The Best Tomato Varieties to Grow in Your Garden

Published: August 22, 2025 at 9:10:23 AM UTC

Choosing the right tomato varieties for your garden can feel overwhelming with thousands of options available. Whether you're looking for juicy slicers for sandwiches, paste tomatoes for homemade sauce, or sweet cherry types for snacking, this guide will help you select the best tomato varieties to grow in your garden. We've carefully curated this list based on flavor, disease resistance, growing conditions, and purpose to help gardeners of all experience levels enjoy a successful harvest.

A colorful assortment of heirloom tomatoes arranged on a wooden surface. The tomatoes vary in size, shape, and color, including bright reds, deep oranges, golden yellows, rich greens, and striking striped or marbled varieties. Some tomatoes are smooth and round, while others are ribbed and irregular, highlighting their unique heirloom characteristics. Fresh green stems and leaves remain attached to a few tomatoes, adding a natural, garden-fresh appeal. The vibrant display emphasizes the diversity and beauty of heirloom tomato varieties.

Key Factors to Consider When Choosing Tomato Varieties

Different tomato varieties offer unique flavors, colors, and growing characteristics

Before diving into specific varieties, it's important to understand the key factors that should guide your selection process:

Growth Habit

Determinate varieties grow to a predetermined height (usually 3-4 feet), produce all their fruit within a short period, and then decline. These compact plants are ideal for containers, small spaces, and gardeners who want to harvest all at once for canning.

Indeterminate varieties continue growing and producing fruit throughout the season until killed by frost. These can reach heights of 6+ feet and require sturdy staking or caging. They're perfect for gardeners who want a continuous harvest.

Climate Considerations

Days to maturity is crucial for short-season gardeners. In cooler regions, choose varieties that mature in 60-75 days.

Heat tolerance matters in southern regions where temperatures regularly exceed 90°F.

Disease resistance is especially important in humid areas where fungal issues are common.

Purpose

Slicing tomatoes are juicy with thin skins, perfect for fresh eating.

Paste tomatoes have thicker walls, fewer seeds, and less water content, making them ideal for sauces and canning.

Cherry tomatoes produce small, sweet fruits perfect for snacking and salads.

Seed Type

Heirloom varieties have been passed down for generations, offering unique flavors and characteristics. Seeds can be saved for future planting.

Hybrid varieties are crosses between two parent plants, often offering improved disease resistance and yield. Seeds won't produce the same plant if saved.

Most Flavorful Heirloom Varieties

Cherokee Purple

This beloved heirloom produces medium to large fruits with a distinctive dusky purple-red color and green shoulders. The flavor is rich, sweet, and often described as having a smoky depth unlike any other tomato.

Growth Type: Indeterminate
Days to Maturity: 80-85 days
Flavor Profile: Rich, sweet with smoky undertones
Best Uses: Fresh eating, sandwiches
Growing Tips: Provide sturdy support and consistent watering. Tolerates some heat but benefits from afternoon shade in very hot climates.

Brandywine

Often considered the gold standard for tomato flavor, Brandywine produces large, pinkish-red fruits weighing up to 1.5 pounds. The potato-leaf foliage is distinctive, and the flavor is perfectly balanced between sweetness and acidity.

Growth Type: Indeterminate
Days to Maturity: 90-100 days
Flavor Profile: Sweet, rich, with perfect acid balance
Best Uses: Fresh eating, sandwiches, salads
Growing Tips: Needs strong support and benefits from pruning to improve air circulation. Slow to set fruit in extreme heat.

Black Krim

This Russian heirloom from the Crimean Peninsula produces medium-sized fruits with dark red-purple skin and green shoulders. The flavor is intense, rich, and slightly salty – a true standout in taste tests.

Growth Type: Indeterminate
Days to Maturity: 75-80 days
Flavor Profile: Complex, rich, slightly salty
Best Uses: Fresh eating, salads
Growing Tips: Tolerates heat well but needs consistent moisture. Can crack if watering is irregular.

A close-up of a freshly cut tomato half placed on a wooden surface. The tomato’s vibrant red flesh is juicy and glistening, with visible seed cavities filled with gel-like pulp. The inner structure reveals a star-like pattern formed by the white core and radiating seed compartments. The outer skin is smooth and glossy, with a hint of green near the stem area, indicating freshness. The rich color and moist texture highlight the tomato’s ripeness and quality, making it appear fresh and appetizing.

Best Disease-Resistant Hybrid Varieties

If disease pressure is high in your area or you want more reliable production, these hybrid varieties offer excellent resistance while maintaining good flavor:

Big Beef

This 1994 All-America Selections winner combines old-fashioned tomato flavor with modern disease resistance. Produces large, 12-16 oz beefsteak tomatoes with excellent flavor and texture.

