Tomato Love | Epic Tomato Source

Tomato Love Seed Vault - Six Best For 2025

Tomato Love Seed Vault – Six Finalists<br>Moonglow, Cherokee Purple, Soldacki, Oaxacan Pink Mexican, Moneymaker, and Chocolate Cherry<br><br>Serena’s Six Best – 2025!<br><br>It was a tough call. I almost chose a sauce tomato — like San Marzano — to give this line-up balance. But in the end, I followed my heart.<br><br>You’ll notice I lean toward the beefsteaks. They demand attention. They’ll take up the most time. They need skill (stake them!) — but when they shine, you too will feel the power and the glory.<br><br>There’s nothing like that moment when the beefsteaks begin to blush.<br><br>Now you’ve got three of my best beefsteaks — it’s time for you to take your rightful place and become the envy of your neighbours.

Tlacolula Pink Mexican - 15+ Seeds - Vogel Slab Worthy

Graceful and full of sunshine — this Oaxacan heirloom grows with an old-world charm that’s hard to forget. Its soft pink, pear-shaped fruit ripple with gentle curves and carry a mild, sweet flavour that shines in fresh salads or slow-roasted dishes. Strong, steady vines produce generously through the warmth of summer — a true beauty from the highlands of Mexico.<br>Type: Heirloom, indeterminate<br>Days to Maturity: 75–80<br>Fruit Size: 2–4 oz<br>Color: Rosy pink with light ribbing<br>Flavour: Mild, sweet, low acid<br>Skin: Thin and tender<br>Origin: Tlacolula de Matamoros, Oaxaca, Mexico

Zapotec Pleated Mexican Tomato Seeds – 15+ per Pack – Vogel Slab Worthy

Deeply pleated, bold & beautifully sculpted — this heirloom sets large, triangular (pumpkin-like) fruit in rich pink-red tones, with scalloped edges and hollow interiors ideal for stuffing. The flavor is sweet and intense, balanced, with a low seed count, making each bite pure. Plants grow indeterminate and vigorous, loving heat, and reliably produce in warm conditions.<br>In my Hokianga garden, Zapotec Pleated was a drought champion. It didn’t crack once, and it kept cropping — heavily — all season long. The fruits were medium to large, not giants, but that may be why it gave so much. The trusses bunched and sagged, so I let them rest on the mulch — something I could only do because the dry weather knocked back slugs and snails.<br><br>That thick mulch saved the garden last year. It kept the roots cool, the fruit clean, and this tomato thriving. Oaxacan Pink isn’t just beautiful — it’s generous and resilient.<br><br>Type: Indeterminate<br><br>Days to Maturity: 75–85 days<br><br>Fruit Size: Medium to large<br><br>Color: Soft pink with deep ribbing<br><br>Flavour: Sweet, low-acid, full-flavoured<br><br>Skin: Tough enough to resist cracking, even in drought<br><br>Origin: Oaxaca, Mexico – traditionally linked to Zapotec growers

Oaxacan Pink Mexican - 15+ Seeds - Vogel Slab Worthy

The Oaxacan Pink is a deeply pleated heirloom — unusual in appearance, and generous in yield. In my garden, it cropped heavily, much like its cousin Tlacolula. With good support and plenty of space, it produces soft rose-pink fruit in full, abundant clusters.<br><br>Some fruit showed cat-facing (see image below) — those deep folds that form when temperatures are too cold. This happens when tissue between the style and ovary doesn’t develop properly, often worsened by excess nitrogen or harsh pruning. As soon as you see a fruit cat-facing, remove it — the earlier the better, so the plant’s energy can be directed to healthier fruit. I never save seed from cat-faced fruit. <br><br>Helpful hint: Plant out only once the weather has truly warmed, to reduce the risk of cat-facing and give your seedlings the strong start they need.<br><br>In Oaxaca, these tomatoes are fire-roasted or grilled before being turned into salsa — their thick flesh and low seed count make them ideal for rich, smoky sauces.<br>Type: Indeterminate<br><br>Days to Maturity: 80–85 days<br><br>Fruit Size: Medium to large<br><br>Color: Rose-pink<br><br>Flavour: Very sweet, slightly tart, low acidity<br><br>Skin: Thin, soft, pleated<br><br>Origin: Oaxaca, Mexico

