Grow Heirloom Tomatoes - Costoluto Genovese Tomato Seeds. Grown by Thomas Jefferson from 1809 when he retired, and then every year thereafter until his death in 1826, Costoluto Genovese is the definition of heirloom . Considered an oddity in today's vegetable garden, this variety showcases a deeply ridged, heavily lobed fruit characteristic of early 19th-century tomatoes. A standard in Italy for both fresh eating and preserving, Costoluto Genovese Tomatoes are known for their intensely flavorful, deep red flesh.