On the plant, 'Don Camillo' tomatoes display their broad, ribbed shoulders and reddish-pink skin, evoking a robust Italian character. This beefsteak-type variety is distinguished by its generous presence in the vegetable garden. The slightly flattened, finely ribbed fruits display an attractive pinkish-red hue. Each tomato weighs on average 250 to 400 grams. g – some easily exceed 500 g in ideal conditions. The plant, with indeterminate growth, climbs vigorously and requires sturdy support to support its abundant fruiting.

Born of mystery, the 'Don Camillo' tomato variety conceals its exact origins – no source precisely traces its geographical birthplace. All that is known is that a collector first shared it in 2009 via the Seed Savers Exchange Yearbook (United States). Its unusual name is a cinematic nod: the gardener who christened it playfully alluded to the famous rebellious priest Don Camillo, portrayed by Fernandel. This tomato thus seems to carry within it a piece of Italian soul, as if it had traveled from the sun-drenched villages of the Po Valley to our vegetable gardens today.

The “Mémé de Beauce” tomato has a story as mysterious as it is touching. In 1995, nearly 300 unidentified tomato seeds were discovered in a house that had been abandoned for several years in Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce . Neighbors confirmed that no vegetable garden had been cultivated at that address for over 60 years . These dormant seeds thus survived the years, untouched, in the shadows.

The seeds were entrusted to Mr. Gérard Parent , who germinated three of them. Despite the intervention of specialist Antoine D'Avignon , the variety could not be identified. It was thus named “Mémé de Beauce,” an implicit homage to the gardeners of yesteryear, silent guardians of seeds and knowledge.

In the garden, this tomato stands out for its impressive production of giant fruits , frequently reaching nearly 1 kg , sometimes even more. The fruits are fleshy, multi-locular , and covered with a thin pink to red skin . At full maturity, their flesh becomes very tender, almost melting, making it a remarkable tomato for juices and sauces.

The plant, with indeterminate growth , can reach 1.4 to 2 meters in height . Its vigor and the exceptional weight of its fruit require sturdy support , otherwise the stems may break. It exhibits good resistance to powdery mildew, which contributes to its consistent performance in cultivation despite its unusual characteristics.

In the ecumene, “Mémé de Beauce” is perceived as a tomato of resilience and transmission . It embodies the ability of seeds to cross decades and reappear when someone takes the time to observe, sow and accompany life.

Originating in Kentucky, the Pineapple tomato is an heirloom variety that attracts attention with its yellow fruits streaked with red and its spectacular shape. In a well-mulched, thriving vegetable garden , it forms a vigorous, indeterminate plant, which is supported by stakes or strings, with careful attention to detail. Its large, deeply lobed leaves shade the soil , creating a welcoming environment for roots and beneficial insects.

The fruits, enormous and often misshapen, resemble the scalloped shape of a pineapple and attest to the rustic charm of trusted varieties , the result of long, artisanal selection. The vines grow up to 1.7 meters tall and produce late , in the cool of autumn, when the flavor concentrates into sweet and complex notes.

Originally from Sicily , the Rosso Sicilian is an old determinate tomato, carefully passed down by a Sicilian immigrant in 1987. This hardy variety has adapted well to Quebec gardens , where it appreciates rich, well-drained, and warm soils .

Its deep red, heavy, and heavily ribbed fruits resemble open flowers: spectacularly shaped tomatoes weighing up to 330 g . Their compact growth habit makes them ideal for planting in close rows, with light staking to support the weight of the clusters. In a thriving, nutrient-rich environment , this tomato becomes a reliable ally throughout the summer , with a harvest spread over 70 to 90 days . Its floral structure and moderate vigor make it a dependable plant in a vegetable garden that thrives during the warmer seasons.

Passed down since the late 19th century by the Morin family of the village of Chertsey in the Lanaudière region, the Adelin Morin tomato is a rare heritage variety that embodies a living chapter of Quebec's vegetable-growing history. Its flattened, heavily ribbed fruit, with its deep pinkish-red hues, evokes the large tomatoes seen in gardens of yesteryear. Produced in clusters of four, this beefsteak tomato forms robust, indeterminate plants that require careful staking and support until maturity.

It complements the gardener's age-old gestures—sowing, staking, observing, harvesting—and invites a relationship with life, following the rhythm of the days, from the small, fragile seedling to the heavy, sun-ripened fruit. In a supportive vegetable garden , it requires welcoming soil, sunshine, and regular attention, but it generously rewards with spectacular harvests, with fruits weighing from 200g to over a kilo. Faithful and expressive, it naturally finds its place in a respectful and deeply rooted cultivation.

The Anawine tomato, a beefsteak-type variety resulting from a spontaneous cross between Ananas and Red Brandywine , was developed thanks to the patient work of Didier Meunier in the CART garden in Aubrecay. Even today, it remains rare in Quebec, cultivated with care after being recognized as one of the top 15 tomatoes by renowned tomato expert Michel Verdon.

In the garden, it displays a vigorous, indeterminate growth habit , producing large, yellow fruits streaked with red, often weighing close to a kilo. These vibrant fruits are reminiscent of the pineapple tomato with their marbled flesh, but are distinguished by their better firmness and resistance to cracking . In a vegetable garden that works in harmony with the rhythm of the seasons , it thrives on a stake or string, supported by a nourishing mulch, careful watering, and gentle pruning.

Originating from the Altai Mountains on the border of Russia and China , the Gregori Altai is an heirloom tomato with robust roots, bred for extreme climates . This indeterminate Siberian variety stands out for its remarkable earliness in the beefsteak tomato category.

In the garden, it grows vigorously and consistently. Its dense foliage accompanies the formation of dark pink, slightly flattened fruits weighing 250 to 600 g , whose firm, meaty flesh is highly prized. Well -suited to both cool summers and hot ones , it reassures the gardener with its rapid maturity (as little as 75 days) and good yield. It integrates harmoniously into a thriving vegetable garden , where the simplicity of the tasks – staking, watering, harvesting – brings out a wealth of flavors.

Originating from a family heirloom passed down by an Amish woman from Missouri, the Dester tomato has its roots in Germany , where it was reportedly cultivated for many years by a doctor's family. This heirloom variety with large, pink, beefsteak-type fruit is the result of a transatlantic journey, a blend of living tradition and a passion for good tomatoes.

In the garden, it grows vigorously, supported by indeterminate growth. Carefully staked , it develops long, sturdy, leafy stems, ready to bear massive fruits that can reach 450g . In a sunny, fertile spot , it integrates perfectly among summer companions, extending the harvest season thanks to its staggered production. It is a reliable plant , consistently accompanying daily tasks: tying, observing, picking, sharing.

Originating from Sichuan, China , the Halfmoon China is an heirloom beefsteak tomato variety, selected for its delicate colors and rich flesh. Its generous, flattened, slightly ribbed fruits turn a very pale yellow, almost ivory, with pinkish highlights when fully ripe, evoking the light of a calm evening.

In a thriving and well-tended vegetable garden , this vigorous, indeterminate plant requires space, support, and attention . Production occurs in irregular but generous waves until the first frosts. It fits naturally into an approach to sustainable gardening , where each harvest becomes a moment of wonder.