Tomato & Pepper Seeds

Ohio Heirloom Seeds
For People Who Eat What They Grow

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Tomato Varieties

Cherokee Purple

Origin: Cherokee Nation, Tennessee, USA. Type: Beefsteak.

Pre-1890 heirloom, open-pollinated variety with a unique purple-rose color. The flavor has been described as both sweet and smoky, and definitely rivals the Brandywine as my favorite tomato. Productive plants produce large crops of 8-16 oz. fruits. Last summer (2008) I had only one Cherokee Purple in an 18-inch pot on my deck. That plant produced 36 tomatoes with no tending other than water. Very productive. Stake this vigorous plant well. 75+ Seeds

Indeterminate, Open-Pollinated, 80 days from transplant.

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Black Krim

Origin: Crimea, Ukraine. Type: Beefsteak.

Also known as the Black Crimson or Black Crim. Heirloom variety originally from the Isle of Krim, which is located on the Black Sea in the former Soviet Union. This rare and outstanding tomato yields 3” -4" mahogany-colored fruit (10-12 oz.) with deep green shoulders. Very richly flavored with a touch of saltiness. It tends to crack a bit but sets fruit well in warm, humid weather. Perfect for the Midwest and South. 75+ Seeds

Indeterminate, Open-Pollinated, 75-85 days from transplant.

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Pink Brandywine

Origin: USA. Type: Beefsteak.

The Brandywine is considered by many gardeners to be the best-tasting tomato available. I have to agree, although the yellow version is my personal favorite. This “potato leaf” variety is an old Amish heirloom dating back to the mid 1800’s. Beautiful, smooth pink fruit weighing up to 1½ pounds. Purported to have originated in Ohio, from Indiana and Pennsylvania roots. 75+ Seeds

Indeterminate, Open-Pollinated, 80 days from transplant.

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Yellow Brandywine

Origin: USA. Type: Beefsteak.

My personal favorite due to the citrus-like flavor, creamy texture, and stunning appearance. This “potato leaf” variety is an old Amish heirloom dating back to the mid 1800’s. These smooth yellow fruit weighing up to 1½ pounds really add nice color to the garden. Purported to have originated in Ohio from Indiana and Pennsylvania roots. 75+ Seeds

Indeterminate, Open-Pollinated, 80 days from transplant.

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Mortgage Lifter

Origin: WV, USA. Type: Beefsteak

This tomato has the distinction of having the best “story” in its relatively short history. The Mortgage Lifter tomato was developed in the early 1930's in Logan, West Virginia by a radiator repairman, M.C. "Radiator Charlie" Byles. Without any experience in breeding tomatoes he made a successful cross of four of the largest tomatoes he could find - German Johnson, Beefsteak, an Italian variety, and an English variety. Byles is rumored to have sold the seedlings of his new tomato plant to customers who drove up to 200 miles, and paid $1 each, for his famous plants. With these sales Charlie managed to pay off his $6,000 mortgage in only six years, and thus the tomato was named Mortgage Lifter.

This large, meaty, mild-flavored tomato has few seeds and is the perfect sandwich tomato. The fruit can average over 2 pounds, and 4-pounders are not unusual. My personal best is 3.1 pounds. Brilliant pink-red flesh, delicious flavor. 75+ Seeds

Indeterminate, Open-Pollinated, 80 days from transplant.

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Belgium Giant

Origin: OH, USA.

An heirloom variety from Ohio dating back to the1930’s, although its name and shape suggests roots in the old Belgian ribbed tomatoes. Plants produce large quantities of huge fruit; with some as large as five pounds (my personal best is 3.3 pounds). Tomatoes are very sweet, meaty, and turn dark pink when mature. A low-acidity tomato that is excellent for salads, sandwiches, and canning. The pink skin occurs as the result of clear skin over red flesh, while most red tomatoes have a yellow skin over red flesh. 75+ Seeds

Indeterminate, Open-Pollinated, 85 days from transplant

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Beefsteak

This tomato is the mutt of American tomato varieties. Also known as the “Red Ponderosa” and “Crimson Cushion” this variety is considered THE original heirloom beefsteak tomato. An old time favorite that has been popular since the mid 1800’s due to its excellent productivity and wonderful taste. The fruits are large (12 to 16 oz.), slightly ribbed, scarlet in color, juicy, and with few seeds. This tomato’s excellent taste and meaty flesh make it an ideal tomato for eating fresh, or for cooking and canning. 75+ Seeds

Indeterminate, Open-Pollinated, 85 days from transplant.

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Chocolate Cherry

These highly-productive plants produce 1” fruit throughout the summer. Dark red in color, sweet and smoky in taste, this cherry makes a beautiful addition to any salad. Many people believe this is the best-tasting cherry tomato on the market. 30+ Seeds

Indeterminate, Open-Pollinated, 70 days from transplant.

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Roma VF

This variety is a meaty, egg-or-pear-shaped tomato that has few seeds and is perfect for canning and sauces. While the Roma is an open pollinated variety, it is generally not considered an heirloom tomato due to its commercial uses. It has been improved over time to the point that vines are now fusarium wilt and verticillium resistant (this accounts for the “VF” in the name). If you do any canning, or make your own spaghetti sauce, this variety is a must. 300+ Seeds

Determinate, Open-Pollinated, 80 days from transplant.

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Yellow Pear

A delightful little pear-shaped yellow tomato that is rich in vitamins and antioxidants. The beautiful color and unusual shape make it a great addition to summer salads. These tasty little tomatoes are extremely prolific and grow quite tall, so stake well. Please note- the taste of the Yellow Pear improves significantly as the season progresses. Make sure you wait until they are fully-ripened before harvesting. 75+ Seeds

Indeterminate, Open-Pollinated, 70 days from transplant.

