Texas Home Vegetable Gardening Tomato Seeds

The only way to enjoy the taste of hard-to-find tomato varieties is by starting plants from seed and transplanting when the soil and ambient temperatures warm, usually in mid-to-late March for Central and North Texas.

Are Heirloom Tomatoes Better?

According to Scientific American (March 2009) and contrary to popular belief, heirloom tomatoes are not more genetically diverse than modern hybrids created to withstand disease and challenging growing conditions. However, because heirloom tomatoes set less fruit than their commercial counterparts, may believe they are sweeter and rich in essential tomato taste.

An heirloom tomato is an open-pollinated cultivar of tomato. Although the definition of an heirloom tomato differs even among experts, they are generally considered to be varieties that have been cultivated for 50 to 100 years. Heirloom tomatoes do not have any genetically engineered properties. Some well regarded heirloom tomato varieties include:

• Beefsteak
• Purple Cherokee
• Green Zebra
• Black Crim (Krim)
• Brandywine

What Tomato Varieties Grow in Texas

Texas growing conditions challenge gardeners with high, sustained summer heat that makes setting fruit difficult for plants. Gardeners harvest tomatoes in June and July so the fruit must mature in about 80 days between too cold and too hot. That means the large tomato varieties do not produce well throughout most of the State. Texas gardeners are better served growing medium and small sized tomato plants.

Varieties recommended for Texas growers are Celebrity, Carnival, Tomato444, and SunPride. Other small tomatoes that do well are Sweet 100’s and Romas. Some historically popular choices that may be hard to find as transplants can be grown from seeds such as Merced and Surefire. Heirloom tomato varieties that can be grown successfully from seeds and will produce in Texas Growing Regions I to III are:

• Black Krim: medium to large fruit, dark red, sweet
• Brandywine: outstanding flavor, but challenging to grow. Some years it will produce well. However, in years when temperatures rise quickly into the 90s, crops will be disappointing.
• Cherokee Purple: medium to large purplish-red fruit, very flavorful
• Porter: medium size, juicy, not as tasty as others, but works well for sauces or sun drying
• San Marzano: Roma type tomato, excellent for drying or sauces

How to Start Tomato Seeds Indoors

Order seeds from reputable growers to ensure they are new seeds and not ones left over from the previous year. Seedsavers is one of many organizations that sell heirloom seeds including the varieties mentioned above except San Marzano.

Begin growing seeds six to eight weeks before transplanting outdoors. Before placing seeds in the soil mix, water the mix thoroughly the night before to allow time for moisture to be absorbed. Place seeds in soil about 1/8 inches deep. Cover with plastic and keep the container out of direct sunlight until seeds germinate.

After seeds germinate, remove the plastic cover and place in a strong light for several hours per day. Although a greenhouse provides an excellent place to grow seedlings, a gardener can successfully use a cold frame, a south facing window, or supplemental light from fluorescent or grow light. Be sure to harden off the seedlings before planting outdoors in the garden.

To many gardeners, summer means fresh tomatoes. To have tomatoes for eating, drying, and canning, select varieties that are best for the garden’s location and give them loving care. Do not be afraid to try something different by starting seeds indoors for special varieties.