Stephen Albert
Flavor is probably the best reason for selecting a tomato for kitchen garden growing. Once you have identified your favorite tomato (or tomatoes), the memory of that fruit’s flavor will easily get you started in spring and keep you going until harvest year after year. Getting to know new tomatoes and their tastes will bring added pleasure to kitchen gardening. Visiting farm markets and tasting peak-season, just-picked tomatoes each summer is the best way to come up with your short list of tomatoes to grow next year.
To get you started on your taste and tomato growing odyssey, here’s a mid summer tomato tasting checklist. You will find many of these tomatoes at farmers’ markets and farm stores in mid summer. Of course, taste is not the sole criteria for selecting tomatoes. Use is often of equal importance, slicing, cooking, and preserving for example. Perhaps you need a sauce or paste tomato that is great tasting; not every great tasting tomato will do.
Tomatoes that come to harvest in mid summer are known as mid-season or main-crop tomatoes. Mid-season tomatoes are ready for harvest about 70 to 80 days after being transplanted into the garden. (Most transplants get a 6 to 8 week head start in the greenhouse or under cover before going into the garden.) In the northern hemisphere, mid season tomatoes are at their peak harvest in August.
Mid season tomatoes are appropriate choices in regions where the growing season is relatively short to middling in length, where the night temperatures and even daytime temperatures are likely to turn cool to chilly in September. Late-season tomatoes, which come to harvest more than 80 days after transplanting, are good choices for long-growing season regions. (Early-season tomatoes are best for very short northern growing seasons or where summer’s are cool such as near the ocean.)
In this starter’s checklist, some of the work is done for you. Size is indicated: small salad-size tomatoes are usually in the 2 to 3 ounce category; midsize slicing, paste, sauce, and cooking tomatoes are usually 4 to 8 ounces; and large slicing and juicing tomatoes weigh in at 9 ounces and greater. (There are a few tomatoes that weigh in excess of a pound or more, and these you will take to the county fair.)
Days to harvest are noted here. These are not days to harvest from sowing, but days to harvest from transplanting. Tomato seeds are best started indoors or under cover where they can get optimum light and heat early on. Tomatoes do best when they get a 6 to 8 week indoor head start before going into the garden. Add the days to harvest listed here to the 6 weeks of growing these tomatoes have already put in.
Selecting a tomato for your garden can sometimes be an exercise in how much room you have for plants and when you want your crop to come to harvest.
Determinate tomato vines tend to be more diminuitive. These tomatoes can be grown on the ground or in low cages. Determinate vines blossom, set fruit, and then grow little more before harvest; their lives are determined. All of the fruit on a determinate tomato plant develops at about the same time so the harvest period is concentrated and short.
Indeterminate tomato vines continue to produce new shoots and blossoms even after their first fruit set; they go on and on. That means indeterminate plants have tomatoes at all stages of development and the harvest will last over a longer period. Indeterminate tomatoes tend to grow tall and wide and are best grown in tall cages or on stakes or trellises.
Your choice of a tomato for growing might involve your desire to grow that same tomato next year (and the year after). You can do this economically by saving the seeds of plants grown this season. Open pollinated plants are varieties that grow true from seed; the seeds from this season’s plants will produce seedlings just like the parent plant. That is generally not the case with hybrid seeds and plants. Hybrid seeds are often the result of calculated and controlled pollination of inbred plants. These plants are bred for particular attributes, but as a result their seeds can be sterile or may not reliably produce the same plant as the parent.
Finally, a plant’s natural or “selected” ability to overcome diseases and pests can be very important. That has been one of the objectives of tomato hybridization. Tomatoes are now often labeled according to their resistant to verticillium wilt (V), fusarium wilt (F) nematodes (N), tobacco mosaic virus (T), and alternaria (A).
Mid season tomato varieties:
□ Abraham Lincoln (open-pollinated). Meaty, round, smooth bright red fruit averages 6 to 10 ounces. Indeterminate. 77 days.
□ Ace-High Improved (hybrid). Large, firm, smooth fruit averages 10 ounces. Determinate. 71 days. VFNA disease resistant. Good in western states.
□ Alisa Craig (open-pollinated). Excellent flavor, firm, deep red fruit. 70 days. Indeterminate. Scottish heirloom. Uniform size; greenhouse or outdoors.
□ Atkinson (open-pollinated). Firm, meaty fruit averages 6 ounces. 75 days. Indeterminate. FN. Grow in cage or on stake or trellis. Best in southeastern region.
□ Australia (open-pollinated). Mild-flavored, large, beefsteak fruit. Late ripening.
□ Ball’s Beefsteak (hybrid). Old-fashioned tomato flavor, globe-shaped sandwich tomato averages 8 to12 ounces, no cracking. Indeterminate. 76 days. VFT disease resistant.
□ Basket Vee (open-pollinated). Firm, deep red, meaty fruit good for canning. 70 days. Small determinate. Adapted to Midwest and northeastern regions.
