Image by PHOTO/arts Magazine under a Flickr Creative Commons Attribution License
5. Mortgage Lifter
- Type: Beefsteak
- Growth: Indeterminate
- Genetics: Heirloom
- Days to Harvest: 85-90
This tomato got its name because of how productive the plant can be. The story behind this variety asserts that a farmer was able to save himself from having to declare bankruptcy and lose his farm through tomato plant sales.
Image by Blane Horton, tomato breeder
6. Old German
- Type: Beefsteak
- Growth: Indeterminate
- Genetics: Heirloom
- Days to Harvest: 75-85
Make your hamburgers and sandwiches stand out by adding a slice of Old German tomato. This orange and red fruit is large and sweet with excellent flavor.
Image by houstonfoodie under a Flickr Creative Commons Attribution License
7. San Marzano
- Type: Plum
- Growth: Indeterminate
- Genetics: Can be heirloom or hybrid
- Days to Harvest: 85-90
If you like making your own tomato sauces, try planting one of the San Marzano tomato varieties in your garden. These are named for the area in Italy where they originate. San Marzano is renowned for being THE tomato for cooking sauces, pastes and more.
Image by Blane Horton and Tomatolicious
8. Sun Sugar
- Type: Cherry
- Growth: Indeterminate
- Genetics: Hybrid
- Days to Harvest: 62
This is easily my favorite cherry tomato. Each year the plants are covered with a plethora of cheery orange gems that live up to the sweet promise of their name. If you can find it, this is one variety that is sometimes grafted, which results in a stronger plant.
Image by Sigfrid Lundberg under a Flickr Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License
9. Tiny Tim
- Type: Cherry
- Growth: Determinate
- Genetics: Heirloom
- Days to Harvest: 60
If you are short on space or just want to grow a dwarf tomato plant, look for Tiny Tim. This variety will only be a foot tall when it’s mature! The fruit produced is a small cherry that makes a delicious snack.
Image by inra.dist under a Flickr Creative Commons Attribution License
10. Yellow Pear
- Type: Cherry
- Growth: Indeterminate
- Genetics: Heirloom
- Days to Harvest: 78
These pear-shaped fruits are perfect for eating straight off the plant since they are mild and sweet. They also contrast nicely with red cherry tomatoes in a salad.
What are your favorite tomato varieties to grow?
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