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Heirloom Vegetables – Part 1 – Tomatoes

When I think of heritage vegetables, romantic notions of windswept hills and fields of sunflowers are to mind. I guess a solid wood table with sheets prepared rustic wine glasses and fine, each capturing a ray of sun and reflection the summer palace of oranges, reds and yellows that make a dish of freshly prepared Caprese salad. There's nothing like the combination of old varieties of tomatoes, fresh basil and buffalo mozzarella cheese. Mix in a little olive oil, salt and pepper and have been all to the gods. Of course, you can do this with regular tomatoes, but the difference in taste is like the difference between the cheese cake and cardboard. Heritage tomatoes provide an exotic flavor, color and biological diversity in your life from the garden to the table.

By definition, a legacy is something handed down from generation to generation, hoping to preserve the memory of a bygone era. In the case of heirloom tomatoes, varieties the world 100 years ago are still in circulation today thanks to the producers who carefully stored seeds once and delivered to their children. Seed banks and companies that specialize in the legacy of offering the curious catalog for gardeners opened the door to a world of variety not usually accessible to the public.

traditional seeds have survived the test of time, exposure and ecological change, and therefore more resistant to insects and diseases many of their younger counterparts. Furthermore, supermarkets continue to reduce the amount of biodiversity in their products available on the island, and the introduction of genetically modified fruits and vegetables, the idea of producing legacy is even more attractive for those who want to know – and trust – their food sources.

Some of my Favorites heirloom tomatoes are chosen more for color than flavor, although the flavor is incredible, simply because there is a rainbow of colors to choose. Every year to plant at least one of each color for a feast for the eyes throughout the summer. Let the rainbow, right?

Red / Pink: It's not more popular "Brandywine" tomato, red and pink are so many out there are many: Costaluto Genovese – an average fruit is large, fluted, Burbank Red Slicing – almost a standard tomato as assets to achieve, with much more flavor, Old German – huge red tomatoes with a flush of green on the top, German Queen – a large beefsteak variety, with some variations in color; Arkansas Traveler – A large tomato that meets Henry VIII in all of us. Mortgage Lifter – famous for its size, which is then said be so great that it could contribute to a strong lock and Amish Paste – a plum tomato, as the traditional gypsy. Some catalogs are mutually contradictory legacies Registry whose line is clear: Ispolin – an apartment softball sized tomato transformed with orange and pink, and my favorite of all time Stupice – a salad of tomatoes Czechoslovakia without fault, the first on the block to provide a bright red tomato, taste all year round. This plant breaks with tradition with its foliage of potato, which adds variety to your garden.

Oranges: Flame Orange Jaunne is a tomato product tomato salad size fruit. The bright color and sweet in uniform, that makes them perfect for those looking to venture into new territories of tomato. Tigerella and both are tiger striped tomatoes please the eye and encourage any dish with its unusual color; Oxheart orange is indeed a heart-shaped tomato that breaks the traditional mold of a flat bottom and tomatoes. In some catalogs but not in others, the khaki-colored tomato shown as an inheritance. There are shapes and colors like a persimmon, but do not be fooled, sweet tomato flavor resemblance to his double.

Yellow: I tried a lot yellow tomatoes and have found little to compare with the delicate flavor of pear yellow sun. These sweet little kindness tears just by doing in the garden, and most enjoy tasty snacks while gardening. Even among yellow pears, I found a particular yellow seeds of change that is softer than others. Some Yellow Perfection interesting attempt jaundice – a major tomato salad, pineapple – a most interesting variety is striped red in the center and the Peach Garden – renamed properly because it did fuzz! Do not be deterred from trying this rare jewel. The flavor is exceptional.

Green: Oh, green tomatoes I have tried to grow only Zebra's famous green. With its dark green stripes on a pale green exterior that looks to yellow if left on the vine a bit longer, Green Zebra is a great addition to any dish of diversity and a change of pace. If you have not tried it, be sure to put on your shopping list for the summer.

Purple and black: This year I am more and more Cherokee Purple – a large tomato with a purple interior and green shoulders. Purple Calabash, similar to his father Red Pumpkin, has an interior cast is dark and mysterious. Tomato tasting adventurers will find plenty of flavor and large size. Black Plum Tomato is another similar to a traditional Italian Roma, but with greenish-black shoulders, much like its larger counterpart, Black, which has the same information in a regular sized tomato. Black Krim is another option popular

White: If you are looking for something new and different, try Wedding Nebraska – white with a large tomato. Unfortunately it has not so well in my garden coast. Great White, however, was a great success – a huge plant, large tomatoes, and great taste. One slice would be almost completely covered by a slice of bread, and the color is over the small yellow seeds. This was one of the most interesting tomatoes I grew in years.

The key is experimentation heirloom tomatoes. Whether you're shopping at the supermarket, or grow your own choice of different varieties each time it is the best way to find what works for your garden or your palette. Every year, I have my confidence, variety foolproof, but I always choose at least three or four new items to try. Fortunately we begin to see the phenomenon of heritage is felt in the gourmet and farmers markets, making them more accessible to consumers. Like Julia Child has influenced the look cooking of vegetables in supermarkets, and we can have an influence that require the inclusion of diversity and heritage of our local markets. If you can not get inheritance where you live, and you are unable to develop yourself, ask your store manager to stock up every time you go shopping. With a little effort and curiosity, Pronto everyone will be able to enjoy the application of biodiversity and taste fabulous.

About the Author

Christy Wilhelmi is owner of Gardenerd.com, the ultimate resource for garden nerds. She is a board member of Ocean View Farms Organic Community Garden in Mar Vista, California, and gardens almost exclusively with heirloom vegetables.

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