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Tomatillos Walnut-sized,
pale green globes covered with a pretty, papery, lantern-shape husk are one
of the primary colors on the Mexican palette of flavors. They are called tomate
verde (green tomato) in most of Mexico, confusing
North Americans, since they are NOT green tomatoes. They have a tangier, more
citrusy flavor and richer texture than green tomatoes. Harvest tomatillos when they have grown to
fill their husks. They will keep in the vegetable bin of the refrigerator for
several weeks after harvesting. If you
have a bumper crop and want to preserve them, peel the husks and wash them in
warm water with a tiny amount of non-perfumed dish soap to remove the sticky
covering. Freeze in bags or seal in
food saver. |
Green Husk Tomatillo Source: Seeds of Change Average Height: 3-4 feet tall and
across This
green tomatillo is great in salsas or salads. This variety has diverse gene traits
that produce two distinct variations of plants - one is erect and branching,
the other more compact. Both are equally prolific. Does best when
transplanted deeply, burying the stem up to the first leaves. Plant in rows
24-36 inches apart. Does not need trellising. Harvesting tips. Pick for salsa
when the husks turn brown and begin to open. With additional time, they will
become more seedy, but also get sweeter, for eating
raw. |
Purple de Milpa
Tomatillo Seed Source: Seed Savers
Exchange Average Height: 3-4 feet tall and
across Vigorous,
spreading plant yields 2-3 ounce, 2 inch purple fruits which are delicious
raw. The main ingredient in salsa verde,
these tomatillos are a prized traditional strain. |
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Beefsteak Tomatoes Very
large, meaty varieties. Usually fewer
fruits per plant, but worth the effort for tomato aficionados. These require strong stakes and frequent pruning...but
leave enough foliage to cover fruits as they ripen to prevent sun scorch. |
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Aunt Ruby’s German Green Tomato Source: Seed Savers
Exchange Average Height: Indeterminate Heirloom from Ruby Arnold of Greenville Tennessee. Beefsteak fruits, 5” by 4” deep, weigh one pound or more. Sweet juicy flesh, refreshing spicy flavor. Ripe when slightly softened. |
Brandywine Tomato Source: Seeds of Change Average Height: Indeterminate This
oversized beauty is considered by many to be the finest of all tomatoes.
Thin-skinned variety produces better in cooler weather. Potato-leafed vine. 90 days from transplant. The classic heirloom tomato. |
Cherokee Purple Tomato Source: Seed Savers
Exchange Average Height: Indeterminate Unique
dusty rose color. Flavor rivals
Brandywine, extremely sweet, tastes a bit smoky. Productive plants produce large crops of 12
oz fruits. 80 days from transplant. |
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German Pink Tomato Source: Seed Savers
Exchange Average Height: Indeterminate Potato leafed plants produce large 1-2 pound meaty fruits with few seeds, very little cracking or blossom scars. Full sweet flavor. Excellent for canning. 85 days from transplant. |
Hillbilly Potato Leaf Tomato Source: Seed Savers
Exchange Average Height: Indeterminate Absolutely
gorgeous slicing tomato from Ohio.
Sweet juicy 4-6” flattened fruits about 1 pound each. Beautiful yellow fruits are streaked with
red. Heavy producer. 85 days from transplant. |
Hungarian Heart Tomato Source: Seed
Savers Exchange Average Height: Indeterminate Huge
pink oxheart fruits weigh upwards of one pound.
Very few seeds and almost no cracking. Good for fresh eating, canning, and
for making roasted tomato sauce. 80-85
days from transplant. |
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Cherry Tomatoes These
range in size from the tiny currant to a 1.5 inch pear shaped variety. Generally heavy producers and very
early. We eat them right out of the
garden for a refreshing snack. Most
will produce well in containers. The
plants tend to get very large, but can be cut off at the top leader to retain
the desired height. Most make great
tomato juice and can be dried easily for winter enjoyment. |
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Beam's Yellow Pear Tomato Source: Seed Savers
Exchange Average Height: Indeterminate Popular cherry variety for low acidity. Kids love them. Endless stream of 1 1/2" pear tomatoes with great taste. 70-80 days from transplant |
Black Cherry
Tomato Source: Burpee Average
Height: Indeterminate An heirloom too rarely encountered, this
delectable variety fully merits a place in the garden and on the dinner table.
