There are hundreds of great tomatoes to choose from, so how can a thoughtful gardener possibly narrow the field to a promising half dozen or so? For answers, Sunset staffers queried tomato growers and chefs around the West, attended tomato festivals, and hobnobbed with growers at farmers' markets.
A surprising number of favorite tomatoes are heirlooms ― ones whose seed has been passed down from gardener to gardener for generations. Many have great stories attached. 'Brandywine', for example, was bred by the Amish more than a century ago. 'Paul Robeson' is a variety named for the African American singer and actor, but it was cultivated and named in Russia. 'Radiator Charlie's Mortgage Lifter' was bred by a West Virginia radiator repairman named M.C. Byles during the 1930s. He sold his seedlings for $1 each and paid off his $6,000 mortgage in six years.
But we don't grow tomatoes for stories. We grow them for that intense flavor you can only get from vine-ripened fruit ― and for their amazing array of colors, shapes, and sizes. To get started, click on the links above.
PAGE:1
