The Ultimate Tomato Guide
The Ultimate Tomato Guide
Tomatoes arenât just fruitâtheyâre a whole world of flavors, textures, and possibilities waiting to land on your plate. From sweet, pop-in-your-mouth cherries to rich, slow-simmer-ready paste varieties, each type brings something a little different to the table. Whether youâre building the perfect sandwich, tossing together a quick summer salad, or cooking down a cozy sauce, choosing the right tomato can make all the difference.
This guide is here to help you do just thatâfrom picking the right varieties and understanding how they grow, to getting the most out of them in the kitchen. Whether youâre planting your own starts or just looking to level up your tomato game, weâve got you covered from garden to table.
Cherry
Cherry tomatoes are small and juicy bite-sized tomatoes with a sweet and slightly acidic flavor. Being sweeter than many larger varieties makes them excellent for eating by the handful, tossing in salads, making bruschetta, roasting on a sheet pan with olive oil and sea salt, or even sun drying for later use. Look for Sweet 100âs, Sungolds, and Black Cherry tomatoes. If you have a small space, Tiny Tim only grows 14 inches tall!
Grape
Grape tomatoes are about the same size as a cherry tomato, but shaped like a grape. Meatier and slightly less juicy than a cherry tomato, it also has a good balance of sugar and acid, making it ideal for both cooking and eating fresh. Try grape tomatoes in a pasta salad, on a kabob, in an omelet, in salsa, or sauted in a little olive oil with garlic and basil. Look for Blush, Yellow Pear, or Gabrielle.
Plum / Paste
A plum tomato, also known as a paste tomato, is a meaty, low acid fruit that is less sweet than other varieties. Their firm texture and low moisture content makes them excellent candidates for slow cooking, tomato pastes, purees, and sauces. Look for Roma, San Marzano, and OSUâs Saucy.
Globe
Globe tomatoes are the classically-shaped round tomato you find in every grocery store. Youâll often see them labeled as Slicers, or presented on the vine. Globe tomatoes have a great balance of sweet to acid and meatiness to juiciness. Slice them for a burger or sandwich, chop them for green salads and salsas, or use them as a base for soups and sauces. Try Oregon Spring, Early Girl, Green Zebra, and Jetsetter.
Beefsteak
Beefsteak tomatoes are a classification (as well as a variety!) of large juicy tomatoes with a robust flavor and excellent balance of sweet and acid. They are named for their generous sizeâmany weighing in at over a pound! Look for hefty specimens with ribbed skin and a wonky shape, often mixed in with the heirlooms. Our favorites include Brandywine, Cherokee Purple, Pineapple, and of course, Beefsteak.
Oxheart
Oxheart tomatoes are known for their distinctive heart-shaped appearance and substantial size. Some varieties can grow up to 2 lbs! They are similar to beefsteak in texture, only a little less juicy and with milder flavor. They are excellent sandwich tomatoes and shine in a caprese salad, while also working well in sauce. Although they arenât a common sight in the grocery store you can occasionally find them mixed in with the heirloom tomatoes or at the farmerâs market. You may also, of course, grow your own!
Determinate vs. Indeterminate Tomatoes
When reading through the tomato plant descriptions below, youâll see them labeled as determinate or indeterminateâand that little tag actually tells you a lot about how they grow and produce fruit.
Determinate tomatoes (sometimes called âbushâ tomatoes) grow to a set height, usually staying more compact and manageable. They tend to produce all their fruit over a shorter period of time, which makes them great if youâre looking to harvest a lot at onceâperfect for canning, sauces, or meal prepping. Because of their tidy growth habit, theyâre also a good fit for containers or smaller garden spaces.
Indeterminate tomatoes, on the other hand, are the overachievers of the tomato world. They keep growing, flowering, and producing fruit all season long until the first frost. These plants can get quite tall and often need staking or trellising for support. If you want a steady supply of fresh tomatoes for salads, sandwiches, and snacking throughout the summer, indeterminate varieties are the way to go.
In short: determinate = big harvest, all at once; indeterminate = smaller harvests, all season long.
Tomato Starts from Garden Thyme
The tomato starts youâll find at LifeSource come from Garden Thyme Nursery, a local grower rooted in Silverton, right here in the Willamette Valley. Since 2000, theyâve been cultivating strong, healthy plants with a focus on quality, resilience, and thoughtful growing practices.
Garden Thyme specializes in vigorous, well-adapted varieties, so you can feel confident youâre taking home tomatoes that are ready to thrive. They prioritize low-impact growing methods, limiting pesticide and herbicide use whenever possible.
We love partnering with local growers like Garden Thyme to bring you varieties that are not only delicious, but well-suited to our region. Whether youâre planting your first container or filling out a full garden bed, these tomatoes are a great place to start.
Cherry
Small, sweet tomatoes perfect for snacking, salads, and roasting, with juicy texture and bright flavor. Click here to browse the selection.
Slicers
Juicy tomatoes perfect for sandwiches and fresh eating, with balanced flavor and classic tomato texture. Click here to browse the selection.
