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Big Beef
Early, flavorful large and firm fruit. Average weight 10 - 12 oz., mostly blemish-free, globe-shaped red fruit. These large, juicy, fruits combine old-fashioned beefsteak flavor with heavy yields. Arguably the best all-around "beefsteak" tomato for a home garden. 1994 All America Selections winner. Flavor is full and hearty with lots of sweet juice balanced with that wonderful tomato acidity. These giants slice up perfectly for big sandwiches.
Days to Ripen: 70
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Octavio
A truss tomato with long shelf life. Vigorous plant produces a deep red color, uniform ripening, blemish-free fruit. Stores well.
Days to Ripen: 73
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Sweet Cluster
Sweet Cluster produces delicious 4 oz. fruit borne in clusters of 6-8. These hybrid tomatoes have a smooth, firm dark glossy red skin. Stems stay well intact to prevent tomatoes from falling off the vine and help to preserve the sweet, yet tart flavour of a freshly picked tomato.
Days to Ripen: 63
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Amana Orange
Huge heirloom beefsteak tomato named for the Amana Colonies in Iowa. These organic tomato seeds produce big, regular leaf plants that produce above average amounts of beautiful light-orange, irregular shaped (fluted) heirloom tomatoes that can grow to 2 pounds or more, with an average diameter of 5 inches. Excellent sweet, almost tropical fruit flavors.
Days to Ripen: 90
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Amy's Sugar Gem
Developed by Jeff McCormack who crossed the small fruited 'Red Cherry' with the larger heirloom 'Tappy's Finest'. 'Amy's Sugar Gem' is named in appreciation of Amy Hereford whose grandmother "Tappy" introduced Jeff to heirloom tomatoes in 1982. The 'Sugar Gem' portion of the name refers to the sweet flavor and the tiny light gold sparkles in the red skin. Tomato seed produces indeterminate, regular-leaf, tall, sprawling, vigorous tomato plants that yield HUGE crops of 2 oz., 1 1/2" golf ball sized, red, meaty, juicy tomatoes that have a small core and delicious sweet, well-balanced flavors. A perfect choice as a snacking tomato, salad tomato or for tomato sauces. Sweet! "Candy-on-the-vine," not to be missed!
Days to Ripen: 71
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Aunt Ruby German Green
Heirloom beefsteak variety from Ruby Arnold of Greeneville, Tennessee; who passed away in 1997. Slightly flattened, 1 pound fruit that ripens to a pale greenish-yellow ("lime jello green") with a slight pink blush that extends to the inside. Superb, fruity sweet and slightly spicy taste.
Days to Ripen: 80
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Aunt Ruby's Yellow Cherry
Tomato seeds produce indeterminate, regular-leaf, vigorous and tall tomato plants that yield copious amounts of 3/4-inch, round, yellow cherry tomatoes that are loaded with delicious, fruity, sweet/tart flavors. Rare tomato seeds. The perfect snacking tomato that is wonderful in salads or culinary dishes. Children will love the sweetness of these snacks.
Days to Ripen: 75
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Aussie
A favorite heirloom tomato variety from Australia. Our organic tomato seeds produce indeterminate, regular-leaf tomato plants that dependably yield picture-perfect, copious amounts of 1-2 lb., glossy-red, meaty, fluted, beefsteak tomatoes that are LOADED with delicious, bold, rich and complex tomatoey flavors. Great disease resistance. Good show tomato. One to impress your friends with....A winner!
Days to Ripen: 85
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Black Cherry
A tall, vigorous plant that produces abundant crops of 1", deep mahogany-brown fruits. Fruits are irresistibly delicious with sweet, complex, full flavors, characteristic of the "blacks." Beautiful to mix with other cherries.
Days to Ripen: 64
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Black Ethiopian
A favorite Russian heirloom tomato. Originally from the Ukraine region. Our Organic tomato seeds produce vigorous indeterminate, regular-leaf tomato plants that yield copious amounts of red-mahogany-bronze, 5-oz., plum-shaped fruit. Exceptional, rich, fruity, tangy taste. Rare tomato seeds.
Days to Ripen: 81
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Black Krim
Originally from the Isle of Krim on the Black Sea in the former Soviet Union. This rare and outstanding tomato yields 3-4" slightly flattened dark-red (mahogany-colored) slightly maroon, beefsteak tomatoes with deep green shoulders. Green gel around seeds. Fantastic, intense, slightly salty taste (which is great for those not wanting to add salt to their tomatoes). Perfect choice for slicing, salads and cooking.
