Tomato Time: What’s the Best One?
I get asked this question several times every Saturday morning at the Hereford Farmer’s Market during tomato season. “Which tomato is the best?”
Well, it depends on what you’re using it for, how you need it to hold up, and what kind of flavor you want.
For that reason, let’s dive in.
What’s YOUR favorite tomato and why?
Heirlooms, Hybrids, and Hylooms Explained
We grow heirlooms, a few hybrids, and hylooms. No GMOs here, ever.
Heirlooms are known for their superior flavor, crazy shapes, and fun colors.
Especially, heirlooms offer a unique taste experience that you can’t get from a store-bought tomato.
Consequently, they aren’t as productive or disease-resistant as hybrids. Too bad, so sad, for me.
Even so, there are certain heirloom varieties we can’t live without.
Hybrids have their place too. For one thing, we appreciate their consistency and dependability. One of our favorite cherry tomatoes ever is the Sungold, a hybrid. It’s like eating a mini burst of sweet sunshine.
Hylooms offer the best of both worlds: the rich flavors and textures of heirlooms with the enhanced vigor and disease resistance of hybrids.
Here’s a simple delicious recipe for some of those ripe, fresh tomatoes Catalan Tomato Bread
Heirloom vs. Hybrid vs. Hyloom: What’s the Difference?
Heirlooms
Heirlooms will grow true to their parent plants and are considered worthy of passing down from generation to generation.
Some define an heirloom as ‘true’ seed, carefully grown and saved for 40 years or more. They are open-pollinated, so their characteristics are passed on. For example, the same size, color, and flavor will be passed from the parent plant of this year to the seedlings of next year.
Hybrids
Hybrid seeds are produced by artificially cross-pollinating two genetically different plants of the same species, such as two different tomatoes.
The cross-pollination is done by hand, and a seed saved from a hybrid plant will not grow true to either parent.
Although hybrids are typically bred for commercial use for higher yield, improved color, and greater uniformity, small, organic farms find value in their disease resistance.
Hylooms
A “hyloom” is a hybrid heirloom tomato. These tomatoes have been cross-bred from two different heirloom varieties to combine desirable traits from both.
While heirlooms are open-pollinated and have been passed down through generations, hylooms offer the rich flavors and textures of heirlooms with the enhanced vigor and disease resistance of hybrids.
Our Favorite Tomatoes at Oak Spring Farm
Here’s a guide to our favorite tomatoes so far this year:
Black Krim: This heirloom variety from Crimea has a rich, smoky flavor and deep purple-red flesh.
Cherokee Purple: Known for its sweet, complex flavor, this heirloom is a favorite for its dark, dusky hue and robust taste. These are on the Slow Food/Arc of Taste list.
Valencia
Valencia: Bright orange and bursting with a sweet, fruity flavor, Valencia tomatoes are perfect for adding a splash of color to your favorite dishes. They are meaty with few seeds.
German Johnson: These large, pink-red heirlooms are meaty and juicy, ideal for slicing and enjoying fresh.
Pink Berkeley Tie Dye: The name says it all. Lisa’s alma mater. Large fruits are dark pink with green striping, and the flesh is pink with yellow streaks. The flavor is outstanding – sweet and complex like the finest heirlooms. Compact Indeterminate.
Gin Fizz: This gorgeous big yellow tomato with a bit of red is so sweet and juicy, that it’s a favorite hyloom.
The Best Tomato?
All things considered, heirloom or hybrid, my favorite farm-fresh tomato is cut thick and slathered in Hellman’s mayo between two slabs of fresh, lightly toasted sourdough bread.
Whichever tomato is your favorite LET US KNOW and check out this recipe for Catalan Tomato Bread
So, which tomato is the best? Come by our booth and try them for yourself!
Each variety has its own unique flavor and use, and we’re sure you’ll find your favorite.
Happy tomato season and tell us your favorite!
Cheers,
Lisa
