martina's Roma tomato has a rich history and continues to be a beloved ingredient in many dishes, both in Italy and beyond.

For canning purposes, this is one of our favorite tomatoes.

The Abe Lincoln tomato is a heirloom variety that has a captivating history. It is believed to have originated in the early 1920s in Illinois, United States and was named after the 16th president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, due to its historical significance.

The Abe Lincoln tomato is known for its large, meaty fruits with a rich, tangy flavor. It is a determinate variety, meaning it produces a concentrated crop of fruit over a short period of time. This makes it a popular choice for canning and preserving.

Throughout the years, the Abe Lincoln tomato has gained a reputation for its reliability and productivity in home gardens. Its unique flavor profile and historic namesake have contributed to its enduring popularity among gardeners and tomato enthusiasts. Overall, the Abe Lincoln tomato continues to be a beloved heirloom variety, cherished for its taste, history, and consistent performance in gardens across the country.

We added the Mortgage Lifter to our yearly tomato planting due to it's large size. Properly fed and cared for, these tomatoes can grow to be HUGE!

The Mortgage Lifter tomato has a rich history dating back to the 1930s in the United States.

It was developed by a man named M.C. Byles, also known as "Radiator Charlie," who lived in Logan, West Virginia. Byles was facing financial difficulties during the Great Depression and decided to crossbreed four of the largest tomato varieties he could find in order to create a larger, more productive tomato plant. After years of experimenting and crossbreeding, Byles successfully developed the Mortgage Lifter tomato, so named because he was able to pay off his $6,000 mortgage by selling the seeds of this new tomato variety.

The Mortgage Lifter tomato quickly gained popularity due to its large size, rich flavor, and high productivity. It became a favorite among home gardeners and commercial growers alike. The tomato is known for its pinkish-red color, meaty texture, and sweet taste, making it ideal for use in salads, sandwiches, and sauces. Even decades after its creation, the Mortgage Lifter tomato remains a beloved heirloom tomato variety, cherished for its history and exceptional flavor. It has been preserved and passed down through generations, ensuring that Radiator Charlie's legacy lives on through this iconic tomato.

Cherokee Purple tomatos are a big favorite in the gardens of East Tennessee. Their unique color and vibrant flavor is certainly appreciated.

General Information

History

The Cherokee Purple tomato is an heirloom variety with a history rooted in the Tennessee River Valley, though its exact origins are uncertain. The modern history of the cultivar traces back to 1990 when John D. Green of Sevierville, Tennessee, sent a packet of tomato seeds to Craig LeHoullier, a North Carolina tomato enthusiast and seed saver, along with a handwritten note.

Green stated that he received the seeds from a neighbor, who claimed the seeds had been passed down through her family for over a century and originally came from Cherokee Indians.

LeHoullier, impressed by the tomato's unique flavor and appearance, named the variety "Cherokee Purple" to honor the story and its distinctive dusky red, almost purple coloring.

Cherokee Purple tomatos are a big favorite in the gardens of East Tennessee. Their unique color and vibrant flavor is certainly appreciated.

General Information

History

The Cherokee Purple tomato is an heirloom variety with a history rooted in the Tennessee River Valley, though its exact origins are uncertain. The modern history of the cultivar traces back to 1990 when John D. Green of Sevierville, Tennessee, sent a packet of tomato seeds to Craig LeHoullier, a North Carolina tomato enthusiast and seed saver, along with a handwritten note.

Green stated that he received the seeds from a neighbor, who claimed the seeds had been passed down through her family for over a century and originally came from Cherokee Indians.

LeHoullier, impressed by the tomato's unique flavor and appearance, named the variety "Cherokee Purple" to honor the story and its distinctive dusky red, almost purple coloring.

The German Pink became a staple in our garden after we saw how large and tasty they are. It is certainly one to add to your yearly garden assortment.

The German Pink tomato is an heirloom variety that originated in the late 1800s when it was first introduced in Germany. It has since become a popular choice among gardeners and tomato enthusiasts for its superior taste and large size.

It is known for its large, pink fruit that typically weighs around 1 lb. The plant produces heavy yields of tomatoes that have a rich, sweet and slightly tangy flavour.  The German Pink tomato plant is indeterminate, meaning it will continue to produce fruit throughout the growing season. The tomatoes can be harvested when they are fully ripe and are best enjoyed fresh in salads, sandwiches or on their own.