□ Baxter’s Bush Cherry (open-pollinated). Good flavor, uniform, round bright red fruit about 1 inch in diameter. 72 days. Determinate. Compact plant.
□ Beefsteak (open-pollinated). Old-fashioned flavor, meaty fruit up to 2 pounds for slicing. 75 days. Indeterminate. VF. Heavy yield.
□ Bellestar (open-pollinated). Large, plum type, very firm, meaty, bright red fruit average 4 to 6 ounces. For paste, sauce, juice and fresh use. 72 days. Determinate. Compact plant.
□ Better Boy (hybrid). Great tasting, smooth, flavorful, bright red fruit for slicing, extra large averages 12 to 16 ounces for slicing. Indeterminate. 75 days. VFN disease resistant. Heavy crop; grow in cage or on trellis or stake. Continuous supply of water to avoid blossom-end rot. Widely adapted.
□ Better Bush (hybrid). Sweet flavor, globe-shaped, juicy, meaty fruit, 3 to 4 inches in diameter. 72 days. Dwarf indeterminate. VFN. Good in small gardens.
□ BHN 444 (hybrid). Good tomato flavor, large, smooth globe-shaped fruit. Very good yields. Good in southern states.
□ BHN 589 (hybrid). Good flavor, large fruit.
□ BHN 640 (hybrid). Good tomato flavor, smooth, round fruit averages 6 to 8 ounces. Fruit holds after picking.
□ Big Beef (hybrid). Old-time tomato flavor with smooth, 10 to 12 ounce fruits. 73 days. Indeterminate. VFNTA disease resistant. Early to late harvest. All-America Selections winner.
□ Big Boy (hybrid). Great flavor and meaty flesh from this smooth, large fruit averages 10 to 12 ounces, scarlet fruit. Heavy yields. 78 days. Indeterminate. Will go until frost. Widely adapted.
□ Big Girl (hybrid). Juicy old-fashioned flavor, firm fruit averages 16 ounces. 78 days. Indeterminate. VF. Extra-healthy vines. Widely adapted.
□ Big Pick (hybrid). Great flavor, large, round fruit. Vines bear until frost.
□ Big Rainbow (open-pollinated). Mild, sweet flavor from golden yellow and red radiating fruit for slicing. 80 days. Indeterminate.
□ Big Set (hybrid). Smooth, firm, meaty fruit averages 8 to 9 ounces. 75 days. Determinate. VFN. Resists cracking, cat-facing, blossom-end rot. Cage or allow sprawling on ground. Widely adapted.
□ Bonny Best (open-pollinated). Old-fashioned, large, smooth meaty fruit averages 4 ounces, born in clusters. 70 days. Indeterminate. Grow in cage to increase yield. All regions but southeast.
□ Bonus (hybrid). Smooth, firm fruit. 75 days. Determinate. VFN. Resistant to cracking and cat-facing. Grow in cage or on short trellis. Widely adapted.
□ Box Car Willie (open-pollinated). Great tasting old-fashioned tomato, large, smooth full red fruit averages 6 to 10 ounces. Indeterminate. 80 days. Long season.
□ Bradley (open-pollinated). Mild flavor, juicy, globe-shaped pink fruit averages 6 to 7 ounces. 80 days. Semi-determinate. FA. Use short stake.
□ Brandywine (open-pollinated). Extremely fine flavor, irregular shaped, dark reddish-pink fruit averages 10 to 12 ounces for slices, salads and sandwiches. Amish heirloom. 74 days. Indeterminate. Susceptible to cracking.
□ Brandywine Red (Landis Valley Strain, not ribbed) (open-pollinated). Intense juicy tomato flavor in medium-size, smooth, round red fruit averages 8 to 10 ounces. Pennsylvania heirloom from 1885. Indeterminate. 78 days. High yields.
□ Bulgarian #7. Good tomato flavor, round fruit averages 5 to 6 ounces. Abundant yield.
□ Burgess Stuffing Tomato (open-pollinated). Sliced this looks like a bell pepper. Tomato flavor from bright red fruit and few seeds. Indeterminate. 78 days. Tall plant, very good yield.
□ Burpee’s (hybrid). Large, firm, meaty, smooth fruit from 7 to 8 ounces. 72 days. Indeterminate. VF. Resists cracking, good foliage cover. Grow in cage or on a stake or trellis. Crack resistant. Widely adapted.
□ Bush Champion (hybrid). Excellent flavor, meaty fruit averages 8 to 12 ounces. Plant grows to 24 inches tall. Thrives in most climates.
□ Cabernet (hybrid). Rich, sweet flavor, deep red fruit averages 9 to 10 ounces. Often grown in greenhouses. 75 days. Indeterminate. VFNTA. Large yield of clusters.
