Are Heirloom Tomatoes Better?
According to Scientific American (March 2009) and contrary to popular belief, heirloom tomatoes are not more genetically diverse than modern hybrids created to withstand disease and challenging growing conditions. However, because heirloom tomatoes set less fruit than their commercial counterparts, may believe they are sweeter and rich in essential tomato taste. An heirloom tomato is an open-pollinated cultivar of tomato. Although the definition of an heirloom tomato differs even among experts, they are generally considered to be varieties that have been cultivated for 50 to 100 years. Heirloom tomatoes do not have any genetically engineered properties. Some well regarded heirloom tomato varieties include: • Beefsteak • Purple Cherokee • Green Zebra • Black Crim (Krim) • BrandywineWhat Tomato Varieties Grow in Texas Texas growing conditions challenge gardeners with high, sustained summer heat that makes setting fruit difficult for plants. Gardeners harvest tomatoes in June and July so
