So Many Tomatoes, So Little Time

Each year presents an enormous challenge to decide on which variety of tomatoes we are going to offer in the farm share. From fruits as large as grape fruits to as small as grapes- from reds as deep as ox blood to just the faintest blush of pink...Really, I love them all. This year we narrowed it down to seven varieties, and then at the last minute heard from Jason's Grandmother about a rare variety called the German Johnson that she absolutely adores- one of the only varieties she will grow. I consulted ten of my seed companies- two had seeds- and one of these was already sold out. In February. I was determined, and Johnny's Selected Seeds came through- and now we are offering up eight varieties.

Here's the run down in alphabetical order.

Amish Paste 

Large heirloom for a sauce tomato, Amish Paste's slightly irregular plum-to strawberry shaped fruits average  8 to 12 ounces with excellent flavor. These meaty tomatoes are good in salads and great for processing. A Slow Food USA Ark of Taste variety. 

Cherokee Purple

An unusual heirloom variety with full flavor. Medium-large, flattened globe fruits. Color is dusky pink with dark shoulders. Multilocular interior ranges from purple to brown to green. 

Cor Di Bue

This Ox heart type Italian heirloom has been a favorite in Italy for many years. Beautiful 12 ounce fruit have a delicious sweet taste; similar to the shape of a heart; great for fresh eating or cooking. Hard to find variety.

German Johnson

An heirloom with Excellent flavor. Deep pink tomatoes are earlier, more uniform, and slightly smaller than Brandywine at 8-16 ounces. Fruits have lots of deep, acidic tomato flavor and a rich, creamy texture. There are two strains of this variety; this is the regular-leaved strain, which is earlier and more productive than the potato-leaved strain. 

Italian Heirloom
Outstanding heirloom variety from Italy. Plants are loaded with red fruits weighing in over a pound. One of the most productive varieties we have grown in previous years. Excellent full tomato flavor perfect for slicing and canning. Very easily peeled with little waste.

Roma
An Italian heirloom variety with very heavy 2 to 3 ounce fruits perfect for making sauces, salsas, and pastes.

Rose
An heirloom variety that Rivals the Brandywine (one of Kristin's favorites) for taste. Deep pink and smoother than Brandywine, Rose is every bit as meaty and flavorful. 

Yugoslav
A pink beefsteak variety which weigh up to a pound each. Fruits have near perfect shoulders that almost never crack. A delicious full tomato flavor.