Heirloom Tomato Seed Set – 12 Old Varieties

Forget tasteless supermarket tomatoes. With the Heirloom Tomato Seed Set you can grow twelve historic tomato varieties in your own garden or on your balcony – tomatoes that taste the way tomatoes used to taste: sweet, savoury, fruity, sometimes almost smoky or honey-like. Each of the twelve varieties brings its own colour, shape and aroma to your summer.

This set combines open-pollinated, traditional varieties from across Europe and beyond – including classics like the juicy beefsteak Coeur de Boeuf, the sweet-savoury sauce variety San Marzano and the deep purple-red Noire de Crimée. You will also find yellow cocktail tomatoes, green-striped varieties and elongated bottle tomatoes. All seeds are reproducible: collect seeds from your fruit and grow your own tomato garden year after year.

Why heirloom varieties taste better

Modern hybrid tomatoes are bred for uniform shape, long shelf life and shipping resilience – flavour is secondary. Heirloom varieties, by contrast, have been passed down for generations because they shine in the kitchen. They feature thinner skins, more flesh, higher sugar and acid levels and develop complex aromas in the ripening sun that no supermarket can match.

What is in the box

• 12 seed packets with enough seeds for at least 10 plants per variety
• Determinate (compact, bushy) and indeterminate (climbing, tall) growth habits
• 24-page guide by an experienced specialist gardener
• Variety profiles with notes on flavour, shape and colour
• Sustainable plant-fibre packaging, plastic-free
• Box format 24 × 16 × 1 cm, seed packets 62 × 80 mm

Sowing and growing – step by step

1. Pre-sowing (March-April): press seeds 0.5 cm into moist seed-starting compost, keep bright and warm at 20-25 °C. Germination after 7-14 days.
2. Pricking out: as soon as the first true leaves appear, transplant into larger pots and bury the stem a little deeper – it will form additional roots.
3. Planting out (mid-May): after the last frost, into the open ground or large containers. Choose a sunny, sheltered spot, ideally protected from rain.
4. Care: water regularly (rather rarely and deeply), mulch reduces evaporation. Tie indeterminate varieties to canes or spirals and pinch out side shoots.
5. Harvest (July-October): tomatoes ripen on the vine – only fully ripe fruit develops the full aroma.

Garden or balcony? Both work.

Determinate varieties stay compact and are perfect for pots from 20 litres upwards on terraces and balconies. Indeterminate varieties need space, support and grow into vigorous plants with continuous yields well into autumn. Each plant produces 1 to 4 kg of tomatoes – the full set yields up to 20 kg in total.

Tips for the best harvest

• Location: at least 6 hours of sun per day, sheltered from rain to prevent late blight.
• Soil: rich in humus, loose, enriched with compost. pH 6.0-6.8.
• Watering: water at the base, keep leaves dry. Never water from above.
• Feeding: tomatoes are heavy feeders. Apply a tomato fertiliser or nettle tea every two weeks.
• Companions: basil, parsley and marigolds boost growth and repel pests.
• Save seed: take seeds from your best fully-ripe fruit, ferment, dry and reuse next year.

Frequently asked questions

Are the varieties heirloom or hybrid?
All 12 varieties are open-pollinated heirlooms. You can save your own seed for next season.

When is the best sowing time in Switzerland?
Pre-sow indoors from mid-March, plant out after the last frost in mid-May. In alpine regions, wait two more weeks.

Can I grow tomatoes on a balcony?
Yes. Choose the determinate varieties from the set, use pots of 20 litres or larger, ensure several hours of sunshine and protect from wind and heavy rain.

How long do the seeds keep?
Stored cool, dry and dark, tomato seeds remain viable for 4-6 years. You only need to use part of each packet per season.

How many plants per packet?
Each packet contains seeds for at least 10 plants. That is up to 120 plants from the full set – plenty to share with gardening friends.

Which varieties are best for sauce or salad?
Elongated varieties like San Marzano are ideal for sauces and preserving. Beefsteak types like Coeur de Boeuf shine in caprese salads. Cocktail varieties are eaten straight from the vine.

Does it make a good gift?
Absolutely. With its premium plant-fibre packaging and detailed guide, it is a thoughtful gift for spring, Father's Day, a new garden or simply for any tomato lover.

Bring back the flavour your grandparents knew – and discover how a home-grown tomato changes everything. Order now and harvest this summer.