Extension Communications Extension 4-H Youth Building Ames, Iowa 50011-3630 (515) 294-9915

8/23/04

Contacts:
Cindy Haynes, Horticulture, (515) 294-4006, chaynes@iastate.edu
Jean McGuire, Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515) 294-7033, jmcguire@iastate.edu

Garden Column for the week of Aug. 27, 2004

Heirloom Tomatoes

By Cindy Haynes
Horticulturist
Iowa State University Extension

Tomato season finally arrived in my neighborhood this month! Harvest time came a bit later than normal, but at least we can be thankful it made it before frost. As I sit here enjoying another delicious tomato with dinner, I am amazed that people once thought that tomatoes were dangerous. Imagine being fearful of the tomato fruit because you were told it was poisonous. It wasn't until the late 1820's that the lingering doubts about the safety of tomato fruits were finally put to rest. Needless to say, it took a long time before the health benefits of tomatoes were recognized.

Today, tomatoes are probably our most popular home garden crop, and rightfully so. They are generally easy to grow, a great source of lycopene and anti-oxidants for a healthy diet, and incredibly tasty! They are used in many recipes, can be processed quickly, and stored for long periods. And with ketchup and salsa, tomatoes have also cornered a piece of the condiment market.

For best flavor, discerning palettes and chefs prefer heirloom tomatoes. With the amount of press heirlooms have been getting lately, it seems home gardeners are getting into the action as well. So what is an heirloom tomato anyway? How long does it take for a tomato to make it to heirloom status? Generally heirloom tomatoes are open-pollinated (non-hybrid) varieties that have been passed down for generations. Most of the commercially available heirloom varieties were sold prior to the 1940's.

For something that has been around for anywhere from 50 to 100 years, the diversity of heirloom tomatoes is astounding! They come in all sizes, shapes, and colors. Another nice thing about heirloom tomatoes is their name. Their name is usually a dead giveaway to the color, texture, flavor, or history of the tomato. For example, 'Amish Paste' is a meaty tomato commonly used to make paste and comes from the Amish in Wisconsin. 'Wapsipinicon Peach' is more local and is fuzzy like a peach. Green Zebra and Yellow Pear are other great examples. Green Zebra has green stripes, like a zebra. Yellow Pear is a small yellow tomato that is shaped like - you guessed it - a pear. The meaning of the names of today's newer varieties aren't so apparent. Jetstar may be a nice tomato, but it sure doesn't resemble a jet or a star! And believe me, 'Celebrity' has nothing to do with American Idol.

You might be thinking "Where can I get an heirloom tomato or two, before the season passes us by?" Farmers' markets are great places to find heirloom tomatoes. If the variety isn't listed on the display, just ask. A benefit of farmers' markets is that the seller is usually the grower. They will know whether it is an heirloom variety, the variety name, and tips on growing it. Some might even be able to recommend a few good places to buy the seed for your garden next year, if you are interested. Taste test several varieties to find an heirloom that suits your palette.

It's never too early to start planning next year's vegetable garden. Be sure to leave some room for heirloom tomatoes!

Sidebar
The second annual Des Moines Tomato Festival will be held at Hoyt Sherman Place on Sept. 12. Samples of over 40 varieties of heirloom tomatoes and tomato inspired recipes from local restaurants will be available. The festival includes educational seminars and displays of tomato inspired art. For more information or tickets visit www.hoytsherman.org or call (515) 244-0199.

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Editors: There are no photos available for this column.

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