Heirloom Tomatoes

Heirloom tomatoes are open-pollinated varieties kept alive by gardeners and families for generations. They're grown for flavor, color, and character more than uniformity or disease resistance. Options include Cherokee Purple and Pruden's Purple, Cherokee Green, German Johnson, and Dr. Wyche's Yellow. Nearly all come as organic seed, and you can save seed from them year after year. They need good support and steady watering, since many crack or split in heavy rain. Expect smaller yields than hybrids, and give plants plenty of airflow to slow disease. Pick at full color for peak flavor, or a little earlier if rain threatens.