As you may have noticed on one of your visits to Magicland Farms, we have lots and lots of tomatoes. In the last few years, we have begun growing heirloom tomatoes which have provided us with some of the tastiest tomatoes you will find. I decided to devote this article to a discussion of heirloom tomatoes.
First of all a commonly asked question at the farm is "What is an heirloom tomato?" The commonly accepted definition of an heirloom tomato is a variety that has been
passed down through several generations of a family. Heirlooms are also open-pollinated varieties which means pollination occurs through natural means (insects, wind, etc.). In contrast hybrid plants require human intervention in order to properly pollinate.
The heirloom tomatoes are unique in taste, looks and productivity. They run the gamut in colors (everything from black to green). Unique flavors are the hallmark of heirlooms. We have a interesting variety of heirlooms and I will try to explain the unique characteristics of some of the heirlooms we currently have. I have also posted photos of the tomatoes in this week's photo album -
Here are a few of the varieties we grow:
Some do not consider this an heirloom since it hasn't been around at least 50 years. It was bred in Washington State and introduced in 1983. Green Zebra, when ripe, is green and yellow, the flesh is emerald green. This tomato is one of my favorite tomatoes; it has a citrusy-almost lemon lime flavor that adds sparkle to the old fashioned tomato taste. Don't let these get too yellow; their flavor is better when they still have a good amount of green coloring to them.
My second favorite tomato! This tomato was developed in Russia and named for Paul Robeson, the opera singer/activist who was especially popular in Russia. The fruit is purple/black often with green shoulders. This tomato has a wonderful flavor-rich with a smooth texture and a hint of a tangy/smoky flavor. Just the perfect tomato for a tomato sandwich or to eat plain with a bit of salt.
Another Russian black tomato that we grew for the first time this year. It rivals Paul Robeson in flavor in my opinion.
This tomato was developed by a farmer in West Virginia back in the thirties or forties. He sold the plants for $1 each and was able to pay off his mortgage with the proceeds. These tomatoes are large, meaty and have an abundance of tomato flavor.
This is perhaps the most famous heirloom tomato. It is a large tomato with a great old fashioned tomato flavor. The biggest problem with this tomato is the low yield.
These tomatoes are the same color as orange juice, both inside and outside. Having few seeds, these tomatoes have an abundance of flavor with a nice sweet-tart balance. One of my husband's favorite tomatoes.
This is pretty tomato - large yellow fruits streaked with red. According to the testers in our house, this tomato is very sweet.It is also low acid.
Another of the Russian black tomatoes, it is pear shaped, mahogany colored with green shoulders. Like the other black tomatoes it is very flavorful.
I haven't tried one of these tomatoes yet but it is supposed to have a sweet and spicy flavor. They are big tomatoes that remain yellowish green with a pink blush. They originated in Tennessee.
This tomato originated in Siberia and is perfectly suited for cool climates. Again this is a member of the popular black tomato family which have a rich smoky flavor. A new one for us this year.
This heirloom was developed from the Jersey variety and named for the singer from the Grand Old Opry. It produces lots of 10-16 ounce fruits that are juicy and flavorful.
We also have three hybrid varieties that you should try as well:
This was one of the first yellow tomatoes developed. It has an excellent flavor, sweet and tangy.
These tomatoes are yellow-gold in color and make for a great slicing tomato. It has meaty flesh with a sweet flavor.
These look just like our red slicing tomatoes but have a pink color. I made a tomato sandwich with one last week and it was one of the best tomato sandwiches I have ever had.
Give some of these tomatoes a try. We have also started selling our Green Zebras or Nyagous tomatoes in quart trays. Since those are great tasting tomatoes, pick up a quart and enjoy!