□ Cal Ace (open-pollinated). Good flavor, smooth, oblate fruit averages 8 to 12 ounces. 80 days. Determinate. FV. Uniform ripening. Best in California.
□ Campbell 1327 (open-pollinated). Sweet, firm, red fruit averages 7 ounces. 75 days. Determinate. VF. Resists cracking. Best in Midwest and northeastern regions.
□ Carmello (hybrid). Outstanding flavor combines sugar and acid from medium-size, juicy fruit. French hybrid. 70 days. Indeterminate. Widely adapted.
□ Carnival (hybrid). Good tomato flavor with acid to sugar balance; globe-shaped red fruit averages 8 to 9 ounces for sandwiches and salads. Big producer. 70 days. Determinate. VFNTA.
□ Caro Red (open-pollinated). Rich, distinct flavor, smooth, globe-shaped, orange-red fruit, to 3 inches across. 78 days. Indeterminate. Prolific.
□ Caro Rich (open-pollinated). Sweet flavor, slightly flattened, deep golden orange fruit averages 4 to 6 ounces. 80 days. Determinate.
□ Carré (open-pollinated). Large, square, firm, meaty fruit, dark red interior. For paste and purée. 70 days.
□ Caspian Pink (open-pollinated). Ultra-sweet, juicy pink fruit averages 11 ounces. Russian heirloom. 80 days. Indeterminate.
□ Cavalier (hybrid). Firm fruit. Early fruit, high yield.
□ Celebrity (hybrid). Outstanding flavor from large bright red fruit averages 8 to 12 ounces in clusters. Determinate. 70 days. VFNT. All-America Selections winner. Consistent in all ways.
□ Champion (hybrid). Sweet, solid, meaty, sandwich tomato combines Early Girl and Better Boy flavor. Indeterminate. 70 days. VFNT. High yields.
□ Cherokee Purple (open-pollinated). Dusky pink with darker pink shoulder, medium-large, flattened fruit. 72 days. Indeterminate. Heirloom from the Cherokee people.
□ Chico III (open-pollinated). Paste tomato, small, pear-shaped fruit to about 3 inches in diameter; average 2 to 3 ounces. 70 days. Determinate. Disease resistant. Sets fruit in high temperatures.
□ Cluster Grande (hybrid). Cluster tomato with very good taste, averages 5 ounces. Indeterminate. 70 days. FFA. Uniform ripening. Very productive.
□ Cobra (hybrid). Very good flavor from greenhouse, cluster tomato, averages 8 ounces. Indeterminate. 70 days. VFT. Resists splitting, Very productive.
□ Cold Set (open-pollinated). Medium size, round, red fruit average 5 to 6 ounces. 70 days. Determinate. Seeds will germinate in soil as cold as 50º F and seedlings can tolerate 18º F.
□ Costoluto Fiorentino (open-pollinated). Excellent flavored Italian heirloom from Tuscany; bright red, smooth skinned averages 8 ounces. Indeterminate. 80 days.
□ Costoluto Genovese (open-pollinated). Full flavored Italian heirloom; large deep red fruit that is deeply ribbed. Indeterminate. 78 days.
□ Crack Proof (open-pollinated). Large, scarlet fruit averages 9 ounces; good for canning. 80 days. Bears until frost.
□ Creole. Sweet tomato flavor, juicy, smooth and medium-large fruit. Indeterminate. 78 days. Grows well in warm, humid, southern regions.
□ Crimson Fancy (hybrid). Sweet flavored, round, red fruit. Minimum care; good yields.
□ Delicious (open-pollinated). Extra large fruit with solid interior few seeds can grow to 7 pounds. 77 days. Indeterminate. Resists cracking. Will not do well in humid southern regions.
□ Del Oro (open-pollinated). Meaty sauce tomato; freeze, juice, can. 72 days. Determinate. VFN.
□ Dejena Lee’s Golden Girl (open-pollinated). Sweet, tangy flavor, golden-orange fruit averages 7 to 8 ounces. 80 days. Indeterminate. Introduced in the 1920s.
□ Dona. Great tasting, juicy red fruit averages 6 ounces; from France. Indeterminate. 65 days. VFNT. Abundant.
□ Duke (hybrid). Large, firm, smooth fruit averages 8 ounces. Vigorous vines; high yields.
□ Dutchman (open-pollinated). Excellent, mild, sweet flavor, low in acid, large, globe-shaped purplish-pink fruit up to 2 pounds. Heirloom beefsteak. 80 days. Indeterminate. Low production.
□ Dwarf Champion (open-pollinated). Mild flavor, firm, meaty, rose-pink fruit averages 5 ounces. French heirloom. 70 days. Dwarf indeterminate.
□ Early Pear (hybrid). Rich flavor, small, pear-shaped, bright red fruit average 2 to 3 ounces. Use whole for canning or paste. 70 days. Determinate.
□ Egg (open-pollinated). Very good flavor, small, egg-shaped fruit averages 3 ounces excellent for juice. 80 days. Determinate. Resists cracking. Uniform shape.
