Choosing Tomato Varieties: The ABCs of Hybrid, Heirloom and Open-Pollinated

Reader Contribution by Craig Lehoullier
Published on February 16, 2016
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In my last post, I began to provide some detail about some basic tomato terminology. Understanding the basics leads to more successful gardens – and happier gardeners. With so many tomato choices, confusion can easily set in. Since just about all gardens contain tomatoes, and most gardeners crave them, a successful harvest every year is a really important goal. Part of that success can be achieved by selecting the right varieties for our climate, soil, and garden type – this contributes to a good start.

Now that we’ve discussed growth habit in my last post – indeterminate, determinate and dwarf tomato varieties – the next place to go is clarifying the three terms that describe the genetics of the varieties at the highest level. Understanding what the terms hybrid, heirloom and open-pollinated mean help to set not only expectations and possibilities, but define the “type” of tomato garden – such as high production, living history, and rainbow of colors and flavors.

Open-Pollinated

A tomato variety that is genetically stable – one that can be grown reproducibly from saved seed – is called an open-pollinated variety. The genetic stability of such a variety allows it to be passed on and be in existence for decades or centuries (unless it becomes cross pollinated along the way, but that’s another story).

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