Sauce
Meaty, low-moisture tomatoes ideal for sauces, canning, and cooking, with rich flavor and fewer seeds. Click here to browse the selection.
Cherry Tomatoes
Tumbling Tom Yellow
A bright yellow version of Tumbling Tom Red, with the same pleasing characteristics. This âweepingâ tomato trails up to 24 inches, making it perfect for containers. Heavy yields of bright yellow, one to two inch fruits. Plants are only 6 inches wide; plant several together. Disease resistant.
Uses
Perfect for salads, vegetable platters, snacking, shish kebabs
 Cultural Preferences
Light Requirement: Full Sun
Maturity: 63 days
Water Requirement: Keep consistently moist, but not waterlogged. Water deeply at the base daily if planted in containers.
Class: DeterminateÂ
Plant Size: 24 inch trailing variety, 6 inches wide
Staking/Cages: Not needed
Patio: Plant one in a 9 inch pot, 3 plants in a 13 inch pot. Perfect for hanging baskets.
Blush
Blush is a highly productive, indeterminate cherry (or saladette) variety known for its 2-inch long, oblong yellow fruit with striking red streaks and a sweet, fruity flavor. Its firm flesh has a slight crunch, and has beautiful red marbling when sliced.
Uses
Best for fresh eating. Perfect for salads, vegetable platters, snacking, shish kebabs.
Cultural Preferences
Light Requirement: Full Sun
Maturity: 70 days
Water Requirement: Keep consistently moist, but not waterlogged. Water deeply at the base daily if planted in containers.
Class: IndeterminanteÂ
Plant Size: 60 inches tall, 24 inches wide / Space 36 inches
Staking/Cages: Use heavy duty cages or sturdy stakes
Patio: These tomatoes grow best in the ground, but can be grown in pots. Use large pots (at least 5 gallons, 10-20 gallons preferred) with good drainage holes.
Yellow Pear
An Heirloom tomato. This extremely old variety tends to produce plants that are large, sprawling, and vigorous, and that bears enormous numbers of bright yellow, bite size fruit. The flavor is deliciously tangy.Â
Uses
Perfect for summer party hors dâoeuvres, salads, sauce
Cultural Preferences
Light Requirement: Full Sun / Part Sun
Maturity: 60-90 days
Water Requirement: Keep consistently moist, but not waterlogged. Water deeply at the base 3 or 4 times per week
Class: Indeterminate
Plant Size: 60-84 inches tall / plant 48 inches apart
Staking/Cages: Use 5-6 foot tall cages or stake
Patio: Not recommended
Sun Gold
Plant Sun Gold tomatoes, and youâll be savoring fruits with explosively sweet flavor. This treat of a tomato is one of the gardenâs sweetest. Children will eat them like candy. Sun Gold ripens in long clusters of 10 to 15 fruits. The sweet flavor is ready about a week before full coloring. Wait to pick fruits at their deepest hue and youâll experience a richly sweet, fruity flavor. Will produce until frost.
Uses
Stores well. Great for salads, snacking, veggie platters, roasting, kids love them!
Cultural Preferences
Light Requirement: Full Sun / Part Sun
Maturity: 65 days
Water Requirement: Keep consistently moist, but not waterlogged. Water deeply at the base 3 or 4 times per week, daily if planted in containers.
Class: Indeterminate
Plant Size: Up to 10 feet tall / plant 36-48 inches apart
Staking/Cages: Use cages, stakes, or trellis
Patio: Use large pots (at least 5 gallons, 10-20 gallons preferred) with good drainage holes
Tiny Tim
Introduced in 1945, tomato Tiny Tim is a surprisingly tiny plant, growing only 12 inches tall, so no staking is needed. It can be grown as a potted plant, the fruit is juicy, and has very good sweet and tart tomato flavors. Early season tomato
Uses
Salads, snacking, veggie platters, kids love them!
Cultural Preferences
Light Requirement: Full Sun
Maturity: 45 days
Water Requirement: Keep consistently moist, but not waterlogged. Water deeply at the base 3 or 4 times per week, daily if planted in containers.
Class: Determinate
Plant Size: 10-14 inches tall, plant 12-24 inches apart
Staking/Cages: Does not require staking
Patio: It is perfect for wherever garden space is limited and outstanding for growing in containers: 12 inch wide works well! It also looks beautiful in hanging baskets or window boxes.
Tommy Toe
Tommy Toe is a very productive, indeterminate heirloom cherry tomato originating from the Ozark region. Known for its exceptional, complex flavor and award-winning taste, it produces hundreds of 1-inch, bright red fruits on vigorous, leafy vines throughout the season.
Uses
Salads, snacking, veggie platters, and more fresh eating! We also like them in our Weeknight Pasta recipe.
Cultural Preferences
Light Requirement: Full Sun
Maturity: 70-75 days
Water Requirement: Keep consistently moist, but not waterlogged. Water deeply at the base 3 or 4 times per week, daily if planted in containers.
Class: Indeterminate
Plant Size: 48-72 inches or 4-6 feet / plant 24-36 inches apart
Staking/Cages: Use sturdy cages, stakes, or trellis
Patio: These tomatoes grow best in the ground, but can be grown in pots. Use large pots (at least 5 gallons, 10-20 gallons preferred) with good drainage holes.
