01/23/2010 Update

The supermarkets really got into selling heirloom varieties last year. When I heard about it I thought "that's good - more people will become familiar with these great-tasting tomatoes!" Unfortunately, when I checked them out, many were soft, overly ripe and, EXPENSIVE - some over $4.00 a pound! Too bad. Well, I guess that's why they developed hybrids - they travel better, have a thicker skin and have better shelf life in general. Too bad most in the store taste like plastic.

If you haven't tried road-side, locally grown heirloom tomatoes, you're missing out! There really is a difference!

2010 Varieties

I had fun picking out this year's varieties. I've chosen some new one's I think you'll enjoy trying like Cherokee Purple, Earl of Edgecombe and Radiator Charlie's Mortgage Lifter among others. And, I've brought back a few old standby's that I didn't have last year: Black Krim, Stupice, and Sungold Cherry. And of course, those in-demand varieties that never go off the list are back, like Big Beef and Brandywine.
This year too, I've added another “early” variety, Zarnitza which should give Stupice a run for its money. And by request, I've added a “paste” tomato (plants only), Russian Big Roma. See all the varieties at grampastomatoes.com

Post a comment to let me know your thoughts about these or:

• other varieties
• your experience growing heirloom tomatoes
• your experience eating heirloom tomatoes
• anything else