We grew about 800 heirloom tomatoes this summer, testing 11 varieties. We sell to several restaurants in the Central Arkansas area and the farmer's market. Our niche is large, great tasting heirloom tomatoes. We need flavor, good size, productivity and a tomato that makes it to ripe with a decent appearance. Our best three without a doubt were Carbon (a big dark red), Goldie ( a large golden, not yellow, high acid tomato and Annis Noir, a tomato that when dead ripe is green with red marbling. A little experience is necessary to know when this French heirloom is perfect but you learn quick and it is a fantastic tomato. I almost forgot, we also were extremely pleased with German Giant--big early flush of huge great tasting red tomatoes then a quick die off. There is a lot of competition growing heirlooms and we find it helps to have a color different from fire engine red and we also have found that small heirlooms are more common that truly large ones. Large is tougher to grow--they cat face and often, not as prolific and sell for more. I agree with Pauln that in the South, Brandywine is a non-productive tomato, one that I don't think taste any better than a Carbon. Other years we have had great luck with Oxxacan Jewell and Mariannas Peace but when we planted in subsequent seasons, they did not come through. These four appear to be great, dependable heirlooms in a very harsh climate.

Hi Marianne, Most of the heirloom tomato talk is on the tomato forum. Some excellent reading and people with strong opinions. But since we're here, I have a variety of favorites: Cherokee Purple, Aker's West Virginia, Earl's Faux Red Brandywine are all fabulous. I also love Red Brandywine. They all pack a fabulous tomato punch to my way of thinking. Do look at the tomato seed exchange forum as well. You'll notice the link on the tomato forum. Sometimes people will offer seeds for free, or the price of a self addressed stamped envelope. All the best. Mary

Definitely a waste of time to try for larger fruited tomatoes in the Summer here! That said, come August, you can start geting ready for the Fall & my newest fave is Speckled Roman(from Pinetree) - a beautiful long, pointed OP indeterminate tomato w/ gold/red striped skin & great for both cooking & fresh eating - very juicy & sweet & I just harvested the last of my Fall planting 2 weeks ago = ) I meant to try for some Sugar Plum tomatoes for the Summer, but my seedlings died from neglect = ( I might still try some more. Tho my Matt's Wild grew throughout a Summer season the year before last, the tiny (very tasty!)fruits were a PITA to harvest & way too seedy for cooking = S I've resigned myself to a coupla months w/o fresh garden tomatoes, but I do have a few quarts of frozen whole fruits to get me through - they're good for cooking & salsa, if not salads, anyway. The link below is a great tomato/pepper reference - even if you don't buy from 'em.They're in Ft. Myers HTH Here is a link that might be useful: Tomato Growers Supply Co.

Hmm, I emailed the organizer a few days ago and still no reply. THis may be a bombed out swap. I hope you had some spare seeds, Clay_lady. Luckily, I kept enough seeds to grow and only swapped my extras. But I am saddened because I sent about 40 packs of veggie seeds all told. What a waste of time energy and money!