Sweet 100
This early maturing plant produces high yields of œ to Ÿ ounce red cherry tomatoes. They are very sweet and flavorful with high vitamin c content. Perfect fresh eating right off the vine or in salads. Grows in clusters, The plant requires support, either staking or cages. Excellent choice for home gardens!
Uses
Great for salads, snacking, veggie boards
Cultural Preferences
Light Requirement: Full Sun
Maturity: 65 days
Water Requirement: Keep consistently moist, but not waterlogged. Water deeply at the base 3 or 4 times per week, daily if planted in containers.
Class: Indeterminate
Plant Size: 48-60 inches tall / plant 24-36 inches apart
Staking/Cages: Use 5-6 foot cages, stakes
Patio: Use large pots (at least 5 gallons) with good drainage holes
Jelly Bean
These little gems have a fantastic, sweet flavor youâre sure to love! Disease resistant vines bear multiple clusters of 15-30 grape size fruits that also resist cracking. Sweet with a slightly crunch texture.
Uses
Great in salads, to snack on, or in our weeknight pasta recipe
Cultural Preferences
Light Requirement: Full Sun
Maturity: 66 days
Water Requirement: Keep consistently moist, but not waterlogged. Water deeply at the base 3 or 4 times per week.
Class: Indeterminate
Plant Size: 72-96 inches tall / plant 24-36 inches apart
Staking/Cages: Use 5-6 foot cages, stakes
Patio: Not Recommended
Black Cherry
Beautiful black cherry tomatoes look like large, dusky purple-brown grapes; they have that rich flavor that makes black tomatoes famous. Large vines yield very well. Unique and delicious!
Uses
Salads, snacking, veggie platters, shish kebabs
Cultural Preferences
Light Requirement: Full Sun / Part Sun
Maturity: 65 days
Water Requirement: Keep consistently moist, but not waterlogged. Water deeply at the base 3 or 4 times per week.
Class: Indeterminate
Plant Size: 72-84 inches tall / plant 24-36 inches apart
Staking/Cages: Use large cages, stakes
Patio: Not recommended
Pink Bumblebee
A stunning cherry tomato, of recent breeding from Artisan Seeds. The fruits have a bright, sweet flavor, and the color is vibrant fire engine red with golden orange striping. Vigorous vines yield crack resistant fruits over a very long season. Tolerates cool nighttime temps and hot days.
Uses
Great for salads, garnish, shish kebabs, snacking, veggie platters
Cultural Preferences
Light Requirement: Full Sun / Part Sun
Maturity: 60-70 days
Water Requirement: Keep consistently moist, but not waterlogged. Water deeply at the base 3 or 4 times per week, daily if planted in containers.
Class: Indeterminate
Plant Size: 48-60 inches tall / plant 24 inches apart
Staking/Cages: Use 5-6 foot cages, stakes
Patio: Use large pots (at least 5 gallons) with good drainage holes and grow vertically on a trellis
Red Cherry
Large red cherry tomatoes grow an abundance of small round red fruits carried in clusters. Plants are vigorous and need staking. Good fresh in salads or for use in pickling or relish.
Uses
Snacking, roasting, bruschetta, veggie platters, salads
Cultural Preferences
Light Requirement: Full Sun / Part Sun
Maturity: 65 days
Water Requirement: Keep consistently moist, but not waterlogged. Water deeply at the base 3 or 4 times per week, daily if planted in containers.
Class: Indeterminate
Plant Size: 48-90 inches tall / plant 24-36 inches apart
Staking/Cages: Use large cages, stakes, or a trellis
Patio: Use large pots (at least 5-7 gallons) with good drainage and grow vertically on a trellis. One plant per pot.
Gabrielle
This early plant produces high yields of Ÿ ounce red grape tomatoes. The tomatoes grow in big clusters.Â
Uses
Just the right size for salads or snacking.
Cultural Preferences
Light Requirement: Full Sun / Part Sun
Maturity: 60 days
Water Requirement: Keep consistently moist, but not waterlogged. Water deeply at the base 3 or 4 times per week, daily if planted in containers.
Class: Indeterminate
Plant Size: 48-72 inches tall / plant 36-48 inches apart
Staking/Cages: Use 5-6 foot cages, stakes
Patio: Not recommended
Slicer Tomatoes
Arkansas Traveler
Arkansas Traveler originated in the Ozarks in the 1900s, and is an American heirloom variety. It has deep pink round 6-8 oz fruits, and offers a balanced sweet and acidic, classic tomato flavor. This variety is resilient, and holds up well to cracking, heat, humidity, and drought. A reliable producer that’s as beautiful on the vine as it is on the plate.
Uses
Great for fresh eating, on sandwiches, BLTs, burgers, summer salads and more! Can also be canned or made into sauce.
Cultural Preferences
Light Requirement: Full Sun
Maturity: 80-85 days
Water Requirement: Keep consistently moist, but not waterlogged. Water deeply at the base 3 or 4 times per week, daily if planted in containers.
