Heirloom tomato Archives - PlumpTomatoes.info

Heirloom Tomato Seeds Are Popular With Home Gardeners

Exactly what are heirloom tomato seeds? They are seeds that are still of the original varieties that have never been crossed in any way in the growing process. To provide the best looking fruit for the consumer market many tomato plants have been crossed, but the heirloom seeds have been saved in their original varieties. There are over 10,000 varieties of tomatoes available today according to one of America’s top tomato seed suppliers. Doesn’t this number seem absolutely mind blowing? Who would ever have thought that one fruit could have so many varieties?

Why The Popularity Of Heirloom Tomato Seeds?

It is a much publicized fact that the heirloom tomatoes have a much better flavor than the commercially grown tomato (the crossed varieties). In many cases the heirloom tomato is not the ‘perfect’ looking tomato but when it comes down to growing tomatoes for your own home use it is the flavor that is usually the most important.

Heirloom or Heritage Tomatoes

Tomato Seeds Heirloom tomato, Heirloom Tomatoes

Heirloom Tomatoes, also known as Heritage Tomatoes, are known for their many different varieties. Each tomato encompassed in the Heirloom tomato family has its own unique taste, appearance and shape. Such differences are caused by mutations, intentional or not, within the Heirloom Tomato Seeds.

Although this family of tomatoes still uses the name “Heirloom” because they are said to have been passed down through the family, this is no longer the case. The varieties of seeds that are passed down through the generations are referred to as Family Heirlooms, whereas the other types have different names. The name Created Heirlooms refers to varieties that are made by cross-pollinating two different types of Heirlooms.

Heirloom tomatoes seeds that are produced by companies, and have been in circulation for about 50 years are referred to as Commercial Heirlooms. Many of the Heirloom varieties are called Mystery Heirlooms. These Heirlooms get their name because no one is actually sure which two Heirloom seeds came together to create this specific tomato.