Best Tomatoes for Heirloom
46 tomato varieties well-suited for heirloom varieties. Open-pollinated heritage cultivars with unique flavor.
Amish Paste
Large for a sauce tomato, Amish Paste's slightly irregular plum to strawberry-shaped fruits avg. 8-12 oz. with excellent flavor. These meaty tomatoes are good in salads and great for processing. A Slow Food USA Ark of Taste variety. Indeterminate.
Arkansas Traveler
This tough Southern heirloom was specifically bred to handle hot, humid summers and still produce delicious tomatoes when other varieties give up. Developed at the University of Arkansas, it's famous for setting fruit even in extreme heat and humidity while maintaining excellent flavor and disease resistance. Perfect for gardeners in challenging climates who want reliable, flavorful tomatoes all season long.
Beefsteak
The classic giant of the tomato world, producing massive fruits that can weigh over a pound each. These impressive slicing tomatoes have been a garden favorite for generations, offering substantial, meaty slices perfect for sandwiches and burgers. Their size and reliable production make them a must-have for gardeners who want to impress with truly spectacular harvests.
Black Beauty
Black Beauty is a striking heirloom tomato variety prized for its deep, dark mahogany-brown to purplish-black coloring. Reaching maturity in 90-100 days, these large beefsteak-type fruits feature a distinctive appearance that sets them apart from traditional red tomatoes. The defining characteristic is their complex, rich flavor profile combining sweet and smoky notes with well-balanced acidity, making them exceptional for slicing and fresh applications. Best suited for experienced gardeners seeking unique flavor and visual impact.
Black Cherry
Bred in Florida by the late Vince Sapp, the round, 20 gm. fruits are a pleasant purple-brown color. Regarded as one of the best-tasting tomatoes. High yielding. Try as we may, we haven't found a hybrid that can beat Black Cherry. Indeterminate.
Black Krim
Black Krim combines bold, smoky flavor and good texture with an unusual appearance. Deep brown/red, 8-16 oz. tomatoes have brown/green shoulders that get darker with more heat and sunlight. High-yielding. Indeterminate.
Brandywine
We describe Brandywine's luscious, heirloom flavor as "very rich, loud, and distinctively spicy." The large fruits, often over 1 lb., have a deep pink skin and smooth red flesh. The medium-tall, potato-leaf plant is best staked or caged. Our 'Quisenberry' strain is considered among the best. Indeterminate.
Brandywine Pink
Often called the 'king of heirloom tomatoes,' this Amish variety from the 1880s produces massive pink fruits with an incomparable old-fashioned tomato flavor. The large, ribbed beefsteaks can weigh over a pound each and deliver the rich, complex taste that modern hybrids often lack. A must-grow for any serious tomato lover seeking the ultimate slicing tomato.
Brandywine Red
The gold standard of heirloom beefsteak tomatoes, Brandywine Red has been captivating gardeners since the 1880s with its extraordinary flavor and massive size. These pink-red giants can weigh over a pound each and offer the perfect balance of sweet and acidic notes that define what a tomato should taste like. A true slice-and-serve variety that transforms any sandwich or salad into a gourmet experience.
Cherokee Purple
Famously rich flavor and texture make this a colorful favorite among heirloom enthusiasts. Medium-large, flattened globe, 8-12 oz. fruits. Color is dusky pink with dark shoulders. Multilocular interior ranges from purple to brown to green. Relatively short vines. Indeterminate.
Chocolate Cherry
An extraordinary cherry tomato that produces abundant clusters of small, mahogany-brown fruits with an incredibly complex flavor profile. The rich, wine-like taste with hints of smokiness makes these tiny treasures a gourmet favorite for fresh eating and elegant garnishes. Their unusual color and exceptional flavor make them a conversation starter in any garden.