Class: Indeterminate
Plant Size: 48-72 inches tall, 4-6 feet / plant 36-48 inches apart
Staking/Cages: Use heavy duty cages, stakes
Patio: Not recommended
Berkley Tie-Dye
Berkley Tie-Dye is an indeterminate beefsteak-like variety with 8-12 oz. fruits. They are dark pink with green striping, and the flesh is green and pink with yellow streaks. The flavor is outstandingâsweet and complex like the finest heirlooms.
Uses
Due to their gorgeous flesh, they are excellent for salads, sandwiches, and as colorful, sliced additions to veggie plates. They are also excellent for grilling, salsa, or fresh summery sauces.
Cultural Preferences
Light Requirement: Full Sun
Maturity: 70 days
Water Requirement: Keep consistently moist, but not waterlogged. Water deeply at the base 3 or 4 times per week, daily if planted in containers.
Class: Indeterminate
Plant Size: 48-72 inches tall, 4-6 feet / plant 24-36 inches apart
Staking/Cages: Use heavy duty cages, stakes
Patio: Does well in the garden, but can be grown in pots as well. Use a 5 gallon or larger pot with good drainage.
Beefsteak
Heirloom. Beefsteaks are always grown for their flavor and size for slicing and summer sandwiches. The variety produces large, meaty red fruit over a long season on indeterminate plants. Because it matures late compared to many other tomatoes, it will provide a fresh harvest in the latter part of the season. This is an old favorite beloved by gardeners in the Northeast and grown throughout the country.
Uses
Perfect for slicing, summer sandwiches, and cucumber tomato salad.
Cultural Preferences
Light Requirement: Full Sun / Part Sun
Maturity: 85 days
Water Requirement: Keep consistently moist, but not waterlogged. Water deeply at the base 3 or 4 times per week, daily if planted in containers.
Class: Indeterminate
Plant Size: up to 96 inches tall / plant 36-48 inches apart
Staking/Cages: Use heavy duty cages, stakes
Patio: Not recommended, needs 10-20 gallon pot
Brandywine Red
The very vigorous plants bear large-lobed, beefsteak-shaped fruit that are perfect for slicing. The thin-skinned, pinkish-red tomatoes are flavorfulâintense, sweet, and a little spicy, but not acidic.Â
Uses
Slicing, sandwiches, salads, and canning, due to its meaty texture.
Cultural Preferences
Light Requirement: Full Sun / Part Sun
Maturity: 80 days
Water Requirement: Keep consistently moist, but not waterlogged. Water deeply at the base 3 or 4 times per week.
Class: Indeterminate
Plant Size: 60-96 inches tall / plant 36-48 inches apart
Staking/Cages: Use large, heavy duty cages or trellis
Patio: Not recommended
Black Krim
Black Krim is an heirloom variety. This variety hails from the Black Sea, where warm influences from the Black Sea make summers perfect for growing tomatoes. Heat tolerant Black Krim has a dark brown-red color that gets even darker in hotter weather. Plants are a bit fussy and tend to roll leaves when pruned. Always a favorite in taste tests, Black Krim has a flavor that is described as tangy, rich, smoky and sweet with very dense flesh.
Uses
Best tomato sandwiches ever. Also good for fresh eating, Caprese salads, and burgers. Their juicy, a meaty texture makes them excellent for roasting, sauces, canning, and drying.Â
Cultural Preferences
Light Requirement: Full Sun
Maturity: 80 days
Water Requirement: Keep consistently moist, but not waterlogged. Water deeply at the base 3 or 4 times per week, daily if planted in containers.
Class: Indeterminate
Plant Size: 36-48 inches average, can get up to 96 inches tall in ideal conditions / plant 24-36 inches apart
Staking/Cages: Does well on a trellis, a bit of a messy habit.
Patio: Can grow in large containers, 10-15 gallons
Early Girl
Excellent slicing tomato. Produces a heavy crop of 4 to 6 ounce smooth, bright red, and flavorful fruits. One of the best known varieties. These indeterminate vining plants are always reliable producers and require staking.
Uses
Slicing, salads, snacking, bruschetta, salsa, roasting, sauces, preserving
Cultural Preferences
Light Requirement: Full Sun
Maturity: 50-60 days
Water Requirement: Keep consistently moist, but not waterlogged. Water deeply at the base 3 or 4 times per week.
Class: Indeterminate
Plant Size: 48-72 inches / plant 24-36 inches apart
Staking/Cages: Heavy cages or staking
Patio: Not recommended
Delicious
This tomato lives up to its name! A refined selection of Beefsteak, itâs an excellent slicer with most fruits over 1 lb, and 2 to 3 lbs in size if the plant is really happy. Smooth, solid fruits seldom crack and have excellent flavor.
Uses
Rich, classic tomato flavor! Great for slicing, fresh eating, and canning
Cultural Preferences
Light Requirement: Full Sun
Maturity: 77 days
Water Requirement: Keep consistently moist, but not waterlogged. Water deeply at the base 3 or 4 times per week.
