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Some tomatoes
Tisdale - Thursday, September 29, 2011
Images by: Verna Rowley
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Mrs. Rowley described these as “heritage tomatoes,” that puzzled me a bit so I checked out the term in Google and Wikipedia explains that this is the term used to identify “heirloom” tomatoes and the term heritage is what is used in Britain to identify non-hybrid varieties. It seems these plants are increasing in popularity and by saving seed from each years crop and then doing some selection they will acclimatize to the location where you are growing them.

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As you look over these pictures of Mrs. Rowley’s crop from this year you will discover that she pretty much has covered the wide range of these plants that are available. In the Wikipedia description of heritage tomatoes they use the term “cultivar” which simple means that these plants are maintained by propagation. Each successive season the plants replicate themselves and the grower can pick the ones that warrant planting in the coming year.



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Now who would have thought that tomato growing is an important national pastime and something that both individual gardeners and universities, seem to be taking considerable interest. Check the Canadian Tomato Project, this web site deals with the whole process of developing tomatoes that grow well in all the various parts of Canada.

There is no shortage of expert advise online telling prospective tomato gardeners how to go about selecting heritage tomatoes and then how to grow them.

Below are Mrs. Rowley’s pear tomatoes.

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