We have a fairly short growing season in Vermont, but once August comes around things are in full bloom. Sure, I can’t plant outside until late May or early June and sure, deer have come by and chomped my beans immediately after they’ve sprouted the past 3 years, and yes, there has been a lot of rain that has caused some blight and botritis for 2 seasons, but as a gardener there is a sense of satisfaction that can only be had when you are harvesting the fruits of your labor.
There has been an abundance of fresh produce from zucchini to beans and now my tomatoes are showing their true colors. I love heirloom tomatoes. I love the idea of them being passed down through family farming. I love the look of them. I love how hardy they are in my garden. I love the way they taste.
My favorites are the ‘green zebras’ which are green even when ripe with some striping (hence the “zebra”), ‘yellow brandywine’ which I think has a slightly smokey taste and a truly beautiful golden skin, and ‘mortgage lifter’ which produces huge fruit. I also grow ‘sun gold’ cherry tomatoes that I usually eat right off the stem which means my husband doesn’t see them until there are more than I can possibly eat while picking. I have harvested about a quart a day over the past week or so!
Green zebra’s on the vine. (You may notice some spots from early blight.)
Yellow brandywine, mortgage lifter (red), green zebra and sun gold cherry tomatoes.
Because of our 3 month window for reliable gardening I buy my tomato plants in 3″ pots instead of starting them from seed. I do very little to maintain them other than adding some tomato trellises or cages and lots of compost and water. Try these varieties in your garden and see what you think. I am sure you will love them!
