Heirloom Tomatoes Going Strong!
Here are a couple of the heirloom tomatoes that I grew from seed a couple of months ago. The two shown here are black krim and I have pictured them here to illustrate the genetic variability in open pollinated varieties like the heirlooms. Notice the difference in leaf structure and plant shape. Because of this variability, I have found that it is a good idea to initially plant a number of seeds, and then experiment by planting some of the seedlings which you think will have the most desirable qualities (and those that seem the healthiest and most vigorous etc.). Of course, it’s also a good idea to obtain your seeds from the most reliable sources.
As mentioned in a previous post, I planted the heirloom varieties Arkansas Traveler, Black Krim, Kellogg’s Breakfast, Bloody Butcher, and Anna Russian. I also planted the excellent cherry varieties of Sungold and Isis Candy. Pictured here is a section of my plot showing a few of the twelve that I planted. You can see how well these tomatoes are growing without any fertilizer! In the hole that I dug, I included a mix of cow manure, regular garden soil, and of course, plenty of vermicompost. Of course, it’s going to be a challenge figuring out a staking system because these indeterminate varieties get very “viney” and need adequate support (especially when they get several feet tall).
