BARHAMS HEIRLOOM TOMATOES
 Barhams Heirloom tomatoes are available for purchase by customers from October until July.
Heirloom tomatoes are special tomatoes whose seeds have been passed
down for at least 100 years. They are passed down through several
generations of families and are known for their valued characteristics.
Most of them are indeterminate plants, which means they can grow
and produce fruit all year. There are several colors and
varieties available. Heirlooms in general are difficult to grow,
especially in the greenhouse, because they are not usually disease
resistant and can be sensitive to cracking. Barham's
heirlooms are rather unique in the fact that greenhouse heirlooms are not readily available in North Carolina and very
rare to find in the winter time.
Heirloom tomatoes are not only very widely flavorable, but they are
attractive and pleasing to the eye because they come in many different
colors, shapes, and sizes. Heirlooms can be any color from green, red,
orange, yellow, purple, or black, and any shade or combination shade
from these mentioned colors. Such as red to pink or blush, and yellow
to mid orange, black to purple to deep husky rose colors, and even in
stripes or combinations of colors. People are attracted to
heirlooms because of the way they look and because of the large number
of tastebuds that are aroused by the different heirloms.
 Heirlooms come in a number of varieties. Yellow to orange tomatoes have great flavor which is usually richer and
mildly fruity and are less acidic than other varieties. The
greens are usually more of a citrus and spicy flavor. The reds
are sweeter and fruitier. Blacks and purples have more of a unique rich
salty taste. The color of the skin usually correlates to its flavor.
Barham Farms offers 3 different varieties which are red brandywines,
yellow gold medals, Cherokee purples or "blacks" - usually in a mixed
box.
The brandywines are the tomatoes that are the reason for the popularity
of the heirlooms. They produce large fruit (usually averaging 1
pound). They are a pink to red potato leafed variety which have
taken on a legendary supurb flavor. They are very popular and have been
developed by several different individuals and genrations, so they are
very hard to track and trace back to their actual origin. Also because
of this, there are several cutivars with the word "brandywine" in their
name.
Yellow gold medals are a lovely pale yellow with blushing rosy red
color that radiates from the blossom end of the fruit. Yellow
golds are slightly fluted and usually produce about a 3 inch in
diameter fruit. These tomatoes are very low in acid which makes them
great for fresh eating. The yellows offer a fantastic flavor.
The Cherokee Purples or "blacks" were cutlvated by the Native American
Cherokee Indians. These tomatoes produce lots of dusky rose to deep
purple colors. Some people say these are one of the best tasting
tomatoes. They are very popular because they offer rich, complex,
sweet flavors.
Barham Farms takes pride in offering you a beautiful mix of tasty
heirloom tomatoes. The tomatoes are grown naturally and because they are
allowed to ripen naturally on the vine, when they arrive to your table,
and are ready to tempt your tastebuds, they are at their highest,
optimum sweetness and most flavor. These tomatoes are absolutely
delicious and are some of the "BEST" tomatoes you will ever eat.
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