□ Eva Purple Ball (open-pollinated). Sweet, delicious smooth pink fruit for salads and sandwiches about 2 inches across; German heirloom. 70 days. Indeterminate. V. Large yields. Compact, prolific.
□ Evergreen (open-pollinated). Sweet flavor, meaty, medium to large fruit amber green when ripe. 72 days. Indeterminate.
□ Fantastic (hybrid). Smooth fruit to 8 ounces. 70 days. Indeterminate. Heavy bearing until frost. Widely adapted.
□ First Prize (hybrid). Great flavor, smooth red fruit averages 10 to 12 ounces. 75 days. VFNT. Long season, high yields.
□ Flora-Dade (open-pollinated). Medium-sized, round, globe-shaped fruit average 7 ounces. 75 days. Determinate. Adapted to humid southern regions.
□ Floralina (hybrid). Very good flavor, round, red fruit averages 8 to 10 ounces. Determinate. 72 days to harvest. VFA disease resistant. Developed for southern regions, grows well in all regions.
□ Floramerica (hybrid). Excellent flavor, large, very red fruit averages 6 to 10 ounces. 72 days. Determinate. VF. All America Award winner. Widely adapted.
□ Florida 47 (hybrid). Green, globe-shaped fruit.80 days. Late midseason.
□ Florida 91 (hybrid). Flavorful, large, round, smooth, red tomato averages 10 ounces. Determinate. 72 days to harvest. VF disease resistant. Sets in heat on vine.
□ Garden Peach (open-pollinated). Mild and juicy fruit with pale velvety skin. 72 days. Indeterminate. Heirloom.
□ Giant Valentine. Juicy, sweet, deed red, heart-shaped fruit averages 6 to 10 ounces. Between a paste and ox-heart tomato. Indeterminate. 73 days disease resistant. VFA disease resistant. Good in all conditions.
□ Glamour (open-pollinated). Mild flavor, large, smooth, bright red fruit averages 6 ounces. 74 days. Indeterminate. Grow in cage to prevent sunscald. Dependable. Abundant. Best in Midwest and northeastern regions.
□ Glory (hybrid). Sweet, juicy cross from two hybrids, thin skin averages 11 ounces. Indeterminate. 75 days to harvest. Abundant.
□ Golden Boy (hybrid). Mild flavored, meaty, globe-shaped, deep golden-orange fruit averages 8 ounces. 80 days. Indeterminate.
□ Golden Ponderosa (Railroad Strain) (open-pollinated). Mild flavored, yellow-gold fruit up to 1 pound. West Virginia heirloom. 78 days.
□ Golden Queen (open-pollinated). Excellent mild flavor, medium-small, golden yellow fruit. 78 days. Indeterminate. Greenhouse or outdoors.
□ Golden Sunray (open-pollinated). Rich flavor, meaty flesh, golden yellow fruit. 75 days. Indeterminate. Blemish free.
□ Gold Nugget (open-pollinated). Well-balanced flavor, round, slightly oval fruit is golden yellow. 70 days. Determinate. Resists cracking. Compact plant.
□ Goliath (hybrid). Juicy, sweet-flavored brilliant red fruit with meaty interior averages 10 to16 ounces. Indeterminate. 70 days to harvest. VFNT. Widely adapted.
□ Grandma Mary’s (open-pollinated). Delicious large plum-shaped fruit, meaty averages 8 to 12 ounces. 75 days. Indeterminate. Rare heirloom. Ripens well if picked green.
□ Granny Smith (hybrid). Sweet and slightly tart fruit stays yellow-green for salsa. 72 days.
□ Green Grape (open-pollinated). Flavorful, sweet, juicy, small round yellowish-green fruit to about 1½ inches in diameter. 80 days. Resists cracking.
□ Greenhouse (hybrid). Excellent flavor, smooth red fruit averages 8 to 12 ounces. Indeterminate. 74 days. VFNTA. Abundant.
□ Green Zebra (open-pollinated). Zesty flavor, golden green fruit with forest green stripes, 2-3 inches across. 70 days. Semi-determinate.
□ GulfState Market. Smooth pink fruit with red meat averages 6 to 8 ounces. Good all-around tomato.
□ Health Kick (hybrid). Plum-shaped salad and cooking tomato averages 4 to 6 ounces. Contains extra lycopene antioxidant. 74 days. Determinate. VFA. Abundant plant to 4 feet tall.
□ Heartland (hybrid). Excellent flavor with fruits average 6 to 8 ounces. 68 days. Indeterminate. VFN. Dwarf variety. Abundant, long season.
□ Heatwave (hybrid). Bright red fruit, heat tolerant. 68 days. Determinate. VFA. Well suite for warm regions and southeast.
□ Heinz 1350 (open-pollinated). Bright red fruit to average 6 ounces. 75 days. Determinate. VF. Good crack resistance. Heavy yield. Widely adapted.