Yields plentiful clusters of perfectly round 1" true cherry tomatoes
that are deep red with a blackish hue.
Complex flavor:, rich, juicy and sweet.
Indeterminate. Harvest about 65 days from transplant |
Blondkopfchen Cherry Tomato Source: Seed Savers
Exchange Average Height: Indeterminate Also
called “Little Blonde Girl”. Small golden-yellow 1” fruits with excellent sweet
taste. Fruits are borne in giant
clusters, enormous yields. Bears until
frost. Seed obtained from Gatersleben Seed Bank in
eastern Germany. 75-80 days from
transplant. |
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Chadwick Cherry Tomato Source: Seeds
of Change Average Height: Indeterminate Mouth-watering
cherry selected by the late horticultural genius, Alan Chadwick. Large for a cherry, with sparkling,
full-bodied tomato flavor. Disease
resistant and highly productive. 80-90 days from transplant. |
Currant Tomato Sweet Pea Source: Seed
Savers Exchange Average Height: Indeterminate The best currant tomato – hundreds of
fruits per plant. Do not drop off the
vine. Excellent clean tomato
flavor. 75 – 80 days from transplant. |
Peacevine Cherry Tomato Source: Maggie’s Garden Average
Height: Indeterminate Developed in 1980 at Seeds of Change. It had the highest vitamin C content among
30 cherry varieties grown at Rodale Institute and analyzed by Rutgers University. Generous tresses of small, delicious red
tomatoes with an occasional yellow.
Complex flavor begins tart and finishes sweet. Uniquely high in gamma-amino butyric acid,
a body sedative that calms jitters.
70-80 days from transplant. |
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Source: Maggie’s
Garden Average Height: Indeterminate Italian
heirloom bred for sun drying, this low moisture variety maintains more flavor
when dried than do other varieties. 2" fruits are round with small
points on the end. Prized in Italian cooking when reconstituted in olive oil,
they can also be crushed into small flakes to thicken a sauce or used dry to
top a winter salad or pizza. |
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Container Tomatoes Sometimes
known as patio tomatoes, these varieties grow to a certain height and stop, unlike
most tomatoes, which grow indeterminately until frost. They are great for planting in pots or
planters |
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Burbank
Tomato Source: Seeds of Change Average Height: 18-36 inches A 1915 introduction from plant genius Luther Burbank. Fruity and slightly tart slicing tomato has the highest total of free amino acids of all tested varieties at Seeds of Change. Stocky 18- 36 inch bushes yield well and need no trellising. 70 – 80 days from transplant. |
Earliana Source: Seed
Savers Exchange Average Height: 3 feet Standard
early variety developed by George Sparks and introduced in 1900. Smaller 30-36” plants, clusters of fruit,
average 4-5 oz. each. Very good
flavor. 85 days from transplant. |
Riesentraube Grape Tomato Source: Seed Savers
Exchange Average Height: 3
feet German
heirloom variety grown by Pennsylvania Dutch as early as 1856. Name translates as “giant bunches of
grapes”. Produces fruits in clusters
of 20-40. Round 1” fruit has a
distinct nipple on the blossom end.
