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Here are some of the best varieties of heirloom tomatoes for you to try. You also can’t save their seeds, as the offspring will have an unpredictable blend of characteristics from its parent’s genetics.
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While hybrids are often easier to grow, some varieties sacrifice flavor for these traits. This leads to predictable plants with features like low disease risk, easy harvesting, and crack resistance. In contrast, hybrid plants are cross-pollinated between two different varieties to combine their best character traits. The best part of heirloom plants is that their seeds grow true to their parents, which means you can save them from year to year. Gardeners love them for their complex flavors, though the plants tend to be more susceptible to disease. Heirloom plants are open-pollinated, and most are 50 plus years old. Knowing the origins of your tomato variety is crucial if you plan to save seeds for the next growing season. They are great for a continuous supply of tomatoes, though you’ll need to put more effort into pruning and picking them. Indeterminate tomatoes, in contrast, will ripen throughout the whole growing season. Consider these varieties if you plan to can or make tomato sauce, as you can make big batches as soon as the fruit ripens. They tend to require less space and pruning, which makes them great for low-maintenance gardeners. It’s best to know your tomatoes’ growth habits before planting, so you can plan ahead for harvest time.ĭeterminate plants produce fruit that ripens all at once. 2. Determinate or Indeterminate? An indeterminate tomato plant on the left and a determinate plant on the right.
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Grape tomatoes tend to be oblong and slightly larger than their cherry counterparts, which are known for being perfectly round.Īnd, while grape tomatoes tend to have a meaty texture, cherry tomatoes tend to be sweet-almost candy-like-and contain so much juice that they burst open upon biting. Most snackable tomatoes fall into the categories of cherry or grape. Cherry or Grape? Grape tomatoes are more oblong in shape and are more, you guessed it, grape shaped! Make sure you know the key traits of your tomatoes by answering these questions for each type. 3 Questions to Ask Before Choosing Tiny Tomato Varieties While most grocery stores stock only one or two types of tiny tomatoes, starting your own from seed lets you choose from hundreds of varieties to enjoy at home.īut which tiny tomatoes are best? Let’s look at 31 stellar tiny tomato varieties you can grow this year. These fun-sized fruits come in a myriad of shapes, sizes, colors, and flavors that make them memorable for all who try them. Welcome to the world of grape and cherry tomatoes. Sometimes, though, you’re not looking for a full-sized slicer and would prefer tomatoes tiny enough to just pop in your mouth. It’s fantastic in everything from pasta dishes to homemade pizza sauce. This South American native plant comes in thousands of varieties, ranging from the candy-sweet Sungold to the bumpy Black Krim. There’s no competition-tomatoes win the title of the most popular garden crop.
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