□ Heinz 1370 (open-pollinated). Similar to Heinz 1350. 77 days. Determinate. F. Good yield on second picking. Best in Midwestern and northeastern regions.
□ Heinz 1439. Round, bright red fruit for canning. 70 days. Determinate. VFA. Crack resistant. Heavy yield.
□ Hilltop. Meaty, red fruit from 10 to 12 ounces.
□ Holland. Juicy, sweet flavor, large, smooth red fruit averages 6 to 8 ounces. 75 days to harvest. Abundant.
□ Holmes Mexican (open-pollinated). Large, thick, flat fruit with few seeds up to 3 pounds. 80 days. Indeterminate.
□ Homestead (open-pollinated). Meaty, medium-size, smooth red fruit. 80 days. Determinate. F. Good in hot weather, southern regions.
□ Homesweet (open-pollinated). Balanced flavor, large, bright red fruit averages 9 ounces. 70 days. Widely adapted.
□ Honey (hybrid). Smooth, dark pink fruit averages 8 ounces; large yields. Disease resistant. Long season.
□ Husky Red (hybrid). Very good flavor, bright red fruit averages 5 to 7 ounces. Abundant through season.
□ Jet Star (hybrid). Mild, tasty, firm, low acid, meaty fruit averages 8 ounces, low acid, not for canning. 72 days to harvest. Indeterminate. VF. Resistant to cracking. Grow in cage or on a stake. Abundant. Widely adapted.
□ Jim Dandy (hybrid). Solid red fruit for slicing and canning. 75 days. Indeterminate. Grow in cage or on a stake. Widely adapted.
□ Jubilee (open-pollinated). Mild and flavorful, meaty, globular, bright golden orange fruit averages 6 to 7 ounces. 75 days. Indeterminate.
□ The Juice (hybrid). Tasty, juicy, medium to large fruit. 72 days. Determinate. VF. Grow in cages or on short stake. Best in western regions.
□ June Pink (open-pollinated). Excellent flavor, somewhat flattened, rose-pink fruit averages 4 to 5 ounces. 75 days. Indeterminate. Resists cracking.
□ Keepsake (hybrid). Sweet tomato flavor, bright red fruit averages 7 to 8 ounces. Long keeper. 70 days to harvest. VFNTA. Abundant.
□ Kewalo. Round, red tropical tomato. 78 days to harvest. Determinate. Nematode and bacterial wilt tolerant. Well suited for tropical regions, but adapts to temperate climates.
□ Landry’s Russian (open-pollinated). Delicious, sweet, medium-size, round, red fruit up to 8 ounces. Canadian heirloom. 70 days. Indeterminate. Consistent production.
□ Large Red Cherry (open-pollinated). Sweet, mild flavor globe-shaped, bright scarlet fruit to 1½ inches in diameter for salads and eating whole. 75 days. Indeterminate. A.
□ Lemon Boy (hybrid). Mild flavored, yellow fruit average 6 ounces. 72 days. Indeterminate. Abundant.
□ Liberty Bell (open-pollinated). Mild flavor for stuffing; hollow, bell-shaped fruit average 4 to 8 ounces; deeply ribbed. 80 days. Indeterminate.
□ Lisa King. Large fruit from 10-20 ounces can crack.
□ Long Keeper (open-pollinated). Medium, orange-red fruit whenripe.78 days. Will stay fresh for 6 to 12 weeks.
□ Loomis Potato Leaf Cherry (open-pollinated). Very good flavor, medium-small, nearly round fruit to 1 inch in diameter. 80 days. Indeterminate. Excellent production.
□ Magnus. Sweet, juicy, dark pink, round fruit averages about 6 ounces. Abundant.
□ Manapal (open-pollinated). Very productive greenhouse tomato. 75 days. Indeterminate. F. Good in humid regions. Widely adapted.
□ Mandarin Cross (hybrid). Mild but flavorful, low acid, deep globe-shaped, lemon yellow fruit averages 6 to 8 ounces. 75 days. Indeterminate. FVN.
□ Marglobe (open-pollinated). Smooth, scarlet fruit, meaty walls to medium size averages 6 ounces. 75 days. Determinate. F. Large harvest from strong vine. Widely adapted.
□ Marion (open-pollinated). Smooth, firm, deep red fruit averages 6 ounces. 79 days. Indeterminate. F. Cage, stake or trellis vigorous vines. Best in humid southeastern regions.
□ Marmande (open-pollinated). Delicious, full flavor, firm, meaty, deep red fruit averages 6 to 8 ounces. 65 days. Semi-determinant. Abundant.
□ Mission Dyke (open-pollinated). Mild flavor, large, globe-shaped medium-pin fruit averages 8 to 10 ounces. 70 days. Indeterminate. Suitable for tropical regions.