Chocolate Stripes
A stunning heirloom that turns heads with its dramatic mahogany-red fruits adorned with distinctive dark green stripes that create an almost artistic appearance. Beyond its remarkable beauty, this variety delivers complex, rich flavors with wine-like depth that makes every bite memorable. Perfect for gardeners who want to grow something truly unique that performs as beautifully as it looks.
Costoluto Genovese
This striking Italian heirloom from the Genoa region produces deeply ribbed, flattened tomatoes that look like they're sculpted from red marble. The dramatically fluted fruits have intense, rich flavor perfect for authentic Italian cooking, and their unique appearance makes them a conversation starter in any garden.
De Milpa
In Mexico, these tomatillos grow unattended in family corn fields and are harvested for home use and for selling in town on market day. High dry matter, small to medium-round fruits store fresh for several weeks, handy for fresh salsa. Portions of the fruits blush with purple, especially after harvest.
Garden Peach
An unusual heirloom novelty tomato that looks remarkably like a fuzzy peach with its pale yellow-pink skin and soft downy texture. Despite its appearance, it delivers a mild, sweet tomato flavor that's perfect for curious gardeners and conversation starters. This compact variety is excellent for containers and makes an interesting addition to any heirloom collection.
German Johnson
Recommended for higher productivity in a pink heirloom. Earlier, more uniform, and slightly smaller than Brandywine at 8-16 oz. Fruits have lots of deep, acidic tomato flavor and a rich, creamy texture. This is the regular-leaf strain, which is earlier and more productive than the potato-leaf strain. Indeterminate.
German Pink
This massive Bavarian heirloom produces some of the largest tomatoes you'll ever grow, with fruits regularly exceeding 2 pounds and bursting with old-fashioned tomato flavor. Also known as German Johnson Pink, these pink beefsteak giants have been treasured by gardeners for over a century for their incredible size and meaty, juicy flesh. One slice can cover an entire sandwich, making them the ultimate show-off variety for serious gardeners.
German Red Strawberry
A unique heirloom variety that produces heart-shaped, ribbed fruits resembling oversized strawberries with an unforgettable sweet, fruity flavor. This conversation-starting tomato has been treasured by seed savers for generations and delivers both visual appeal and exceptional taste that sets it apart from conventional varieties.
Green Zebra
A delicious, tangy salad tomato, ripe just as the green fruit develops a yellow blush, accentuating the darker green stripes. The 3-4 oz. fruits are the ideal size for slicing into wedges for salads. Productive over a long season. Developed by Tom Wagner. Indeterminate.
Heirloom Beefsteak Mix
A diverse collection of open-pollinated beefsteak varieties offering an array of colors, flavors, and sizes in one packet. Each plant produces massive, ribbed fruits perfect for slicing, with flavors ranging from sweet to complex and tangy. Save seeds to continue growing your favorites year after year.
Heirloom Black Cherry
These stunning dark purple-black cherry tomatoes are like edible jewels with an incredibly rich, complex flavor that's both sweet and savory. Developed by Vince Sapp of Florida, they're prolific producers that keep delivering these gourmet treats all season long. Perfect for gardeners who want something truly special that will impress at farmers markets or dinner parties.
Heirloom Marriage Cherokee Green
A stunning green-when-ripe heirloom that delivers exceptional flavor in an unexpected package. This Cherokee variety produces large, emerald-green beefsteak tomatoes with a sweet, tangy taste that rivals any red variety. Perfect for gardeners who want to grow something truly unique that will be the conversation starter of any garden.
Heirloom Marriage Genuwine
A stunning bicolor heirloom that produces large, ribbed fruits with yellow and red striping that creates a beautiful marbled appearance when sliced. This variety combines the best traits of multiple heirloom parents, delivering exceptional flavor complexity with fruity sweetness and balanced acidity. Perfect for gardeners who want to grow something truly unique that will be the centerpiece of any garden or dinner table.
Hillbilly
A stunning bicolor heirloom beefsteak with yellow skin beautifully streaked with red and pink, creating a marbled appearance that's as delicious as it is eye-catching. This West Virginia heirloom produces large, sweet fruits with a perfect balance of fruity flavor and low acidity that makes it irresistible fresh from the vine.