Excellent flavor. Compact
plants are ideal for containers. 80
days from transplant. |
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Paste Tomatoes Many
people are familiar with the Roma variety, but there are many more of these
perfect cooking tomatoes. Most are
heavy producers and make great sauces. |
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Amish Paste Tomato Source: Seed Savers
Exchange Average Height: Indeterminate Amish heirloom discovered in Wisconsin. Produces 8 oz red fruits that are oxheart to almost teardrop-shaped. Meaty fruits are juicy and have really outstanding flavor. 85 days from transplant. I like these for fresh eating, sauce and canning! |
Black Plum Tomato Source: Sonja’s Garden Average Height: Indeterminate Rare
2-4 oz. A unique Russian variety with notable flavor and deep-mahogany to
brown skin. Prolific and very disease
resistant. 75-80 days from transplant. Chef’s favorite – beautiful sauces, excellent dried or
canned. |
Plum Lemon Tomato Source: Seed Savers
Exchange Average Height: Indeterminate Collected
by Seed Savers from an elderly seedsman at Moscow’s Bird Market in 1991. Fruit is 3 inches long with pointed end, really
resembles a lemon. Meaty, sweet and
refreshing flavor. 72 days from
transplant. Good choice for low acid sauces |
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San Marzano
Tomato Source: Maggie’s
Garden Average Height: Indeterminate Classic
Italian paste variety, with rich tomato flavor. Thought by some to make the world’s finest
sauce. Large plants yield
heavily. 90 days from transplant. I’d have to agree that they produced the best sauce
I’ve ever made! Heavy plants that
seemed to be disease resistant. |
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Salad Tomatoes This
is my definition for those varieties that are ideal for cutting in wedges for
salads. Larger than a cherry, but
smaller than others. Usually fairly early
and the plants are more compact. Good
choice for beginners and a backup for the bigger varieties. The smaller fruits have a better chance of
getting ripe in our unpredictable Wisconsin summers...and there isn’t such a
long wait. |
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Green Zebra Tomato Source: Seed
Savers Exchange Average Height: Indeterminate Green 3 -5 inch fruits with various shades of yellow to yellowish green strips, sweet zingy flavor. 77 days from transplant. One of my favorite fresh eating tomatoes. |
Jaune Flamme Tomato Source: Seed
Savers Exchange Average Height: Indeterminate Beautiful
apricot-shaped heirloom from France.
Great for drying, retains deep orange color. Excellent bitey flavor. Very productive, fruits borne in clusters
and weigh 2-3 ounces. 70-80 days from
transplant. My other favorite fresh eating tomato! |
Stupice Tomato Source: Seeds of Change Average Height: Indeterminate Bred in Czechoslovakia, this is an extremely
early, prolific variety with exceptional taste. Dense, potato-like
foliage on dwarf, indeterminate vines. (60-70 days) |
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Wapsipinicon Peach Tomato Source: Seed
Savers Exchange Average Height: Indeterminate Named
after the Wapsipinicon River in Iowa, this very unique variety is creamy
yellow with a fuzzy skin reminiscent of its name. (The peach, not the river.)
Full flavor salad size. |
Yellow
Perfection Tomato Source: Seeds
of Change Average Height: Indeterminate From an old British seed company,
this memorable salad tomato is juicy, thin skinned, and perfectly round. Ripens well in cool or hot weather. |
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Slicing Tomatoes Medium
sized varieties that can be easily sliced whole. Often considered the most versatile type
when only growing a couple of plants in a small garden |
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Arkansas Traveler Tomato Source: Seeds
of Change Average Height: Indeterminate Incredibly delicious, this classic pink heirloom has traveled widely because of its solid dependability and distinct flavor. 5-7 oz. fruits. Tolerates high heat and humidity and is resistant to cracking and disease. 80-90 days from transplant. |
Black from Tula Tomato Source: Seed
Savers Exchange Average Height: Indeterminate Russian
heirloom described as “the ugliest, most delicious tomato I’ve ever
grown.” Rich, full flavor, great for
slicing and canning. Good yields of
3-4”, slightly flattened fruits on 3-4’ plants. 80-85 days from transplant. Also a great container variety. |
Moonglow Tomato Source: Seed
Savers Exchange Average Height: Indeterminate Medium sized bright orange fruits. Solid orange meat, few seeds and wonderful flavor. 80 days from transplant. These beauties just kept coming all season long. |
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Source: Seeds
of Change Average Height: Indeterminate Developed
at the University of Wisconsin in the 1950s.
Does best on rich soils.
Excellent all-purpose tomato, great for canning. Good flavor and yields of 5-8 oz
fruits. Remembered as one of the best
home and market tomatoes in the Madison area. |
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