□ Momotaro (hybrid). Medium, smooth, round fruit. Abundant.
□ Moneymaker (open-pollinated). High quality, medium-size, globular, red fruit averages 4 to 6 ounces.75 days. Indeterminate. Abundant.
□ Monte Carlo (hybrid). Sweet flavor, smooth, large fruit averages 9 ounces. 75 days. Indeterminate. VFN. Long harvest; resists cracking and cat-facing, sunscald and blossom-end rot. Good foliage cover on strong vines. Widely adapted.
□ Monte Verde (open-pollinated). Medium size fruit with green shoulder, firm and smooth. Very good yield. Early midseason.
□ Moreton (hybrid). Firm, meaty fruit averages 6 to 8 ounces. 70 days. Indeterminate. VF. Grow in cage. All regions but southeast.
□ Mountain Fresh (open-pollinated). Tasty, firm fruit averages 8 ounces. Resists cracking
□ Mountain Spring (hybrid). Mild, pleasant flavor, bright red fruit averages 8 to 10 ounces. 72 days to harvest. Determinate. VF. Very productive.
□ Muriel (hybrid). Roma-type fruit. Uniform ripening.
□ Napoli (open-pollinated). Small, plum-shaped, bright red fruit averages 2 ounces; thick walled and meaty for canning or paste. 80 days. Determinate. Compact plant.
□ Nectarine. Good taste, pale orange to deep pink fruit about the size of a nectarine.
□ Nepal (open-pollinated). Old-fashioned flavor, medium, globe-shaped, bright red fruit averages 10 to 12 ounces. 78 days. Indeterminate. Resists cracking.
□ New Zealand Pear (open-pollinated). Pear-shaped, green shouldered fruit for sauce and paste. 80 days. Indeterminate.
□ Nova (open-pollinated). Roma type fruit with firm, meaty interior averages 2 ounces. 72 days. Determinate. V. Compact. Does well in cool northern regions.
□ Odoriko (hybrid). Rich, tangy flavor, round, dark pink fruit, medium to large. 76 days. Indeterminate. VFNT. Abundant. Japanese origin.
□ Old Brooks (open-pollinated). Medium to large, round red fruit. Bears through season.
□ Oxheart (open-pollinated). Meaty, heart-shaped pink fruit up to 16 ounces.
□ Ozark Pink (open-pollinated). Good tomato flavor, globe-shaped pink fruit.
□ Patio (hybrid). Flavorful, medium-sized, deep red fruit averages 4 to 5 ounces. 70 days. Determinate. High yield in limited space, containers.
□ Pear (open-pollinated). Sweet flavor for fresh eating, to inch across. 78 days. Indeterminate.
□ Pearson (open-pollinated). Old-fashioned tomato flavor, globe shaped fruit to 3 inches in diameter for slicing and canning. 80 days. Determinate.
□ Peron (open-pollinated). Good flavored, round red fruit. 68 days. Indeterminate. High in vitamin C.
□ Persimmon (open-pollinated). Great taste from oblate fruit with deep persimmon orange color. 80 days. Indeterminate. Heirloom.
□ Pik Red (hybrid). Smooth, meaty fruit averages 6 to 7 ounces.
□ Pink Girl (hybrid). Mild tasting, juicy, smooth, pink tomato averages 8 ounces. 76 days to harvest. Indeterminate. Very productive.
□ Pink Grapefruit (open-pollinated). Delicious low acid fruit, flattened, globe-shaped yellow fruit with blushing pink flesh averages 4 to 6 ounces. 75 days. Indeterminate.
□ Pink Ping Pong (open-pollinated). Excellent sweet flavor, small, juicy fruit for salads. 75 days. Indeterminate. Ripens through end of season.
□ Pink Salad (open-pollinated). Excellent flavor, small oval fruit to 1½ inches in diameter for salads. 75 days. Determinate. High yield.
□ Porter’s Pride (open-pollinated). Tomato flavor in small red fruit averages 3 ounces. 70 days. Indeterminate. Stores well. Abundant. Little cracking.
□ Prudence Purple (open-pollinated). Flavorful, meaty, flattened, ribbed, pinkish-purple fruit up to 1 pound. 70 days. Indeterminate.
□ Purple Calabash (open-pollinated). Sweet, juicy, highly lobed, dark pinkish-purple fruit averages 5 to 6 ounces. 75 days. Indeterminate.
□ Purple Smudge (open-pollinated). Good flavor, low acid, medium-small fruit with purple smudge pattern on the shoulder of green skin. 75 days.
□ Pusa Ruby (open-pollinated). Medium-size to 2 inches in diameter, deep red fruit. 70 days. Indeterminate. Does well in warm regions. Popular in India.
□ Quick Pick (hybrid). Excellent flavor, medium-size fruit. Good production from early to late season.
□ Quinte (open-pollinated). Firm, juicy, crimson fruit average 7 ounces. 70 days. Determinate. V.
