Heirlooms
Forum Archives
fertility
Location: Outside the Maritime Pacific Northwest
Posted: Jan-28-2005 at 3:33pm
For those of you who don't know me, I write about gardening for The Oregonian. I am planning this year to plant a test garden devoted to heirloom vegetables and am looking for suggestions. Right now I'm taking all recommendations, regardless of what type of vegetable. In the end, of course, I'll have to make difficult decisions -- but I'll worry about that later.[:s
So let me know your favorites! Thanks.
DebbieTT
Location: Washington, Kitsap Peninsula
Posted: Jan-28-2005 at 4:06pm
Hello Kym, My favorite heirloom is the Cinderella pumpkin, with the fancy pants name—Rouge Vif D'Etampes. Like its namesake eludes to, it looks much like the carriage Cinderella rode to the ball in.
It is actually a squash and it not only is a fun pumpkin for Halloween decor, it tastes great and makes wonderful pumpkin pie and pumpkin soup. I like its sweetish flavor.
Not sure if you have room for pumpkin, but this one would be my recommendation for an heirloom.
pdxgreengrrl
Location: Willamette Valley
Posted: Jan-30-2005 at 5:18pm
I have been raving to anyone who will listen to me about the Russian Persimmon tomato since I 'discovered' it a few years ago. It is an incredibly meaty, flavorful yellow tomato...delicious slicer. I have had good success growing it here in NE Portland.
Chris
opabinia51
Location: British Columbia, Island
Posted: Feb-02-2005 at 2:54pm
I love heirloom tomatoes. Last year I grew 26 different Varieties. My favourites were Russian Black and the Zebra Tomatoe. Also, I like the Black plum tomatoe and the Current Tomatoe.
bakingbarb
Location: Washington, Western
Posted: Feb-03-2005 at 5:05pm
I vote fro green zebra.
I know I have tried other heirlooms but that is the only one that sticks to my mind right now!
~BakingBarb
CaraD
Location: Oregon, Western
Posted: Feb-09-2005 at 10:37am
I have one to NOT recommend...the Amish Paste tomato. I looked for seed for 3 years, finally got some, and was very disappointed. The plants were nice, and loaded, but what toms did ripen, were nearly tasteless. Maybe my disappointment was because I had heard so many people rave about them?
gary
Location: Washington, Puget Sound Corridor
Posted: Feb-09-2005 at 12:10pm
Territorial sells many tomatoes as heirlooms. Two that I have good luck with are Seattle Best (not in catalog now) and Persimmon (a Trav favorite).
My Seattle daughter also likes Costoluto Genovese.
Any use of heirlooms needs to consider the cool summers (nights especially)here. Cara's tomato above should have ripened with lots more flavor if she grew it in Amish country.
Most varieties of tomatoes, corn and other heat lovers will not develop their full potential in our climate. Even buying seeds from Johnny's in Maine doesn't insure success since their shorter summers are hotter than ours.
Waterville, Maine is on the same latitude as Corvallis. The 'normal' temps for August 1st are 81F & 60F in Waterville versus 83F & 52F in our area. In corn heat units that is 20.5 chu against 17.5 so it takes 7 days to equal 6.
Move to the Iowa corn country and the CHU's are 26 per day on Aug. 1st. Seven days here do not equal five there. In addition to the heat units, most tomatoes will not set fruit when night temps drop to 55F.
Perhaps a better source of heirlooms is from another maritime climate, Northern Europe as Territorial does with their Cracoviensis lettuce.
Gary
JeanneK
Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro
Posted: Feb-09-2005 at 12:44pm
Thanks, Gary. Terrific details and a great reminder for those of us trying to grow some tomatoes this summer! I knew even New England had warmer summers than the PNW but having the actual temps does help to compare.
Jeanne
opabinia51
Location: British Columbia, Island
Posted: Feb-23-2005 at 11:52am
I picked up some interesting varieties of Heirloom tomatoe this past weekend. White Potatoe leaf seems to be the most exotic.
I also bought four varieties of Heirloom Corn: Indian Blue (hooker's) Corn, Andian Blue Corn, Pink Pomegranate Corn and Golden Bantam Corn.
bakingbarb
Location: Washington, Western
Posted: Feb-26-2005 at 11:15am
Gary I was wondering about all that. Since I lived 18 years in Mi and only a year and half here I knew there was no way the same tomatoes are going to mature here. We had night time temps over 80 there during the heat of summer,
WHEW
I do remember reading about this in OG years ago but I did not pay attention to the types that grow west as I never thought I would be here. There are varieties bred in Or. arent there? But then they are not going to be heirlooms huh?
~BakingBarb
DebbieTT
Location: Washington, Kitsap Peninsula
Posted: Mar-02-2005 at 8:55pm
Fert,
Oh boy, I just remembered the Romaine lettuce called 'Flashy Trouts Back'. Although I haven't grown it, I have tasted it and it is fabulous and very pretty! I buy it from a local grower. I am however going to grow it this year.
An heirloom I grow and love the flavor is 'Speckles'. I love its color in the lettuce moss basket I grow almost every year. I didn't realize it was an heirloom until I went to reorder it this year.
Both of these can be purchased through Territorial.
I believe the runner beans Painted Lady and Scarlet Emperor are also heirlooms. I grow both and although the beans of the latter can be tough when older, while they are young I enjoy them cooked. But I grow them because they are beautiful as annual vines and the hummingbirds and bees flock to them.
fertility
Location: Outside the Maritime Pacific Northwest
Posted: Mar-17-2005 at 1:05pm
You guys are great. Keep 'em coming. Thanks.
DebbieTT
Location: Washington, Kitsap Peninsula
Posted: Mar-17-2005 at 7:07pm
Opa, The white potato leaf, is it as it suggests, white leaves? I am interested to hear more about this.
Bill N
Location: Oregon, Willamette Valley
Posted: Mar-24-2005 at 11:35pm
It's a pretty common tomato now, but Stupice is considered an heirloom and it does very well here in the valley.
Gardening for the Homebrewer: Grow and Process Plants for Making Beer, Wine, Gruit, Cider, Perry, and More
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