From seed catalogs and roadside stands to menus, we often see the phrase “heirloom tomato.” Let’s look at what the term heirloom means, and the differences between heirloom and hybrid tomatoes.

A hand planting seeds in the garden - Susumu Yoshioka/Getty Images Growing plants from seed can be hugely satisfying. It's also a good deal better for your wallet than buying plants. You can grow ...

One of people's favorite garden vegetables is tomatoes. There are virtually hundreds if not thousands of different varieties. Tomatoes come in all shapes, colors and sizes. Everyone seems to have a ...

The practice of seed saving is an important tradition that helps preserve heirloom varieties, maintains biodiversity, adapts plants to local conditions, reduces gardening costs, and strengthens ...

Spring is around the corner, which means it is time to plant. Starting from seed can be a gratifying and economical way to grow many edibles and ornamentals, but choosing seeds can be confusing. Do ...

Choosing the right variety of tomato is crucial for success, but there are at least 7,000 known varieties. Many mail-order catalogs offer 100 or more kinds of seed; there are catalogs entirely devoted ...

Cut the Tomato and Remove the Seeds: After washing and drying the tomato, cut it in half. Scoop the seeds and pulp into a ...

Read the seed packet or catalog and make sure what you buy is labeled open-pollinated or heirloom, not hybrid. My grandfather grew what we now call heirloom tomatoes: time-tested varieties that breed ...

What do you think of when you see the word “heirloom” associated with tomatoes? I used to think they were old varieties that were probably especially tasty but finicky to grow. Well, part of that is ...