Cherokee Purple - 15+ Seeds - Ultimate Vogel Slab

Cherokee Purple is a dusky-rose heirloom believed to have originated with the Cherokee people in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains — a region with hot, humid summers much like Northland. It’s known for its deep, smoky flavour and soft, wine-like flesh.<br><br>In my Hokianga garden, this variety held up well through drought. I mulched heavily and reduced watering to only when the plants showed signs of stress in the evening. It didn’t crack, and the fruit was beautiful. Spacing matters with this one — overcrowding reduced my yield, so give it room to breathe.<br><br>Cherokee Purple is resilient, flavourful, and well worth growing. It’s a tomato with history — old is gold.<br><br>Type: Indeterminate beefsteak<br><br>Days to Maturity: 80–90 days<br><br>Fruit Size: Large, 250–450g<br><br>Color: Dusky rose with green shoulders<br><br>Flavour: Deep, rich, smoky, wine-like<br><br>Skin: Thin, but resistant to cracking with mulch and observation<br><br>Origin: Foothills of the Appalachian Mountains – attributed to the Cherokee people<br><br>Mulch heavily to protect roots and retain moisture<br><br>Water regularly, when possible, but reduce during droughts with close observation<br><br>Space generously — this variety likes airflow and breathing room.

Soldacki - 15+ Seeds - Vogel Slab Worthy

Soldacki is a rosy-pink Polish heirloom that delivers big, old-world flavour in every slice. Its fruits are softly ribbed, with thin skin and a rich, meaty interior that melts into sandwiches and summer platters. <br><br>In our Hokianga garden this season, Soldacki held its sweetness even through drought; the only trade-off was cracking, easily managed by watering deeply, mulching well. Pick from the base of vine as they begin blushing and ripen inside before cracking can occur. <br><br>If you love a low-acid beefsteak that feels like home-grown sunshine, Soldacki will quickly earn a place in your seed vault — and on your table. <br><br>Handy Hint - Remove those cracking tomatoes early. As disease can enter. Mulch thickly, lots of compost and manures. Stake well. <br><br>You get no surprises from me; I tell it like it is. No filters here. The image of them green, they were well watered until the possum ate them.<br><br>Type: Indeterminate beefsteak<br><br>Days to Maturity: 75–85 days<br><br>Fruit Size: Large, lobed, 200–400g (can vary)<br><br>Color: Blush pink with green shoulders<br><br>Flavour: Sweet, low-acid, meaty texture<br><br>Skin: Thin – prone to cracking in dry spells<br><br>Origin: Poland (brought to the U.S. in the late 1800s)

San Marzano Tomato Seeds – 15+ per Pack – Ultimate Paste

San Marzano is the classic Italian plum tomato — long, slender, and deeply flavoured. Famous for its low seed count and rich flesh, it’s perfect for sauces, pastes, and roasting with garlic and onion.<br><br>This variety is a heavy cropper when staked well and grown in good soil. Like other plums, it can be prone to Blossom End Rot (BER), but don’t let that put you off — with deep mulch, consistent watering, and an understanding of how calcium is used by plants and how to make it available, it’s easily managed. You’ll find a full article on BER under Growing Tips if you need support.<br><br>Grow this one for bottling season — for the pantry jars, the depth of flavour, and the satisfaction of seeing them ripen in long clusters on the vine. Once stored, they become a kind of treasure — holding the taste of summer tomatoes, in the heart of winter.<br><br>Type: Paste / Plum<br><br>Days to Maturity: 80–85 days<br><br>Fruit Size: 10–12 cm long<br><br>Color: Deep red<br><br>Flavour: Rich, sweet, and complex<br><br>Skin: Thin and easy to peel<br><br>Origin: Campania, Italy – traditionally grown near Mount Vesuvius<br><br>