Homestead 24
A heat-tolerant determinate variety developed specifically for hot, humid climates where other tomatoes fail. This reliable producer sets fruit even in extreme heat and produces meaty, crack-resistant tomatoes perfect for canning and fresh eating. A true workhorse for Southern gardeners and hot climate growing.
Kellogg's Breakfast
This stunning heirloom beefsteak produces massive orange fruits that can weigh up to 2 pounds, with incredibly sweet, low-acid flesh that's perfect for those who find red tomatoes too tart. Named after railroad worker Darrell Kellogg's family variety from Michigan, it's become a favorite among gardeners seeking unique color and exceptional flavor.
Lemon Drop
A prolific cherry tomato variety that produces bright yellow, teardrop-shaped fruits with an intensely sweet, citrusy flavor that's unlike any other tomato. These bite-sized gems are incredibly productive, with long clusters of 6-12 fruits that ripen throughout the season. A conversation starter that adds both visual appeal and gourmet flavor to any garden or plate.
Marglobe
Developed by the USDA in the 1920s, this reliable determinate variety was bred specifically for disease resistance and consistent production. A favorite among home canners and gardeners who want dependable, crack-resistant red tomatoes with classic flavor and the convenience of concentrated harvest timing.
Matt's Wild Cherry
These small cherry tomatoes are deep-red, tender, smooth, and full-flavored with a high sugar content. Though the flavor is superior, it doesn't yield as well as modern varieties, and the fruits are soft. Fantastic in salsa and for fresh eating. Some resistance to early blight and late blight. The story of how we obtained 'Matt's Wild Cherry' seeds can be traced back to Teresa Arellanos de Mena, who brought them to Maine from her family's home state of Hidalgo in Eastern Mexico (the region where these tomatoes grow wild). Teresa gave the seeds to her friend Matt Leibman, a former Univ. of Maine AG faculty member, who then gave the seeds to us. Avg. fruit size 5 gm. Indeterminate.
Moneymaker
A British heirloom that lives up to its name with incredibly productive vines that produce abundant clusters of medium-sized red tomatoes. This reliable variety has been a staple in home gardens for generations thanks to its consistent performance and excellent flavor that works well for both fresh eating and cooking. The vigorous plants continue producing until frost, making every square foot of garden space profitable.
Mortgage Lifter
This legendary heirloom tomato earned its name when creator M.C. Byles paid off his mortgage by selling seedlings for $1 each during the Depression. These massive pink beefsteak tomatoes can weigh up to 4 pounds and offer exceptional flavor with meaty texture and few seeds. Perfect for gardeners who want to grow truly impressive conversation-starter tomatoes.
Mortgage Lifter Pink
The legendary giant that supposedly helped its creator pay off his mortgage by selling seedlings, this pink beefsteak produces enormous fruits that can weigh over 2 pounds each. Known for its incredibly meaty texture, sweet flavor, and impressive size that makes each tomato perfect for feeding the whole family. A true heirloom success story that continues to amaze gardeners decades later.
Moskvich
Fruits are early, deep red, and cold tolerant. Rich flavor. Smooth and globe-shaped. 4-6 oz. with a small stem scar. Indeterminate.
Oxheart
A massive heirloom beefsteak known for producing some of the largest tomatoes in the garden, often exceeding 2 pounds each. These heart-shaped giants have dense, meaty flesh with few seeds and exceptional flavor that makes every slice memorable. A showstopper variety that creates unforgettable sandwiches and impresses neighbors.
Paul Robeson
A stunning Russian heirloom named after the famous American singer and activist, prized for its extraordinary dark burgundy-black color and exceptional flavor. This large beefsteak variety delivers complex, wine-like taste with perfect balance of sweetness and acidity. A true gourmet tomato that stands out in any garden with its dramatic appearance.
