Complete Gardening
Tomatoes are the crowning jewels of many gardens, cherished for their rich flavors, vibrant colors, and versatility in the kitchen.
From the tiniest cherry tomatoes bursting with sweetness to hefty beefsteaks perfect for sandwiches, each variety brings something unique to the table. But with hundreds of types available, choosing the perfect tomato for your garden can feel like a dizzying decision.
We get it – selecting the right tomato isn’t always easy. A choice that seems simple can mean the difference between a bountiful harvest that fits all your culinary needs and a season of missed expectations.
But here’s the good news: with a few insider tips, you can confidently pick the best tomato for your garden, whether you’re dreaming of a summer’s worth of salad toppers, flavorful sauces, or the thrill of discovering unique heirloom varieties.
From understanding climate needs to exploring flavor profiles, these six tips will guide you to your ideal tomato variety, ensuring you get the most out of every plant this season.
1. Determine Your Purpose
Tip: Start by defining what you want to do with your tomatoes. Different varieties work better for specific purposes:
- Slicing Tomatoes – For fresh eating, opt for large, juicy varieties like Beefsteak or Brandywine.
- Sauce Tomatoes – If you’re looking for a base for sauces, go for paste tomatoes such as Roma or San Marzano.
- Cherry or Grape Tomatoes – Ideal for salads, they provide a burst of sweetness and are easy to snack on straight from the vine.
Understanding your purpose will help narrow your choices considerably.
2. Consider Your Climate
Tip: Not all tomatoes thrive in every climate. Choose varieties that suit your local weather:
- Heat-Tolerant Varieties – If you live in a hot climate, heat-tolerant types like Solar Fire or Heatwave II can handle the heat better.
- Cool Climate Varieties – For cooler regions, look for varieties with shorter growing seasons, such as Stupice or Glacier, that mature faster.
- Humidity-Resistant Varieties – In humid areas, select disease-resistant types like Big Beef to reduce the risk of fungal issues.
This step ensures your tomatoes thrive in your specific growing conditions.
3. Choose Between Determinate and Indeterminate Types
Tip: Know the growth habit of the tomato plants you want:
- Determinate (Bush Tomatoes) – These types grow to a set size, stop growing, and produce fruit all at once, making them great for canning or preserving. Varieties include Roma and Celebrity.
- Indeterminate (Vining Tomatoes) – These plants continue growing and producing fruit throughout the season. Ideal for fresh eating, examples include Cherry and Big Boy tomatoes.
This choice will influence your garden layout and how long you’ll enjoy fresh tomatoes.
4. Evaluate Space Constraints
Tip: Your available space can dictate which tomato variety will work best:
- Compact Spaces – For limited space, such as patios or small gardens, choose dwarf or compact varieties like Tiny Tim or Patio Princess.
- Vertical Gardening – If space is vertical, indeterminate varieties work well with stakes or trellises to maximize upward growth.
Matching your variety to your garden space helps ensure a successful, organized tomato-growing season.
5. Look for Disease-Resistant Varieties
Tip: Tomatoes are prone to several diseases, like blight and wilt. Choose varieties with resistance to common issues:
- Blight Resistance – Varieties like Defiant and Mountain Magic offer good resistance.
- Fusarium Wilt and Verticillium Wilt – Celebrity and Big Beef varieties are often bred for resistance to these soil-borne diseases.
Disease-resistant varieties reduce your need for chemical treatments and can lead to a healthier garden overall.
6. Taste and Texture Preferences
Tip: Different tomatoes offer unique flavors and textures, from sweet to tangy and firm to juicy:
- Sweet Tomatoes – Cherry varieties like Sungold or Sweet 100 are renowned for their sugary taste.
- Mild Flavor – Beefsteak tomatoes have a balanced flavor, while Roma tomatoes are slightly denser for cooking.
- Tangy and Acidic – Varieties like Green Zebra add a zing to dishes, ideal for adventurous eaters.
Tasting a few different types at a farmers’ market or garden center can help you make a more informed choice.
7. Consider Days to Maturity
Tip: Growing season lengths vary, so it’s important to pick a variety that matures within your growing season:
- Early Varieties – Tomatoes like Early Girl or Bush Early Girl mature in around 50 days, ideal for short seasons.
- Mid-Season and Late Varieties – Brandywine and Cherokee Purple need more time but reward gardeners with full, rich flavors.
Be mindful of your climate and ensure you have enough frost-free days for the tomatoes to ripen.
8. Explore Heirloom vs. Hybrid Varieties
Tip: Heirloom and hybrid tomatoes each have their own set of benefits:
- Heirloom Varieties – These open-pollinated varieties offer unique flavors and appearances, like Black Krim or Mortgage Lifter. They tend to have less disease resistance but are cherished for their taste.
- Hybrid Varieties – Bred for traits like disease resistance and uniformity, hybrids like Big Boy or Early Girl are often easier to grow.
If flavor and tradition matter more, heirlooms are ideal; for a reliable harvest, hybrids are a great choice.
9. Check Sun Requirements
Tip: Tomatoes generally need full sun, but some varieties are more forgiving in partial shade:
- Full Sun Varieties – Most tomatoes, like Beefsteak and Roma, need at least 6-8 hours of sunlight.
- Partial Shade Tolerant – In areas with limited sunlight, try varieties like Glacier or Sub-Arctic Plenty, which can tolerate less sun.
Ensuring your tomatoes have adequate sun exposure helps maximize their growth and fruit production.
10. Experiment with Unique Varieties for Fun
Tip: Don’t be afraid to try something unique and fun:
- Colorful Varieties – Go beyond red with yellow, orange, purple, or striped varieties like Yellow Pear, Black Cherry, or Green Zebra.
- Shapes and Sizes – From tiny grape tomatoes to giant Beefsteak, experimenting with different shapes and sizes can add excitement to your garden and recipes.
This adds visual interest and diversity to your garden, making your tomato-growing experience even more rewarding.
Choosing the best tomato variety to grow can be a rewarding journey when you consider these ten tips. Whether you prioritize taste, growing space, disease resistance, or maturity time, there’s a tomato variety perfectly suited to your garden.
Take the time to explore options, test a few varieties each season, and, soon enough, you’ll have the perfect tomatoes to meet your culinary and gardening needs.