| On August 5th, children and adults alike came to the EJC Arboretum pavilion to take part in our Heirloom Tomato Tasting. We tasted 13 varieties of tomatoes and learned about tomato trivia and heirloom characteristics. Some took home seeds, others left with a full belly, fun was had by all! Here are some of the varieties of tomatoes that were tasted by the community. |
Amish Paste
| Very productive heirloom from Wisconsin that produces up to 12 oz, deep-red oxheart-shaped, meaty fruit. (Probably one of the largest paste tomatoes) Lots of sweet, tomato flavors from this coreless meaty fruit. They are great slicing and sauce tomatoes. |
Djena Lee’s Golden Girl
| Djena Lee’s Golden Girl tomato is a large golden orange fruit with a semi-thick skin. This tomato was developed by Djena (pronounced “Zshena") Lee, who was part Native American and the daughter of Minnesota financier Jim Lee. It was grown in the 1920s, given to Reverand Morrow when he was 15, and has been grown by his family since 1929. The tomato’s intense orange color is very striking. It has an excellent balance of acid to sugar giving it a sweet yet tangy flavor. Flavor was so highly prized that these tomatoes won first place at the Chicago Fair 10 years in a row. |
Blosser
| 90 days - This Virginia Mennonite heirloom produces big beefsteak type fruit that are a beautiful pink color. They have a sweet, delicious tomato taste. The plants are hardy and vigorous, producing many big fruit. A fine old heirloom that brings back memories of tomatoes long ago. |
White Wonder
White Wonder is believed to be related to a white tomato variety which was grown in the 1860's under the name of the White Apple Tomato. An excellent producer of very mild tasting, creamy white colored tomatoes in the range 5 to 6 ounces. The white color is seen inside and out, giving the White Wonder Tomato an ivory white colored flesh. Excellent for slicing or canning! Indeterminate. 85 days. |
Super Marmande
| 70 days- French Heirloom famous throughout Europe. Prolific crops of large, firm, scarlet-red, lightly-lobed fruit. Great market or canning tomato. Delicious! Semi-bush, semi-determinate. |
Jefferson Giant
JEFFERSON GIANT 90 days - This old heirloom dates back to the 1880's, and is exclusively offered by Heirloom Seeds, being first introduced to the public in 1990. This exceptionally flavored tomato is heart shaped, pink, with few seeds, and weighs 1 to 2 pounds. Delicious! Indeterminate vines. This tomato has no evidence of a relationship to Thomas Jefferson. |
Old German
85 days - A Mennonite family heirloom from the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Was introduced to the public in 1985. Big regular leaf plant yields 1-2 lb. beautiful fruits. Fruit color is yellow with red mottling and striping on the outside and throughout the flesh. Best color of several strains of this heirloom. Not a heavy producer, but fruit harvested is deliciously sweet and very decorative. |
Yellow Brandywine
90 days - The vines on this variety have potato-leaf foliage, and large yellow fruits that weigh 12 ounces to 2 pounds. The exceptional quality, as well as the creamy texture, equals a gourmet taste that is simply delicious! Indeterminate vines. |
Black Russian
80 days – Plant produces good yields of dark reddish-black tomatoes. Tomatoes have a rich tomato flavor and turn to dark reddish black when mature. One of the best of the black varieties on the market. Grow well in containers and pots. A heirloom variety from Russia. |
Large Red Cherry
75 days - This highly productive plant grows 1 to 1.5 inch diameter bright red, juicy, and very sweet fruits. Great addition to salads! Great for container gardening. Indeterminate vines. |
Sugar Lump
70 days – AKA Gardener’s Delight. This old German heirloom is exceptionally sweet and high yielding! The deep red fruits are ¾ to 1 inch in diameter and grow in clusters of 6 to 12 fruits. Indeterminate vines. |
Brown Berry
75 days - All the rich, sweet flavor “dark” tomatoes are known for, contained in a cherry-size tomato. This heavy producer of full-flavored fruits is a must for the cherry tomato lover. Indeterminate vines. |