Overall, the German Pink tomato is a favourite among gardeners for its delicious flavour, large size and abundant yield. It is a versatile variety that can be enjoyed in a variety of dishes and is a great addition to any garden.

The Ananas Noire tomato was one variety that fell into the realm of "Too strange to not grow".

We had limited success; however, it was a year where life interrupted most everything. They will be grown again soon.

History

The Ananas Noire tomato, meaning "black pineapple" in French, originated in Belgium in the late 1990s as a result of a natural cross between a pineapple tomato and an unknown black tomato variety. It was discovered by Belgian horticulturist Pascal Moreau in a field of pineapple tomatoes, where the chance cross-pollination produced a unique fruit with striking, multicolored characteristics. Moreau further developed and stabilized the variety, leading to its official release to the seed market in 2005.

While some sources reference a Caribbean origin tied to Guadeloupe and the legend of L’Ile Des Tomates Noires, the most consistent and documented history points to its emergence in Belgium through natural hybridization.

True Black Brandywine tomatoes fall into the category of "That's a neat tomato!"

Sometimes, "neat" plants fall through the cracks when we're growing other vatrieties. The True Black Brandywine will certainly be on our seedling list in the future.

The True Black Brandywine tomato is a variety of heirloom tomato that originated in the United States. The history of the True Black Brandywine tomato dates back to the 19th century, when it was first cultivated in the town of Brandywine, Pennsylvania. Over the years, this tomato variety has gained popularity among gardeners and tomato enthusiasts for its distinctive characteristics.

It is known for its large, juicy fruits and complex, intense flavour. True Black Brandywine tomatoes are typically deep purple or black in colour, with a rich, meaty texture and a somewhat sweet taste. This variety is considered to be one of the most sought-after heirloom tomatoes due to its exceptional taste and unique appearance. True Black Brandywine tomatoes are often grown in home gardens and small farms, where they are prized for their rich flavour and robust growth. In terms of cultivation, True Black Brandywine tomatoes require a warm, sunny climate and well-drained soil to thrive. They are typically grown as indeterminate plants, meaning they continue to produce fruits throughout the growing season. True Black Brandywine tomatoes are generally harvested when fully ripe, as they do not continue to ripen after being picked.

Overall, the True Black Brandywine tomato is a beloved heirloom variety that combines exceptional flavour with a striking appearance. As a staple in the world of heirloom tomatoes, it continues to be cherished by gardeners and food enthusiasts alike for its unique qualities.

For whatever reason, yellow tomatoes have never appealed to us but we will likely start adding these to our planting schedule.

Yellow Brandywine tomatoes are heirloom tomatoes that are known for their large size, rich flavor, and vibrant yellow color.

They originated in the United States and date back to the 19th century.

These tomatoes are typically large in size, with some fruits weighing over a pound. They have a distinctive beefsteak shape, with a slightly ribbed texture. The skin is smooth and thin, and the flesh is meaty and juicy. Yellow Brandywine tomatoes have a sweet, slightly tangy flavor that is similar to traditional red Brandywine tomatoes, but with a milder taste. Yellow Brandywine tomatoes are versatile and can be used in a variety of culinary applications. They are excellent for slicing and adding to sandwiches, salads, and salsas. They can also be roasted, grilled, or used to make sauces and soups. Overall, Yellow Brandywine tomatoes are prized for their unique combination of sweet flavor, meaty texture, and stunning yellow color.

They are a favorite among gardeners and tomato enthusiasts for their exceptional taste and visual appeal.

We've grown the Black Beauty with mixed results but will be adding it back into the mix of seedlings this year.

Brad's Atomic Grape tomatoes are a bit larger than a typical cherry tomato. When ripe they tend to go from purple through green to yellow.

They are a very tasty variety.

Named after its creator Brad Gates, Brad's Atomic Grape tomato is a stunningly beautiful and unique variety of cherry tomato.

The fruits are a mix of vibrant colors including purple, yellow, green, and red, with stripes and speckles creating a mesmerizing visual effect.

The flavor of Brad's Atomic Grape tomato is sweet with a nice balance of acidity, making it perfect for fresh eating or adding to salads. This indeterminate tomato plant produces bountiful clusters of small to medium-sized tomatoes, making it a favorite among home gardeners and farmers alike.

With its eye-catching appearance and delicious taste, Brad's Atomic Grape tomato is sure to be a standout in any garden or kitchen.