There are hundreds and hundreds of varieties of heirloom tomatoes—each so lovely, we wish there were an heirloom tomato store in every town so all Americans could appreciate their beauty and flavor. We’ll show only a few varieties here, but will keep adding to this glossary.
| Tomatoes |
Get To Know Me |
Amana Orange Tomatoes
A huge orange beefsteak tomato that can grow up to two pounds. The flavor is mild and pleasant. This heirloom variety is named for Amana, Iowa.
Available year-round. |
 |
Azoychka Russian Tomato
A small beefsteak variety from Russia, with a deep yellow color. The flavor is unusual, and unlike any American tomato. It is pleasantly sweet with a citrus taste. The Azoychka Russian Tomato matures early, and will be one of the first varieties to ripen in your garden
Available year-round. |
Seeds for these tomatoes are available from VancouverSeedBank.ca. |
|
Banana Legs Tomato
A meaty tomato with few seeds and a good flavor. Most are solid yellow, but some have light green stripes. The banana legs tomato is low in acid and great for slicing into salads.
Available year-round.
|
Seeds for these tomatoes are available from VirtualSeeds.com. |
Big Rainbow Tomato
A large beefsteak tomato with slight ribbing. It has a molted orange and red exterior with brilliant colored red and gold meat. A low-acid, firm, meaty and juicy variety.
Available year-round. |
 |
Black Brandywine Tomato
This is a black (deep red) tomato with an oval shape, ranging from small to very large in size. It has potato-like leaves and true tomato flavor.
Available year-round. |
 |
Black Seaman Tomato
This is a medium to fairly large and slightly flattened tomato. It originated in the Ukraine. The tomato is mahogany with olive shoulders and a mahogany inner coloration. It has a dense center, making it perfect for slicing and enjoying on sandwiches.
Available year-round. |
Seeds for these tomatoes are available from GHOrganics.com. |
German Johnson Pink Tomato
An heirloom variety from North Carolina. The German Johnson pink tomato is a huge beefsteak tomato with very few seeds. It can weigh up to 1.5 pounds. They are used for slicing or canning.
Available year-round. |
Seeds for these tomatoes are available from ReimerSeeds.com. |
German Red Strawberry Tomato
An heirloom variety from Germany. The strawberry tomato is shaped like a strawberry, but can grow as large as one pound. Flavorful, and meaty with few seeds, it is used in salads and on sandwiches.
Available year-round. |
 |
Gold Medal Tomato
This vibrant yellow tomato grow larges; the inside has red streaks. It is sweet in flavor and low in acidity; very attractive and perfect for slicing.
Available year-round. |
 |
Green Grape Tomato
The green grape tomato is named for its similarity in appearance to clusters of Muscat grapes. Its sweet flavor and bright acidity make it a good addition to salads and appetizers—sliced in half and topped with creamy goat cheese and black pepper, for example.
Available year-round. |
Available from TradewindsFruit.com. |
Purple Russian Tomato
This heirloom tomato was introduced to the U.S. from Ukraine in 1980. It is purplish-red in color with an egg shape. The delicious taste makes it suitable to be eaten fresh with a bit of salt, in salads or prepared in salsa and sauces.
Available year-round. |
Seeds for these tomatoes are available from ReimerSeeds.com. |
Red Lightning Hybrid Tomato
A bright orange tomato streaked with deep red, the red lightning tomato was derived from the red zebra tomato. It has a rich tomato flavor and is beautiful sliced or in a salad.
Available year-round. |
 |
Siberia Tomato
The bright-red Siberian tomato is best known for ripening fast and for growing in conditions as cold as 38°F. Smuggled out of Russia in 1975, it has a smooth tomato flavor and is adaptable to a variety of dishes.
Available year-round. |
Seeds for these tomatoes are available from VictorySeeds.com. |
Snowberry Tomato
A cherry tomato with a creamy yellow color on the outside and white flesh, this is a unique variety. It is very sweet and flavorful. Excellent as a snack, in salads and hors d’oeuvres or as a garnish with meals.
Available year-round. |
Seeds for these tomatoes are available from DollarSeedStore.com. |
Tangerine Tomato
The tangerine tomato has recently become popular, since scientific studies released in 2007 established that is has more of the cis lycopene isomer, an antioxidant, than red tomatoes. It also has a lovely color and a sweet in taste.
Available year-round. |
Seeds for these tomatoes are available from W. Atlee Burpee & Co. |
Tolstoi Hybrid Tomato
The Tolstoi tomato was developed by breeders in India. It is grown in giant clusters, and has big, juicy flavor. It is enjoyed in salads where it is perfectly complemented by balsamic vinegar.
Available year-round. |
Seeds for these tomatoes are available from DollarSeedStore.com. |
White Potato Leaf Tomato
The white potato leaf tomato is a small, yellow-white (ivory) beefsteak tomato. It has a creamy texture and mild sweetness with a slightly tart flavor. It is named after its leaves, which look like those of a potato plant.
Available year-round. |
Seeds for these tomatoes are available from ReimerSeeds.com. |
Green Zebra Tomato
The green zebra is a medium-size tomato that ripens to a green color with cream or yellow stripes. It has a wonderful tomato flavor with a sweet and spicy zing.
Available year-round. |
Available from TerraFirmaFarm.com. |