Pineapple
This stunning bicolor heirloom creates a tropical sunset on your plate with yellow fruits streaked with red and pink, living up to its name with a sweet, fruity flavor that's absolutely unique among tomatoes. Originally from Kentucky, these massive beefsteak beauties are conversation starters that taste as exotic as they look. They're perfect for gardeners who want to grow something truly special that guests will remember long after the meal.
Roma
Roma is a classic heirloom paste tomato prized for its dense, meaty flesh and concentrated flavor. The plant produces elongated, plum-shaped fruits that mature in 60-65 days with minimal seeds and low acidity. Known for its mild, sweet taste, Roma excels in fresh sauces, pastes, and cooking applications where robust texture matters. This reliable, easy-to-grow variety tolerates less fertile soil and requires minimal maintenance. Its naturally rich flavor develops without excessive acidity, making it ideal for traditional Italian tomato preparations.
Rutgers
A legendary heirloom variety developed at Rutgers University in 1934 that became the standard for tomato flavor in America. This reliable producer delivers perfectly balanced, old-fashioned tomato taste in medium-sized fruits that are ideal for both fresh eating and processing. Rutgers represents the classic American tomato that many gardeners remember from their childhood.
Striped German
The flat medium-to-large tomatoes with variable shoulder ribbing are shaded yellow and red. The marbled interior looks beautiful sliced. Complex, fruity flavor and smooth texture. Medium-tall vines bear 12+ oz. fruit. Indeterminate.
Stupice
This Czechoslovakian heirloom is prized as one of the earliest full-flavored tomatoes, often ripening weeks before other varieties. Despite its early maturity, it delivers complex, rich flavor that rivals the best season tomatoes. Perfect for short-season gardeners who don't want to sacrifice taste for earliness.
Tiny Tim
A miniature cherry tomato perfect for windowsills, small containers, and indoor growing. This compact determinate variety produces abundant clusters of tiny, flavorful red fruits on plants that rarely exceed 12 inches tall, making it ideal for apartment dwellers and beginning gardeners.
Toma Verde
Early maturing, large, flat-round green fruits. Use in salsa or Mexican cooking.
Valencia
Round, smooth fruits average 8-10 oz. Their meaty interiors have few seeds. This midseason tomato is among the best for flavor and texture. Our own selection of a Maine family heirloom with a Spanish accent. Indeterminate.
Wisconsin 55
Produces 6-8 oz. slicers that are great for fresh eating and popular for canning, particularly for stewed tomatoes. This long-popular workhorse variety was developed by the University of Wisconsin, Madison in the 1940's. While there are several strains of Wisconsin 55 on the market, their quality has degraded over time. That is why Johnny's identified this strain, which shows more consistent size, healthier plants, and fewer fruit defects than other commercially available Wisconsin 55 strains. We also believe ours to be closer to the original variety. We acquired it from University of Wisconsin, Madison plant geneticist Ted Bingham, who had frozen Wisconsin 55 seeds purchased in the 1960's. Demonstrates some field tolerance to early blight and Septoria diseases. Indeterminate.
Yellow Brandywine
A stunning golden yellow variant of the famous Brandywine that offers the same exceptional flavor profile with a beautiful sunny color and slightly milder taste. These large, creamy yellow beefsteaks create gorgeous contrast in fresh dishes and provide a conversation-starting addition to any heirloom collection. The sweet, low-acid flavor makes them perfect for those sensitive to high-acid tomatoes.
Yellow Pear
A charming heirloom cherry tomato dating back to the 1800s, producing abundant clusters of bright yellow, pear-shaped fruits that are as decorative as they are delicious. This prolific variety is beloved by children and adults alike for its sweet, mild flavor and unique teardrop shape that adds visual interest to any garden or salad.
Why These Tomatoes Work for Heirloom
Heirloom varieties are open-pollinated cultivars passed down for generations — prized for complex flavor, storied history, and seed-saving potential. These varieties let you save seeds and grow the same crop next year.