11 Heirloom Tomato Varieties to Try This Summer

Heirloom tomato varieties have been passed down for generations, just like grandma’s wedding dress. But just what defines an heirloom and why is this designation so special?

Heirloom tomatoes come in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes, but they have a few important traits in common: they have not been hybridized and they are open-pollinated, which allows growers to breed and save their seeds.

They were also started from seed and handed down from generation to generation through family ties or an ethnic, religious or tribal group. That means they are also old (although how old is up for debate). Some say that tomatoes must be 25 or even 50 years old to be considered heirloom, while others believe that any variety grown before the late 1940s to early 1950s – when the first hybrids became available – is an heirloom.

Is your mouth watering for more information on these juicy fruits? Well then buckle your seatbelt for a crash course on heirloom tomato varieties, where to find them and how to grow them yourself.

Where can I find heirloom tomatoes?

You can often find heirloom tomatoes at your local farmers market. Some grocery stores like Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods Market also carry different types of heirloom tomatoes.

See more: Seed Saving 101: Harvest This Fall to Plant Next Spring

How do I grow heirloom tomatoes?

You can grow your own heirloom tomatoes from seed or transplants as well. Some places to look for them include farmers markets and local garden centers. You can also often find heirloom seeds in catalogs and online. Once you find a variety that you like, you can dry some of the seeds, store them in an airtight container and plant them next season. If you grow from seeds, they’ll need to be started six to eight weeks before transplanting to the garden.

See more: 10 Heirloom Crops to Grow in Your Summer Garden

Why should I grow heirloom tomatoes?

While most tomatoes at the grocery store have been bred for disease resistance and appearance, heirloom tomato varieties were developed for flavor. They also have more nutritional benefits. Plus, their “imperfect” nature and variety of colors make them fun to look at in the garden!

11 Types of Heirloom Tomatoes to Try

1. Aunt Ruby’s German Green

This variety originated with Ruby Arnold from Greeneville, Tennessee. These 8- to 18-ounce beefsteak tomatoes are greenish-yellow when fully ripe. They come in irregular shapes and are ready for harvest within 60 to 80 days after planting.

2. Big Rainbow

The big rainbow heirloom tomato gets its name from its unique color pattern of yellow with red swirls. They have a mild, sweet flavor and huge fruit size of – up to 2 pounds! Big rainbows are ready for harvest in around 85 days.

3. Matt’s Wild Cherry

These heirloom tomatoes can be traced back to Teresa Arellanos de Mena, who collected them from her family’s home state of Hidalgo, Mexico, where they grow wild. She gave them to her friend, Doctor Matt Liebman, who raised the cultivar in Maine. These small red cherry tomatoes are full-flavored with a high sugar content. Average fruit size is about 5 grams.

4. Cherokee Purple

Cherokee purple is another popular beefsteak heirloom tomato variety, known for its deep, dusky-rose color and greenish hue near the stem. The fruit is ready for harvest in about 80 days and weighs around a pound.

5. Garden Peach

This yellow tomato sports a faint pink blush when ripe and features fuzzy skin, making it look a lot like a peach. The variety grows naturally between about 650 and 3,280 feet in the South American countries of Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. It offers a sweet, mild flavor perfect for salads, and its 4-ounce fruits are ready for harvest in 65 to 80 days.

One advantage of the garden peach tomato is that it is particularly high in iron and vitamin B5. Studies have linked these fruits to lower cholesterol when regularly drunk as a juice or eaten.

See more: What Are Purple Tomatoes?

6. Three Sisters

This plant got its name because it grows fruits in three different shapes. Each single plant only produces one of the three: a large, single-pleated size is the most common, while the other two include a more cylindrical fruit similar to a Roma tomato and a pleated, flattened, globe-type fruit. These tomatoes are meaty and sweet. They’re great for slicing, sandwiches and salads. The fruits get up to about 6 ounces and are ready to eat in around 75 days. 

7. Black Krim

This variety of beefsteak tomato produces dark red-purple fruit. This juicy heirloom, native to the Crimean Peninsula, boasts a rich, sweet flavor. Black Krim takes about 80 days to ripen and produces tomatoes weighing in at about 8 to 12 ounces.

8. San Marzano

This red heirloom plum tomato comes from the Campania region of Italy. Though sometimes compared to the Roma tomato, its flesh is thicker and it contains fewer seeds. It also features a stronger, sweeter and less acidic taste. This variety takes about 85 days to reach maturity, and its teardrop-shaped fruits weigh about 5 to 6 ounces. San Marzano tomatoes are popular for making tomato sauce and are one of only two varieties designated for use in “true Neapolitan pizza.”

9. Paul Robeson Tomato

This Russian tomato variety is known for its brick-red hue and smoky-sweet flavor. It’s named after opera singer Paul Robeson, who starred in the 1936 film Showboat and was also known for his support of pro-Soviet policies. This flavorful heirloom tomato, which weighs in at about 7 to 10 ounces when fully ripe, should be ready to harvest in about 90 days.

10. Green Zebra

These tomatoes are something to behold, featuring green and yellowish-orange striped skins with bright green flesh. The taste is described as sweet with a sharp bite or tartness. You can pick your green zebras from the garden after about 75 days. They can get to be about 3 ounces.

See more: 10 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Growing Tomatoes

11. Vintage Wine

This is a relatively new cultivar that came to the scene in the 1980s. This heirloom tomato variety features almost pastel hues of red and gold stripes. While their look may be bold, their taste is sweet and mild. They weigh between 10 to 16 ounces and are ready for harvest in 65 to 80 days.