BEEFSTEAKS & ECCENTRICS
Beefsteaks are the largest tomatoes, and grow outward with an ever-expanding equator and a shorter distance from pole to pole (stem to blossom end). These are the best tomatoes for sandwiches, as one slice will often suffice. Our eccentric tomatoes this year are Zapotec heirlooms and crosses, also oblate but deeply ruffled, irregular, and full of character. The following are proven performers in Arizona's desert scrub, but be sure to start any late-season beefsteaks very early for the maximum yield:
Aunt Ruby's German Green Tomato - GREEN
Beefsteak, 3" x 5½", 1 lb. 5 oz. Pale greenish yellow, with dark green shoulders. Occasionally has a pink blush that extends into the flesh, and a star ruby on blossom end. Nearly neon green gel around the seeds. Superb, fruity, sweet, slightly spicy, perfect balance of acid and sugar. Soft and melting, buttery texture, juicy as a melon. Best for fresh eating or frying. Indeterminate, regular leaf, low yield. Green when ripe, amber when overripe. Mid-season crop. Heirloom. US Ark of Taste. First offered by Aravaipa Heirlooms in 2010.
Berkeley Tie-Dye - RED/ORANGE/YELLOW/GREEN
Oblate beefsteak, 8-16 oz. Green with yellow and red stripes. Assertive taste; each color has its own distinct flavor, supplying sweet, tart, and spicy notes. Warning: high acid content. Experiment at your own risk. Dense regular leaf foliage. Mid to late season crop (75-85 days). First offered by Aravaipa Heirlooms in 2011.
Black Early - BLACK
Oblong to beefsteak, 4-12 oz. Brown-purple with very slight green shoulders. Very flavorful and sweet, with good texture. Compact indeterminate, regular leaf, early season. Prolific. First offered by Aravaipa Heirlooms in 2012.
Cherokee Chocolate - PURPLE
Beefsteak, 6-16 oz. Bicolor brownish-red with dark brown-black or green shoulders. Extremely sweet, smoky, earthy, complex, rich, lingering flavor. Watery and thick-skinned, no core. Indeterminate, regular leaf, very productive. Mid-season crop. Remarkable flavor and rich color. A sport of Cherokee Purple, which is RAFT Red List (endangered) and on the US Ark of Taste. First offered by Aravaipa Heirlooms in 2011.
Indian Stripe - PURPLE/GREEN
Irregular and slightly oblate beefsteak, 6-12 oz. Dusky purple with occasional green striping. Complex and intensely flavorful. Indeterminate yet compact, regular leaf. Mid-season crop (79-80 days). Very prolific. Thought to be a Cherokee Purple strain, Indian Stripe boasts a higher yield, but has lighter shoulders and is a bit smaller. Grown by Clyde Burson for as long as he can remember. Great for slicing! First offered by Aravaipa Heirlooms in 2011.
Mexican Giant - RED
5" diameter 1-2 lb. beefsteaks. Gorgeous red color, delicious flavor. Indeterminate, mid-season crop (80 days). Rare heirloom (read about one tomato lover's quest here). First offered by Aravaipa Heirlooms in 2011.
Sudduth's Brandywine - RED
Beefsteak, 3" x 5½", 1-2 lbs. Pink or light red-purple inside and out. Rich, delightfully intense, like a fine wine. Coreless, soft, meaty, juicy. Best for fresh eating. Indeterminate, potato-leaf, low to moderate yield. Mid-season to late crop. One of the best tasting heirlooms. Considered by some to be the same strain as Pink Brandywine, but this is controversial. RAFT Red List (threatened), US Ark of Taste. First offered by Aravaipa Heirlooms in 2010.
Tim's Black Ruffles Tomato - BLACK
Oblate pleated beefsteaks, 8-10 oz. Garnet purple. Rich, delicious, sweet, smoky, complex flavors. Meaty. Indeterminate, regular leaf, mid-season crop. Prolific. Developed from a cross of Zapotec Pink Pleated and Black Krim by Tim the Punk Rock Farmer, who worked under foodways scholar and gardener William Woys Weaver. Tim would prefer that it be named "Darth Tomatovader" (nice infixing, Tim) or "Black Death" (read his comments at Happy Cat Organics). First offered by Aravaipa Heirlooms in 2011.
Zapotec Pleated Tomato - RED
Eccentric, deeply ruffled, almost triangular, 2½" x 4½", 3-12 oz. Pink-red inside and out. Flavor mild to surprisingly good. Firm and partially hollow; good stuffer. Indeterminate, regular leaf, high yield. Mid-season to late crop (85 days). Once ripe, it overripens quickly. Mexican heirloom collected in the Sierra Madre del Sur. First offered by Aravaipa Heirlooms in 2010.
