If you’re a gardener or tomato enthusiast looking to explore unique flavors, colors, and histories, this guide to tomato heirloom varieties is for you. We cover ten standout heirloom tomatoes, explaining what makes each special and why they’re worth growing in your garden or growing space. Whether you want exceptional taste, stunning appearance, or rare genetics, this list will help you discover varieties that bring character and quality far beyond ordinary supermarket tomatoes.
Brandywine Pink
Brandywine Pink is arguably the most famous heirloom tomato, cherished for its large, beefsteak-sized fruits and rich, sweet flavor with a balanced acidity. Originating from Amish seed stock, it produces fruits weighing up to a pound or more with a smooth, pink skin and juicy, tender flesh. Though it has a longer growing season and can be somewhat finicky, its exceptional taste makes it a favorite among heirloom growers.
Black Krim
Black Krim hails from the Crimean Peninsula and is known for its dark, purplish-red color with greenish shoulders. It offers a smoky, slightly salty flavor profile that stands out from traditional tomato varieties. This variety is semi-determinate, meaning it produces fruit over a longer period, and it thrives in warm climates, making it ideal for gardeners seeking a unique taste and appearance.
Mortgage Lifter
Developed in the 1930s by radioman M.C. “Radiator Charlie” Byles, the Mortgage Lifter is prized for its large, meaty fruits that can weigh up to two pounds. It has a mild, sweet flavor with low acidity and smooth texture, perfect for slicing and sandwiches. This variety is indeterminate and vigorous, producing abundant yields, which historically helped Byles pay off his mortgage through seed sales.
Green Zebra
Green Zebra is a striking tomato variety with bright green and yellow striped skin, often ripening to a slightly translucent green. Its flavor is tangy and zesty, with a nice balance of sweetness and acidity, making it a refreshing choice for salads. This variety is smaller than beefsteaks but is an indeterminate plant that produces fruit steadily throughout the season.
Amish Paste
Amish Paste is a classic heirloom paste tomato, ideal for sauces, canning, and cooking. It produces large, plum-shaped fruits with thick, dense flesh and few seeds, giving it excellent meatiness for concentrated tomato flavor. Originating from Amish communities, it’s valued for its reliability and rich taste, making it a staple for preserving and cooking enthusiasts.
Black Cherry
Black Cherry tomatoes are small, round, and dark purple to almost black when ripe, offering a complex, sweet, and slightly smoky flavor. They are prolific producers on indeterminate vines, providing an extended harvest period. Their unique color and intense taste make them popular for fresh eating, salads, and garnishes.
Costoluto Genovese
Costoluto Genovese is an Italian heirloom known for its deeply ribbed, bright red fruits with a rich, acidic flavor. The heavily lobed tomatoes often grow to medium-large sizes and are prized for their robust taste, ideal for fresh eating and sauce making. This variety is indeterminate and thrives in warm climates, producing abundant yields of distinctive-looking fruit.
Yellow Pear
Yellow Pear tomatoes are small, pear-shaped fruits with a mild, sweet flavor and bright yellow skin. They are prolific and indeterminate, often used in salads, garnishes, or fresh snacking. Their unique shape and cheerful color add visual interest to any garden or dish, and they tend to be low-maintenance and resistant to common tomato diseases.
Paul Robeson
Named after the African-American singer and activist, Paul Robeson tomatoes are dark mahogany with green shoulders and a complex, smoky-sweet flavor. This variety is indeterminate and produces medium to large fruits with a dense, juicy texture. It’s prized for its rich taste and striking appearance, making it a favorite for gourmet cooking and fresh eating.
San Marzano
San Marzano is a famous Italian plum tomato variety, ideal for sauces and canning due to its thick flesh, low seed count, and balanced acidity. It’s an indeterminate plant producing elongated, bright red fruits with a sweet, rich flavor that intensifies when cooked. Authentic San Marzano tomatoes are protected by designation of origin in Italy, but heirloom seeds outside Italy still produce excellent sauce tomatoes.
How to Choose
When selecting heirloom tomato varieties, consider your climate, growing space, and culinary goals. Indeterminate varieties produce fruit continuously but require staking or caging, while determinate types have a shorter, more concentrated harvest. Flavor profiles vary widely—from sweet and mild to tangy or smoky—so pick varieties that suit your taste preferences and intended use, such as fresh eating, slicing, or sauce making. Disease resistance and days to maturity also matter, especially if you have a shorter growing season or specific challenges like blight or cracking. Finally, consider the visual appeal if you want to impress with color and shape diversity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What defines a tomato as an heirloom? An heirloom tomato is a non-hybrid variety passed down through generations, often open-pollinated and valued for unique traits and flavors.
Are heirloom tomatoes more difficult to grow than hybrids? They can be, as many heirlooms have less disease resistance and may require more care, but many gardeners find their superior flavor worth the extra effort.
Can I save seeds from heirloom tomatoes? Yes, heirloom tomatoes are open-pollinated, allowing you to save seeds that will grow true to type in the next season.
Do heirloom tomatoes taste better than commercial tomatoes? Generally, yes. Heirlooms are bred for flavor and diversity rather than uniformity and shelf life, which often results in richer taste and aroma.
When should I plant heirloom tomatoes? Plant after the last frost date in your area, once soil temperatures reach at least 60°F (16°C) for optimal germination and growth.
How do I prevent cracking in heirloom tomatoes? Maintain consistent watering and avoid sudden fluctuations in soil moisture, which are the main causes of fruit cracking.
Final Thoughts
Heirloom tomatoes provide a rewarding growing experience that combines history, flavor, and beauty in your garden. By choosing varieties like Brandywine Pink for classic sweetness or Black Krim for smoky complexity, you can enjoy a wide range of tastes and uses. Understanding your growing conditions and culinary needs will help you select the best heirlooms to grow year after year. With patience and care, heirloom tomatoes can elevate both your garden’s diversity and your kitchen’s flavor profile.
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