Class: Indeterminate
Plant Size: 48-72 inches / plant 24-36 inches apart
Staking/Cages: Heavy cages needed
Patio: Not recommended
Chefâs Choice Black
Chefâs Choice grows strong, healthy 5 foot tall plants producing early to set yields of more than 30 blemish-free fruits throughout the season. Each magnificent tomato is 5 to 6 inches in size, weighing 8 to 10 ounces each. Black is also a disease resistant plant with dark green leaves and well-behaved form.
Uses
Complex sweet and slightly salty flavor, some say it has a flavor profile reminiscent of Bordeaux wine. Chefâs Choice Black is excellent for slicing, salads, snacking, burgers and sandwichesâeven sauces!
Cultural Preferences
Light Requirement: Full Sun / Part Sun
Maturity: 75 days
Water Requirement: Keep consistently moist, but not waterlogged. Water deeply at the base 3 or 4 times per week.
Class: Indeterminate
Plant Size: 60 inches / plant 24-36 inches apart
Staking/Cages: Sturdy staking or cages
Patio: Not recommended due to its need for staking, but it can be grown in large containers
Bonnie Best
An Old-time favorite producing medium 8-10 ounce globed fruits that are solid and meaty with minimal seeds. Bonny Best is highly adaptable, and performs especially well in the North.
Uses
This is a great multi-use tomato! Bonnie Bestâs uniform size and meaty texture make them great for whole canning, pastes and sauces, even salsa! They are also great slicers, making them excellent for sandwiches and salads or bruschetta.Â
Cultural Preferences
Light Requirement: Full Sun / Part Sun
Maturity: 70-80 days
Water Requirement: Keep consistently moist, but not waterlogged. Water deeply at the base 3 or 4 times per week.
Class: Indeterminate
Plant Size: 36-96 inches / plant 36 inches apart
Staking/Cages: Large heavy duty cage or 6-8 foot stake
Patio: Not recommended
Cherokee Purple
An indeterminate heirloom tomato. Originating from Tennessee, this tomato was thought to have been passed down by the Cherokee nation more than 120 years ago. The interior is a deep red color mixed in with purple hues. A sweet, juicy, and rich taste combined with old fashioned tomato flavor make Cherokee Purple a favorite among black tomatoes.
Uses
Perfect for slicing, fresh eating, and on sandwiches and salads. Has a uniquely complex savory flavor with a slightly sweet aftertaste.Â
Cultural Preferences
Light Requirement: Full Sun / Part Sun
Maturity: 80-90 days
Water Requirement: Keep consistently moist, but not waterlogged. Water deeply at the base 3 or 4 times per week, more often if growing in containers.
Class: Indeterminate
Plant Size: 36-96 inches / plant 18-36 inches apart
Staking/Cages: Large heavy duty cage or 6-8 foot stake
Patio: Not recommended. Can be grown in large containers as long as there is enough support.
Brandywine Yellow
Large, excellent flavored tomatoes can grow up to 2 pounds each! Yellow, creamy-textured flesh that has a surprisingly intense flavor. Fuzzy, potato leaf vines. Exceptional quality.
Uses
These large low-acid tomatoes have a meaty texture and sweet flavor making them perfect for slicing a fresh eating. Enjoy them on sandwiches, salads, and toast. Their mild flavor pairs beautifully with basil and mozzarellaâtry them on homemade pizza! Also good for salsas, sauces, and even gazpacho.
Cultural Preferences
Light Requirement: Full Sun / Part Sun
Maturity: 80 days
Water Requirement: Keep consistently moist, but not waterlogged. Water deeply at the base 3 or 4 times per week.
Class: Indeterminate
Plant Size: 62-96 inches or 6-8 feet tall / plant 24-36 inches apart
Staking/Cages: Large heavy duty cages help support one to two pound fruits
Patio: Not recommended
Big Beef
The top beefsteak! Extra heavy yields of 10-12 ounce fruits. Fairly early harvest compared to other beefsteak varieties, will set fruit even in cooler, wetter weather. Nothing compares to this vine-ripened tomato fresh from the garden.
Uses
Big Beef tomatoes are versatile, meaty, and large-fruited, making them ideal for slicing onto sandwiches, burgers, and salads. Excellent for fresh eating with olive oil and salt. Their firm, low-seed texture is also great for cooking in sauces, soups, and grilling.
Cultural Preferences
Light Requirement: Full Sun
Maturity: 73 days
Water Requirement: Keep consistently moist, but not waterlogged. Water deeply at the base 3 or 4 times per week, more often if growing in containers.
Class: Indeterminate
Plant Size: 60-96 inches or 5-8 feet tall / plant 36 inches apart
Staking/Cages: Large heavy duty cages or sturdy stakes
Patio: Not recommended, does best in the garden.
Mortgage Lifter
Mortgage Lifter tomatoes grow largeâfrom one to four poundsâand certainly live up to their name! They are meaty, low acid pink beefsteak heirlooms renowned for their sweet, mild flavor and minimal seeds.
Uses
Ideal for slicing onto sandwiches, burgers, and Caprese salads, or for cooking down into thick sauces, salsas, and canning due to having few seeds, a high yield, and rich, juicy flesh.
