Heirloom Tomatoes vs Non-Heirloom

Too Tall Tomatoes 1/11/2011, 5:07 pm

I read some time ago that heirloom tomatoes aren't as disease resistant as the hybrids or non-heirlooms How true is that? Also, I also read(and heard from my Mom) that you get better yields from a non-heirloom tomato. Is that also true?

I'm certainly not an expert at all but I'm thinking that with proper growing techniques and pruning, you can increase the yield of an heirloom tomato. As far as disease resistance goes, compost tea can help.

Thoughts anyone?

I'm actually thinking of going all tomatoes in a SFG.

Goosegirl 2/11/2011, 12:46 am

Too Tall:

It entirely depends on the variety of tomato as to how disease-resistant it is. Many Heirlooms are naturally resistant to many diseases and are good producers. Many hybrid tomatoes have been bred for yield, size, disease-resistance, crack-resistance, etc., often at the cost of flavor. And, if you really like it, you can't save seed, because the seeds are not stable. There always seems to be a trade-off!

Like you said, proper nutrition, just like in humans, is key to having a strong healthy tomato plant that will resist disease. Resistance does not mean immunity, even hybrids which are not kept well-fed and properly watered can be susceptible to the diseases to which they are supposedly resistant.

Personally, I have grown both hybrid and heirloom and will continue. Trial and error shows me which ones I will continue to grow and which ones are duds for my situation. I just like to grow things!

GG

duhh 2/11/2011, 4:38 am

The biggest plus for me to grow heirlooms is that you can save the seeds!

**camprn** 2/11/2011, 12:00 pm

duhh wrote: The biggest plus for me to grow heirlooms is that you can save the seeds!

+1, I also think they often taste better. What a Face

Too Tall Tomatoes 2/11/2011, 2:45 pm

I'm planning on going with 18 tomato plants. 6 different varieties with 3 of each. So even if I get a low per plant yield, I should still have enough of each variety.

I never could remember from one year to the next which tomatoes did well for me. There is one exception.....I had a couple of Goliath tomato plants 2 years ago and they were my best producers and they tasted great. I would've gotten a heck of a lot more but I was having a summer-long battle with voles eating my tomatoes.

You might think 18 tomato plants is way too much but I'm just obsessed with tomatoes. I love the way they taste and I think there's a "showoff" factor with them. Heirloom Tomatoes vs Non-Heirloom 53366

I have from now until early spring to research the best possible growing conditions for tomatoes, how to care for them, pruning techniques, etc.

Goosegirl 2/11/2011, 3:40 pm

Too Tall Tomatoes wrote:You might think 18 tomato plants is way too much but I'm just obsessed with tomatoes.

Way too much? Are you kidding? This was my first year with SFG's and I had 15 tomato plants!
GG

Patty from Yorktown 3/11/2011, 1:51 am

Hi,
An other difference on heirloom and hybrid tomatoes is how they crop. This is not an across the board state, many "modern" tomatoes crop all at once. This works well for a single harvest or somebody who wants to can. It does not work well for most home gardeners, who really want several tomatoes a week all summer long. Most heirloom plants grow and produce a little bit over a long period of time. Having said that I plant both types of tomatoes. At a rate of 17 plants per summer. Enjoy you winter of research.

Patty from Yorktown

Too Tall Tomatoes 3/11/2011, 2:01 am

Thanks for the advice so far.

My sister just got into canning this year(she makes KILLER jellies and jams!) and I figured she would love to can any tomatoes that I give her.

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Heirloom Tomatoes vs Non-Heirloom

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