Every gardener knows: not all tomatoes are created equal. With an estimated 7,500 for you to choose from, selecting the right variety for your garden can feel like finding a tomato in a haystack. Factors like climate, space, disease resistance, and personal tastes must all come into play. And then, you must cultivate your chosen tomatoes properly to yield the most delicious fruits. In this guide, we delve into eleven perfect varieties to grow in your garden.
1. Champion: The Bountiful Producer
The Champion tomato lives up to its name, reliably producing bountiful crops year after year. This variety is known for large, firm fruits with a classic red color and balanced, sweet-tart tomato flavor. With an excellent disease resistance profile covering most common tomato problems, the Champion is truly a fuss-free addition to your garden.
To grow Champion tomatoes, select a full sun location, as this variety enjoys at least 6-8 hours of sunlight per day. Regular fertilizing with a slow-release product can ensure healthy growth, with most gardener’s choosing to feed their Champions once at planting time and again halfway through the growing season. Champion plants can reach a height of up to 5 feet, so staking is necessary to support your bountiful branch.
2. Better Boy: The Reliable Staple
The Better Boy tomato is another high-yielding, remarkably versatile variety. It’s known for its large, globe-shaped fruits with a deep red color and a robust, classic tomato flavor. Its hardiness and adaptability make it a favorite of home gardeners worldwide.
Better Boy tomatoes thrive in full sun, with well-drained soil. Regular watering and fertilizing can support healthy growth, but be sure to let the soil dry out between waterings to prevent waterlogged roots. Perhaps the ultimate pro tip to enjoy Better Boy tomatoes: harvest them when they’re fully colored, to enjoy the richest flavor.
3. Sun Gold: A Sunny Delight
With its clusters of small, bright orange tomatoes, Sun Gold is certainly a stand-out variety. Expect a burst of sweet, fruity flavor when you bite into them—Sun Gold is often called one of the sweetest tomatoes available.
Growing Sun Gold requires a bit more care. This variety adores heat and needs plenty of sun, but watch out for water irregularities as this could lead to fruit splitting. Regular pruning could be necessary to keep this prolific plant in check.
4. Brandywine: The Heirloom Favorite
The Brandywine tomato is an heirloom variety, famous for its exceptional flavor. Large and slightly flattened, its pinkish-red fruits have a sweet, full-bodied taste that many gardeners consider the ultimate in tomato flavor.
Brandywine tomatoes prefer rich soil and consistent moisture. Also, being heirlooms, they’re more susceptible to disease. Therefore, be sure to practice crop rotation in your garden, rotating your tomatoes to a new spot each season to prevent disease buildup.
5. Green Zebra: The Stripy Standout
Standout in the garden with their distinctive green stripes, the Green Zebra variety offers small to medium-sized fruits with a tangy, slightly tart flavor profile. This heirloom variety matures to a vibrant green color with distinctive yellow streaks—eye-catching in any salad!
Due to their shallow root system, make sure to water Green Zebras regularly and feed with a balanced fertilizer to boost growth. Consider planting them with ample spacing to promote good air circulation and prevent disease.
6. Roma: The Sauce Star
Imagine making your own homemade sauces with the Roma tomato, a variety darlings of cooks worldwide for its thick, meaty flesh, low moisture content, and few seeds. This classic Italian variety is perfect for canning and paste-making.
To grow Roma Tomatoes, opt for a sunny, well-drained spot in your garden. Roma plants require staking or caging to support their heavy yields. To get the most from your Roma tomatoes, time your harvest when they are bright red, and the fruit is firm to the touch.
Remember, each tomato variety comes with its own set of benefits and best practices. By aligning your personal preference and garden conditions with the right variety, you’re on your way to a fruitful season! Whether it’s the bountiful Champion or the rustic Brandywine, let these tomatoes reign in your garden.
7. Sweet 100: The Cherry Bomb
Meet Sweet 100, the cherry tomato with a reputation for high yields and a burst of sweetness. Growing in clusters like grapes, they are ideal for salads, snacking, or as an ornamental edging in your garden.
Sweet 100 plants can be robust climbers, so staking or caging is recommended. As with most tomatoes, they thrive with full sun, well-drained soil, and regular watering. Pro tip: to maximize fruit production, pinch off the tips of main stems in early summer to encourage the plant to grow side shoots and more flowers, and therefore, more fruits.
8. Mortgage Lifter: The Heavyweight Champion
With a name like ‘Mortgage Lifter’, you would expect something outstanding, and this tomato doesn’t disappoint. Known for producing hefty fruits often exceeding 2 pounds, this variety offers a rich, sweet flavor that’s perfect for summer salads.
Caring for Mortgage Lifter tomatoes can be a little demanding, as they often need extra support due to the weight of the fruits. Consider using cages or sturdy stakes. Ensure your plants have full sun and regular watering to keep them happy. Despite their size, they manage to resist many common tomato diseases, which makes them an enduring favorite among gardeners.
