Heirloom Tomatoes
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Classic heirloom varieties, open-pollinated and full of flavor. These time-tested tomatoes bring old-fashioned taste to your garden with rich, complex flavors that modern hybrids can’t match.
Growing Tips
Heirloom tomatoes thrive in full sun with consistent deep watering. Most are indeterminate and need strong support. In the Owens Valley, start seeds indoors early and transplant after last frost. These open-pollinated varieties let you save seeds year to year.
Choose Varieties
Cherokee Purple
Valencia
Three Sisters
Black Krim
Rose
Rebekah Allen
Owens Valley only. Pickup in Big Pine or local delivery.
Varieties We Carry
- •Cherokee Purple (deep dusky purple, smoky-sweet complex flavor)
- •Valencia (bright orange, sweet with low acidity)
- •Three Sisters (large ribbed fruits, complex rich flavor)
- •Black Krim (dark mahogany, intensely savory and smoky)
- •Rose (rosy-red with classic sweet heirloom flavor)
- •Rebekah Allen (rare heirloom, beautiful fruits with exceptional taste)
More Tomatoes
Cherry Tomatoes
Sweet, bite-sized tomatoes perfect for snacking straight off the vine, tossing in salads, or roasting for pasta. Our cherry tomato selection includes a range of colors and flavors — from classic red to golden and even dark varieties. Varieties may include: Sweet 100, Sun Gold, Black Cherry, and other proven performers for high-desert gardens. Growing tips: Cherry tomatoes are among the most productive plants in the garden. They thrive in full sun with consistent watering and benefit from sturdy caging or staking. In the Owens Valley, plant after the last frost (mid-May) and expect harvests from mid-July through first frost. Pinch suckers for larger fruits or let them bush out for maximum yield.
Beefsteak Tomatoes
Large, meaty slicing tomatoes that are the crown jewel of any summer garden. These hefty fruits can weigh a pound or more and are perfect for BLTs, thick slices on burgers, or simply eaten with a pinch of salt. Varieties may include: Beefsteak, Big Boy, Mortgage Lifter, and other large-fruited selections suited to our climate. Growing tips: Beefsteak types need the longest season of any tomato — start early indoors and transplant after last frost. In Big Pine's climate, provide afternoon shade cloth if temperatures exceed 100°F, as blossoms may drop in extreme heat. Heavy fruits need strong caging or staking. Water deeply and consistently to prevent blossom end rot.
Paste Tomatoes
Thick-walled, meaty tomatoes with low moisture content — the gold standard for making sauces, paste, salsa, and canning. These workhorses of the kitchen garden produce abundantly and process down into rich, concentrated flavor. Varieties may include: San Marzano, Roma, Amish Paste, and other paste-type selections bred for sauce making. Growing tips: Paste tomatoes tend to ripen in a concentrated flush, which is ideal for canning days. They are generally more disease-resistant than slicing types. In our Owens Valley climate, the dry air and intense sun actually benefit paste tomatoes by concentrating their sugars. Plant in full sun, cage or stake, and water at the base to keep foliage dry.
Zebra Tomatoes
Striking striped tomatoes with gorgeous green, red, and yellow patterns that look almost too beautiful to eat — but you should, because the flavor is exceptional. These heirloom beauties add visual drama to salads and garden alike. Varieties may include: Green Zebra, Red Zebra, and other striped heirloom selections. Growing tips: Zebra tomatoes can be tricky to judge for ripeness since they stay green-striped even when ripe. Give them a gentle squeeze — they should yield slightly when ready. Full sun, consistent water, and good air circulation keep these beauties happy in our dry mountain climate.