You’ve seen them lurking in the produce department of the grocery store – those gnarly, cat-faced or cracked tomatoes with deep folds in strange shapes, colors and sizes. They almost seem to watch you as you head toward the cucumbers and peppers. Here’s how you can save and plant their seeds to grown those yummy heirloom tomatoes yourself.
You’ve seen them lurking in the produce department of the grocery store – those gnarly, cat-faced or cracked tomatoes with deep folds in strange shapes, colors and sizes. They almost seem to watch you as you head toward the cucumbers and peppers. Maybe you even buy them and eat them, but do you know what the term “heirloom” tomato really means?
Many people think heirloom tomatoes are a specific kind of tomato, but heirloom refers to any fruit or vegetable seed that has been saved, grown and passed down by gardeners for generations.
Our ancestors chose to save these tomatoes because of their delicious taste, meaty texture, juiciness or exceptional production in their own gardens. They wanted to share these wonderful cultivars with friends and family because they were just so darn good.
The majority of tomatoes sold in grocery stores today are hybrid tomatoes. (Not to be confused with genetically modified tomatoes.) Plant breeders cross different plants to create a new one with the best features of both parent plants. They are bred to produce specific traits, like disease resistance or thick skins to help them withstand mass shipping. That’s how we get perfectly round, bright red tomatoes that last longer on your kitchen counter. But sometimes those traits come at the expense of the taste.
It takes a long time for hybrid plants to stabilize so that they can actually retain those characteristics, and many of today’s hybrid seeds are relatively new. That explains why seeds from these hybrids can’t produce a mirror image of the parent plants. So, if you plant an Better Boy hybrid tomato plant this year and then later try to plant seeds from those tomatoes, the seeds will not produce tomatoes that are the same as your original plant because the traits will revert.
Heirloom fruit and vegetable seeds (not just tomato seeds) must be open pollinated to produce plants that are just like the parent plant. Open pollinated vegetable varieties reproduce by either:
Plants like tomatoes, beans and peas are self-pollinating. These are the easiest for home gardeners to save and pass down for generations.
Carrots, squash and corn are cross-pollinating, so they have to be kept separate in the garden to keep the varieties true to the parent.
Experts disagree about how old an heirloom has to be to be considered a true heirloom. The introduction of the first hybrids in 1951 muddied the waters a bit. Varieties can be traced back to old European, Native American, Asian or African crops, some traceable by historic record back to 400 years or more.
Today, you can grow heirloom vegetables in your garden and save or pass along the seeds. It’s easy – just buy and plant heirloom seeds or plants from your local nursery. Make sure they are identified as heirloom varieties.
When the tomatoes are ripe, chop or mash one or two of them in a jar. Then fill the rest of the jar with water and shake it up daily for a week to allow the seeds to separate from the pulp and fall to the bottom of the jar. (Leaving them in the water to ferment helps to kill diseases and germination-inhibiting substances.)
Then rinse and dry the seeds – spread them on a ceramic plate to dry because they will stick to paper towels or wax paper or most other surfaces. Put the plate in a cool, dry spot for a week or two and make sure the seeds are fully dried before placing them in a glass jar for storage. Any residual moisture will lead to mold and mildew. Following these steps will help ensure that they are viable when you plant them.
Some heirloom tomato varieties that will grow well in Central Texas include:
And the best thing about growing delicious heirloom tomatoes here in Central Texas is that we have two distinct growing seasons, enabling us to enjoy them even longer.
The first stop on the second day of the garden bloggers Fling in Asheville found us in a breathtaking garden, filled with stone terraces, outcroppings and layers and layers of lush plants. Around every corner and down every path, the garden of Jasmin and Peter Gentling never failed to surprise and delight.
When I looked at our schedule for the day, I was curious about spending 3 hours with lunch in one single garden. It only took a glimpse to understand that we might need more time!
Amidst the incredibly green and lush backdrop, the poppies seemed to jump out right at you.
The terraces were woven throughout the garden, with winding trails that led to seating areas scattered about.
Some of the specimen plants in the garden were awe-inspiring, like this juniper that trailed along a support and created a grey-green curtain on the edge of the vegetable garden.
There are several buildings on the property – a greenhouse/art studio, a propagating building, and the main house.
The towering trees were stunning. But photos don’t do them justice without a little perspective!
More of the juniper curtain.
We weren’t the only ones visiting the garden — it was full of bees and butterflies enjoying all the lovely plants.
Our host and planner extraordinaire, Christoper, of Outside Clyde, was busy studying and photographing the garden while herding the crowd of more than 90 garden bloggers.
There was no shortage of places to gather or plants to talk about.
Fellow Austin garden bloggers, Pam, of Digging, and Vicki, of Playin Outside, stop to talk about the white rose campion.
I almost mistook Lisa, of Greenbow Gardens, as a part of the poppy garden. She graciously agreed to pose for me in her stylish hat.
Watching teeny tiny fellow bloggers wander up the mountainside in the distance gave some more perspective to the expanse of the garden.
The rock work around the patio creates a cozy room.
Paths lined with plants wind around corners and lead to magical garden surprises.