Days to Ripen: 75
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Black Pear
Truely a unique black Russian tomato of Siberian origin. (Similar to Japanese Black Trifele.) Tomato seeds produce big, indeterminate, potato-leaf plants that yield plentiful crops of 6-8 oz., dark, mahogany-brown tomatoes with dark green shoulders. Fruits are shaped like miniature pears and are loaded with excellent, complex, sweet, well-balanced flavors. These are not only very decorative but a perfect choice for cutting up into salads or used in a tomato sauce.
Days to Ripen: 75
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Black Zebra
1 1/2" round fruit brown skin with black stripes rich tomato flavor with hints of smoke and sweetness. Created by Jeff Dawson this is one of our favorites for looks and taste.
Days to Ripen: 85
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Blood Gulch
Cut into this magnificent fruit to reveal the deepest, darkest, blood-red flesh I've ever seen in a tomato. Decadent and delicious! A deep reddish-purple with luminescent green streaking, this 2 to 3 ounce fruit is an offspring of a pure platinum-silver tomato with darker silver stripes. This beautifully bizarre and stunning tomato is descended from that silver tomato discovered by Krystal Elser in a patch of Black Zebras. Krystal saved 8 seeds, 2 germinated. Grown out and stabilized, two delightful varieties resulted from that silver pearlescent fruit. Blood Gulch and Valhalla , also available this season. This is how a lot of the heirlooms came about. Mother Nature at her best! Blood Gulch was named after The Blood Gulch Chronicles as Krystal is a Halo fan.
Days to Ripen: 90
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Brown Berry
Tomato seeds produce vigorous, indeterminate, regular-leaf tomato plants that yield exceptionally large crops of mahogany (brick-red) brown colored, 1 inch, round, open-pollinated cherry tomatoes. The Brown Berry cherry tomato has excellent semi-sweet , rich flavors with just a slight bit of acid finish over it's fruity sweetness. Very Juicy! A great snacking or salad tomato to mix with your other colored tomatoes.
Days to Ripen: 72
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Brown Derby
Combining the sweet succulence of the black tomatoes and the tangy spiciness of the greens, this is a spectacular cross of my all-time favorite, Paul Robeson, and the legendary Aunt Ruby's German Green.
It arose about 5 years ago in the garden of Maria & Darrell Elser of Elser's Country Farm in Yucaipa, California and they have been selling it to adoring customers at their Southern California heirloom tomato farm stands for several years. The flavor is tantalizing--tart and sweet, a perfect combination of tang to sweetness with plenty of juice and a rapturous brown and green color. When Amazing Terry and I first tasted it in August, our eyes got wide, we grinned and stared at each other with the 'Oh-my-God-this-is-incredible' look. I could barely believe my mouth.
Elser's Brown Derby has become a much sought after favorite at Maria and Darrell's Farmer's Market stands where customers arrive early to get their hands on one of these treasures. I had to scramble to get this one. True story. I picked it up, another customer implored me, but I did not budge, wouldn't give it up. I wanted it for the photograph because it was so beautiful. Then we ate it.
Days to Ripen: 75
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Cherokee Green
Growing on a big leafy plant, Cherokee Green fruits reach to 12" to 16" ounces and deliver the classic knock-out flavor and probably in the top 3 of the green varieties. Amber green with a yellow hue when ripe, they deliver a tangy rich sweet taste with meaty juicy texture.
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Cherokee Purple
A sprawling indeterminate plant producing 10-16 oz., flattened and slightly pleated fruit with a orange/brown to chestnut color. Wonderful flavor!
Days to Ripen: 85
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Crnkovic Yugoslavian
Seeds for heirloom tomato, Yasha Yugoslavian, were given to Dr. Carolyn Male by Yasha Crnkovic, who obtained them from relatives in the Vojvod area of Yugoslavia. Ttomato seeds produce vigorous, indeterminate, regular-leaf tomato plants that yield large amounts of extra-large, 1-2 pound, slightly flattened, pink beefsteak tomatoes that are full-flavored, deliciously juicy . A crack-resistant tomato variety. If you can't pronounce the name...the taste will make up for the difficulty. A great tomato for eating fresh in salads or sliced thick for sandwiches.