Growth Type: Indeterminate
Days to Maturity: 73 days
Disease Resistance: V, F, N, TMV, ASC, St
Flavor Profile: Rich, classic tomato flavor
Growing Tips: Provide strong support for heavy fruit load. Responds well to regular feeding.

Damsel

A newer hybrid that combines heirloom flavor with excellent disease resistance. Produces pink, 8-12 oz fruits with a perfect balance of sweetness and acidity.

Growth Type: Indeterminate
Days to Maturity: 73 days
Disease Resistance: Late blight, nematodes, verticillium wilt
Flavor Profile: Sweet, rich, balanced
Growing Tips: Works well in containers with support. Prune for better air circulation.

Chef's Choice Green

This 2016 AAS Winner produces beautiful green fruits with yellow stripes that stay green when ripe. Offers excellent disease resistance and productivity with a delicious, sweet flavor.

Growth Type: Indeterminate
Days to Maturity: 85 days
Disease Resistance: TMV, A, St
Flavor Profile: Sweet, tangy, complex
Growing Tips: Fruits may sunburn in extreme heat; provide some afternoon shade if needed.

A healthy tomato plant laden with ripe, bright red tomatoes clustered on green vines. The tomatoes are smooth, round, and glossy, indicating peak ripeness. The plant’s lush green leaves surround the fruit, adding vibrant contrast and emphasizing the plant’s health. The background reveals soil and more foliage, suggesting a garden or outdoor cultivation setting. The overall scene captures the natural beauty and abundance of a thriving tomato plant ready for harvest.

Best Tomatoes for Small Spaces and Containers

Limited garden space doesn't mean you can't enjoy homegrown tomatoes. These compact varieties thrive in containers or small garden plots:

Bushsteak

A compact determinate variety that produces full-sized beefsteak tomatoes on a plant that grows just 20-24 inches tall. Perfect for patio containers or small garden spaces.

Growth Type: Determinate
Days to Maturity: 65 days
Fruit Size: 8-12 oz
Container Size: Minimum 5-gallon container
Growing Tips: No pruning needed. Use a cage for support as fruits can be heavy.

Patio Choice Yellow

This AAS Winner produces abundant sweet yellow cherry tomatoes on compact plants perfect for hanging baskets or containers. The cascading habit makes it decorative as well as productive.

Growth Type: Determinate
Days to Maturity: 45-55 days
Fruit Size: 1-inch cherries
Container Size: Works in containers as small as 12 inches
Growing Tips: Water consistently to prevent splitting. Feed regularly as container soil depletes nutrients quickly.

Tumbling Tom

Available in both red and yellow varieties, this cascading cherry tomato is perfect for hanging baskets and window boxes. The compact plants produce sweet, 1-2 inch fruits throughout the season.

Growth Type: Determinate
Days to Maturity: 70 days
Fruit Size: 1-2 inch cherries
Container Size: Hanging baskets, window boxes
Growing Tips: Allow branches to cascade over container edges. Harvest frequently to encourage production.

Container Growing Tip: All container-grown tomatoes need more frequent watering and feeding than garden-grown plants. Use a high-quality potting mix with slow-release fertilizer, and supplement with liquid tomato fertilizer every 2-3 weeks.

A thriving potted tomato plant loaded with clusters of ripe, vibrant red tomatoes. The fruits are round, glossy, and appear firm, indicating peak ripeness. The plant is lush with healthy green leaves, creating a striking contrast against the bright red tomatoes. The pot is decorative, adding a touch of charm, and other potted plants can be seen blurred in the background, suggesting a balcony or patio garden. The scene highlights the beauty and productivity of homegrown tomatoes in container gardening.

Best Paste Tomatoes for Sauce and Canning

If you're planning to make sauce, salsa, or can your harvest, these paste varieties offer meaty texture, low moisture content, and excellent flavor when cooked:

Roma

The classic paste tomato, Roma produces abundant plum-shaped fruits with thick walls, few seeds, and minimal juice. Its reliability and productivity make it a staple for sauce makers.

Growth Type: Determinate
Days to Maturity: 75-80 days
Flavor Profile: Intensifies when cooked
Best Uses: Sauce, paste, canning, drying
Growing Tips: Plant closely (18-24 inches) for maximum yield. Harvest entire crop within a short window.

San Marzano

Considered the premium sauce tomato in Italy, San Marzano produces elongated fruits with thick flesh, few seeds, and a rich, sweet flavor that intensifies when cooked.

