Top Ten Tomato Varieties

Offer Vigor, Dependability
And Great Flavor

What are your favorite tomato varieties? There are hundreds to choose from. Some are early, while others are late; some small and some large; some grow well in cooler climates, while others like it hot.

I'll bet you didn't know there are many hundreds of tomato varieties out there, did you? Each one has it's own grow methods, flavor, color, and sustainability. It can be overwhelming choosing the right tomato, so I'm here to help!

Every gardener will have her/his own list of favorites. Here are the ten that I like best, and why.

1. Roma tomatoes, found in most supermarkets, are a type of grape tomato that come in red, or yellow. These little guys are grown all over; The UK, United States, Canada, and Mexico...the list goes on!

   There are probably more Roma tomatoes grown that any other variety. Most of the grape tomatoes sold in this country are in fact Roma's, and over time they've grown pretty resilient to disease. They taste great in salads and, because they’re meaty with less water, they are wonderful for making sauces and salsa.

2. If you enjoy making your own, homemade sauce for pastas you should try the Big Mama, like a Roma, but larger. These are the meatiest plum shaped tomatoes around, and are easily peeled, and perfect for making a flavorful, chunky sauce! These ladies are larger than life, and require full sun to thrive.
3. The Early Girl tomato is known for its early fruit bearing, and this special lady will need to be grown on a trellis, since she likes to grow up quite fast. These plants will thrive in places that have a later last spring frost and Early Girls produce fairly typical tomato plants as far as shape, and size.

   While the true Early Girl is indeterminate and must be staked or trellised, there is a Bush Early Girl that is determinate. Both have good flavor and produce a lot of fruit for early varieties.

4. The Prairie Fire tomato is also one that bears fruit early in the season, and can withstand cool weather. These are fire engine red, and tend to grow in small clusters that allow for the sharp taste that can be overwhelming, but not unpleasant.

5. The Patio tomato is one that thrives in container gardens, and is best grown in warm climates or indoors. If you've got children who are eager to garden, this is a wonderful place to start! These little babies may take awhile to grow [the more sunlight the better] but the best things come in time, I like to say...and here's a little fun fact, did you know the average Gnome pregnancy lasts twelve months? I stand by my word!
6. For the princess with a patio, the Patio Princess Hybrid is a must. This is one of the tomato varieties that promises to bear early fruit if treated well, so you can enjoy tomatoes in your salad before anyone else does! The Princess grows in petite clusters, and is the perfect choice for the apartment dweller with only a little room outside, even on a terrace, to grow.
7. Fargo tomatoes are very similar to the yellow pear tomato because of their yellow coloring. If you're looking for some hefty vine plants that are going to bear clusters of plum shaped sweet, yellow tomatoes this is the plant for you. These are especially yummy in salads, or salsa. These are best planted in the warmer days of spring, since they cannot survive even the lightest frost.
8. Super sweet 100's are small, sugary cherry tomatoes perfect for salads, and preserves. These little fellas are bursting with flavor, and are best grown on a stack, or fence. Start your seedlings during the spring indoors to avoid those last mornings and nights of frost, and you'll have fruit within seventy-five days.
9. Beefsteak tomatoes are the giants of the plant world – some weigh in as much as seven pounds! That's the size of a newborn human baby so if you're looking to impress the neighbors, these are the guys to help you. There are many beefsteak types. One of my favorite Beefsteak tomato varieties is called Big Beef.

   These are popular for sandwiches and burgers, but aren't flavorful enough for other recipes. Remember, a lot of times larger than life fruits can have less flavor than the smaller varieties. If you want a big tomato with great taste try the Heirloom, Brandywine, which is my favorite ‘eatin mater’.

10. The Silver Fir Tree is one of my favorite cold season tomato varieties; because of it's magical looking silver lacy leaves. It's a great looking plant that not only bears fruit, but adds a bit of whimsy to your garden with its good looks.

Well, that’s my list of favorites. What are your favorite tomato varieties and why? Please post a short article below telling us all about your favorites, and we will print it here on the site. We value the opinions of humans. You may even change my little gnome mind.

Thanks And Happy Gardening,

Geefrank

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