Tomatoes 101 Series | Part 3 | Heirloom Tomato Varieties, What's All the Hype About?
Every year, our wonderful gardening customers from the Perth and Kingston area come to us for tomato gardening tips. Today, we’re delving into heirloom and heritage tomato varieties and answering the question we hear so often: what’s all the hype about?
If you’ve been keeping up with our Tomatoes 101 Series, you now know the difference between vine and bush tomato plants, have discovered which variety is best for your needs, and have learned how to keep your tomatoes healthy and thriving. If you’ve noticed an increased interest in heirloom and heritage plant varieties, you aren’t alone. Here at Gemmell’s Garden Centre, we are also pretty big fans. Today, we’re chatting about why we love heirloom tomatoes and sharing a few of our favourite plants.
Heirloom & Heritage Varieties
There has been a real trend in recent years toward growing heirloom varieties. So what’s all the hype about? Heirloom tomatoes are older varieties that have been passed down through generations. They have not been hybridized to produce higher yields or increased disease resistance, meaning they remain true to their original genetics. It has long been agreed upon by many vegetable gardeners that heirloom tomatoes offer superior flavour.
They are also known for their less-than-perfect appearance, which is why they are not commonly chosen for the mass retail market. Heirloom tomatoes often grow in quirky shapes and unique colours such as pink, striped yellow and red, deep purple, or even green.
All heirloom tomatoes are indeterminate, meaning they grow tall and require plenty of staking and support. If you garden primarily in containers or on a patio, you may think you are out of luck when it comes to growing heirloom tomato varieties. We recommend chatting with us or your local garden centre about your options. With a trellis, balcony railing, or nearby fence, there are often creative ways to successfully grow a heritage tomato plant.
Some of our favourite heirloom tomato varieties include Brandywine, Pineapple, Black Krim, and of course the one we are best known for, Bonnie Best. These beauties are pictured above. Swoon!
So, what should you choose to grow? Why not try them all? Every gardener has a favourite, but the best way to discover yours is simply to start planting.
Good luck, and have fun!
P.S. If you have any other questions, please ask Kelly, one of our expert team members.