5 Best Heirloom Tomato Varieties

Heirloom tomatoes offer an enticing array of unique flavors, colors, shapes and textures not found in hybrid varieties. Their open-pollinated seeds produce fruit true to the parent plant when saved and replanted. Here are 7 of the best heirloom tomatoes to grow for full old-fashioned flavor.

1. Green Zebra

As the name suggests, Green Zebra tomatoes ripen to a vivid yellow-green color with darker green stripes. They are small to medium-sized fruits weighing 3-5 ounces. The flavor is bright and tangy with a good sugar-acid balance. Green Zebra adds wonderful color and zest to salads, salsas, and garnishes. It tolerates cooler conditions well.

2. Brandywine

The Brandywine tomato is one of the most popular heirlooms prized by home gardeners. Originally from Amish country, this variety bears large, deep pink beefsteak fruits averaging 1-2 pounds. Brandywine delivers a vibrant, complex, sweet tomatoey taste. The large plants require staking and produce later in the season.

3. Cherokee Purple

Cherokee Purple is another favorite heirloom with rich flavor. This variety originated with Native Americans in Tennessee. The fruits have a striking dusky purple-pink color and get quite large at 12-16 ounces. Plants are very productive. The soft texture and complex sweet taste make Cherokee Purple excellent for eating fresh or using in cooking.

4. Mortgage Lifter

Mortgage Lifter is a legendary heirloom with gigantic fruits frequently exceeding 2 pounds. It was bred by a farmer during the Great Depression to help pay off his mortgage. Mortgage Lifter delivers outstanding rich taste with a sweet meaty texture. It requires a very long season to fully mature its enormous tomatoes. Support the vigorous vines well.

5. Black Krim

Black Krim displays stunning dark reddish-black skin with dark green shoulders. These medium-large tomatoes weigh from 8-12 ounces. The interior flesh is a deep crimson color. Black Krim's flavor is out of this world - rich, complex and sweet with a hint of saltiness. Originally from the Black Sea region, it's excellent for slicing salads and sandwiches.

6. Hillbilly

The heirloom Hillbilly tomato produces high yields of slender, pointed, orange-yellow fruits averaging 8-12 ounces. The meaty interior has few seeds, making it perfect for slicing. Hillbilly delivers a very sweet, fruity taste and texture ideal for fresh eating. It's recommended for canning and making tomato juice as well.

7. Radiator Charlie’s Mortgage Lifter

Radiator Charlie's Mortgage Lifter is an offspring of the original Mortgage Lifter. Charlie Byles of West Virginia developed this strain in the 1940s. His tomatoes became so popular that he sold plants for $1 each and paid off his mortgage in 6 years! The mammoth fruits can reach up to 4 pounds. Radiator Charlie's Mortgage Lifter offers a delectably sweet, rich tomato flavor.

What Makes Heirloom Tomatoes So Special?

Heirloom tomatoes offer gardeners many advantages:

Outstanding flavor and texture - thick walls, few seeds, rich taste
Intriguing diversity of colors, shapes, sizes
Adapted to local conditions over many generations
Open-pollinated - seeds produce true to parent plant
Preserve agricultural heritage and biodiversity

However, heirlooms do have some drawbacks to consider:

Lower disease resistance than hybrids
Can be more delicate and prone to splitting
Typically lower yields
Require proper staking and pruning
More extended maturity period - full flavor takes time

Tips for Growing Heirloom Tomatoes

Follow these guidelines to successfully grow heirloom tomatoes:

Select varieties suited to your growing region. Prioritize disease resistance.
Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before outdoor planting date.
Transplant outdoors after hardening off, spacing 18-36 inches apart.
Use cages, stakes or trellises to support plants and improve air circulation.
Provide consistent moisture through drip irrigation or soaker hoses.
Fertilize lightly with organic fertilizers like fish emulsion.
Monitor for pests like hornworms and diseases. Control organically.
Wait until fruits are fully vine ripened for best flavor. Enjoy heirlooms right away for ultimate taste.
When saving seeds, select from your healthiest, best-yielding plants.

The Reward of Growing Heirlooms

Heirloom tomatoes connect us to the past while providing exceptional flavor. Select varieties suited to your climate and grow heirlooms properly to appreciate their diversity. Savor the memories and tastes that heirloom tomatoes bring from season to season.

If you are new to Tomato Gardening, here are a few resources to help you:

Want to try your hand at growing tomatoes? Here's a comprehensive guide on How to Grow Tomatoes from Seeds.
What is the perfect home for your tomato plants? Explore the Ideal Container Size for Tomato Plants.
Looking to multiply your successful tomato plants? Learn the process of How to Clone Tomato Plants.
Limited in space but want to grow your own tomatoes? Here's How to Grow Tomatoes in a Container.
Trying to maximize your garden space? Learn if you Can Plant Two Tomato Plants Together.
Are your tomato plants looking a little sad? Understand the Reasons for Wilting Tomato Plants.

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