After giving you a
closer look at hybrid
and open-pollinatedtomatoes, I think it’s about time to mention the most popular tomato
subgroup – the magnificent heirlooms.
Heirloom tomato varieties have become super popular in the past decade. I
always referred to heirlooms as to the “big bosses” of the neighborhood, for
which I would like to present you what I think are 3 top heirloom tomato varieties
to grow.
Heirloom Tomatoes are a Pure Gift of Nature
1. Green Berkeley Tie Dye
There are four classes of heirloom
tomatoes: family, commercial, created, and mystery heirlooms. Heirlooms have
been around us for decades (most say 50 years) and they come in a wide variety
of colors, shapes, flavors and sizes.
The first one that I’d like you to
meet is called Green Berkeley Tie Dye. It’s an organic, indeterminate
tomato famous for its outstandingly sweet flavor with delicate citrus notes. If
you like a combination of sweet & sour, you won’t make a mistake with
growing this one.
2. Indigo Apple
Number two on my heirloom tomato
list (although they all are equally tasty) is an early, organic variety known
as Indigo Apple. Indescribably rich flavor of this
tomato variety is not its only quality.
If you judge it by the looks, you
might say that Indigo Apple is the most beautiful steak among tomatoes and the
most beautiful tomato among steaks. This apple look-alike tomato has a color
that goes from deep red to almost black and it looks as if it’s just escaped
from someone’s garden barbecue.
3. Ukrainian Purple
The last member of this heirloom
tomato brotherhood is Ukrainian Purple. It shows its full potential in
sauces and when eaten fresh.
Ukrainian Purple is beautiful on the
outside as well as on the inside. It gives purple, elongated and meaty fruit
which will make your mouth water in a split of a second.
Don’t know which tomato variety to
grow? Choose an organic heirloom and you won’t regret.
Indigo Apple is not an heirloom as it has been around less than 10 years. Green Berkeley Tie die was bred by Brad Gates and made available in 2008. In fact the only one that may be "heirloom" is Ukrainian Purple which was brought over from Ukraine in the early 80's. There are modern varieties that have been bred for flavor that are good, but don't confuse then with true heirloom tomatoes.
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