Step Out Of Your Comfort Zone And Try Heirloom Tomatoes
As the biggest fan of heirloom and open pollinated tomatoes, I have often seen and heard of people who swear that they will never try an heirloom tomato. They are content just trying their regular store bought varieties. Well, also as someone who has tried many non-heirloom types, I am here to say that heirloom tomatoes will suck you in, way in! If all that you have ever had is hybrid tomato varieties, I highly encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and try heirloom tomatoes.
Where Heirloom Tomato Seed Saving All Began
About 30 years ago I discovered my very first heirloom tomato varieties. They were seed gifts given to me by my dear old Italian friend, Mr Rubino. In those days, I did not save seeds in the way that I now do. So I depended on his generosity for three years each time I wanted to grow tomatoes. He did not give me names, just seeds. I remember one variety that he shared with me, was a ruffled variety and the other two were elongated. I really loved those tomatoes much more than the ones I purchased at my local plant nursery. What I did not realize is that I was quickly becoming hooked on his tomatoes and wanting less and less the hybrid types. To me, Mr Rubino’s tomatoes were the best things that I ever tasted. Before long, my garden only heirloom and open pollinated varieties.
Heirloom Tomatoes Are As Colorful As A Rainbow
Mr Rubino encouraged me to save more seeds, and I gladly did. Before long, I had more than 30 varieties saved. I was also happy that I was daring enough to sample something different. Today I grow about 200 new varieties of heirloom and open-pollinated tomatoes each year. My goal is to introduce everyone, especially children, to a multiplicity of new flavors and colors. My main aim is to help kids enjoy and appreciate growing good, healthy food. With tomatoes, colors are important because a good tomato can come in any color. So although reds and pinks are still the most popular colors, yellows, backs, blues, greens and bi-colors and even white can all be winners. The one thing that I have discovered is that there never seems to be a shortage of cultivars/varieties, when it comes to heirloom tomatoes.
Bi-Color, Tri-Color, Any Color Tomato
So if you have never tried heirloom tomatoes before, I would like to encourage you to give them a shot. Don’t be afraid of sacking your regulars for something fresh and different! Go ahead, step out of your comfort zone and try heirloom tomatoes! There are many wonders there to discover! One of the things I like most about heirloom and open-pollinatd varieties, is that they do not limit us to just red and yellow tomatoes or the variations mentioned above. No, there are literally a million colors and flavors which easily stimulate our thoughts and tastebuds. Just imagine a nice marbling of green when ripened and yellows, or blacks and purples, whites and pinks. All of these combinations and more are common with the heirloom varieties. I have seen many colors that are are indescribable.
Options, Options, Options!
But that’s not all. The many variations of colors, sizes, shapes and taste, allows us a fascinating array of purposes. Heirloom tomatoes make the best salsa, sauces, paste, juice, gazpacho, soups, bisque, garnish, displays and so much more. Their eye-catching beauty is always something to behold!
On our website we have more than 700 very worthy varieties of heirlooms for you to try. We would love to be your ushers into the wonderful world of heirloom tomatoes. Feel free to contact me at any time. I would surely love to chat with you! Blessings!