Days to Ripen: 85
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Gary Ibsen's Gold
Plant produces lots of very juicy, 14 oz. , brilliant orange-gold globes with tropical fruit flavors with enough acid balance to guarantee a burst of tomato delight.
Days to Ripen: 75
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Green Grape
This old-fashioned bush tomato is an heirloom originally developed by the Tater Mater Seed Co. from crossing the Yellow Pear with Evergreen. The distinctive, 1�, yellowish green fruits are borne in clusters of 6-12 that resemble large grapes. Fruit has a translucent pale-green on the inside. This variety has become popular in restaurants and markets because of their unique attractiveness and great flavor.
Days to Ripen: 60
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Green Zebra
Developed in 1985 by tomato breeder Tom Wagner, this is an unusual and exquisite tomato chosen by Alice Waters for her restaurant, Chez Panisse, in Berkeley, California. The 2-inch round fruit ripens to a yellow-gold with dark-green zebra-like stripes. The flesh is lime-emerald in color that has an invigorating lemon-lime flavor. A great tomato for brightening up salads and other tomato dishes.
Days to Ripen: 75
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Japanese Black Trifele
Russian origin. In Russia the Trifele varieties of tomatoes (of which there are several colors) are highly prized and command hig prices. This short potato leaf plant yields prolific quantities of 6 oz. fruit that looks like a beautiful mahogany-colored Bartlett pear with greenish shoulders. Very tasty flesh with a meaty core that produces luscious fruit all summer long. A work of art sliced out on a plate and a wonderful flavor that possesses an extrordinairy rich and complex flavors. The Black Trifele is one of the blackest varieties available and is resistent to cracking.
Days to Ripen: 81
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Koralik
An extra-early, great tasting Russian heirloom cherry tomato. Tomato seeds produce determinate, regular-leaf tomato plants with very heavy yields of 1-inch, bright-red cherry tomatoes that have a pronounced sweetness and complementary mild tartness. Perfect for home gardens and market growers. Koralik has much better flavor than the popular SunGold. 8 fruits ripen simultaneously. A wonderfully delicious snacking tomato that is a great choice for adding to tomato salads or culinary creations.
Days to Ripen: 61
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Lucky Cross
Seeds for this potato leaf sent to me from Amy Gallagher of Madison, WI. Variety originally from Craig LeHoullier from a Brandywine and an unknown bee-produced cross. A fabulous tomato. Red-yellow bicolor fruit with excellent productivity, disease resistance and taste.
Days to Ripen: 85
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Lollipop
Tomato seeds produce indeterminate, disease-resistant, big, bushy, regular-leaf plants with wispy foliage that yield huge amounts of 1-1/4 inch, almost translucent, creamy, yellow cherry tomatoes in clusters of 6-10, that hang on the plants like lollipops and have unique, fruity-sweet, lemony flavors unlike other cherry tomatoes. Produces fruit continuously, even under high temps. Great as a salad tomato, or as a snacking tomato, or for adding to culinary creations.
Days to Ripen: 79
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Marianna's Peace
This is a pink heirloom that originated in Czechoslovakia. Seeds brought to America during WW2. Potato leaf variety producing moderate yields of 1-2 lb. beautiful, pink beefsteaks. Dense, creamy, sweet flesh with rich complex, old tomatoey flavors. Great gift for the tomato lover.
Days to Ripen: 85
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Marz Round Green
Tomato seeds produce indeterminate, regular-leaf tomato plants that yield a generous crop of 2-inch, round, lime-green, tomatoes with darker green shoulders. Wonderful, tangy-sweet flavors makes this tomato variety a great addition to a tomato salad. Rare tomato seeds.
Days to Ripen: 80
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Nyagous
A prolific, rare, Russian tomato variety. Beautiful, smooth, round, "black" tomatoes that are dark mohagany with dark grey-green shoulders. Nyagous is a wonderfully firm and blemish-free, 6 oz. tomato with lots of sweet, complex fruit flavors and a clean acidic finish. Up to 6 fruits to a cluster. A good market variety that has become a favorite of the Russian varieties. Nyagous is resistant to cracking.
