Community gardens across Orlando are turning back time by reviving forgotten vegetable varieties our grandparents loved. These heirloom vegetables bring incredible flavors and unique colors that you just can’t find in grocery stores today.
Gardeners young and old are discovering the joy of growing these living pieces of history right in their own backyards.
1. Purple Dragon Carrots
Remember when carrots were only orange? Not anymore! Purple Dragon carrots are stealing the spotlight in Orlando gardens with their stunning violet exterior and bright orange core.
Originally grown in the Middle East thousands of years ago, these vibrant root vegetables pack more antioxidants than their orange cousins. Kids especially love pulling these colorful treasures from the soil, making them gateway vegetables for young gardeners.
2. Mortgage Lifter Tomatoes
Giant pink tomatoes with a fascinating backstory are making waves in Orlando’s garden scene. A West Virginia radiator repairman developed this variety during the Great Depression and sold enough plants to pay off his mortgage!
Each Mortgage Lifter can weigh up to two pounds and offers a perfect balance of sweetness and acidity. Local gardeners prize them for their meaty texture and minimal seeds, making them ideal for hearty sandwiches and fresh salsas.
3. Moon And Stars Watermelon
Galaxy-inspired watermelons are captivating Orlando fruit enthusiasts! The dark green rind features yellow spots resembling a night sky – large “moons” surrounded by tiny “stars.”
Nearly lost forever in the 1980s, this variety was rediscovered when a Missouri farmer recognized it from his childhood. The sweet red flesh delivers an intense watermelon flavor that modern hybrids can’t match. Florida’s warm climate provides perfect growing conditions for these cosmic beauties.
4. Fish Peppers
Striped like swimming fish, these beautiful peppers have deep roots in African American culinary history. Once nearly extinct, they’ve found new life in Orlando’s heritage gardens.
The white-and-green variegated leaves make stunning ornamental plants, while the peppers themselves change from cream-striped green to red as they mature. Medium-hot with a distinctive flavor, they were traditionally used in seafood dishes by Chesapeake Bay communities – hence the name “Fish Pepper.”
5. Green Zebra Tomatoes
Lime-green tomatoes with dark stripes are confusing Orlando shoppers at farmers markets! “Are they ripe?” is the most common question vendors hear about these unusual beauties.
Created in the 1980s by tomato breeder Tom Wagner, Green Zebras technically qualify as modern heirlooms. Their tangy, slightly sweet flavor adds zing to salads and salsas. Local chefs have embraced these eye-catching tomatoes for their ability to brighten up any plate.
6. Jimmy Nardello Peppers
Long, curly red peppers dangling from compact plants look like they’re dancing in Orlando breezes. Italian immigrant Giuseppe Nardello brought these seeds to Connecticut in 1887, naming them after his son Jimmy.
Sweet and fruity with absolutely no heat, they’re perfect for pepper-shy gardeners. When fried, they develop an almost candy-like sweetness that’s unmatched by any grocery store pepper. Orlando gardeners love how prolific these plants are, often producing over 20 peppers per plant.
7. Lemon Cucumber
Round, yellow cucumbers the size of tennis balls are sparking conversations at Orlando garden plots. Despite their citrusy appearance, they taste like mild, sweet cucumbers without a hint of lemon!
Popular in the late 1800s, these refreshing vegetables have thin skins that never need peeling. They’re incredibly productive in Florida’s climate and don’t develop bitterness like some green varieties. Kids especially love hunting for these yellow treasures hiding under broad leaves.
8. Cherokee Purple Tomatoes
Dusky purple tomatoes with green shoulders are the crown jewels of Orlando’s heritage gardens. Supposedly preserved by Cherokee Nation members, these tomatoes date back at least 100 years.
Cut one open to reveal a stunning burgundy interior that looks nothing like supermarket varieties. The rich, sweet flavor has complex wine-like notes that make them perfect for eating straight off the vine. Local gardeners report these hardy plants thrive despite Florida’s challenging growing conditions.
9. Rattlesnake Pole Beans
Climbing beans with purple streaks that resemble rattlesnake markings are transforming Orlando garden trellises into vertical feasts. The vines can reach over 10 feet tall, making them perfect for small-space gardening.
Their name might sound intimidating, but their flavor is anything but – tender, juicy, and delicious when picked young. As they mature, the purple streaks fade during cooking, but the exceptional taste remains. These drought-resistant beans have been helping Southern gardeners through hot summers for generations.
10. Black Beauty Eggplant
Glossy, midnight-purple eggplants are making dramatic statements in Orlando’s nostalgia gardens. Unlike modern hybrid varieties, these heirlooms develop a deep, almost black color that stands out against their silvery leaves.
Dating back to the 1900s, Black Beauty eggplants offer a meatier texture and less bitterness than store-bought varieties. Their ability to thrive in Florida’s heat makes them perfect for local gardens. Roasted, grilled, or fried, they maintain their rich flavor and creamy texture that newer varieties can’t match.