Gardeners, foodies and cooks all crave the tender, rich, juicy tomatoes that their grandparents grew. Heirloom varieties offer that taste memory, and it is the holy grail to grow your own.
This category covers the bases of growing, cooking and selecting the best plant for the intended use.
I grow most of my vegetables in the ground at HeathGlen Organic Farm in Minnesota, but I’ve spent years testing container setups to help gardeners with limited space. Growing vegetables in pots works when you get six things right: pot size, drainage, soil, watering, fertilizing, and plant selection. This guide covers each one. Quick Summary: …
After years of growing row crops for the farmers’ markets, I decided to designate small plots on the farm for themed kitchen gardens to add a more aesthetic appeal and more specialty produce for our family. The Italian kitchen garden is the first themed garden I started, followed by the Mexican kitchen garden. If you …
Hanging baskets are one of the best ways to grow tomatoes if you’re short on space. No floor space needed, good air circulation, fewer pest and disease problems, and ripe tomatoes right at eye level. I recommend this approach for balcony gardeners and anyone who wants to add tomatoes without dedicating land for garden beds. …
Root bound tomato plants are one of the most common problems I see at farmers markets when customers bring me their struggling seedlings. The roots have circled into a dense mat at the bottom of the pot, and the plant is essentially strangling itself. This happens when seedlings stay too long in small containers, which …
Grow bags are one of the most economical ways to grow tomatoes in small spaces. They’re cheaper than pots, store flat, and drain better. After a season of use, most gardeners wonder: can I reuse these next year? Yes, you can reuse the bags. Quality grow bags last for years with proper cleaning and storage. …
Grow bags are one of the best container options for tomatoes, and I use them at HeathGlen Organic Farm for testing different varieties. The fabric is porous, which means excellent drainage and air pruning for healthier roots. They’re cheaper than large pots, fold flat for storage, and work well on decks and balconies. This guide …
Signs of Nutritional Deficiencies in Heirloom Tomato Seedlings and solutions to help prevent a range of tomato diseases
I started seeding tomato and pepper plants in my shop at HeathGlen Farm in 2005. I’ve seen plenty of failures, and because I make a living at this by selling at the large farmers’ markets, it was critical that I figure out keys to success. Leggy tomatoes, those tall, spindly plants with weak stems, are …
Before I started farming at HeathGlen Organic Farm, I thought planting advice like “plant potatoes when dandelions bloom” was just old folklore. Then I learned about phenology, the science of seasonal natural phenomena, and realized my grandfather’s planting rules actually had science behind them! Nature itself does provide reliable cues for when to plant, prune, …
In Minnesota, the tomato season is painfully short. I’ve been growing tomatoes at HeathGlen Organic Farm for over 20 years in Zone 4, and extending the harvest is always a race against frost. Tomatoes have zero frost tolerance. When they freeze, their cell walls burst and the plants turn to mush. But there are ways …
A salsa garden is one of the simplest and most satisfying container projects you can grow. Two pots, a few plants, and by late summer you’re making salsa from ingredients you grew yourself. I’ve been growing the individual ingredients at HeathGlen Organic Farm for over 20 years: heirloom tomatoes, jalapeños, cilantro, onions, and garlic. This …
These are the top 5 seed catalogs for heirloom tomatoes based on selections for flavor, growth habits and cost
I’ve been starting seeds in my little farm shop since 1998, with very few failures. I grow the tomato and pepper seeds into sturdy young plants that I then sell at the St. Paul Farmers’ Market in the spring. I’ve used both fluorescent and LED shop lights interchangeably to gather research on the nuances of …
Not all tomatoes are interchangeable. A meaty paste tomato makes terrible BLTs, and a juicy slicer turns into watery sauce. I’ve trialed hundreds of heirloom varieties at HeathGlen Organic Farm over 20+ years, and the variety you choose matters as much as how you grow it. This guide organizes heirloom tomatoes by use: slicers for …
The color of heirloom tomatoes can often relate to a particular flavor profile. This post examines the most popular colors and flavors of heirloom tomatoes