Cultural Preferences
Light Requirement: Full Sun
Maturity: 80-90 days
Water Requirement: Keep consistently moist, but not waterlogged. Water deeply at the base 3 or 4 times per week, more often if growing in containers.
Class: Indeterminate
Plant Size: 72-108 inches or 6-9 feet tall / plant 36-48 inches apart
Staking/Cages: Large heavy duty cages or tall trellises
Patio: Not recommended, does best in the garden.
German Johnson
Large, deep pink, flavorful, and nearly crack freeâGerman Johnson heirloom tomatoes are the pride of Virginia and North Carolina where they originated. Thought to be one of the four parent lines of âRadiator Charlieâs Mortgage Lifter,â German Johnson Tomatoes produce large, meaty fruit thatâs pretty enough for a farmerâs market stand and your kitchen table.
Uses
Low acid and meaty with few seeds, these tomatoes make great slicers and are excellent for fresh eating. Try them in a BLT or Southern style tomato sandwich! Also good for salsas, sauces, and canning.
Cultural Preferences
Light Requirement: Full Sun
Maturity: 75 days
Water Requirement: Keep consistently moist, but not waterlogged. Water deeply at the base 3 or 4 times per week, more often if growing in containers.
Class: Indeterminate
Plant Size: 48-72 inches or 4-6 feet tall / plant 24-36 inches apart
Staking/Cages: Large heavy duty cages or sturdy stakes
Patio: Not recommended, does best in the garden.
Glamour
Glamour is a reliable, early-to-mid-season heirloom variety known for high yields of 6â10 oz, smooth red fruits. These are meaty, and crack-resistant tomatoes are ideal for fresh eating and canning.
Uses
Because of their thick walls and balanced, tart flavor, they are exceptionally versatile in the kitchen. Try them fresh on burgers, sandwiches, and salads. Great for canning, or enjoy them in salsas and sauces. Â
Cultural Preferences
Light Requirement: Full Sun
Maturity: 75 days
Water Requirement: Keep consistently moist, but not waterlogged. Water deeply at the base 3 or 4 times per week, more often if growing in containers.
Class: Indeterminate
Plant Size: 48-72 inches or 4-6 feet tall / plant 24-36 inches apart
Staking/Cages: Use heavy duty cages or sturdy stakes
Patio: With adequate support, Glamour would do well in a large container, at least 5-7 gallons.
Jetsetter
Think Jet Star is the best fresh market variety? This oneâs earlier, with better disease resistance! Jetsetter sacrifices nothing for its early maturity, delivers great âreal tomatoâ flavor in large 8 ounce fruits that are smooth, juicy, flattened globes, with consistently huge yields and good disease resistance.
Uses
Jetsetter is ideal for fresh eating, slicing, and cooking due to their rich, balanced flavor and meaty, juicy flesh. Try them in salads, sandwiches, and as fresh-off-the-vine. Also works well in salsas, canning, and sauces.
Cultural Preferences
Light Requirement: Full Sun / Part Sun
Maturity: 64 days
Water Requirement: Keep consistently moist, but not waterlogged. Water deeply at the base 3 or 4 times per week, more often if grown in containers.
Class: Indeterminate
Plant Size: 48-72 inches or 4-6 feet tall / plant 24-36 inches apart
Staking/Cages: Large heavy duty cages or sturdy stakes
Patio: Does best in the ground. Requires a large container, at least 15â20 gallons, and sturdy trellising.
Stupice
A great potato leaf variety that comes from the Czech Republic. One of the best early tomatoes, this is among the earliest. Perfect for gardeners in northern climes. Excellent flavor for an early type; these produce lots of red, small to medium sized 2-4 oz fruit over a very long season.
Uses
Stupice tomatoes are highly versatile, renowned for their sweet-tangy, “umami” flavor, making them perfect for fresh eating, salads, and quick, early-season salsas. Their small size and high juice content make them excellent for roasting, canning, sauces, and dehydrating.
Cultural Preferences
Light Requirement: Full Sun / Part Sun
Maturity: 65 days
Water Requirement: Keep consistently moist, but not waterlogged. Water deeply at the base 3 or 4 times per week, more often if grown in containers.
Class: Indeterminate
Plant Size: 36-48 inches or 3-4 feet tall / plant 20-36 inches apart
Staking/Cages: Cages or sturdy stakes
Patio: Yes. Can be planted alone, or as âthrillerâ in the âspiller-thriller-fillerâ container combination. Use a 5 gallon or larger container.
Oregon Spring
Developed at Oregon State University. Their research shows that Oregon Spring will produce incredibly early yields of 4-6 oz meaty, nearly seedless oval tomatoes. Can be planted outside a month before your last frost date and given no protection except on frosty nights.
Uses
Ideal for slicing on sandwiches and burgers, fresh salads, and cooking into sauces and soups. Perfect for early-season salsa, roasting, or preserving.
Cultural Preferences
Light Requirement: Full Sun / Part Sun
Maturity: 77 days
Water Requirement: Keep consistently moist, but not waterlogged. Water deeply at the base 3 or 4 times per week, more often if grown in containers.
