Tomatoes from the grocery store shelves taste like--NOTHING!
Why? Most of the tomatoes purchased from grocery stores have
been harvested days before they reach the grocery, treated to
turn red, and bred to stay firm and not bruise on the shelves.
Plant breeding for the last fifty years has concentrated on
producing a tomato that can survive anything--except for a taste
test.
Gardeners and tomato aficionados alike have given up on the
produce aisle for anything other than garnish. Instead, they
turn to seed and plant catalogues to find tasty varieties to
grow. When viewing a plant catalogue of tomato seed sources, you
will be confronted with hundreds of varieties. Huge and tiny,
purple, red, yellow and orange tomatoes. Perfectly round, almost
flat, and lemon-shaped tomatoes. Seed catalogues highlight
another variable to understand regarding tomato growing:
heirloom versus hybrid tomatoes.
Heirloom Tomatoes - Tasty and unique, heirloom varieties are
endless. This category of plant is where you will find purple,
orange and yellow tomatoes sharing catalogue space with red
ones. Heirloom varieties are "open pollinated" plants, which
means that if you harvest seeds from a plant, prepare them, save
them, and plant them next year, you will grow the same plant.
Heirloom varieties were developed over time, in isolated gardens
and communities, thus developing unique characteristics.
Heirlooms require particular growing conditions, and each
variety is different. The key to success with heirlooms is
choosing a variety that is well suited to your growing
conditions. Because heirloom tomatoes have not been bred for
generations to promote vigor and disease resistance, these
varieties need a little bit of extra care. They are, however,
worth the extra work. Heirlooms will produce lush, flavorful
tomatoes of every shape, size and hue, for every culinary taste
or need.
Hybrid Tomatoes - These tomatoes are the result of two different
tomato varieties being "crossed" or joined, and the seeds
harvested from the resulting plants. Hybrid tomato seeds will
produce the tomato with hybrid characteristics for only one
plant generation. If you harvest your tomatoes from the hybrid
plant and plant those seeds next year, you will not have the
same plant.
Hybrid tomatoes have been bred for disease resistance,
uniformity, and ability to withstand mechanical harvesting,
packing and shipping. Little time has been spent in enhancing
flavor in hybrid tomatoes. Much like hybrid tea roses, hybrid
tomatoes may be nice to look at, but they have few other
desirable attributes.
For large-scale commercial tomato growers, hybrid tomatoes are a
great help. For consumers expecting bright red tomatoes in the
middle of winter, hybrids are a way to consume. For home
gardeners, Heirloom varieties produce yields as large, and much
more flavorful. Home gardeners have enough time and attention to
successfully grow heirloom tomatoes and bring out their best
qualities.
Choosing the Right Variety
Whether Heirlooms or Hybrids are your tomato of choice, you must
choose tomato varieties that are well suited to your growing
environment. Climates with high heat and humidity will help
certain varieties flourish, while colder climates with shorter
growing seasons require cultivation of plants that set fruit and
mature faster.
For a comprehensive resource on tomato varieties, both heirloom
and hybrid, consult How To Grow Juicy Tasty Tomatoes available
from the link below.
About the Author:
Annette Welsford is author and publisher of "How to Grow Juicy
Tasty Tomatoes." For more information, visit Best Juicy Tomatoes
