Heirloom Tomato Lovers Collection
When you love heirloom tomatoes as much as we do, you always look forward to growing a new variety or two or 3, well, maybe 4 every season; why stop there, how about 6? We have gathered together 6 of our heirlooms in this collection, each variety offering its own distinct traits: Marianna's Peace is a take-your-breath-away flavorful red beefsteak for sandwiches, Wapsipinicon Peach is a large cherry type with a nectar-sweet flavor, unique soft textured skin plus it has a great name, how do you say that? Black Krim is a Ukrainian heirloom, Kellogs Breakfast is a sunny orange beefsteak that wants to snuggle into a sandwich along with Marianna’s peace, San Marzano is an Italian paste tomato with a flavor that is prized for cooking down into sauces and purees and is famous for canning. and finally, Principe Borghese, its finest attributes is for sun drying while making a great sauce or eating fresh off the vine. These 6 tomato varieties are a minuscule sample of around 3000 heirlooms that are in active cultivation today. Grow and eat ‘em up, preserve some for a taste of summertime freshness and if you have some left after filling your pantry and belly, share the bounty of your love of heirloom tomatoes with friends and family.
PLANTING
Solanum lycopersicum
Germination: 7-14 days Seed Sowing Depth: 1/4” deep
Germination Temperature: Optimum soil temperatures 70-85ºF.
Starting Indoors: 6 weeks before the last frost. Provide 75-80ºF soil temperatures. Sow 2-3 seeds per cell/pot, thin to the strongest seedling, or use the 20 Row seedling flat, transplanting into individual pots when seedlings get their 3rd set of leaves. Fertilize the seedlings every 7-10 days with a liquid or water-soluble fertilizer, diluted to ¼ of the suggested measurement. Transplant out after the last frost. Space 24-36" apart
Sowing Outdoors: Most successful when started indoors. Direct sow only in areas with very long growing seasons. Sow after the last frost.
Harvest: When fruit is red, or color of the variety planted and firm
GROWING TIPS
- Needs fertile, well-drained soil, amend with compost and/or add organic fertilizer at planting time and when plants start to set fruit.
- Keep evenly and well watered for optimum growth, especially during the hottest parts of summer. Mulching retains moisture and helps with disease by preventing your soil from splashing back up onto the plant from watering or rain. Water in the morning, focusing on the soil and not the foliage. Wet foliage can invite fungus and disease.
- Pruning- Cut off the lower leaves 12-18” above the soil level (any leaves that might come in contact with the soil) This helps prevent soil from splashing back onto the foliage.
- For your indeterminate varieties provide support with a trellis, fence, or stakes. Pruning down to one or two vines and pinching out new growth (suckers) helps air circulation keeping your plant foliage healthy.
- Planting seedlings deeper than they were growing in their pots helps make a stronger root system.
- Do not apply excessive nitrogen, which can promote excessive foliage and poor fruit set.