Moonglow - 15+ Seeds - Ultimate Salad

Moonglow, widely known as the golden tomato, shines with a sweet, fruity flavour that adds sunshine to any salad. Its bright yellow hue—yes, as vivid as Big Bird—comes from high levels of tetra‑cis‑lycopene, a form of lycopene shown to be more easily absorbed than that in red tomatoes. It’s not only beautiful—it’s beneficial.<br><br>This heirloom produces medium-sized fruits (170–225 g) with firm, crack-resistant skin and few seeds. It’s a moderate cropper, offering quality over quantity—which is why I included it in my harvest for the Boat Shed alongside Moneymakers and Chocolate Cherrys.<br><br>Discovered in the mid-2000s, Moonglow won the 2007 Seed Savers Exchange Tasting Award and comes with an American heirloom lineage thought to trace back to Andean golden-fruited varieties. <br><br>Its smooth texture, mild tang, and storage ability make it a standout slicer, keeper, and garden favourite.<br><br>Type: Indeterminate<br><br>Days to Maturity: ~85 days<br><br>Fruit Size: Medium, 170–225 g<br><br>Color: Vibrant yellow<br><br>Flavour: Sweet, fruity, tropical<br><br>Skin: Smooth, firm, crack-resistant<br><br>Origin: United States (Heirloom, won 2007 SSE Tasting Award)

Chocolate Cherry - 15+ Seeds - Salads

Chocolate Cherry is a garden stunner — rich mahogany skin, juicy flesh, and a flavour that balances sweet, tart, and earthy all at once. These prolific little gems grow in clusters, perfect for picking straight from the vine and popping into your mouth. Customers often say they never make it into the kitchen — they're just that moreish.<br><br>I’ve found Chocolate Cherry to be exceptionally productive, especially when well-supported and given room to climb. It handles cooler nights better than many cherries and continues cropping late into the season. A vigorous grower with disease resistance that makes it a reliable choice year after year.<br><br>Originally believed to have ties to Andean wild tomatoes, this variety carries the complexity of older cultivars with the charm of modern snacking tomatoes. Grow it once, and you'll be saving seeds for life.<br>Type: Cherry<br><br>Days to Maturity: 70–75 days<br><br>Fruit Size: Small (2.5–4 cm)<br><br>Color: Deep mahogany-brown<br><br>Flavour: Sweet, tangy, rich<br><br>Skin: Smooth, thin<br><br>Origin: Believed to have Andean ancestry; modern open-pollinated selection

Yellow Pear Seeds 15+ per pack

It's an oldie but a goodie dating back to the early 1800s; it hangs in clusters like grapes, is sweet and is yellow and low in acid. It will produce for you continually through summer, and although its fruit is small, the vine is large and hardy, and it is indeterminate. Honestly a favorite; I love how beautiful it looks. Taste the sun! It's pretty good for being disease resistant, too—no problems with this last summer. <br>

Potentate Seedling

Potentate vs. Moneymaker<br><br>Both Potentate and Moneymaker are classic British-bred tomatoes, well-loved for their reliability in cooler climates. But they each bring something slightly different to the table:<br><br>Moneymaker is one of the most famous traditional greenhouse tomatoes in the UK. It produces medium-sized, bright red fruit with a mild, balanced flavour. Its big strength is productivity — heavy trusses, dependable set, and long harvests. For many, it’s the taste of childhood sandwiches.<br><br>Potentate, while less widely known, was bred to improve upon Moneymaker. It tends to give slightly larger fruits, with a richer and more robust flavour — sweet and tangy with firmer flesh. Where Moneymaker can be a bit watery, Potentate holds together better in cooking and slicing. Gardeners often describe it as having a “truer tomato flavour.”<br><br>In short:<br><br>Moneymaker = heavy crops, classic mild flavour, great for beginners.<br><br>Potentate = fewer seeds, meatier texture, stronger flavour, better for sauces and sandwiches.

