(Solanum lycopersicum)

Slicers are the big, juicy, flavorful tomatoes that make for excellent fresh eating! Nothing says summer quite like a freshly sliced tomato with a pinch of salt. Yum! Slicers are at their best when eaten fresh but they also make a lovely complex and flavorful sauce. They just require a longer cook time.

There are two types of tomatoes- determinate and indeterminate. Determinate varieties reach a certain plant height and then stop growing- producing their fruit over a one to two month time period. Do not prune determinate varieties! Indeterminate varieties grow in a more vining pattern, require trellising, and generally perform well when pruned. Indeterminate varieties will continue to produce all season long until the frost.

Classic Beefsteak- The original slicer variety boats large fruit that is meaty and ribbed with a dark red color. The fruit is very large and on average these tomatoes weigh between 12 oz. and 1 lb. The perfect all purpose heirloom tomato! Late ripening. Indeterminate.

Cherokee Purple- Our best selling slicer variety! This deep purple and red fleshed tomato has the most superb flavor. Indeterminate. Read more about this variety in this NPR article here!

Moskvich- Cultivated in the early 1970s in Russia, this variety is one of the first to produce and will continue to be highly productive throughout the season. Indeterminate.

Cosmonaut Volkov- Originally from Ukraine, this variety consistently wins taste tests with its wonderfully sweet and tangy fruit. This variety does well in cooler areas, including the Pacific Northwest, but will crack with too much moisture so be sure to harvest before a big rain event. Semi-determinate.

Siberian- Rich, strong flavor on early to produce plants .Introduced through SSE in 1984 by Will Bonsall, originally from the Lowden Collection. Dwarf sprawling plants with very early fruit set. Egg-shaped 2-3" fruits with good strong flavor. Determinate.

Striped German- Massive fruits with a complex fruity flavor and smooth texture. The marbled interior of this variety is absolutely beautiful when sliced. Yellow and red variably ribbed shoulders create a striped skin reminiscent of a circus tent. Indeterminate.

Paul Robeson- Our favorite slicer variety! This tomato has a cult following among gardeners and seed collectors because of its lovely smokey sweet flavor. Dusky brick red fruits with green shoulders. This Russian Variety was named after Paul Robeson, famous Black actor, singer, and civil rights advocate. Indeterminate.

Berkley Tie Dye- Small, compact plants produce gorgeous 8-12 ounce fruit with super sweet, rich tomato flavor and lovely metallic green stripes. This variety wins taste tests against the prized Cherokee Purple and is worth giving a spot in your garden. Small plants but indeterminate.

Planting Information:

Tomatoes can be planted in the garden after the danger of frost has passed and when the soil has warmed to roughly 50 degrees. In the Portland area, this is generally early to mid-May. A good rule of thumb is to plant your tomatoes out on Mother’s Day Weekend.

Photo by Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company, High Mowing Seed Company, Johnny’s Seed Company and Territorial Seed Company.