Class: Determinate
Plant Size: 24-36 inches or 2-3 feet tall / plant 18-24 inches apart
Staking/Cages: Cages or stakes can improve yield and prevent rot. Â
Patio: This compact determinate variety is perfect for patio containers. Go for a minimum of 5 gallons, with 10-15 being optimal.
Pineapple
A very high yielding heirloom. This colossal beefsteak tomato is as fascinating to look at as it is delicious to eat. Firm and meaty tomatoes can grow up to 2lbs! They have a vibrant yellow flesh marbled with orange. It has a strong tomato aroma, is low acid, and has a fruity aftertaste, for a âreal tomatoâ experience you just canât find with todayâs less robust, milder tasting hybrids.
Uses
Best raw, but can also be grilled, baked, or stewed. They are known as a slicing tomato thatâs often used in Caprese salads and sandwiches with fresh basil, mozzarella, and balsamic vinegar. Try them on burgers, flatbreads, pizzas, tarts, and bruschetta. Also great with salads, wraps, soups, pasta, lasagnas, chilis, and omelets. These tomatoes bruise easily, so use them as soon as possible when ripe.
Cultural Preferences
Light Requirement: Full Sun
Maturity: 90 days
Water Requirement: Keep consistently moist, but not waterlogged. Water deeply at the base 3 or 4 times per week.
Class: Indeterminate
Plant Size: 60-96 inches or 5-8 feet tall / plant 24-36 inches apart
Staking/Cages: Needs a heavy duty cage or sturdy stakes Â
Patio: Not recommended, does best in the garden.
Siberian
This heirloom plant produces good yields of flavorful 5 ounce bright red tomatoes. Siberian is capable of setting fruit even at 38 degrees! One of the earliest varieties on the market, it takes only 7 weeks when planted outdoors. A popular variety grown in Alaska.
Uses
These versatile tomatoes have a balanced, slightly sweet flavor perfect for both fresh and cooked applications. Great served fresh in salads and sandwiches, fried for breakfast, or cooked into sauces, pastes, and stews.
Cultural Preferences
Light Requirement: Full Sun / Part Sun
Maturity: 57 days
Water Requirement: Keep consistently moist, but not waterlogged. Water deeply at the base 3 or 4 times per week.
Class: Determinate
Plant Size: 36-48 inches or 3-4 feet tall / plant 24-36 inches apart
Staking/Cages: Sometimes described as not needing support, but cages or stakes can improve yield and prevent rot.Â
Patio: This compact determinate variety is perfect for patio containers. Go for a minimum of 5 gallons, with 10-15 being optimal.
Mr. Stripey
Is this heirloom beefsteak variety a red tomato with yellow stripes, or a yellow tomato with red stripes? Either way you look at it, Mr. Stripey is a wonderful heirloom with lots of juice, a high sugar content, and low acidity. Pretty to slice, fruit can weigh over 1 pound! Hails from Virginia, USA.
Uses
Best utilized for fresh eating! Try slicing for sandwiches, BLTs, salads, and Caprese dishes, or in fresh salsas.Â
Cultural Preferences
Light Requirement: Full Sun / Part Sun
Maturity: 80 days
Water Requirement: Keep consistently moist, but not waterlogged. Water deeply at the base 3 or 4 times per week.
Class: Indeterminate
Plant Size: 60-96 inches or 5-8 feet tall, and as tall as 10 feet! / plant 24-36 inches apart
Staking/Cages: Needs a heavy duty cage or sturdy stakes Â
Patio: Not recommended, does best in the garden.
Green Zebra
Green Zebra is actually the result of four heirlooms bred together. Whatever, itâs a beauty, with exquisite emerald green skin, dark green vertical stripes, and gently flavored green flesh. High-yielding indeterminate plants produce oodles of 1 Âœ to 2 Âœ inch fruits.
Uses
Green Zebra tomatoes are prized for their tangy, lime-like flavor and vibrant color, making them excellent for fresh salsas, gazpachos, and classic fried preparations. They work best in dishes that highlight their firm texture and tartness, such as raw salads, quick pickles, or as a vibrant alternative in tomato-based sauces. May also be canned and enjoyed year-round.
Cultural Preferences
Light Requirement: Full Sun
Maturity: 78 days
Water Requirement: Keep consistently moist, but not waterlogged. Water deeply at the base 3 or 4 times per week.
Class: Indeterminate
Plant Size: 48-72 inches or 4-6 feet tall / plant 24-36 inches apart
Staking/Cages: Needs a heavy duty cage or sturdy stakes Â
Patio: Does best in the garden. Requires a large container, at least 15â20 gallons, and sturdy staking.
Sauce and Paste Tomatoes
Health Kick
A breakthrough in breeding, this tomato is actually healthier for you than others you can grow or buy. Packed with 50% more of the beneficial antioxidant lycopene, this prolific saladette produces a bountiful crop of 4 oz., sweet oval red fruits. Disease resistant.
Uses
Cooking, sauces, pastes, salsas, and canning
 Cultural Preferences
Light Requirement: Full Sun (6â8+ hours daily)
Maturity: 75 days
Water Requirement: Water deeply at the base 2 or 3 times per week, daily for containers.
