Anyone experienced with heirloom tomatoes?

**FrugalWitch** · 02-24-2008, 12:15 AM

DH and I are planting heirloom tomatoes for the first time this year. The varieties we are looking at are:

Cherokee Purple
Brandywine
Mortgage Lifter
Boxcar Willie

Does anyone have experience with these particular varieties? We plan on buying plants, not seeds, from an organic farm in Heflin AL. I would appreciate any feedback or growing advice. Thanks!

**suki** · 02-24-2008, 09:21 AM

Hubby grows from seed. We love them! Be sure to save your seeds this year and then you can start from seed early next year!

I don't recall trying Boxcar Willie or Mortgage lifter, I'll have to ask hubby about those. But, I love the flavor of the Brandywines. They are very juicy! The Cherokee Purples are delicious as well, and fun... they are almost black.

Hubby has collected 150 varieties of heirloom tomato seeds... I'm interested to see what he'll choose to plant this year! He's considering selling plants, we only grow organic and his garden is Certified Naturally Grown. Just curious, how much are they selling the plants for?

Oh, a tip... plant extra. The heirloom varieties are not genetically modified to be bug and disease resistant. You will lose some.

**JessicaP** · 02-24-2008, 09:25 AM

Yummm, I really want to plant some of these this year but since our house will be on the market I don't want to spend the time and money if I won't be here to enjoy the fruits of my labor.

DH suggested getting a 5 gallon bucket and planting one tomatoe in it, do you think that would work? Maybe get a couple 5 gallon buckets so I wll be able to have at least a few tomatoe plants?

**suki** · 02-24-2008, 09:32 AM

I'll ask hubby, but I believe you need more than one for pollination... I don't know. And yes, a 5 gallon bucket would work. Just be sure to drill holes in the bottom and put some rocks in there for proper drainage.

I know of a guy in NYC who grows tomatoes on the roof of his apt building in 5 gallon buckets.

My hubby is threatening to use 5 gallon buckets this year because he doesn't have enough room in his garden for all he wants to plant. LOL

**suki** · 02-24-2008, 09:35 AM

If you go to idigmygarden.com, you'll find a lot of info on heirlooms. The board is run by an heirloom seed company (Baker Creek Seeds) and the members are all gardeners of various skills from all around the country (and world) sharing tips. They are far more knowledgeable than I am! I have to rely on hubby, he's the expert!

**JessicaP** · 02-24-2008, 09:36 AM

Yes our garden was so huge last year but since I am PG and our house will e for sale I don't see putting all that sweat and tears into a garden and not be there for the harvest. But if I could take the plants with me, that is another story! Thanks for the quick reply!