8 Tomato Varieties to Plant that will Thrive in Your Garden

Updated: Aug 13, 2023

Tomatoes are a staple crop for many home gardeners. Their versatility, vibrant colors, and delicious flavors make them a popular choice.

Whether you're a seasoned gardener or a beginner, exploring different tomato varieties can add excitement to your gardening experience. In this blog post, we'll introduce you to eight diverse tomato varieties that are well-suited for home gardens.

From classic heirlooms to compact varieties perfect for containers, there's a tomato for every taste and gardening space.

Beefsteak Tomatoes

Beefsteak tomatoes are known for their large size and juicy, meaty flesh. These robust tomatoes are perfect for slicing and adding to sandwiches or hamburgers.

Their rich flavor and dense texture make them a favorite among tomato enthusiasts.

When grown in warm climates with ample sunlight, beefsteak tomatoes can reach impressive sizes, making them a real showstopper in your garden.

Name: Beef Steak
Type: Determinate
Use: Sandwiches, Burgers
Light: Full sun
Soil: Moistened Peat
Mature Size: 6-8 ft. tall, 2-3 ft. wide
Days to Maturity: 85-90 days

Cherry Tomatoes:

Cherry tomatoes are cherished for their petite size and bursts of flavor. These bite-sized delights are perfect for snacking, salads, or adding a pop of color to any dish.

Cherry tomato plants tend to be prolific producers, yielding clusters of fruit throughout the growing season. With their indeterminate growth habit, they continue to bear fruit until the first frost.

Name: Cherry Tomatoes
Type: Indeterminate
Use: Salad, snacking
Light: Full sun
Soil: Sandy loam
Mature Size: 7 ft. tall
Days to Maturity: 75 days

Roma Tomatoes

Roma tomatoes, also known as plum tomatoes, are renowned for their meaty texture and low seed count.

They are ideal for making sauces, canning, and drying due to their thick walls and minimal juice content.

Roma tomatoes are determinate varieties, meaning they set fruit within a shorter timeframe.

Consider planting them if you're looking for a concentrated harvest to process into delicious homemade tomato products.

Name: Roma
Type: Determinate
Use: Sauce, canning
Light: Full sun
Soil: Sandy loam
Mature Size: 3-5 ft. tall, 2-4 ft. wide
Days to Maturity: 76 days

Heirloom Tomatoes

Heirloom tomatoes offer a diverse range of colors, shapes, and flavors.

These open-pollinated varieties have been passed down through generations and are cherished for their historical significance and unique characteristics.

From the vibrant orange of the 'Brandywine' to the striped patterns of the 'Green Zebra,' heirlooms are a delightful addition to any garden. While some heirloom varieties can be finicky, their exceptional taste and striking appearance make them worth the effort.

Name: Heirloom
Type: Indeterminate
Use: Slicer
Light: Full sun
Soil: Sandy loam
Mature Size: 4-6 ft. tall, 2-3 ft. wide
Days to Maturity: 75 days

Grape Tomatoes

Grape tomatoes are similar to cherry tomatoes but have an elongated shape. They are known for their exceptionally sweet flavor and firm texture. These versatile tomatoes are excellent for snacking, roasting, or tossing into pasta dishes. Grape tomatoes are indeterminate, meaning they continue to produce fruit until the growing conditions become unfavorable.

Name: Grape Tomatoes
Type: Indeterminate
Use: Salads, pasta
Light: Full sun
Soil: Organic, well-drained
Mature Size: 4-6 ft. tall, 2-3 ft. wide
Days to Maturity: 70 days

Tasmanian Chocolate Tomatoes

This heirloom variety is perfect for growing in containers or raised beds where space is at a premium.

Tasmanian Chocolate Tomato is a stout, sturdy dwarf tomato plant that grows 2-3 ft. tall.

It's ideal for growing in containers or small spaces and barely needs staking. While a determinate, it produces like an indeterminate with heavy, continuous fruiting throughout the season.

This variety produced heavy, juicy fruits, so be sure to use strong stakes.