□ Red Cherry (open-pollinated). Good flavor, small, round bright red fruit averages less than 1 ounce for salads and eating whole. 75 days. Indeterminate.
□ Red Cup (open-pollinated). Good flavor, small lobed averages 2 to 4 ounces. Stuffing tomato.
□ Redpak (hybrid). Large, firm, solid fruit. 71 days. Determinate. VF. Resists cracking on vine. Widely adapted.
□ Red Pear (open-pollinated). Mild, pleasant flavor, small, oval, scarlet fruit averages 1 ounce. Bears in clusters. 75 days. Indeterminate.
□ Red Plum (open-pollinated). Mild flavored, small, oval, scarlet fruit averages less than 1 ounce. 75 days. Indeterminate.
□ Red Sun (hybrid). Flavorful, large, globe-shaped fruit averages 10 ounces. 72 days. Determinate.
□ Repack (open-pollinated). Excellent flavor, large Roma type fruit for paste. 73 days. Determinate. VF. Ripens uniformly.
□ Rodade (open-pollinated).Smooth, firm fruit ripens evenly. 77 days. FV. Suited for sub-tropical regions.
□ Roma (open-pollinated). Meaty, pear-shaped fruit with few seeds for paste, sauce, and canning. 75 days. Determinate. VF. Abundant.
□ Rose de Berne (open-pollinated). Juicy, sweet flavor, dark pink, thin, smooth globe fruit averages 6 to 8 ounces. Swiss heirloom. 75 days. Indeterminate. Abundant.
□ Roughwood Golden Plum (open-pollinated). Medium size, orange, paste tomato.
□ Royal Chico (open-pollinated). Bright red, plum-shaped fruit, meaty interior for sauce, paste, and canning.72 days. Determinate. Bears until frost.
□ Royesta (hybrid). Ribbed fruit averages 6 to 8 ounces.
□ Russian Red (open-pollinated). Good flavor, round, scarlet red fruit averages 4 to 8 ounces. 80 days. Determinate. Tolerant of lower temperatures.
□ Russian Rose (open-pollinated). Sweet, full flavor, meaty, round, rose pink fruit averages 12 ounces. Russian heirloom. 78 days. Indeterminate.
□ Rutgers (open-pollinated). Old-fashioned tomato flavor, juicy and bright red averages 6 to 8 ounces; great for canning or thick sauce. 75 days. Determinate. VFA. Crack free.
□ Salsa (hybrid). Full flavored, round fruit averages 5 ounces.
□ San Francisco Fog (open-pollinated). Good flavor, round, smooth clustered, trussed fruit.
□ San Marzano (open-pollinated). Delicious, balanced flavor, meaty fleshed fruit averages 5 to 6 ounces for salads and sauce. 78 days. Indeterminate. Heavy yields on tall vines.
□ San Pablo (open-pollinated). Small, plum-shaped Roma type fruit averages 2 ounces for juice and canning. 75 days. Determinate.
□ Sanibel (hybrid). Vine-ripe flavor, large, smooth, red fruit. 75 days. Determinate. VFNA.
□ Sausalito (hybrid). Round, firm fruit averages 2½ to 3 ounces for canning and ketchup.
□ Scarlet Topper (open-pollinated). Very good flavor, meaty, solid core, globe-shaped brilliant red fruit to 3½ inches in diameter. 75 days. Determinate. Also called Pritchard, Pritchard’s Scarlet Topper.
□ Sedona (hybrid). Smooth, bright red fruit for greenhouse growing.
□ Shady Lady (hybrid). Excellent flavor, round, globe-shaped, red fruit, medium to extra large. 75 days. Determinate. Excellent performer in western states.
□ Sioux (open-pollinated). Sweet, tangy with rich complex flavor, medium, round, red fruit averages 6 ounces. 70 days. Indeterminate. Reliable in hot weather.
□ Solar Fire (open-pollinated). Medium to large fruit that is heat tolerant. Heavy producer. Plant in mid-summer for late harvest in hot regions.
□ Solar Set (hybrid). Full tomato flavor, bright red fruit averages 8 to 9 ounces, grows well in heat. 70 days. Determinate. VF. Heat tolerant with excellent flavor.
□ Spitfire (hybrid). Full tomato flavor, smooth, large, crimson fruit averages 8 to 10 ounces. 68 days. Determinate. VFA. Early fruit and good performance in heat.
□ Stakeless (open-pollinated). Meaty, round fruit averages 6 to 8 ounces. 78 days. Stands 18 to 24 inches tall.
□ Stuffing (open-pollinated). Bell-shaped, thick walled fruit for stuffing and baking. 75 days. Indeterminate.
□ Sunbeam (hybrid). Excellent flavor, firm, smooth, globe-shaped fruit averages 10 to 12 ounces. Compact plant.
□ Sun Chaser. Very good flavor, round, red fruit to 8 ounces. Good in the hot and humid conditions. 72 days. Determinate. Good in warm regions.