Days to Ripen: 76
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Paul Robeson
Seed for this Russian heirloom was made available by Marina Danilenko, a Moscow seeds woman. This favorite tomato was named after the operatic artist who won acclaim as an advocate of equal rights for Blacks. His artistry was admired world-wide, especially in the Soviet Union. This "black" beefsteak tomato is slightly flattened, round, and grows to 4-inches. It�s deep, rich colors stand it apart from others�a dusky, dark-red, with dark-green shoulders, and red flesh in it�s center. Very flavorful fruits with luscious, earthy flavors and good acid/sweet balance. This won "Best of Show" at 2000 Carmel Tomato Fest.
Days to Ripen: 74
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Persimmon
This vigorous and prolific heirloom, introduced around 1983, yields lots of fruit. One of the better flavors of all the orange tomatoes. Rose-orange (persimmon colored) fruits range from 12-ounces to 2 pounds. Meaty, very sweet, and few seeds.
Days to Ripen: 80
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Pineapple
An heirloom garden favorite that grows to 2 lbs. This bi-colored, slightly flattened, yellow beefsteak has a red blushing and streaks on the outside. It�s yellow interior contains few seeds and a red star-burst in the center. Taste is wonderfully mild with tropical fruity-sweet flavors. This is a show stopper!
Days to Ripen: 85
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Rose Quartz
A very productive cherry plant from Japan producing large pink cherries in clusters. Absolutely delicious flavor.
Days to Ripen: 75
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Schwarze Sarah
Productive German heirloom. Yields large (3-inch) pink/purple fruit with dark green shoulders and a deep grey/purple broad streaks throughout the fruit. Very tasty!
Days to Ripen: 80
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Shenghaung Cherry
From a farmer in the Zhengjiang province of China as a family favorite. From this 5' plant an abundance of beautiful red, round, 1" , cherries filled with sweet but slightly tart flavors.
Days to Ripen: 75
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Stripe German
Productive German heirloom. Yields large (3-inch) pink/purple fruit with dark green shoulders and a deep grey/purple broad streaks throughout the fruit. Very tasty!
Days to Ripen: 78
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Sun Sugar
A medium-sized, orange ripening cherry tomato, sought after for its intense sweet flavor. The fruits grow to a bit under an inch wide, with a thin skin that is very crack resistant. The fruits have decent storage capabilities, generally lasting off the vine for 1-2 weeks. Flavor is highly sweet, with fruity overtones, setting the Sun Sugar apart from many of its red counterparts.
Days to Ripen: 67
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Valencia
Heirloom from Maine. Beautiful round, 10 ounce, orange fruits that contain a rich tomatoey flavor.
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Valhalla
This rare and gorgeous deep pink and yellow zebra-striped fruit arose a few years ago in the garden of Krystal Elser of Elser's Country farm. Descended from a pure silver tomato with darker silver streaks found in a patch of Black Zebras, its stunning pearlescent hues give way to elaborate flavors with sweet citrusy notes and a background of melon. Marvelous! Its sister fruit, Blood Gulch, is deep reddish-purple with green streaking and is also new for 2010. Bountiful on the vine, Valhalla will give you loads of 2" fruits and produce up until frost. Truly a delightful new variety for your heirloom garden.
Days to Ripen: 90
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Wickline Cherry
An heirloom cherry tomato from Pennsylvania. Tomato seeds produce big, leafy, indeterminate, regular-leaf tomato plants that yield HUGE crops of 1" x 1�", pinkish-red, egg-shaped, cherry tomatoes borne in clusters of four, with an exceptional, pronounced, sweet, well-balanced, flavor. A good snacking tomato that is very popular with chefs for salads and culinary creations.
Days to Ripen: 83
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White Queen
Seeds obtained by Craig Lehoullier from the USDA and shared with Dr. Carolyn Male for grow out. This heirloom variety offers some of the nicest shape and whitest color of any of the "white" varieties. Beefsteak-style fruit weighs to 12 oz. and is smooth skinned with ribbed shoulders. Some fruits have a pink blush or streaks on their blossom ends that ripen to a pale creamy yellow. Tomatoes are juicy and sweet.
Days to Ripen: 85
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Yellow Gooseberry
Very prolific plant producing 1-inch, yellow-orange cherries with very big sweet flavors.
Days to Ripen: 75
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Produce descriptions & photos courtesy of:
Laurel's Heirloom Tomato Plants,
Johhny's Selected Seeds,
Seed Savers Exchange &
TomatoFest
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