Posted on 27 April 2008 by tomatocasual.com
By Michael Nolan
As much as I adore tomatoes of all shapes and sizes, there are certain heirloom tomato varieties that simply do not do well in the hot Alabama summer sun.
As I have received quite a few questions about this topic recently, I decided to give you a short list of a few heirloom tomato varieties that tend to have better results in certain climates. I am intentionally calling attention to varieties that I have not yet covered on Tomato Casual:
Heirloom Tomatoes for Hot Weather Climates
- Aunt Ruby’s Green – a long time favorite that originated in Tennessee, these beauties are light green, often with yellow stripes. They are flatter than they are round, and an excellent choice for fried green tomatoes.
Posted on 11 April 2008 by tomatocasual.com
Part One: Heirlooms For Everyone! A Guide to Choosing Tomato Seeds
By Kira Hamman
As much as we all love seed catalogs, they can be a touch overwhelming at times.
Seventy-four varieties of heirloom tomatoes? Really? How can anyone ever choose?
Here’s help, in the form of an annotated guide to six fantastic varieties. Grow one, grow them all, ignore this list completely – the choice is up to you. But place your seed order quick, because it’s time to get started!
1. Brandywine: The Platonic ideal of tomato. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on 28 March 2008 by tomatocasual.com
By Michael Nolan
The beauty of heirloom tomatoes reaches far beyond the dinner table and into history itself.
They are a breath of fresh air in today’s world of genetically mutated plants that foster family and friendship.
Heirloom seeds are truly by the people, for the people. They are not mass manufactured and sold in every store, instead being handed down by generations of real people who value taste and purity over appearance.
In the early 1940s, a man without any formal education who went by the name of “Radiator Charlie” decided that he wanted to create a better tomato. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on 27 March 2008 by tomatocasual.com
By Michelle Fabio
In a perfect world, we’d all have our choice of homegrown tomatoes from our own gardens every day. In the real world, though, sometimes we just have to go and buy tomatoes.
Indeed, Tomato Casual reader Renee has been faced with the challenge, and asks:
“I need to know how heirloom tomatoes are supposed to feel when I choose the ones to buy. I know that sounds strange, but all the ones I have found have been pretty squishy.”
Drop that tomato Renee!
OK, it’s better if you gently put it back where you found it, but under no circumstances should you buy a tomato that Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on 26 March 2008 by tomatocasual.com
By Michael Nolan
When I was young, my grandparents grew the best tomatoes on the planet.
I didn’t know anything about anything at the time, except that these things were ugly, they were big and man, were they good! It wasn’t until years later when my grandmother passed away that I would learn that not all of the family heirlooms were given to her ungrateful children.
Granny left me a small box full of tiny zip lock baggies.
Each was carefully labeled with a variety of names, many of which sounded foreign. It didn’t take me long to realize that she had given me her collection of heirloom tomato seeds. No one could understand why I was so ecstatic when I didn’t receive one penny from the estate, but they couldn’t possibly comprehend the value of that little cigar box on my lap.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on 17 November 2007 by tomatocasual
By Michelle Fabio
Tomato Casual reader Giorgio Nero would like to know:
Where can I buy about 100 cases of heirloom - or similarly tasting, sun-grown - tomatoes during the winter months. I need them in New York City and refuse to buy the available tasteless winter product.
This is an excellent question and a valid concern; no one likes a bland tomato!
To find the answer, we went straight to some of the most reliable sources we could think of—the finest restaurants of New York City.
We found that over 200 restaurants in the Big Apple, including The Four Seasons, get their tomatoes from Sid Wainer & Son® in New Bedford, Massachusetts. President of the company, Dr. Henry B. Wainer informed us that their heirloom season is as follows:
Read the rest of this entry »
