The sweet juiciness of a ripe Amish Paste tomato straight from the vine is one of summer’s simple pleasures. But finding that old-fashioned tomato flavor in grocery store offerings can be a challenge. For a superior taste that will make your sauces and salsas sing, there’s no substitute for homegrown Amish Paste.
If you want meaty fruits loaded with rich, complex flavors perfect for cooking, it’s time to grow Amish Paste. This hardy heirloom combines heavy yields on productive plants with extraordinary old-fashioned taste. Once you try Amish Paste, you’ll see why generations of homesteaders and farmers have prized this variety for canning and sauces. Let Amish Paste fill your kitchen with summer’s best flavors.
An Introduction to Amish Paste Tomatoes
Amish Paste tomato is an Amish heirloom that dates back over 100 years. These plants produce big crops of thick-walled red fruits much like the popular Roma but with a more pronounced tomato flavor.
The name comes from the Amish tradition of cooking tomatoes down into thick, spreadable paste for canning and sauces. Amish Paste was likely shared between homesteads and market growers throughout Pennsylvania before making its way into the wider world.
These plants yield abundant crops of bright red tomatoes averaging 8-12 ounces. The smooth, oval shape of Amish Paste resists cracking far better than other paste tomatoes.
Despite the sizable fruits, Amish Paste contains few seeds clustered around the central core. The thick walls surrounding the seed cavities provide an excellent meaty texture with little waste.
Amish Paste ripens to a stunning red color with emerald green shoulders. Biting into one of these plump tomatoes releases a flood of rich, old-fashioned tomato flavor.
The Big Bold Flavor and Texture of Amish Paste
Amish Paste tomatoes offer an incredible depth of old-fashioned tomato taste that bursts across your palate. The low moisture content of these meaty fruits makes for a highly concentrated flavor in every bite.
When allowed to fully ripen on the vine, Amish Paste develops a wonderfully sweet and tangy flavor profile. Bright tomato notes mingle with fruity undertones in a perfect balance.
The smooth skin and dense flesh give Amish Paste tomatoes an extraordinarily firm but tender texture. The meaty interior almost melts away, filling your mouth with juicy goodness.
Amish Paste really shines when used for cooking. The thick walls and minimal seeds cook down easily into rich, full-bodied sauces perfect for canning or freezing.
Whether you enjoy them fresh in sandwiches, simmered into homemade pasta sauce, or baked into pizzas, Amish Paste delivers some of the best old-fashioned tomato flavors around.
Growing Amish Paste Tomato Plants
Amish Paste grows best in zones 3-10 as an indeterminate vine requiring cages or support stakes. Give each plant ample space at 24-36 inches apart in full sun (at least 6 hours of direct light daily). Installing tomato cages at planting time helps keep these prolific vines tidy and eliminates later staking.
Since Amish Paste thrives in midsummer’s warmth, wait until the soil has warmed to at least 65°F before transplanting seedlings outdoors. In my experience, it’s worth purchasing healthy starts from the garden store rather than starting Amish Paste seeds yourself. Look for dark green seedlings about 4-6 inches tall.
Plant tomato transplants deeply, burying much of the stem to promote stronger root growth. Water newly planted seedlings daily until established. Side dress with organic tomato fertilizer when the first fruits begin developing.
Adding 2-3 inches of mulch around your tomato plants is highly recommended. The mulch helps retain moisture and prevents weeds from competing for water and nutrients. For best results, use drip irrigation under the mulch to deliver water right to each plant’s roots. I’ve found the Orbit B-Hyve Smart Hose Timer takes the work out of watering – I just set a schedule and let it handle irrigation on autopilot.
As Amish Paste tomato vines grow, gently prune lower leaves and shoots to improve air circulation. Check weekly for common pests like hornworms and treat them organically if found. Your attentive care will be rewarded with a bountiful harvest!
How to Use Amish Paste Tomatoes
If you love cooking and canning with garden tomatoes, Amish Paste is a must-grow. The thick, meaty flesh cooks down easily into rich sauces and paste without the need for peeling or seeding.
Here are some of my favorite ways to enjoy Amish Paste tomatoes fresh from the garden:
Canning Whole Tomatoes – The firm, oval fruits stay intact beautifully when canned whole. Pack into jars with tomato juice and spices.
Homemade Tomato Sauce – Simmer chopped Amish Paste tomatoes with onion, garlic, and basil for an easy homemade pasta sauce.
Tomato and Zucchini Pie – Layer sliced Amish Paste tomatoes with summer squash and cheese into a flaky pie crust for a delicious seasonal treat.
Chili Base – Puree Amish Paste tomatoes in the blender with chili powder and broth for an easy chili starter.
Oven-Dried Tomatoes – For concentrated flavor, slice Amish Paste tomatoes and slow roast until shriveled and chewy.
However you decide to enjoy their harvest, Amish Paste tomato plants will keep your kitchen stocked with flavorful fruits perfect for cooking.
How Amish Paste Compares to Other Tomato Varieties
With so many types of tomatoes to choose from, you may be wondering how Amish Paste stacks up against similar varieties for sauce-making:
Roma – Amish Paste offers comparable yield and meaty texture to Roma in a larger, more oval shape that resists cracking. Amish Paste provides a richer tomato taste.
San Marzano – San Marzano has a bit more acidity and thinner flesh than Amish Paste. Amish Paste gives larger fruits more suitable for canning whole and costs much less for seeds.
Opalka – Opalka is another paste-type heirloom similar to Amish Paste but with lower yields. Amish Paste matures earlier and has better disease resistance.
Where to Find Amish Paste Tomato Seeds and Plants
Amish Paste tomato seeds can be found at top heirloom seed retailers:
- Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds – Offers non-GMO Amish Paste seeds for only $3.95 per pack.
- Burpee Seeds – Trusted source for Amish Paste tomato seeds, 10 seeds for $2.95.
- Seed Savers Exchange – Non-profit seed company with a large selection of heirloom Amish Paste seeds.
You can also source starter plants for transplanting at local garden stores and nurseries. Be sure to shop early, as Amish Paste tomato plants are very popular.
If you can’t find plants nearby, order Amish Paste tomato starts from these reputable online sources:
- Grow Organic – Organic, non-GMO Amish Paste tomato plants shipped nationwide.
- Territorial Seed Company – Specialty supplier of organic heirloom tomato starts.
- Burpee Plants – Greenhouse-raised Amish Paste tomato plants guaranteed to arrive healthy.
Wrapping up
For an abundance of meaty red tomatoes with time-tested flavor perfect for cooking, Amish Paste is a garden standout. These hardy heirloom plants yield prolifically while resisting disease and cracks. The rich taste and thick texture of Amish Paste tomatoes make them ideal for sauces, paste, canning, and much more. Let this Amish classic fill your pantry shelves with a garden-fresh flavor all season long!
