Best heirloom tomatoes

La Noire de Crimée, a particularly renowned heirloom tomato

Ancient tomato Noire de Crimée is one of the best-known, made famous by its flavour, but also by the blackish-green colour of its fruits. Early and very productive, this ancient variety produces up to nearly 4 kg of large fruits with dark flesh per plant. Low in acidity, this tomato is popular with children, notably because of its low number of seeds. The fruit is however fairly delicate, prone to splitting. It is therefore preferable to eat it in salads.

Growing ancient tomato Noire de Crimée

Noire de Crimée is grown particularly in regions with warm, sunny summers, and in moist, rich, light soil. This ancient variety can reach up to 2 m tall at ripeness, and must therefore be staked as soon as planted. Sow it under cover between March and April, then plant it in the garden as plug plants from May to June (outside frost period) for a harvest running from July to October.

La Rose de Berne, an old variety resistant to damp and cold

Heirloom tomato with pink, juicy flesh, Rose de Berne is a Swiss mid-season variety. It produces round fruit with a fine epidermis, of medium to large size (150–250 g). Fruit praised by enthusiasts who extol its both sweet, sugary and fragrant flavour. A taste that makes them ideal eaten raw with a pinch of salt or in salads.

Growing heirloom tomato Rose de Berne

This heirloom variety is particularly suited to humid, cool climates. It is therefore ideal for regions that do not enjoy long summers. Another notable feature, Rose de Berne is very disease-resistant, notably to late blight.

With good growing conditions, this heirloom tomato can reach 2 m in height. It should therefore be staked or trellised from planting. Rose de Berne is sown between February and May, and is harvested between July and October.

Ananas tomato, largest of orange heirloom tomatoes

Large-fruited heirloom tomato, the Ananas tomato is a late midsummer variety (90 days), very productive. It produces large fruits (250–400 g) of a beautiful yellow-orange colour. It offers a sweet and tangy flavour, as well as dense, firm, juicy flesh, and is almost seed-free. Again, the remarkable aroma of this heirloom makes it ideal for eating raw. However, despite suitable size, it is too dense to be properly stuffed.

To grow the Ananas heirloom tomato

Ananas tomato thrives in a sunny spot and in soil that is rich, loose and healthy. Although it does not exceed 1.50 m in height, Ananas tomato should be staked at planting. This heirloom variety is sown between February and April on a heated bed, or in buckets kept indoors. Seedlings 12 to 15 cm tall are then transplanted to the vegetable patch, when temperatures are sufficiently high, around mid-May.

Téton de Vénus tomato, an old variety worth rediscovering

This Andean-type variety is an old forgotten tomato that truly deserves to be rediscovered as soon as possible. Indeed, Téton de Vénus tomato produces clusters of small fruits (70 to 100 g) with dense flesh and juicy texture, with few seeds, and a very sweet flavour. Beyond their much-appreciated taste, the fruits of this heirloom variety take the shape of small red or golden peppers (depending on cultivar) bearing a more or less elongated point. This small tomato can easily be dried. It is also used in coulis or juice.

Téton de Vénus tomato © Ferme de Sainte-Marthe

To grow Téton de Vénus heirloom tomato

Of rapid growth, Téton de Vénus young plants can reach between 1.20 and 1.60 m in height. Although appearing delicate with their fine branching, this heirloom variety is actually very resistant to diseases, notably to powdery mildew and late blight. Sow under cover between March and April, for a harvest between June and September.

Orange Bourgoin tomato, a heritage mini variety

Very productive, Orange Bourgoin tomato is an heirloom variety that falls into the mini category. It produces small fruits in clusters of a beautiful bright orange, about the size of a ping-pong ball (around 50 g). Very fragrant and sweet, this heirloom variety is particularly well suited to jam-making. But it can also be eaten raw as an appetiser.

Orange Bourgoin tomato © Ferme de Saint-Marthe

To grow Orange Bourgoin heirloom tomato

Orange Bourgoin young plants usually reach 1.50 m in height, and sometimes up to 2 m. They should be staked therefore from planting in the vegetable patch. This heirloom variety prefers sunny exposures and warm conditions, and fresh, rich soils rich in organic matter, and light. Sow between the months of March and April, for a harvest running from July to September.

Tomato 'Merveille des marchés', an heirloom variety with lovely texture

At first glance, appearance of Merveille des marchés tomato appears unremarkable. Indeed, its fruits slightly flattened, scarlet-red and medium to large in size (100 to 200 g) resemble any ordinary tomato. Yet the pink flesh of this heirloom Marmande-type variety is perfect for all your cooked dishes. Fruity and enjoying a lovely texture that is hardly mealy, it peels very easily and can be eaten raw or prepared in tasty stuffed dishes and gratins.

To grow heirloom Merveille des marchés tomato

Merveille des marchés tomato offers very good yield and is not very susceptible to disease. With indeterminate growth, it can reach between 1.60 and 2 m in height, and must be staked from planting out in open ground. Sow between March and April for harvest from July to September.