GROW IN ABUNDANCE: Growing Heirloom Tomatoes - Flavor Worth the Extra Care
- Jun 1
- 4 min read
By Sommer Cartier, for Lets Talk Plants! June 2026
Growing Heirloom Tomatoes: Flavor Worth the Extra Care
There’s really nothing like a ripe heirloom tomato picked straight from the garden. The colors, the odd shapes, the flavor that actually tastes like a tomato should, rich, sweet, tangy, sometimes all at once. Once you grow them yourself, it’s honestly hard to go back to store bought tomatoes.
That said, heirlooms can definitely test your patience more than some of the hybrid varieties. If you’ve struggled with them before, you’re not alone. They tend to be more sensitive and particular about their growing conditions. However, once you get a feel for what they need to thrive, they become much easier to grow and absolutely worth the extra effort.
What are heirloom tomatoes?
Heirloom tomatoes are open-pollinated varieties that have been passed down over time, often for decades. They haven’t been bred for uniform shape, long shelf life, or durability the way many grocery store tomatoes have.
Instead, they’ve been preserved for their flavor, color, and uniqueness.
They come in all kinds of shapes, sizes, and colors, from deep reds and purples to yellows and greens, often a little irregular and not always perfect, which is part of what makes them so special. .Because they’re open-pollinated, you can also save seeds from them and grow the same variety again, which is part of how they’ve been shared and kept going for so long.
Why they can be a little tricky
Heirloom tomatoes are known for flavor but they’re not bred for resilience. That’s usually where the challenges come in.
They don’t have built in disease resistance
Many heirlooms are more vulnerable to common soil borne diseases like fusarium or verticillium wilt.
They respond more to inconsistency
Changes in watering, soil conditions, or temperature can show up quickly in the form of cracking, blossom end rot, or slower growth.
They can be less predictable
Some seasons they’ll produce heavily, other times they’re a bit slower or more sensitive depending on conditions.
What helps them thrive
With heirlooms, it’s less about doing anything complex and more about keeping things consistent.
Start with good soil
Healthy, well-draining soil with organic matter makes a big difference. These plants need steady access to nutrients to support both growth and fruiting.
Keep watering consistent
This is one of the biggest factors. Deep, regular watering helps prevent issues like cracking and blossom end rot. It’s the inconsistency, not the amount, that usually causes problems.
Give them space and airflow
Heirloom tomatoes tend to grow big and continue producing over time. Spacing them properly and supporting them well (stakes or cages) helps reduce humidity around the leaves and lowers disease pressure.
Stay ahead of issues
Because they’re more susceptible, it helps to check in regularly. Catching a pest or removing a few affected leaves early is much easier than dealing with a larger issue later.
Rotate where you plant them
Try not to plant tomatoes in the same spot year after year. Changing locations helps reduce disease and pest buildup in the soil, which heirloom varieties can be especially sensitive to.
Easier heirlooms that still deliver on flavor
Not all heirlooms are equally fussy. Some are more reliable while still having that flavor people love.
Cherokee Purple
Rich, complex flavor and a consistent performer in warmer climates.
Black Krim
Deep color with a slightly smoky flavor. Often handles heat better than other heirlooms.
Brandywine
Known for flavor, though it can be slower and a bit more particular.
Green Zebra
A little different, with a bright, tangy flavor and often more vigorous growth than larger heirlooms.
If you’re newer to heirlooms, starting with one or two of these can make the experience a lot more enjoyable. One of the easiest ways to take the pressure off is to not rely on heirlooms alone. Growing a mix of heirloom and hybrid tomatoes works really well. Hybrids tend to be more disease-resistant and consistent, while heirlooms bring the flavor and variety.
It gives you a bit of both reliability and quality.
At the end of the day, heirloom tomatoes are not about perfection. They split, they grow in strange shapes, and sometimes they can be a little finicky. But the flavor, beauty, and connection they bring to the garden make them well worth it. With a little patience and consistency, heirlooms can become one of the most rewarding crops you grow. And once you slice into that first sun warmed tomato straight from the vine, you will understand why so many gardeners fall in love with them year after year.
Sommer Cartier
Master of Arts, International Development and Social Change
Clark University