Class: Determinate
Plant Size: 48 inches tall / 24 inches wide
Staking: Needs Staking
Container: Yes. Can be planted alone, or as âthrillerâ in the âspiller-thriller-fillerâ container combination.
Sausage
The plant produces good yields of large six-inch long red tomatoes. Very flavorful. Excellent for making ketchup, paste, and sauces. Also suitable for canning. An heirloom variety from the USA.
Uses
Cooking, sauces, pastes, salsas, and canning
 Cultural Preferences
Light Requirement: Full Sun (6â8+ hours daily)
Maturity: 70 days
Water Requirement: Water deeply at the base 2 or 3 times per week
Class: Indeterminate
Plant Size: 48-60 inches tall
Staking: Needs Staking/Cages
Patio: Not Recommended
Saucy
An early paste variety with small bushes that heavily produce clusters of plum shaped, dense, 2-3 ounce red fruit with good flavor. Resists blossom end rot, to which so many other sauce tomatoes are susceptible. Very reliable and early compared to the ubiquitous Roma variety. Released in 1993 by Dr. Jim Baggett of Oregon State University.
Uses
Good for salsa, sauce, paste, and puree. Very few seeds!
Cultural Preferences
Light Requirement: Full Sun / Part Sun
Maturity: 70-80 days
Water Requirement: Water deeply at the base 2 or 3 times per week
Class: Determinate
Plant Size: 48-60 inches tall / plant 48 inches apart
Staking/Cages: Use 5-6 foot tall cages
Patio: Not Recommended
San Marzano
San Marzano is an heirloom variety with long, blocky fruits that mature with a small, discrete seed cavity that can be scooped out, leaving all meat. This means much less boiling to get a first class paste! The shape is also good for canning, and excellent for drying.
Uses
Drying, salsas, spaghetti sauce, paste, puree, canning
Cultural Preferences
Light Requirement: Full Sun
Maturity: 75 days
Water Requirement: Keep consistently moist, but not waterlogged. Water deeply at the base 2 or 3 times per week
Class: Indeterminate
Plant Size: 48-60 inches tall / plant 48 inches apart
Staking/Cages: Use 5-6 foot tall cages
Patio: Not Recommended
Roma
This heirloom variety produces high yields of 3 inch long pear-shaped red fruits with thick walls, meaty textures, and few seeds. Roma tomatoesâsometimes called plum tomatoes or Italian tomatoes, are a favorite for cooking into sauce and canning.Â
Uses
Sauces, paste, canning, chopping into salsas and dehydrating for sun dried tomatoes.
Cultural Preferences
Light Requirement: Full Sun / Part Sun
Maturity: 76 days
Water Requirement: Keep consistently moist, but not waterlogged. Water deeply at the base 3 or 4 times per week, daily if planted in containers.
Class: Indeterminate
Plant Size: 36-48 inches tall / plant 24-38 inches apart
Staking/Cages: Use 4 foot tall cages or stake
Patio: Use large pots (at least 5 gallons/18-36 inches diameter) with good drainage holes
Oxheart
The large spreading vines of Oxheart tomatoes bear good amounts of 10 to 16 ounce fruit! Fruit is heart shaped and bright pink in color. The flesh is solid, with few seeds.
Uses
Oxheart tomatoes are versatile, meaty, and sweet heirlooms great for both fresh eating and preserving. They are also great for canning, sauces, soups, and slicing into sandwiches or Caprese salads. Try roasting and making purĂ©e.Â
Cultural Preferences
Light Requirement: Full Sun
Maturity: 85 days
Water Requirement: Keep consistently moist, but not waterlogged. Water deeply at the base 3 or 4 times per week, more often if grown in containers.
Class: Indeterminate
Plant Size: 48-72 inches or 4-6 feet tall / plant 24-36 inches apart
Staking/Cages: Large heavy duty cages or sturdy stakes
Patio: Does best in the garden. Requires a large container, at least 15â20 gallons, and sturdy trellising.
Tomatillos
Tomatillo
Also called the âhusk tomato,â for the paper-like calyx or husk that encloses each fruit. They are grown about like tomatoes, except they are seldom staked; they do tend to be a bit faster from seed than most tomatoes, and a little more tolerant to cold weather.Â
Tomatillos, unlike tomatoes, are not self pollinating. For best harvest, grow 2 or 3 plants about 3 feet apart to encourage cross pollination.Â
Uses
Tomatillos are used in fresh salsas, and cooked in any number of sauces, including Mexican-style chili verde. We love them in pozole and salsa verde!
Cultural Preferences
Light Requirement: Full Sun / Part Sun
Maturity: 75 days
Water Requirement: Keep consistently moist, but not waterlogged. Water deeply at the base 3 or 4 times per week, more often if grown in containers.
Class: Indeterminate
Plant Size: 36-72 inches or 3-6 feet tall / plant 36 inches apart
Staking/Cages: Not required, however they do well caged to wrangle sprawling branches and keep fruit off the ground.
Patio: Does well in a 5 gallon pot. Make sure to place near a companion for cross pollination, and provide a trellis.
Leave a Reply