Oaxacan Pink Mexican Seedling

Oaxacan Pink Mexican – A Flavour From the Mountains<br><br>This heirloom tomato hails from Oaxaca, Mexico, where traditional farmers have grown it for generations in rich mountain soils. Known for its large, pink beefsteak fruit, it combines sweetness and old-world depth with a delicate tang that keeps each bite bright.<br><br>Fruits often tip the scales at 400–600 grams, with smooth shoulders and a luscious, meaty interior that makes them perfect for slicing thick over sandwiches or layering into summer salads. The skin is tender, the colour a soft rose-pink, and the flavour… unforgettable.<br><br>Oaxacan Pink Mexican is also a reliable producer — thriving in warm climates, setting heavy crops, and rewarding growers with consistency as well as taste. In my own Hokianga garden, last year’s plants held strong even through drought conditions, thanks to heavy mulching, and still delivered generously.<br><br>A tomato of heritage and heart — grown for centuries, now proven in ours.

Cherokee Purple Beefsteak Seedling

Cherokee Purple – A Tomato with a Story<br><br>I first discovered Cherokee Purple through Craig LeHoullier, the American tomato grower whose work blew my tomato world wide open. He describes this variety as the perfect meeting point of sweetness, tartness, depth, and texture.<br><br>In 1990, Craig received seeds from John D. Green of Sevierville, Tennessee. With the seeds came a letter explaining they were from a purple tomato handed down by the Cherokee people and grown for more than a century.<br><br>The result is a tomato like no other: dusky rose-purple skin, rich flavour, and a legacy rooted in indigenous history. Slice into one and you’ll taste not only the earth, but also the story it carries.<br><br>Unusual in colour, unforgettable in flavour — Cherokee Purple is a true heirloom treasure.

Soldacki Beefsteak Seedling

Soldacki – The Polish Powerhouse<br><br>Indeterminate, 80 days. This heirloom produces large, solid red fruit with meaty flesh — tangy, robust, and sweet all at once. Fruits can reach up to half a kilogram, with some misshapen shoulders, but growers happily overlook that for the outstanding flavour.<br><br>Originating from Kraków, Poland, the Soldacki is a true classic. One slice can cover your entire hamburger bun, making it a showstopper for summer barbecues. Its dense, juicy flesh makes it just as perfect for rich salsas and sauces.<br><br>Similar to the beloved Pink Brandywine but with higher yields and a touch more resilience. Harvest as soon as the fruit ripens for the best flavour and texture.<br><br>A tomato to feed a crowd — and win them over.

Moneymaker - 15+ Seeds - Salad Hero

Moneymaker is one of the true classics—a dependable British heirloom bred in the early 1900s for both greenhouse and field production. In my garden it lives up to its name: long, tidy trusses of medium-sized, bright-red globes that just keep coming. The firm skin resists cracking, the flavour is clean and balanced, and each fruit is the perfect salad size. It stores well, too—handy when you’re harvesting by the bowlful.<br><br>This season was exceptional: I never saw a hint of disease, even in the drought, and the plants cropped so heavily I kept the local Boat Shed supplied with baskets of Moneymakers (alongside Moonglows and Chocolate Cherries). It’s prolific, a true long-cropper, and remarkably happy in a large pot on the deck—close at hand for kitchen snacking.<br><br>For gardeners who want a no-drama tomato with solid flavour and reliable abundance, Moneymaker remains exactly what its name promises.<br><br>Type: Indeterminate<br><br>Days to Maturity: 75–80 days<br><br>Fruit Size: Medium (5–7 cm)<br><br>Color: Bright red<br><br>Flavour: Clean, balanced, classic<br><br>Skin: Firm, resists cracking<br><br>Origin: England, early 1900s<br><br><br><br><br><br>