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tomato varieties

10 Tomato Varieties You Should Grow

May 4, 2016 by Vanessa Myers

 Welcome!  I’m so happy you’re here!

10 tomato varieties you should grow this year. Unique and delicious tomatoes that you can't beat!

Do you love home-grown tomatoes?  Then you’re in the right place!  There’s nothing quite as satisfying as a vine-ripened tomato fresh from the garden.  They offer bold flavors not usually found in grocery store varieties, which are often chosen for how well they ship and store on the shelf, instead of taste.

You will come across a wide selection of tomato varieties when you are shopping for seeds or starts. Before you rush out to pick out the first tomato plants you see, research what will do best in your yard and fit your culinary needs.

Tomato varieties come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors

Image by aurélien under a Flickr Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

Considerations for Picking Tomato Varieties

General types of tomatoes include:

  • Beefsteak (big, great for slicing)
  • Cherry (small for salads and eating out of hand)
  • Plum (good for sauces and pastes)
  • Salad (medium, good for general use)

Tomatoes are also divided into whether they are determinate or indeterminate. If one is determinate, it will grow to a certain height and width and then stop. One crop will be produced before the plant dies. On the other hand, indeterminate plants will keep growing throughout the season. This is important to know if space is a consideration as indeterminate varieties can turn into a jungle if the conditions are favorable.

Finally, they will be labeled as either hybrid or heirloom. If a plant is hybrid, it is the result of crossing other varieties. They are not likely to retain their desired characteristics if you try to save the seeds for the next year, and they may even be sterile.  In contrast, you can collect seeds from heirlooms because they do generally keep the same genetics in their seeds.

Tomato Varieties to Check Out

The Black Krim tomato can have dark skin and flesh

Image by bert_m_b under a Flickr Creative Commons Attribution License

1.Black Krim

  • Type: Beefsteak
  • Growth: Indeterminate
  • Genetics: Heirloom
  • Days to Harvest: 80

Interested in trying a tomato that isn’t red? Go for the Black Krim! This Russian variety sports fruit that bears a rich purple-red hue and is packed full of flavor.

Image by timlewisnm under a Flickr Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

Image by timlewisnm under a Flickr Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

2. Brandywine

  • Type: Beefsteak
  • Growth: Indeterminate
  • Genetics: Heirloom
  • Days to Harvest: 78

This is the most common type of heirloom that you will see available for sale, and has been planted since the 1800s. Each pinkish-red tomato can weigh over a pound!

Early Girl tomatoes are indeed one of the first varieties to mature

Image by Prestonbot under a Flickr Creative Commons Attribution License

3. Early Girl

  • Type: Salad
  • Growth: Indeterminate
  • Genetics: Hybrid
  • Days to Harvest: 54-59

This variety is very popular due to its early harvest date. Early Girl will work well as a general purpose tomato for all of your favorite recipes.

Great White tomatoes will live up to the name and be white in hue

Image by quinn.anya under a Flickr Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

4. Great White

  • Type: Beefsteak
  • Growth: Indeterminate
  • Genetics: Heirloom
  • Days to Harvest: 85

In addition to red, orange, pink, purple, green and yellow, tomatoes can also be white when ripe. This variety is notable for being especially sweet, making it a delight to eat fresh!

Click NEXT for 6 more delicious varieties!

Western Garden Centers | Salt Lake City | Sandy | West Valley UTAH

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Filed Under: Veggie Gardening Tagged With: Gardening, tomato varieties, tomatoes, veggies, Western Gardens

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