Basic Tomato Shapes and Heirloom Tomato Varieties

This is the 'Orange Russian 117' heirloom variety. It is classified as an ox-heart shape based on the clear shape of the tomato.  It is also a bi-color variety that is just starting to turn as of this week. The fruits are surprisingly large over 12 oz.

Heirloom Tomato 'Orange Russian 117': Gary Pilarchik

These two tomatoes are 'Brandywine Suddath's Strain'. They are approaching 16 oz. The are classified as beefsteak tomatoes which typically push 12+ oz and approach 2 pounds based on the variety. This variety is the 16+ oz.

Heirloom Tomato 'Brandywine Suddath's Strain': Gary Pilarchik

This variety is the 'Baxter Bush Cherry'.  Without my hand in the picture they might look larger but typically fall in the 1-2 oz range. Cherry size is just as it sounds.

'Baxter Bush Cherry' Tomato: Gary Pilarchik

'Baxter Bush Cherry': Gary Pilarchik

This is 'Brandywine Red'. It grows 12 -16 oz which is a bit smaller then the 'Suddath's Strain' above.

Heirloom Tomato 'Brandywine Red': Gary Pilarchik

This variety is 'Homestead'. It is your standard 8 ounce tomato. They will grow 6 -10 ounces. They are typically classified as slicing or globe tomatoes.

Heirloom Tomato 'Homestead': Gary Pilarchik

This is the 'Black Plum' and it is classified as a plum tomato. You can tell by the oblong shape. It might look similar to a grape tomato with out my hand to give you some perception. Grape tomatoes are about the size of grapes at 1 ounce if that. This plum is 2 or 3 sizes larger then a grape and it is easily 1ounce.

Heirloom Tomato 'Black Plum': Gary Pilarchik

This is another cherry tomato called 'Glacier'. It was one of my early tomatoes and it turned out to be great. It fruited early and still is producing. These are smaller cherries when compared the the 'Baxter Bush Cherry'. These are well under 1 ounce.

Heirloom Tomato 'Glacier': Gary Pilarchik

What is interesting about the 'Delicious' variety is that is a beefsteak type that is suppose to challenge 2 pounds. These guys (all of them) are lucky if they push 8 ounces. Why? This plant did battle blossom end rot which I corrected. There is also 40 plus fruit on the plant. Tomato size is based on a lot of factors. Blossom end rot and over 40 tomatoes to mature probably caused the smaller size. 

Heirloom Tomato 'Delicious': Gary Pilarchik