The Differences Between Tomatoes

In this blog, we will be explaining the different types of tomatoes. Let’s start with discussing heirloom tomatoes.

Heirloom Tomatoes

Heirloom tomatoes are the best tomatoes for flavor. Yes, they come in all different shapes and colors. The flavor is different from all the other kinds. The term heirloom means that the tomato is stable and has been around for at least 50 years. You can save seeds from these tomatoes and the following year plant them, they will come true for flavor and looks like the ones you grew the year before. Yes a lot of them are more susceptible to diseases and takes more of your time but for the flavor are well worth it. Also, when treating for these diseases there are organic products I use to treat them which will be discussed in another blog.

Open Pollinated Tomatoes

Open Pollinated tomatoes can range from being stable to not being stable, beginning with F2. The F stands for Filial Generations, so each year you grow and select from the strongest plants. You select for looks and flavor for that year. They will go up another generation to F3, then the year following f4 etc. Open Pollinated tomatoes are tomatoes that have been around for 49 years or less but are on their way to being an Heirloom once they reach being around for 50 years. This means every year there are new heirlooms out there. You can also save seeds from these also most of these will come true to what you grew the year prior unless you have f2 – f5 generations. F2 – f5 are unstable you will get variations in plants, and tomato shapes, colors, and flavors. But this can also be fun in creating your own variety to becoming an heirloom some day.

Hybrid Tomatoes

These are F1 crosses, they are what you see a lot of in grocery stores and most big farmers grow these. The reasons why they were crossed is for uniform looks. Production, flavor and are disease resistant. When you save seeds from those tomatoes, they will not come true to what you grew the year before. But you can save seeds from them and create your own out of them, and grow and select each generation. Example, this year we grew our Jetstar F3 seeds we saved from last year. Jetsar is a hybrid, we saved the seeds from the hybrid. Those seeds will be considered F2, since the hybrid it was F1. I planted the F2’s selected for flavors, shape, and plant growth. Then this year we planted the F3’s from last year, and we found one we are really excited out of them to work with next year, the flavor was just outstanding.

Pictures Of The Types Of Tomatoes

Here are the different types as example.

The orange one is a Hybrid it is Carolina Gold it’s uniform and crack resistant when growing is disease resistant.

The big red one is an Heirloom it is Springston’s Heirloom see it’s not uniform it has cracks and is more prone to disease.

The purple and red heart is an Open Pollinated tomato it is Sgt Peppers it just hasn’t been around 50 year to be an heirloom but is stable.

The black tomato is one we created, it is Bounty’s Best. We put this on here to show being a hybrid F1 cross to F2 to start the journeys of Open Pollination tomatoes. Now, one day after 50 years it will become an heirloom we created grew and selected for color, shapes, flavor, plant growth and production.

You may want to check out our Garden Gallery. This is where we have more pictures and varieties.