Tomatoes
If you're like us, you want to grow tomatoes that taste like tomatoes. And what better way to do that than by growing heirloom and open-pollinated tomatoes? Not only are they delicious, but they also offer a ton of other benefits to the home gardener.
First, heirloom and open-pollinated tomatoes are more genetically diverse than the hybrid varieties you find in stores. This means they're more adaptable to different growing conditions and pests, making them easier to grow in your home garden. Plus, they come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and colours, creating a beautiful medley in your harvest basket!
But the real benefit? The taste! With complex, distinct flavours and hundreds to choose from, you can try new ones every year and never get bored.
There are two categories of tomato plants:
- Determinate (short-growing): Often referred to as bush-types, they grow to a finite size and produce most of their fruit at once. They generally do not require extra support and do exceptionally well in containers. Popular in shorter-season gardens.
- Indeterminate (vining): Require support for their long vines, which will keep on growing as long as conditions are favourable. Indeterminates can bear quite heavily and over an extended period.
Tomato Growing Guide:
Tomato is a warm-season plant that requires full sun and is frost-tender. Start plants in trays and transplant them two or three times before planting in their permanent place. Plant deeper every transplant to promote extra root growth along the buried stem. Tomatoes are heavy feeders, so give it very rich well-drained soil, and it is recommended to prepare individual planting holes. Plant the trellis or cage for support at the same time as the seedling so that the roots are not damaged afterwards. Adequate spacing is also important for good air circulation, which keeps most diseases at bay. Thirsty tomato plants need regular watering at root level. Always try to keep the leaves dry to prevent disease. To grow larger fruit, pinch out suckers and growing tips when the plant reaches its desired height. This will divert the energy to the fruits instead of the vines.
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10 Fingers of Naples
Solanum lycopersicumA popular heirloom hailing from – you guessed it – Naples, Italy. It's a heavy y..
R37.87
A'Grappoli D'Inverno
Solanum lycopersicumAvailable for purchase from 1 July 2025 A'Grappoli D'Inverno, meaning..
R35.50
Abrar
Solanum lycopersicumA Livingseeds release. Given to us by an Indian gardener, this tomato was given ..
R35.50
Aegcha
Solanum lycopersicumA stellar Russian beefsteak variety in both production and taste departments. Sw..
R34.12
Ailsa Craig
Solanum lycopersicum Stemming from Ailsa Craig, a granite island off the coast of Ayrshire, this ..
R34.12
Amana Orange Tomato
Solanum lycopersicumThis beautiful extra-large, fluted beefsteak variety originates from the Amana C..
R34.12
Amazon Chocolate
Solanum lycopersicumA very rare and highly desired indeterminate beefsteak variety of Amish origin. ..
R34.12
Amish Salad
Solanum lycopersicum Whatever the Amish do, they seem to do it right. This is another great littl..
R31.87
Ananas Noire
Solanum lycopersicumA stunning open-pollinated tomato developed by Belgian horticulturist Pascal Mor..
R34.12
Andy's Polish Pink
Solanum lycopersicumA very rare Polish tomato gifted to us by Astrid & Matthew, owners of a US s..
R34.12
Anna Russian
Solanum lycopersicumThis variety was introduced by Craig LeHoullier to the Seed Savers Exchange Yea..
R34.12
Anna Slovakia
Solanum lycopersicumThis is a real treasure from Slovakia, given to us by Anna whose family had been..
R34.12
Arkansas Traveler
Solanum lycopersicum Here's a tomato variety that has stood the test of time! Simply outstanding ..
R33.49
Atomic Fusion
Solanum lycopersicumA selection of Brad's Atomic Grape. This tomato is one of the creations by Brad ..
R34.12
Aunt Ruby's German Green Giant Tomato
Solanum lycopersicumLimited stock One of the best green tomatoes, with a wonderful firm flesh. It ma..
R35.50
Azoychka
Solanum lycopersicumA Russian heirloom bred by hobby gardener Valentina Petrovna Kruglova and found ..
R34.12
Balcony Beauty
Solanum lycopersicumAvailable for purchase from 1 July 2025 Balcony Beauty is a cheerfu..
R35.50
Balsak
Solanum lycopersicumFrom the Afrikaans word for "nutsack," Balsak is what it was called when given t..
R34.12
Banana Legs
Solanum lycopersicumA prolific indeterminate heirloom. The plants produce beautiful yellow, elongate..
R34.12
Bedouin
Solanum lycopersicumAlso known as "Beduin," this beautiful Russian variety is named after the nomadi..
R34.12
Specials
Black Vernissage
Solanum lycopersicumA beautiful indeterminate tomato variety from Ukraine. The saladette-type fruits..
R29.67 R34.12
Fireworks
Solanum lycopersicumThe 2022 season on Livingseeds Farm was noted for its generally low overall temp..
R29.67 R34.12
German Red Strawberry
Solanum lycopersicum Large oxheart-type with 250g+ fruits. Shaped somewhat like a large strawberr..
R30.87 R35.50
High Crimson
Solanum lycopersicum What a striking tomato – we've never seen such intense red in the flesh of a..
R30.87 R35.50
Indigo Apple
Solanum lycopersicumAnother recent release in "new" tomato colours. This open-pollinated variety was..
R29.67 R34.12
Julia Child Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum Named after the famed chef Julia Child and introduced to the gardening world..
R30.87 R35.50
Kamberg Black Tomato
Solanum lycopersicumA delectable South African variety discovered in the Kamberg Valley, Drakensberg..
R29.47 R33.90
Kleckley's Sweet Watermelon
Citrullus lanatusA.k.a. Monte Cristo. Bred by WA Kleckley in the 1880s and commercially introduced b..
R32.48 R37.35
Lemon Salad Tomato
Solanum lycopersicumAn indeterminate tomato producing beautiful, round to slightly oblate, lemon yel..
R29.67 R34.12
Matt's Wild Cherry Yellow Tomato
Solanum lycopersicumThis is a fabulous, spontaneous sport of Matt's Wild Cherry on Livingseeds Farm,..
R27.72 R31.87
Molly's Zebra
Phaseolus vulgarus One of Australia’s favourite runner bean varieties. Bred as a green cutting be..
R28.82 R33.14
Nebraska Wedding Tomato (Indeterminate)
Solanum lycopersicumThis is an indeterminate variety of the original Nebraska Wedding tomato introdu..
R29.67 R34.12
Nepal Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum This Himalayan heirloom produces large, globe-shaped tomatoes that slice wel..
R30.87 R35.50
Pakistan Maroon Beans
Phaseolus vulgaris A staple food in Pakistan, these beans are grown primarily for the dry bean ma..
R28.82 R33.14
Pebblestone Bush
Phaseolus vulgarisThis is a delightful, compact bush bean that produces heaps of lovely dark green p..
R31.22 R35.90
Peter Pepper Chocolate
Capsicum annuum A chocolate colour morph of the famous Red and Yellow Peter Pepper. A unique and odd..
R27.37 R31.48
Plana de Penjar Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum This Italian variety is famed for its ability to store over winter.Typically..
R29.67 R34.12
Tendersweet Orange Watermelon
Citrullus lanatus A simply delicious, eye-catching heirloom sporting a bright yellow/orange flesh..
R32.48 R37.35
Windsor Long Pod
Phaseolus vulgaris A bush bean with a long history as a favourite garden bean. As its name sugges..
R31.22 R35.90
Zagreb Soldier
Phaseolus vulgaris A Yugoslavian Heirloom that is said to have originated from Croatia. This bean..
R31.22 R35.90