The Heirloom Tomato

[Princess L]

Not always pretty (all in the eye of the beholder), but EXTREMELY FLAVORFUL.  Get them at your local farmer's market and remember NEVER refrigerate tomatoes.  This is what tomatoes are supposed to taste like!





YES, the green ones are fully ripened.

[hereandnowiamu]

I used to work on a farm and they grew all organic heirloom tomatoes... absolutely phenomenal!  And at farmers markets they are generally cheaper than store bought heirlooms.

[TheTruth90]

Neverhad an heirloom tomato...

How is the taste?

[Princess L]

Neverhad an heirloom tomato...

How is the taste?

See my first post.

can't wait for summer...........

[sync pulse]

If you like these varieties, you should grow some yourself:

• Plant the seeds in the ground or in a container at least 5 gallons in size.
• For ease of care use a weed block fabric.
• Consistant soil moisture is 90 percent of good gardening.  Either pay attention and apply water manually at the roots of the plant or get a basic drip irrigation system with a timer.
• Get a rose trellis or chicken wire and tie the vine to it as it grows.
• Heritage tomatoes are indeterminate, which means you have to cut the top of the vine when it gets to the size that you want it.  After you "top" it, the vine will bush out and start to produce blooms.  These blooms after they are pollinated will grow into tomatoes.  If it seems that too few are becoming fruit you can help things along yourself...put Cole Porter on the music system and use an artist's brush to get pollen from the stamens and apply it to the pistils of the blooms.
• Apply fertilizer to the base of the plant as directed by the manufacturer (I like Miracle Gro).  If you use a drip irrigation system you have to apply the fertilizer so the water drips through it.
• Use pesticides and fungicide labeled for food crops.

You will grow tomatoes right up until winter.[/list]

[Jonny34]

Not always pretty (all in the eye of the beholder), but EXTREMELY FLAVORFUL.  Get them at your local farmer's market and remember NEVER refrigerate tomatoes.  This is what tomatoes are supposed to taste like!





YES, the green ones are fully ripened.

The inside kinda looks like a pomegranate, those tomato's look absolutely delicious. I'm gonna keep my eye out for those kind. I bet they would be tasty with some olive oil on them.

[Montague]

...and remember NEVER refrigerate tomatoes.

Why is that?

[BigCyp]

Why is that?

Because they get cold bro.

[Montague]

Because they get cold bro.

Oh, that's why my great-grandmother used to knit tiny sweaters to put on her tomatoes.

I thought she was just bat-shit crazy!

[Princess L]

Why is that?

There is some chemical in them that affect taste and that chemical is completely killed if the 'mater goes below 50 degrees, rendering them virtually tasteless.

I learned this from Alton Brown's Tomato Envy episode.
Goofy but VERY educational.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHEbkFL4Hh4

[Montague]

There is some chemical in them that affect taste and that chemical is completely killed if the 'mater goes below 50 degrees, rendering them virtually tasteless.

I learned this from Alton Brown's Tomato Envy episode.
Goofy but VERY educational.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHEbkFL4Hh4

I never knew that.
Thank you, Ma'am!

Alton's segments can be tough to watch sometimes, but he "teaches" a lot of good info.

[Butterbean]

If you refrigerate tomatoes the get a mealy texture.   

[Straw Man]

whenever these are first in season I always go on a BLT binge for a few days