Things You Didn’t Know About Tomatoes
by Louie Jerome on Jun 28, 2008 with 33 Comments
If you thought that all tomatoes were much the same in colour and shape, you’d be wrong. These are just a few of the more unusual varities which are sometimes know as heritage, or heirloom varieties.
Black Krim
This rare tomato has purple to black skin and reddish-black flesh. It is a large tomato with a slightly irregular surface. Most black tomatoes come from Russia and this one originates from the Island of Krim which is on the Black Sea.
Lemon Boy
This tomato is actually a lemon colour, not gold. It is aromatic and has a slightly pinky tinge to its flesh. The skin feels soft and almost peachy.
Ox Heart
Heart shaped fruit of lovely deep pink colour. A single fruit can weigh as much as one pound. There are few seeds in these tomatoes which makes them great for sandwiches and gardeners like them because they get a lot of fruit from each plant.
Black From Tula
This is a dark coloured reddish-brown tomato with a rich deep flavour to match. It is of Russian origin. Each fruit can weigh up to 12 ounces.
Verde Puebla Tomatillo
These green tomatoes have a husk that feels like paper. This is removed before eating. Their flavour is sweet but they have a tart tang to them as well and are idea for making green salsa and other Mexican dishes.
Green Zebra
Green Zebra tomatoes ripen to a green colour and they have yellowish spots and stripes (hence their name.) It is a sweet but acidic tomato and was actually developed in the United States. It is popular in salsa type dishes. Select your fruit carefully because its green colour can make it look ripe when it isn’t.
Yellow Pear
These very attractive tomatoes look fabulous in any salad. They grown to about two inches long and have a very clear yellowy colouring. Tall plants crop continuously and are sometimes known as ‘garden candy’.
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Published in: Cooking
Verniel Cutar | Jun 28, 2008 | Reply
Louie Jerome, I didn’t know that tomatoes can look so different! There’s only one or two types of tomatoes were I live. Hmm..thanks for sharing these photos…
bill | Jun 28, 2008 | Reply
OK where can you get seeds for these different Toms ?????
louie jerome | Jun 28, 2008 | Reply
Thanks for the comments. Much appreciated.
Bill: I think you could buy them on the internet if you just search for the kind you want.
I fancy those gorgeous looking pear shaped ones.
Hein Marais | Jun 28, 2008 | Reply
Great Article.
Chase | Jun 28, 2008 | Reply
Tomatillos are not actually tomatoes at all. They are a relative of the goose berry. They are from the genus Physalis, not Solanum like tomatoes.
Bill | Jun 28, 2008 | Reply
My mother used to grow the yellow pear and Ox Heart. The yellow Pears never made it into the house. I’d have them all eaten right off the vine.:)
tomailloGrower | Jun 28, 2008 | Reply
Tomatillos are not tomatoes and there are many varieties of them as well. I am currently growing a purple striped tomatillo.
Sun Meilan | Jun 28, 2008 | Reply
Love the pear-shaped ones! So cute.
louie jerome | Jun 28, 2008 | Reply
#9 Tomatillos are not strictly tomatoes, you are right, but botanically they are classified as tomatoes.
fanty | Jun 28, 2008 | Reply
the pear-shaped ones look suspicious. *very* suspicious.
alexa gates | Jun 28, 2008 | Reply
i never knew there were so many different kinds of tomatoes! great article!
Ruby Hawk | Jun 28, 2008 | Reply
Aren’t tomatoes wonderful? my favorite food and I can’t eat them anymore. I like nothing more than a big tomato sandwich.
s hayes | Jun 28, 2008 | Reply
we dont get anything in the UK that doesn’t conform to EU size and colour regulations – a lot of fabulous varieties of fruit and veg don’t even make it into our shops for that reason – shame – things dont taste like they used to.
The best thing about holidays to Greece – the Greek salad with the best tomatoes in the world!
Enjoyed your article louie
Judy Sheldon | Jun 28, 2008 | Reply
Louie, I hate that I had to read the above comment. We know that it was not left by Nelson as stated.
Your article was informative and colorful. Thanks for sharing. I like cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, beef steak and fried green tomatoes, but had not seen any of the above other than the tomatillo.
Take care.
valli | Jun 28, 2008 | Reply
I learned about different types of tomatoes. Thanks for sharing the information and pictures.
louie jerome | Jun 29, 2008 | Reply
Thanks for the comments everyone.
