What is the difference?
You may have been hearing a lot about heirloom tomatoes in recent years. These flavorful tomatoes have been rediscovered in a big way and are popping up in farmers markets, specialty food stores, and home gardens. So what is the difference between and heirloom and a hybrid tomato?
Heirloom Tomatoes
An heirloom tomatoes is defined as a variety that is at least 50 years old and is not a hybrid. They are grown for their unique colors and shapes, and exceptional flavor. They have a shorter shelf life that hybrid tomatoes and are not as disease resistant.
Heirloom Varieties
- Amish Paste
- Beefsteak
- Black Krim
- Brandywine Red
- Cherokee Purple
- German Giant Pink
- Golden Jubilee
- Large Cherry Red
- Oxheart Red
- Pineapple
- Red Zebra
- Yellow Pear
Hybrid Tomatoes
Hybrid tomatoes are bred by crossing varieties. They are often bred for higher yield, better disease resistance, and longer shelf life. Hybrid tomatoes are no genetically modified.
Hybrid Varieties
- Better Boy
- Big Beef
- Big Boy
- Bush Goliath
- Candyland Red
- Celebrity
- Early Girl
- Grape – Sugar Rush
- Indigo Rose
- La Roma Red
- Lemon Boy
- Mortgage Lifter
- San Marzano
- Sun Sugar
- Super Fantastic
- Super Sweet 100
- Sweet ‘n Neat Scarlet
- Sweet ‘n Neat Yellow