A view of the main house (as full of character inside as the garden is outside) from the terrace below.
The back patio, where we enjoyed a delicious lunch.
Something we rarely see here in Central Texas gardens – moss.
The terraced beds were full to the brim with flowers in bloom, many of them things we can grow in Austin. I saw rose campion, poppies, salvias, nasturtium, sedums, irises, day lilies, Jerusalem sage, lavender, rosemary, hostas, ferns, miscanthus and wisteria, just to name a few of the plants we have in common.
This stylized grouping of plants, shrubs and rocks against the wooden fence was very striking, and had a different feel than the rest of the garden, which was soft and flowing.
More paths, more flowers, more bloggers!
Look closely and you’ll see this bench tucked into the front of the rock retaining wall.
Jasmin’s cat (whose name escapes me now, sorry kitty) was a little overwhelmed with all the attention in her garden and Mom took her inside for a little cat nap.
All the steps had ferns and hostas and succulents peeking out from the nooks and crannies.
A focal point at every turn…
I love this view from the side of the garden – that’s the main house on the right, with several layers of terracing – rock, grass, flowers — to the left.
Garden bloggers galore resting on the house steps waiting for lunch.
It was stunning garden, the Gentlings were warm and gracious and the story of their garden was interesting and historic. William Jennings Bryant and Herbert Hoover’s son stayed there. The Gentlings bought the house in 1971 and said it was such a jungle when they got it that they didn’t even know the terracing existed. Both Peter and Jasmin are gardeners with a passion for what they do, and their love of their garden shows in how they talk about it. We all wanted to offer the our to become their live-in garden helpers!
This was the highlight of the Fling for me — a delightful garden that inspired and amazed me at every turn.
The first stop on the first day for the 5th Annual Garden Bloggers Fling, held in Asheville this year, was the whimsical garden, Wamboldtopia. (The garden is on Wambold Street, hence the name.)
Carved into the side of a mountain, surrounded by tall trees and a carpet of moss and earthy wet leaves, this stone mason’s dream is filled with delicate, funny and sometimes macabre creations. Natural stone steps and winding paths take you from room to room.
Eclectic treasures, tucked away into nooks and crannies, make wonderful conversation pieces as you meander about the garden.
With fellow bloggers clicking away around her, Pam of Digging, focuses on a garden subject.
This magical dog house would be a wonderful hideaway for any canine.
Special little touches adorn walls all around the property, like this miniature staircase, gargoyle and tiny fairy door.
Collections of woodland plants intermingle with art and stone throughout the garden.
This was my second favorite piece, after the dog house, of course! I love the way the stones radiate out from the center, seeming to evoke beams of light around the angel.
The back chain link fence is covered in many areas by concrete, made into art.
A beautiful recirculating pond and stream look natural nestled among the rocks and moss.
A wall in progress gives a glimpse into how intricate the stone work can be.
The plants at the clearing on the top of the property are lush and green, thanks to recent rains.
Wamboldtopia was a delightful adventure and a magical start to our Asheville Fling.
I know why Carol of May Dreams Gardens dreams of May. We’ve had just that kind of May this year. Full of sunshine AND rain – giving all our parched gardens a good long drink before the relentless summer takes its toll. Garden bloggers around the globe join Carol on the 15th of each month to share what’s blooming in their gardens. Come take a stroll with me and see what catches my eye in the garden today.
This beautiful ditch lily, a passalong from Lori, of Gardener of Good and Evil, who literally dug it up from a ditch in Wisconsin and brought it back to me in a bucket in the back seat of her car. That’s true gardening friendship!
Some short little zinnias that are filling in small spaces in my cottage-style front path bed.
Wine cups in full force in my rock path-thats-no-longer-a-path because of the wine cup!
I’m not wild about the pineapple guava tree itself – rather boring foliage. But these little blooms are to die for.
I’m always in awe of lamb’s ears blooms – they are so low and so understated and then their blooms shoot straight into the sky and make the boldest of statements.
One of my absolute favorite salvias, indigo spires, reaches out it’s long, lanky plumes.
If you think I’m in love with the pineapple guava blooms – this one knocks my socks off. It’s a Mexican Bird of Paradise, and loves our heat and drought here. Tough and wispy at the same time, one of my favorite combos.
And I couldn’t leave out the esperanza, or yellow bells, that grow all over Central Texas. They, too, are native to Mexico.
Daylilies I just can’t get rid of! I’ve dug them up twice and they keep coming back, so now they get to stay. They don’t fit in and clash in the bed they’re in, but they bloom for such a short time that I just pretend it’s part of the plan!
And finally, these gray santolina make the most beautiful button blooms – tiny little golden globes.
What’s blooming in your garden today?
The deer nibbled on some of these coreopsis tinctura when they first started growing in the spring, but they persevered and are now full of blooms.
I love how they look against the structure of the grey Gopher plant.
This is in the bed planted outside our back fence where there is no irrigation. Once or twice a month in the middle of the scorching summer heat and drought I drag an extra long hose out there and water a little. It’s my drought- tolerant test bed. These are REAL drought conditions.
We’ve had lots of fall and spring rain, so the plants are quite happy — for now!