Growth Type: Indeterminate
Days to Maturity: 80 days
Flavor Profile: Sweet, low acid, complex
Best Uses: Premium sauces, canning whole
Growing Tips: Requires staking and benefits from pruning to improve air circulation. Harvest when fully red for best flavor.

Amish Paste

This heirloom paste variety produces large, oxheart-shaped fruits that offer more juice than Roma but excellent flavor for sauce. The size makes them versatile for both fresh eating and processing.

Growth Type: Indeterminate
Days to Maturity: 85 days
Flavor Profile: Rich, sweet, complex
Best Uses: Sauce, canning, fresh eating
Growing Tips: Provide strong support for heavy fruits. Prune to 2-3 main stems for larger fruits.

A close-up view of ripe, red tomatoes growing on a vine. The tomatoes are smooth, round, and glossy, indicating peak ripeness and freshness. They are clustered together, still attached to their green stems and surrounded by healthy green foliage. The vibrant contrast between the rich red of the tomatoes and the fresh green of the stems highlights the plant’s vitality. This image captures the natural beauty of vine-ripened tomatoes, showcasing their freshness and garden-to-table appeal.

Best Cherry Tomatoes for Snacking

Cherry tomatoes are often the most productive and easiest to grow. These varieties offer exceptional flavor and abundant harvests:

Sungold

Often considered the sweetest tomato available, Sungold produces abundant clusters of golden-orange cherry tomatoes with a tropical, fruity sweetness that converts even tomato skeptics.

Growth Type: Indeterminate
Days to Maturity: 57-65 days
Flavor Profile: Intensely sweet, fruity
Best Uses: Fresh eating, salads
Growing Tips: Can grow 8+ feet tall with proper support. Prone to splitting after rain; harvest promptly when ripe.

Black Cherry

This unique cherry variety produces dark purple-brown fruits with the complex, rich flavor characteristic of black tomatoes but in a convenient snacking size.

Growth Type: Indeterminate
Days to Maturity: 65 days
Flavor Profile: Rich, complex, sweet-tart balance
Best Uses: Fresh eating, salads, roasting
Growing Tips: Very vigorous; benefits from pruning to control growth. Resists cracking better than many cherry varieties.

Sunrise Bumblebee

Part of the artisan Bumblebee series, this variety produces beautiful yellow cherry tomatoes with red stripes. The flavor is sweet and mild, perfect for those who prefer less acidity.

Growth Type: Indeterminate
Days to Maturity: 70 days
Flavor Profile: Sweet, mild, low acid
Best Uses: Fresh eating, colorful salads
Growing Tips: Provide consistent moisture to prevent cracking. Fruits hold well on the vine when ripe.

A colorful assortment of heirloom tomatoes arranged on a wooden surface. The tomatoes vary in color, including bright yellow, deep orange, rich red, and dark purple, with some featuring striped or marbled patterns. Their shapes range from round and smooth to ribbed and slightly irregular, showcasing the diversity of heirloom varieties. Some tomatoes are still attached to green vines, adding a fresh, natural touch. The vibrant mix highlights the visual appeal and variety of these unique, garden-fresh tomatoes.

Tomato Variety Comparison Chart

Use this quick reference chart to compare key characteristics of our recommended tomato varieties:

Variety	Type	Growth Habit	Days to Maturity	Disease Resistance	Best Uses
Cherokee Purple	Heirloom Slicer	Indeterminate	80-85	Moderate	Fresh eating, sandwiches
Brandywine	Heirloom Slicer	Indeterminate	90-100	Low	Fresh eating, sandwiches
Black Krim	Heirloom Slicer	Indeterminate	75-80	Moderate	Fresh eating, salads
Big Beef	Hybrid Slicer	Indeterminate	73	High	All-purpose
Damsel	Hybrid Slicer	Indeterminate	73	High	Fresh eating
Bushsteak	Hybrid Slicer	Determinate	65	Moderate	Container growing, fresh eating
Roma	Paste	Determinate	75-80	Moderate	Sauce, canning, drying
San Marzano	Paste	Indeterminate	80	Moderate	Premium sauces
Sungold	Cherry	Indeterminate	57-65	Moderate	Fresh eating, salads
Black Cherry	Cherry	Indeterminate	65	Moderate	Fresh eating, roasting

Rows of tomato plants growing in a well-maintained garden or agricultural plot. The plants are lush with healthy green leaves and bear clusters of ripening tomatoes in various stages, from green to yellow and bright orange. The tomatoes hang close to the soil, indicating a compact or determinate variety. The soil appears well-tilled, and some plants have labeled tags, suggesting an experimental or organized cultivation setting. The vibrant mix of foliage and fruit highlights healthy tomato production.