Sorry you had to read that filth Judy. I know it wasn’t left by Nelson. Anyway, it’s deleted now!
Nelson Doyle | Jun 29, 2008 | Reply
Hi Louie Jerome -
I really enjoyed your article as I was not aware of the varieties of tomatoes either. I will stumble it, so my fans and friends can enjoy it, too.
I am sorry that I missed the comment that Judy and the others have commented on. I do not leave negative comments on other writers’ comments, because I do not believe in taring other people apart, but I would rather help people reach their fullest possible potential. If I am asked by an author for some creative criticism, then I always contact that author privately (never in public) about the article that they wanted me to checkout.
I have contacted Triond about this issue as I am sure other authors have experienced this problem themselves. Someone is out there trying to start some trouble and Triond has been made aware of the situation. I would strongly suggest that if anyone else is having problems with this issue to contact Triond. Triond is aware of the issue and they have assured me that they are checking into it.
I invite any and all Triond author’s to contact me personally if they have now or in the future received any comments made in my name that are nasty, because I can at least work with Triond to figure who is doing this and stop them.
God Bless,
Nelson Doyle
smiley | Jun 29, 2008 | Reply
Those tomatoes look delicious. I never realised there were so many varieties.
Simon Collins | Jun 29, 2008 | Reply
It’s unfortunate that all I can ever buy are about two varities!
louie jerome | Jun 29, 2008 | Reply
It’s the same for me in UK. Two kinds only.
Rachel Faye | Jun 29, 2008 | Reply
What a lovely article!!! Thank you.
R.B. Parsley | Jul 1, 2008 | Reply
Louie,
In our house we are big fans of cherry, grape, and what you call yellow pear tomatoes. But here in Connersville Indiana we call the yellow pear tomatoes bottle neck tomatoes and of course I, like my late father, love fried green tomatoes. Yum,yum. Excellent Article. I’m going to have to try some of the other varieties you mentioned. they sound like they would be good.
Randy
Kimber Dee | Jul 1, 2008 | Reply
Very interesting. Thanks for sharing that with us.
RJ Evans | Jul 1, 2008 | Reply
Tomatoes! Love them! My mother used to give them to my brother and I in the pram – the neighbors were somewhat perplexed, but it led to a life long love affair! Great article! I need to go out and buy some black Krim now!
writershirley | Jul 1, 2008 | Reply
thanks for sharing information about tomatoes, I really love eating them!Keep up giving us information about veggie’s! writershirley
IcyCucky | Jul 2, 2008 | Reply
Such a colorful, informative, and wonderful article. Learning new things from you every time, thank you!
Fleur D. | Jul 3, 2008 | Reply
I really had no idea there were so many tomatoes besides roma, cherry, and grape. I garden a little every year with my husband,but we don’t really focus on tomatoes. But this is good to know. Thanks for the pictures and sharing.
keyboardologist | Jul 3, 2008 | Reply
Nice photos. I have good luck with the Rutgers, and have grown “Beefstake” tomatoes herein Florida. I had one batch that produced a 4 pound fruit! It’s funny how tomatoes were once thought to be poisonous. Good article, beautiful pictures.
Ary | Jul 4, 2008 | Reply
Wow, I really didn’t know, greate photos it was very useful..
nobert soloria bermosa | Jul 4, 2008 | Reply
interesting collection of tomatoes,i love tomatoes,thanks,
Lucy Lockett | Jul 6, 2008 | Reply
Yummy, I still enjoy eating Tomatoes! There were some in this collection that I have never heard of before.
Lauren Axelrod | Aug 30, 2008 | Reply
Very informative article Louis.
I can understand the feeling with these horrible comments left. I actually wrote an article about it called “Trolls have Infiltrated our writing community”.
The fact they are using Nelson’s name is ridiculous. No one in their right mind would believe Nelson could be so negative.
Kay | Aug 31, 2008 | Reply
I love this article. My husband has become quite the gardener over the past 5 years and will plant anything different/unusual that he can find. I have experienced several kinds of tomatoes over the last 5 summers in our house. The yellow pear, beefsteak, early girl, and several diff varieties of cherry tomatoes…all so good. And there are tomatoes on the vine right now that are supposed to grow to be 2 pounds. That will make a lot of salsa!!