Growing Naturally Sweet Tomatoes

Some tomato varieties are sweeter than others. They naturally develop more sugars which means they will be sweeter than tomatoes that naturally develop more acids. The combination of sugars and acids—there are more than 400 naturally occurring compounds that account for tomato flavor– makes for what is often called “old-fashioned tomato flavor.”

Of the tomatoes that are naturally high in sugars, a growing-to-taste-test may be in order. Here are seven tomatoes that you can grow for a sweet flavor taste off. If a sweet tomato is what you crave, one of these will likely be for you.

Sweet Medium- to Large-Sized Tomatoes:

• Abraham Lincoln: a bit of old-fashioned acidity flavor well-tempered with sweetness. Heirloom; medium-size; open-pollinated; indeterminate; 77 days to harvest from transplant.
• Ace 55: tart flavor with a sweet after taste, lower in acid than other tomatoes. Medium-size; open-pollinated; determinate; 80 days to harvest from transplant.
• Aker’s West Virginia: sweet and rich flavor, delicious. Heirloom; big fruit; open-pollinated; indeterminate; 85 days to harvest from transplant.
• German Johnson: some say this tomato is as sweet as a watermelon. Heirloom; large fruit; open-pollinated; indeterminate; 80 days to harvest from transplant.
• Giant Belgium: sweet flavor in a very large fruit, to 5 pounds. Ohio-native; open-pollinated; indeterminate; 90 days to harvest from transplant.
• Hillbilly: sweet and fruity. West Virginia heirloom; open-pollinated; indeterminate; 85 days to harvest from transplant.
• Red Rocket: sweet-acid blend, smooth and flavorful for early season tomato. Compact growing determinate, open-pollinated; 60 days to harvest from transplant.

Sweet Small-Fruited Tomatoes (Names Speak for Themselves):

• Sweet Treats: sweet and rich. Cherry tomato; hybrid; indeterminate; 70 days.
• Sweet Baby Girl: sweet and flavorful. Clusters of fruit; hybrid; indeterminate; 65 days.
• Sweet Chelsea: extra sweet. Jumbo cherry tomato; hybrid; indeterminate; 67 days.
• Sweet 100: very sweet, abundant until frost. Large cherry; hybrid; indeterminate; 65 days.
• Sweet Million: improved Sweet 100. Hybrid; indeterminate; 65 days.

Old-Farmer’s Admonition: Add Sugar

• Add a spoonful of sugar to each hole at planting time to help tomatoes grow extra sweet.