Essential Growing Tips for Success

Starting Seeds

Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost date.
Use a seed-starting mix and provide bottom heat for best germination.
Provide bright light once seedlings emerge to prevent legginess.
Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions for 7-10 days before planting.

Planting

Plant in full sun (at least 6-8 hours daily).
Space indeterminate varieties 24-36 inches apart; determinate varieties 18-24 inches apart.
Plant deeply, burying 2/3 of the stem to encourage strong root development.
Add compost and a balanced organic fertilizer to the planting hole.

Support and Pruning

Install stakes, cages, or trellises at planting time to avoid root damage later.
For indeterminate varieties, remove suckers (shoots that form in leaf axils) to improve air circulation and direct energy to fruit production.
Determinate varieties need minimal pruning; focus on removing leaves that touch the soil.

Watering and Feeding

Water deeply and consistently, aiming for 1-2 inches per week.
Apply mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Feed with a balanced organic fertilizer when planting, then switch to one with less nitrogen once fruits begin to form.
Avoid overhead watering to reduce disease risk; water at the base of plants.

Tip: Rotate your tomato planting locations each year to reduce disease pressure. Wait 3-4 years before planting tomatoes or related crops (peppers, eggplants, potatoes) in the same spot.

Young tomato plants growing in a well-organized garden bed, supported by metal stakes. The plants are lush with healthy green leaves, and small clusters of unripe green tomatoes hang close to the stems. The soil is covered with mulch, helping to retain moisture and suppress weeds, indicating good gardening practices. The structured setup and healthy growth suggest careful cultivation, with the tomatoes still in an early stage of ripening before turning red.

Common Problems and Solutions

Prevention Strategies

Choose disease-resistant varieties for your climate
Provide good air circulation between plants
Water at the base of plants, not on foliage
Apply mulch to prevent soil splash onto leaves
Practice crop rotation
Remove and destroy diseased plant material

Common Issues

Blossom end rot (calcium deficiency)
Early blight (fungal disease)
Late blight (fungal disease)
Cracking fruits (irregular watering)
Blossom drop (extreme temperatures)
Hornworms and aphids (pests)

How do I prevent blossom end rot?

Blossom end rot appears as a dark, sunken area at the bottom of fruits and is caused by calcium deficiency, often due to irregular watering. To prevent it:

Water consistently and deeply
Mulch to maintain even soil moisture
Ensure soil pH is between 6.0-6.8 for optimal calcium uptake
Add crushed eggshells to planting holes
Consider a calcium spray if problems persist

What should I do if my tomato leaves are turning yellow or spotted?

Yellowing or spotted leaves often indicate fungal diseases like early blight or septoria leaf spot. Take these steps:

Remove affected leaves immediately
Improve air circulation by pruning and proper spacing
Apply organic fungicides like copper or sulfur as a preventative
Avoid overhead watering
Consider replacing severely affected plants

A side-by-side comparison of healthy and unhealthy tomato leaves. On the left, the healthy leaf is vibrant green, smooth, and free from any discoloration or spots, indicating good plant health. On the right, the unhealthy leaf is yellowing with large, dark brown patches and irregular spots, suggesting a fungal or bacterial infection, possibly Septoria leaf spot or bacterial speck. The contrasting conditions highlight the visual symptoms of disease in tomato plants, aiding in quick diagnosis for gardeners and farmers.

Conclusion

Growing the best tomato varieties in your garden is a rewarding experience that connects you with the joy of producing your own food. Whether you're drawn to the complex flavors of heirlooms, the reliability of hybrids, or the convenience of container varieties, there's a perfect tomato waiting for you to discover.

Start small with 2-3 varieties your first year, then expand your collection as you gain experience. The perfect tomato garden balances tried-and-true favorites with exciting new varieties to discover.

Begin planning now to ensure you have time to start seeds or purchase transplants for the upcoming growing season. Remember that the best tomato varieties to grow in your garden depend on your specific conditions and preferences.

A vibrant assortment of heirloom tomatoes in various shapes, sizes, and colors, arranged on a rustic wooden surface. The tomatoes range from deep reds and bright oranges to golden yellows, greens, and purples, some with striking striped or marbled patterns. Their forms vary from smooth and round to ribbed and irregular, highlighting the diversity of heirloom varieties. A few tomato stems with fresh green leaves are still attached, adding a touch of natural freshness. The overall composition emphasizes the beauty and richness of these colorful, farm-fresh tomatoes.