How to Choose the Right Tomato Variety to Plant in Your Garden

Tomatoes are one of the most popular and versatile fruits for home growers, as they are straightforward to grow and produce an abundant harvest. But not all tomatoes are created equal. They come in many different shapes and sizes, all with different uses, flavor profiles and even growing requirements.

Some of the most popular tomato varieties for home growers are:

• Large beefsteak tomatoes like Beefmaster and Mortgage Lifter
• Medium-size, multi-stem tomatoes like Early Girl or Celebrity
• Small snacking tomatoes like cherry and grape tomatoes
• Meaty plum tomatoes
• Open-pollinated varieties, also known as heirloom tomatoes
• Small, short-stem patio tomatoes

For those who are new to growing tomatoes, sorting through the many available options can make it difficult to choose. In this article, we will discuss the most common tomato varieties and the factors you should consider before deciding which ones to grow.

Common Tomato Types You Can Grow at Home

While there are hundreds of varieties of tomatoes, all with unique flavors and characteristics, most fall under one of five categories.

Beefsteak Tomatoes

The largest type of tomato, beefsteak varieties have a classic, balanced tomato flavor and are ideal for slicing and putting on sandwiches and hamburgers. These tomatoes tend to ripen slower than other varieties and are often harvested later in the season. Because of their large size, they typically require consistent watering and heavy staking or caging for support.

Popular beefsteak tomato varieties include Beefmaster and Mortgage Lifter.

Medium-Size, Multi-Stem Tomatoes

Smaller, more reliable and easier to grow than beefsteak, these plump, round tomatoes have a balanced bright and sweet flavor and are also good for slicing. This makes them wonderful everyday tomatoes for a variety of culinary uses.

The most common varieties include Early Girl and Celebrity.

Early Girl matures early in the season and allows continuous harvesting. Celebrity tomatoes result in a larger harvest but also take longer to mature and cannot be harvested continuously throughout the season.

Both varieties will require caging or staking for support.

Small Snacking Tomatoes

Best known for the grape and cherry tomato varieties, these bite-size tomatoes grow in large clusters and produce a plentiful harvest. They are a good choice for beginners, as they are less demanding than other varieties but do require frequent picking.

Ideal for salads or snacking, they are often sweet, bright and juicy.

Plum Tomatoes

Oval or pear shaped, these meaty, medium-size tomatoes are best for cooking down into sauces or paste, as they are less sweet and have less water content than other tomatoes. While they are not difficult to grow, they do require frequent watering.

Common varieties include Roma and San Marzano.

Heirloom Tomatoes

Most of the tomatoes listed above are hybrid varieties, which means they have been intentionally bred to have certain characteristics, such as a particular flavor, size and disease resistance. This helps ensure consistent results.

The term “heirloom” refers to traditional, open-pollinated varieties grown from seeds that have been passed down for decades rather than through controlled breeding. Their seeds are saved and re-planted year after year. A downside of these varieties is that they are more prone to diseases and can be difficult to grow – a great option for experienced gardeners who like a challenge.

They come in a diverse range of unique colors and shapes and tend to be very sweet and deeply flavorful. Some of the best-known varieties are Brandywine, Cherokee Purple and Black Krim.

Patio Tomatoes

Also known as dwarf tomatoes, these small tomato plants are bred for growing in pots, making them ideal for balconies, patios and small outdoor spaces.

They produce a lower yield and smaller fruit than other varieties but are relatively easy to grow with full sun and a small cage or stake.

Factors to Consider Before Planting Tomatoes

Different tomato varieties have different needs, so before planting, it’s important to think about how you plan to use them, your growing space, and climate and soil conditions. Some tomato varieties require tall supports and plenty of room, while others are compact enough for containers on a patio. Sun exposure, watering, disease resistance, days to maturity, and whether a plant is determinate or indeterminate can all affect how successful your crop will be. Taking these factors into account before planting will help you choose the right varieties and give your tomatoes the best chance to thrive.

Tomato Size

As previously mentioned, tomato varieties vary greatly in size, and the size of the fruit will determine how you properly maintain your tomato plants. They can get quite tall, growing anywhere between 3' and 12'. For this reason, most tomato varieties will require some type of support, whether it’s staking or caging; however, larger tomatoes require more extensive support compared to smaller varieties.

Use

It goes without saying that the most important consideration when planting tomatoes is how you plan to use them. If you like having tomatoes for snacks and salads, cherry or grape tomatoes might be the best fit. Not a fan of burgers or sandwiches? Beefsteak tomatoes might not be worth the effort. Think about the types of tomatoes you would typically buy at the grocery store.

Growing Space

Tomatoes are sprawling plants that don’t require a lot of growing space; however, some varieties simply cannot be grown on a balcony or small patio. When working with limited space, consider smaller varieties.

Growth Habits – Determinate vs. Indeterminate

All tomato varieties fall under two categories – determinate and indeterminate. Determinate tomatoes are compact, multi-stemmed varieties that ripen quickly and at around the same time, so they do not grow continuously throughout the season.

Determinate tomato varieties include:

• Celebrity (semi-determinate)
• Patio
• Roma

Indeterminate tomatoes have a single stem, and the fruit will continue to grow throughout the growing season, allowing regular harvesting.

Indeterminate tomato varieties include:

• Mortgage Lifter
• Early Girl
• Brandywine
• Cherry and grape tomatoes
• San Marzano
  

Which Tomatoes Should You Plant in Your Garden? - Quick Selection Guide

Still unsure which type of tomatoes you want to grow? Here is a quick guide to help you decide:

• For the best sliceable tomato, choose large beefsteak types.
• For reliable and regular, choose Early Girl, Celebrity or similar medium-size varieties.
• For high-yield harvests that produce snackable tomatoes, choose cherry or grape varieties.
• For canning tomatoes and making tomato sauce or paste, choose meaty plum tomatoes.
• For maximum flavor and seed saving, choose open-pollinated or heirloom tomatoes.
• For growing in containers or small spaces, choose patio tomatoes or a determinate variety.
• For fresh tomatoes all season long, choose an indeterminate variety.

As you can see, the best tomato variety for growing comes down to a number of factors. By understanding the differences between tomato types and considering size, support needs, growth habit and flavor, you can choose varieties that suit your garden and enjoy a healthy, productive tomato harvest.