Heirloom tomatoes can be fun to grow; there are so many varieties out there from tiny currants to Goliath sized beefsteaks, from yellow, red, black and everything in between!

So when you find that perfect tomato with the flavor you have been longing for; how nice that you can save the seeds and grow them again next year, and the year after that....

If you are growing more than one variety, there's always that chance of cross-pollinating, so keep them some distance apart! I don't go the recommended 80 to 90 feet apart, but even then, solitary bees could come by and cross pollinate? So I think it's a good idea to plant something else in between my tomatoes, like borage, nasturtiums and marigolds. That way, the bees might stop by the flowers before moving on the the next tomato plant.

Look for the early maturing and attractive plants. Selected plants can then be marked, staked, and regularly inspected during the growing season for resistance to diseases.

Allow tomatoes to completely ripen on the plant before harvesting for seeds.




TO SAVE SEEDS:

There are various methods used to save seeds, I've successfully just scooped them out, rinsed them, and let them lay on a paper towel to dry and then stored them and planted them the following year!

But my favorite method is using fermentation. It's used to save your seeds for many years.

Cut each tomato in half at its equator, opening the cavities that contain the seeds. Into a cup or small container, squeeze the gel and seeds. Add a little bit of water if you only have a small amount of seeds. Set the container with the seeds in a warm place for a few days. I usually just leave them sitting on the sink counter. After a few days, you will notice a layer of fungus appear on the top of your seed mixture. The fungus is eating the gelatinous coat that surrounds each seed and prevents germination; it also produces antibiotics that help control seed borne diseases.

After your seeds have fermented, about a week or so, fill the seed container with water. Let the seeds settle to the bottom, pour out the water along with the tomato pulp and immature seeds that are left floating on top. Your best, viable seeds will be heavier and sink to the bottom. Repeat until the water is clear. Pour your freshly cleaned seeds into a mesh strainer, getting out as much water as possible, then tip your strainer onto a paper towel, paper plate, or newspaper. Spread them out, separating them as much as possible and allow to completely dry. A drying oven can be used to dry your seeds completely, but I've not used this method.

Once the seeds are dried, put in an envelope or zip lock bags, label and store for later use. these days, I buy those small zipper baggies you can get in the craft section, they're perfect sized to save seeds.

White Currant Tomato IND. 70 days.
'Creamy white tomatoes with a yellowish tinge. A wild type tomato from South America that produces hundreds of fruits. It can get by on poorer quality soil & is somewhat drought tolerant. The seedlings start out small, so start them early. The flavor is sweet and crisp.'

Ready to pick they're a little yellow.


On the vine


In the bowl


These little berry sized fruits are bursts of flavor! Sweet on the outside and tangy tomato flavor on the inside. These are keepers that we enjoy growing every year! And they are early to begin fruiting, so while you're waiting on all those others to ripen, these can satisfy your taste for full flavor tomato!

Paul Robeson Tomato IND. 75 days.
'Russian heirloom named for American actor. Beautiful mahogany fruits are tangy and sweet.'

This will be my first taste of Paul Robeson..... I'll let you know soon

Amana Orange IND. 85 days.

'Iowa heirloom from Amana produces extra big orange beefsteak fruits. The rich taste is superior with medium sweet yet full bodied tomato flavor. Its yields are moderate, yet the great taste and attractive fruit make it a natural for any garden. It's a great keeper & lasts for several weeks at room temperature.'

I'm about to find out about this one....

I like the Amana orange tomato... it has very nice bright tomato flavor, tangy and sweet. I am saving seeds of this one. It goes on the 'Grow again list.'

It didn't produce big and although I am used to that with the heirlooms, this year seems extra sparse for fruit on all of my tomato plants. I'm sure next year will make up for it with bumper crops!!

I am experiencing a sparse year with my tomatoes also. That Amana Orange is a beauty, I am wishing that I had grown them again this year!

This is one of my favorites this year.

Mexico

Bijskij Zeltyi plum type tomato, IND.

This tomato is listed as very rare! It has an unusual reddish pink color and intense tomato flavor. Originally from Germany.

I have heard a lot of people are having trouble with production this year. I know that we had some real high temps right around the time when the blossoms were getting ready to set fruit and the heat makes them drop. Kind of frustrating to see all the blossoms only to have them die and drop off, but I am glad that I am getting some and they are tasting mighty fine

I thought that might be the problem! We had a rather cooler than usual spring and then jumped right into high temps! And yes, the blooms started to fall. And then some of the tomatoes seemed much smaller than I thought they should be??? The wild type currants were the only ones that seemed to thrive this year! They're still going strong!

The OSU Blue didn't come true!

They look like OSU Blue to me. Here is a picture of some of mine from last year.

Okay! Excellent! Thank you Patti! I am enjoying growing them & they were the first tomato in the garden this year!

The color is unique and they are good producers.
The flavor is quite good really, much more flavor than I had expected.

I was surprised at the taste of them too. I had heard awful things about them but I didn't think they were that bad. They did produce early and had tons of fruit on them. I did have some that were more "blue" in color but most of mine looked like yours in the picture. They are fun to grow!

The OSU blue I had a couple years ago were so bad I tossed them. I've heard there's been a lot of variability in this unstable strain. This year I've got some of Tom Wagner's "Dancing with Smurfs", so hoping for good things.

Hmmm.... interesting, psa! I'm not so sure whether the OSU is an heirloom variety or not?

Dancing with Smurfs, is that something new? sounds blue LOL.

OSU blue was an ongoing breeding program to consolidate a set of different blue jeans, er, genes into a single line of tomatoes. It wasn't meant for general distribution, nor was it considered stable or marketable. Last I heard this breeding was still ongoing.

Tom Wagner is famous as the originator of many venerable varieties of tomatoes and potatoes. He has reopened his Tater Mater storefront on the web and offered some of his still segregating seed lines, among other things, including this recent cross that he called Dancing with Smurfs.

Ah, I'm familiar with the name Tom Wagner.. out of California I think... I'll have to check it out on the web.

....and come to think of it, I went to school in CA with a Tom Wagner, surely not the same one ?? it is a small world, after all!

When i was a member of DG someone posted their method of makingsure their tomatoes were not cross pollinated by makinga pouch out of panty hose and tying it wound the flower when it first appeared. once the tomato developed they took the pouch off and marked which tomato had the pouch which they then used for seeds.

Just found this thread. I always grow the Heirloom Yellow Pear. This one is gowing upside down in a Topsy Turvy bag. They seem to do well here no matter where I put them.

Tee, that is a nice healthy looking plant!! I've read it produces a very good crop of tomatoes too. I have seeds - guess I'll have to try growing some next season!!!