Heirloom Variety
✂️ Propagation● Basic
Also known as: heritage variety
Heirloom varieties are open-pollinated cultivars maintained for 50+ years (or pre-1950s). They are prized for exceptional flavor and genetic diversity but often lack the disease resistance packages bred into modern hybrids. Cherokee Purple, Brandywine, and San Marzano tomatoes are famous heirlooms. Their genetic fragility demands more careful cultural management—especially disease prevention through crop rotation and pruning.