9. San Marzano: The Italian Classic
For those looking to add an authentic taste of Italy to their gardens, the elongated, bright red fruits of San Marzano are a perfect fit. These classic Italian paste tomatoes are renowned for their excellent tomato sauce, thanks to their meaty texture and low acidity.
San Marzano tomatoes need full sun and fertile soil—tip, the addition of compost or manure can boost their growth. They tend to be indeterminate, meaning they’ll continuously produce fruits until the first frost of the fall. Remember to provide strong support with stakes or cages due to their sprawling vines.
10. Black Krim: The Flavor Powerhouse
Get enchanted by the unusual beauty of the Black Krim tomato, a dark and slightly salty flavor powerhouse. Originating from Russia, this heirloom variety is celebrated for its intense, smoky flavor and unique, dark crimson color, a true standout in any tomato salad!
While growing Black Krim, ensure that the plants receive full sun and regular watering, just be careful as they are prone to cracking if overwatered. Additionally, be ready for its sprawling growth habit, which will need strong supports to keep the vines off the ground.
11. Comparing and Choosing Your Tomato Varieties
Discovering the right tomato variety is akin to a gardener’s treasure hunt. Tailor your search to suit your specific needs – whether it’s for snacking, canning, making sauces, or simply enjoying a tomato sandwich!
| Tomato Variety | Use | Taste |
|---|---|---|
| Champion | General purpose | Sweet-tart |
| Better Boy | General purpose | Classic tomato |
| Sun Gold | Salads, snacking | Sweet, fruity |
| Brandywine | Salads, slicing | Sweet, full-bodied |
| Green Zebra | Salads | Tangy, tart |
| Roma | Sauces, cooking | Mild, meaty |
| Sweet 100 | Salads, snacking | Sweet |
| Mortgage Lifter | Salads | Sweet, meaty |
| San Marzano | Sauces, cooking | Rich, less acidic |
| Black Krim | Salads, slicing | Smoky, slightly salty |
By understanding the characteristics of each tomato varieties and matching them to your gardening conditions and personal preferences, you’re poised to harvest the perfect tomatoes. Whether you’re a novice gardener beginning your tomato journey or an experienced grower looking to mix up your tomato game, this carefully selected list of eleven tomato varieties provides a great starting point. Happy gardening!
Key Takeaway:
- Selecting the right tomato variety to grow in your garden involves understanding the factors like climate, space, disease resistance, and personal preferences.
- Champion tomatoes are well-known for bountiful production, making them perfect for beginner gardeners due to their resistance to most common tomato diseases.
- Better Boy tomatoes are reliable and versatile with their high yield, making them a favorite among home gardeners.
- Sun Gold tomatoes require more care but offer extremely sweet fruits.
- Brandywine is an heirloom tomato known for its exceptional flavor but may require crop rotation to prevent disease buildup.
- Green Zebra tomatoes provide a pop of color to any garden and feature a slightly tart taste.
- Roma tomatoes are the go-to variety for cooking enthusiasts who love making homemade tomato sauces.
- Sweet 100 tomatoes are known for their high yields and equivalently sweet taste.
- Mortgage Lifter tomatoes are known for their large fruit size and rich flavor.
- San Marzano tomatoes, a staple in Italian cooking, are renowned for creating excellent tomato sauces.
- Black Krim tomatoes are unique for their dark color and provide an intensely flavorful return.
Embrace diversity in your garden and let your love for tomatoes guide you through a fruitful gardening season. Remember, each tomato variety has its unique strengths, so consider your personal preferences and garden conditions when choosing the best variety. This journey of growing your own tomatoes will surely bestow upon you the joy of gardening and the satisfaction of reaping your bounty.
FAQs
Q: Can you recommend a tomato variety suitable for containers?
A: Absolutely! Roma and Sun Gold tomatoes are great choices for container gardening due to their compact nature and high yield, respectively.
Q: Which tomatoes are best for salads?
A: Green Zebra and Sweet 100 tomato varieties are excellent for salads due to their distinct flavors and visually appealing colors.
Q: What type of care do heirloom tomatoes require?
A: Heirloom tomatoes often benefit from crop rotation to prevent disease buildup. They also require a balanced supply of water and nutrients.
Q: Which variety should I choose to make homemade tomato sauce?
A: Roma and San Marzano tomatoes are fantastic for making homemade tomato sauces due to their deep flavors and rich texture.
Q: Are there tomato varieties resistant to common tomato diseases?
A: Yes, the Champion tomato variety is known for its excellent resistance to most common tomato diseases.
There you have it, the best tomato varieties to grow in your garden! Feel free to share this article with fellow gardening enthusiasts and be sure to explore more posts on our website to deepen your gardening knowledge. Happy Gardening!
