Growing tomatoes can be a very rewarding – and delicious – hobby. When you grow your own tomatoes you can enjoy delicious and nutritious food all summer long. You can also use those tomatoes to make delicious pasta sauces and other products that you can continue to enjoy long after the last fresh tomato is off the vine.
But even though growing your own tomatoes is rewarding and fun, it can be difficult to choose the right varieties for your needs. There is a constant argument among gardening enthusiasts over whether heirloom tomatoes are superior to their hybrid alternatives. Each gardener will need to decide for him or herself whether heirloom tomatoes are worth the extra money, but it is important to examine the benefits of both genuine heirloom tomatoes and hybrids.
Heirloom Tomatoes
Heirloom tomatoes have become a real favorite with gardeners of all ages, and many gardeners would never dream of returning to traditional tomatoes again. Heirloom tomatoes are known for their delicious taste, their firm texture and their unique flavor.
Heirloom tomatoes are unique in that they are open pollinated plants. Unlike hybrid varieties, where the seeds cannot be used over and over again, gardeners can save the seeds from their heirloom tomatoes and plant them again next year. When those seeds are replanted, gardeners can enjoy a new crop of delicious fresh tomatoes the next year. These delicious heirloom tomatoes were developed over a long period of time, grown in isolated gardens to keep them from becoming contaminated with hybrid seeds. As a result heirloom tomatoes have developed a number of unique characteristics, including their unique meaty appearance and rich taste.
In order to grow heirloom tomatoes successfully gardeners will need to pay careful attention to the needs of each plant and choose a variety that is well suited to the environment. Trying to grow tropical varieties in a temperate climate will likely be an exercise in frustration, so it is critical to choose an heirloom variety that is designed to grow well in the climate where you live. There are many varieties of heirloom tomatoes on the market, so it should be possible to find a great tomato that is perfect for your needs.
It is also important to keep in mind that heirloom tomatoes require a little bit of extra care and vigilance from the gardener. While many hybrid varieties have been specially bred to resist disease and thrive in poor growing conditions, heirloom tomatoes have not. As a result those tomatoes will need to be cared for properly in order to avoid problems with disease and insect infestation.
Hybrid Tomatoes
Hybrid tomatoes were originally developed by crossing two different varieties of tomatoes together to create a plant with the best qualities of both parent varieties. Over time those traits were carefully bred into the plants, resulting in plants that are healthy, vigorous and resistant to common tomato illnesses, fungus infections and garden pests. This selective breeding is still continuing, and growers are constantly striving for plants that are able to grow well even in poor conditions.
There are many different hybrid varieties of tomatoes on the market, and it is important for gardeners to choose the type that will work best in their own garden. It is a good idea to experiment with several different varieties of tomato plant until you find the one that will grow best in your own environment. There are hybrid tomatoes that have been specifically bred to withstand disease and grow well even in poor soil.
Large scale commercial producers of tomatoes like the fact that hybrids are able to withstand the mechanical harvesting process. These commercial products can withstand handling practices that would damage less hardy varieties.
Choosing between Heirloom or Hybrid Tomatoes for the Home Garden
Deciding which type of tomatoes to grow in your home garden is not always easy, and it is important for gardeners to consider how much time they have to devote to their hobby. Gardeners who want the best and most flavorful tomatoes and have the time to devote to growing them may want to use heirloom tomatoes. These tomatoes are much more flavorful, meaty and delicious than their hybrid counterparts. In addition, heirloom tomatoes can produce some of the largest tomatoes in the garden that are good enough to eat right off the vine.
On the other hand, gardeners who simply want to grow a few tomatoes in the back yard without a lot of work may be better off with hybrid tomatoes. These hybrid varieties are designed to be naturally resistant to disease and other problems, and they do not require as much care as heirloom varieties.