For at least 50 years, I have been on a quest to reconstruct my German Grandmother’s Cottage and Kitchen Garden. If she were still alive, my grandmother would be over 100 years of age, and she had a huge, true cottage garden/kitchen garden.

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I have worked hard to recreate flower beds that are reminiscent of my grandmother’s flowers, but she also grew magical tomatoes, and I have yet to figure out which tomatoes she grew. They were big, sweet, and they had an ultra-tasty old-garden flavor. She would slice her tomatoes and position them on a plate. She did not stack her tomatoes, and after she salted them, My grandmother allowed her salted tomatoes to reach room temperature and absorb the salt, she left them on the counter for hours before a meal.  One slice of these big beauties can cover a slice of bread.

I  ordered German Queen tomato plants from Bonnie on Amazon. The German Queens look like my grandmother’s tomatoes. Within a few months, I’ll know about the taste. You can bet that I’ll provide you with an update mid-summer.

German Queen Tomato
Image Credit: Bonnie Plants
Height: 5′ – 8′

TASTE TEST of German Queen Tomato

“The shape of the fruit is rounded-flat, the surface is smooth, with a slight fluting at the stalk. The color is deep pink, sometimes with a crimson tinge. The flesh is incredibly fleshy and juicy, there are few seed chambers and few seeds. A distinctive feature of the variety is its exceptional flavor. According to our own observations, this tomato deserves 5 points out of 5 – it is so good: the flavor is rich, bright, saturated, sweet, with a slight fruity note.

“Ideal for fresh consumption, salads, juice and tomato sauces. A true gourmet tomato for those who value flavor above all else. Yield is high and stable. From one plant can be collected from 4 to 6 kg of large, high-quality fruits. The variety is well adapted to growing in the open ground, but feels great in the greenhouse. Resistant to major tomato diseases with proper care and prevention.” Tomato King

A true gourmet tomato for those who value flavor above all else.

I believe that Tomato King has spoken wise and differentiating words in saying that German Queen is a “A true gourmet tomato for those who value flavor above all else.”]

Image Credit: Amazon

If you look carefully at a German Queen tomato, you might think her facade is a bit crude–compared to the more modern tomatoes that I believe were created in an effort to approve this old gal’s appearance. Like several other heirloom tomatoes, the German Queen tomatoes tend to be catfaced. Not ready for a beauty contest, catfaced tomatoes are knobby and gnarled–but they have fabulous old tomato flavor.

In the rush to make tomatoes more attractive, the knobs and gnarls have been bred away. What remains is a tasteless, but prettier specimen. Compare the Queen to Better Boy;

Better Boy looks more like the tomatoes you buy in a grocery store, and in my opinion, grocery store tomatoes taste like a cross between a decent tomato and a tennis ball.

Shame on the breeders. They have bred the taste out of tomatoes. Similar things have happened in breeding modern roses. To make contest-winning, perfect roses, the fragrance has been bred away.

I prefer the older, “unimproved” plants. I think that this German Queen is exactly the gal I’ve been seeking.

“Heirloom. This old-fashioned beefsteak has large, sweet fruits that are lower in acid and quite meaty, making them perfect for slicing. The indeterminate vines will grow tall and bear fruit all summer long, so be sure to stake strongly or cage. One slice makes a great sandwich filling!” Bonnie Plants

I have ordered Bonnie Tomato Plants for years, but this is my first time to try the German Queen. As soon as I opened the box, I was shopped by the size of these queens. The starters are about 3 times larger than other of Bonnie’s tomato starts. And I have always been pleased with Bonnie Tomato Plants. Check out how I repot Bonnie tomato plants here:

Repotting Tomatoes in Large Containers Inside Today — Hoping for an Earlier Crop — The List of Tomatoes I Am Planting & Why