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German Johnson

A popular heirloom variety from the Carolinas and one of the original parent-lines of the Mortgage Lifter. Highly prized for its pinking-red fruit, large size, and scarcity of seeds, the German Johnson can grow to 1 1/2 pounds. Great for slicing, canning, or in sauces. This highly-productive variety is somewhat disease resistant. 75+ Seeds

Indeterminate, Open-Pollinated, 77 days from transplant.

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Pink Oxheart

This prolific producer has been around for years. Large (1-2+ pounds) heart-shaped fruit that ripen 75 days after planting. This tomato is quite firm, has a meaty texture, and is great for slicing. 75+ Seeds

Indeterminate, Open-Pollinated, 75 days from transplant.

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Rutgers

This old favorite was introduced in 1934 as a cross between the “Marglobe” and “JTP” varieties. Known for having thick walls and a resistance to cracking. 75+ Seeds

Determinate, Open-Pollinated, 75 days from transplant.

Paul Robeson Organic

I have been growing this variety for many years and consider it to be my favorite. Plants are very productive and produce 6 oz. to 1 lb. fruit. The taste is a delicious, smokey flavor. It is the best salad tomato available, in my opinion, and never disappoints. 30+ Seeds

Indeterminate, Open-Pollinated, 70 days from transplant.

Mr. Stripey

This variety has become more popular over the past 10 years due to its unusual look and low acidity. As the name implies, the fruit are striped with orange and pink colors. 8oz. to 2 lbs. 75+ Seeds

Indeterminate, Open-Pollinated, 70 days from transplant.

Siberian Pink Honey Organic

This is an extremely rare variety!

Last fall I received 10 Siberian Pink Honey seeds from a family friend in Omsk, Russia (Siberia). He told me that this is the best Siberian heirloom variety available, and that the fruit grow to a very large size. He also said that the seed is virtually impossible to find. I now understand why.

I started the 10 seeds in late March, along with over 900 other tamato plants (27 varieties), and quickly discovered that the Pink Honey's were the first to germinate, and the fastest growers. Within a few weeks they were 3" taller than any other variety.

I planted the 10 plants on May 25th and had excellent fruit-set within 3 weeks. They seemed to explode out of the ground in the early cool weather. I was harvesting tomatoes in early July, which is unheard of in this part of Ohio. We never harvest tomatoes before August 1st.

Now on to the fruit. I HAVE NEVER GROWN TOMATO PLANTS THAT GROW SUCH HUGE FRUIT. They are oxheart-shaped, many over 2 pounds, with very few seeds. In fact, I would say they are the meatiest I have ever grown, with a delicious fruity taste. They are not acidic or sour.

I have thus far (through August 18th) picked 120 pounds of tomatoes from 10 plants and I still have 30-60 pounds to harvest. Unfortunately for me, as a seed grower, 120 pounds of fruit has only yielded 1 oz. of seed. I could have sold the fruit for $360 at the market! I now undertsand now why the seed is so rare. 20+ Seeds

Indeterminate, Open-Pollinated, 48 days from transplant.

Purple Russian Organic

This variety is a BIG producer- I've had individual plants yield 30 pounds of fruit. Although they look like a Roma variety, they taste like an heirloom.

Fruit average about 4" in length and have a strong, smokey flavor. Very resistant to cracking and performs well in hot or cool conditions. The fruit rarely have any flaws, which makes them a great choice for the market. 50+ Seeds

Grown by my good friend Larissa in New Albany, OH. Watered with rain only.

Indeterminate, Open-Pollinated, 55-67 days from transplant.

Carbon Organic

I decided to grow this variety after reading several articles rating it the best-tasting tomato variety available. The kudos are well deserved. This is one of the tastiest varieties I have ever grown and the plants are quite productive. Tomatoes range from 4 oz. to 1 lb. Sweet, smokey taste. 25+ Seeds

Grown by my good friends Tom and Sarah Murphy near Butler, OH. Watered with rain and spring water only.

Indeterminate, Open-Pollinated, 66 days from transplant.

Orange Kentucky Beefsteak Organic

I grew this variety for the first time this year and was really, really impressed. I like fruity tomatoes, and this variety offers a delicious mango-like taste. Far more sweet than acidic. Not many seeds , not much juice, just meat. Outstanding!

This may be the largest average-size tomato I have ever grown. Most of the fruit were in the 1 to 2-pound range, with one reaching almost 3 pounds.

Grown at my parent's house in Blacklick, OH. That's my son in the picture hoisting the big ones. 25+ Seeds

Indeterminate, Open-Pollinated, 72 days from transplant.

Roman Candle

Large yields of 3"-4" neon-yellow, banana-shaped tomatoes. This variety is great for paste, salsa, or storage. Has a sweet taste, relatively dry, with few seeds. 30+ Seeds

Indeterminate, Open-Pollinated, 80 days from transplant.

Hillbilly

This is one heck to a tomato variety! Huge, tri-colored tomatoes that can reach 2 pounds. This is an heirloom beefsteak variety with orange-yellow-red flesh that originated in southern Ohio. 30+ Seeds

Indeterminate, Open-Pollinated, 85 days from transplant.

Pineapple

This is my first year growing this variety and was very happy with the results. The fruit are a beautiful, pink-yellow color, with vertical stripes forming as they ripen. I averaged about 20-pounds per plant and most fruit were in the 1-2 pound range. The fruit are sweet and meaty, with few seeds. 30+ Seeds

Indeterminate, Open-Pollinated, 80 days from transplant.