I’ve been dutifully combing through NPR articles again {an admittedly favorite past time} and found a cool article about “designer plants” for the home gardener. The article indicated that the availability of different varieties of garden veggies, fruits, and tubers are on the rise.
Gardeners don’t want to be stuck with the same ol’ monocultural choices that are available in the grocery stores. Instead, they want to try their hand {or green thumb, rather} at blue tomatoes, gem-colored corn, and other more uniquely flavored and colored varieties.
The article listed a couple of plants I didn’t even know existed, like the pineberry {a strawberry-type plant that tastes like a pineapple}. I had to refrain from saying “lick a schnozzberry, it tastes like a schnozzberry” {from Willy Wonka} while I read about it. They showed a picture of indigo tomatoes that looked like bright little eggplants hanging on a tomato vine, but no sirree bob, they were tomatoes–packed with flavonoids {you know, eat the rainbow mentality on supercharge}.
I can totally get behind this trend. The reason stores sell the varieties of fruits and veggies that they do is plain and simple because they store well, ship well, etc. They are not necessarily the healthiest or tastiest variety. So, I am kind of glad to see companies and nurseries are going to start offering more varieties. After all, there’s a reason the saying goes, “variety is the spice of life.”
There’s not doubt about it, heirlooms rule.
Do you have a favorite designer vegetable?
~Mavis
Susan says
I am growing Heirloom Tomatoes from seed for the very first time this year. I started them indoors and just a week ago transplanted them to larger containers and brought them out to my brand new “hoop house” that DH built for me 🙂
They are doing great in this warm weather we are having. I have 38 plants. I will have to distribute them around the neighborhood b/c I only want to plant around 8.
Jenn says
This is my first year with a big garden. So far we have tomato’s, peppers, cucumbers, corn, watermelon, squash, zucchini, okra and eggplant planted. This year is the first time that we have started mostly everything from seed and Mavis you have inspired me. Thanks to you I have Cherokee Purple tomato’s and Green Zebra tomato’s planted and I can’t wait to try both of them!
Gloria says
I’ve grown Indigo Rose plants for a few years now and love them. They tolerate early frost well, are prolific, taste great, and even can beautifully. I mix them with all leftover tomatoes for soup.
Not an heirloom, but the only hybrid I absolutely love are Sungolds. Mini orange cherry tomatoes that are super sweet. Once tasted, never forgotten. Polish linguisa plum tomatoes are my favorite for canning sauces – prolific and hardy. For eating, I prefer German Stripe, a big tomato that’s low acid for my delicate tummy.
Dawn says
My favorite is the Radiator Charlie’s Mortgage Lifter, but I am trying out a Russian Heirloom this year, The Azoychka, which is yellow has a hint of citrus flavor to it. I’m so excited!!!
Ellen in Clackamas says
I grew the Indigo Rose last year and loved them. Will getting more starts soon. One year I tried growing a German Heirloom (name has escaped me) but I only got 3 tomatoes from the plant and it was a brown color that totally turned off my taste buds! I like the bright colors!!! Love the Green Zebras too
Cecily says
I love, love, love heirloom and colorful tomatoes! This year I’m growing San Marzano, Amish Paste, Brandywine, Cherokee Purple, Violet Jasper, Persimmon, Nyagous, Pruden’s Purple, Sungold, Japanese Black Trifele, Velvet Red, Big Boy, Sugar Lump, Sun Sugar (sweeter even than Sungold) and Indigo Rose plus five other mystery heirloom varieties and my own variety that I am developing. Did I mention that I love tomatoes? ; )
Cecily says
Oh, also Silver Tiger, a red tomato with orange stripes and fuzzy silver leaves.
The Couch Potato says
I haven’t had much of a chance to try out interesting varieties, but I really look forward to exploring everything that’s out there.
SueMorgan says
Awww, be still my heart. I discovered heirloom tomatoes 6 years ago. I didn’t even know they existed. I miss having a garden. Having had strokes and other health issues, I haven’t been able to garden much the past 4 years. My favorites though were Black Prince, OH YUM, Aunt Ruby’s German Green Cherry tomato (who knew that a little green tomato has SO much flavor), Costulota Genovese (sp), Black Plum, and Black Cherry tomatos. I tried so many varieties, Isis Candy (good), and got one Cherokee…..if you’ve never tried the “Black” varieties, I would encourage you to do so. In my opinion, they have so much more flavor than any Red variety.
SueMorgan says
Also, just a couple of tips that I found so useful. I started all my tomatoes from seeds. Before I transplanted them outside though, I dug a few inches below the transplanting, and put crushed egg shell, and organic bone meal. I had read that when their roots reached them, it would provide additional “fertilizing”. Also, tomatoes love milk! Once a week, I’d fertilize my tomatoes w/a little milk, diluted with water. Oh my goodness, I still miss the bounty of tomatoes I got. As all of you know, there is no comparison to a homegrown tomato, with a store bought one. Happy Gardening, everyone. Hope I helped a little bit.
Jessica J says
Hi Mavis! I ordered Pineberry’s from Burpee this year. They grow just like regular strawberries but they are tiny. The taste is awesome, very high sugar but absolutely not pineapple flavor. I think they wanted to give it a better description then “white strawberry” to set them apart because they are really sweet. They are white while they are growing but blush light pink when they are ready to pick. Tasty little treats! I am super disappointed that they did not send out runners, I really wanted to get some “free” plants! They are fun but I don’t see getting a big harvest so we will be planting more regular strawberries next weekend.