□ Sundrop (open-pollinated). Sweet flavor, small, globe-shaped, deep orange fruit to 1½ inches in diameter for snacking and relish trays. 76 days. Indeterminate.
□ Sun King (hybrid). Sweet, rich tasting, large, red, smooth, meaty fruit for slicing. Productive through long season.
□ Sun Leaper (hybrid). Very good flavor, firm, smooth, red fruit to averages 9 ounces. Large yield from compact plant.
□ Sunmaster (hybrid). Full flavored sugar and acid balance, smooth, firm fruit averages 7 to 8 ounces. Sets best in high day and night temperatures. 72 days. Determinate. VFA. Crack resistant.
□ Sunny (hybrid). Medium-large, firm, thick-walled fruit average 9 ounces. Large yields.
□ Sunpride (open-pollinated). Large, green shoulder fruit to about 9 ounces. Determinate.
□ Sunripe (hybrid). Large fruit. 69 days. Determinate. VF. Resists cracking, plant on short stake. Best in western states.
□ Super Fantastic (hybrid). Delicious flavor combines sweet and acid, large, smooth, juicy round fruit. 70 days. Indeterminate. VF. Yields until frost. Widely adapted.
□ Super Italian Paste (open-pollinated). Sweet flavored, large, meaty, plum-shaped fruit averages 10 to 12 ounces; little juice and few seeds for sauce and paste. 80 days. Indeterminate.
□ Super Marmande (open-pollinated). Very flavorful, meaty, slightly flattened, irregular fruit from 6 to 8 ounces for slicing. 72 days. Semi-determinate.
□ Super Roma. Good flavor, improved Roma type, juicy interior or juice and soup. 70 days. Determinate. VF.
□ Supersonic (hybrid). Bright orange red fruit with good flavor averages 8 to 12 ounces. 79 days. Indeterminate. VF. Crack resistant. Cage, stake or trellis. Grows well in northeastern states.
□ Super Sioux (open-pollinated). Round, smooth fruit to about 4 to 6 ounces. 70 days. Semi-determinate. Grow in cage; sets fruit in high temperatures. All regions except southeast.
□ Sweet Cluster (hybrid). Sweet, delicious clusters of 6-8 glossy red fruits about 4 ounces. 67 days. Indeterminate. Outdoors or in greenhouse. Stores well.
□ Tappy’s Finest (open-pollinated). Fine flavor, irregular shaped, deep-pink fruit averages 14 to 16 ounces. Meaty with few seeds for slicing and juice.. West Virginia heirloom. 77 days. Indeterminate.
□ Terrific (hybrid). Excellent flavor, smooth, firm, meaty fruit averages 8 to 10 ounces. 70 days. Indeterminate. VFN. Crack resistant; fruits over long season; good foliage cover; grow in cage or on a trellis. Widely adapted.
□ Thessaloniki (open-pollinated). Excellent juicy flavor, smooth, large red fruit averages 3 to 4 inches in diameter. Greek heirloom. 75 days. Indeterminate. Crack resistant. Good yields.
□ Tiffany (hybrid). Rich, sweet flavor, dark red fruit averages 6 to 8 ounces. Vigorous plants.
□ Tip-Top (open-pollinated). Sweeter than cherry tomatoes, nearly round fruit averages 3 ounces. 74 days. Determinate. Requires no staking. Bears in clusters.
□ Tomade. Sweet, delicious, ribbed fruit averages 6 to 7 ounces. Disease resistant. Heavy yield on compact plants.
□ Tomosa (hybrid). Juicy, deep red fruit averages 3 to 4 ounces for snacking. 70 days. Indeterminate.
□ Tropic (open-pollinated). Solid, meaty, flattened, globe-shaped fruit averages 8 to 10 ounces. 80 days. Indeterminate. Tolerates heat and high humidity.
□ Ultra Boy (hybrid). Old-fashioned, acid tomato flavor, smooth, globe-shaped fruit to about 8 ounces.
□ Urbana (open-pollinated). Very fine flavor, smooth, bright red fruit averages 4 to 8 ounces. 75 days. Indeterminate. Ripens uniformly. Abundant.
□ Variegated. Round, red fruit averages 3 to 5 ounces; creamy white and green variegated foliage.
□ Veeroma (open-pollinated). Roma type, plum-shaped fruit, medium red averages 2 ounces. 72 days. Determinate. VF. Resist cracking. Early maturing.
□ Vendor (open-pollinated). Best taste in the green ripe stage, globe-shaped fruit averages 6 to 8 ounces. Greenhouse tomato. 75 days. Uniform ripening.
□ Victor (open-pollinated). Very good flavor, firm, smooth oblate fruit averages 4 to 5 ounces. 70 days. Determinate.
□ Victoria (open-pollinated). Mild tasting, bright red fruit averages 5 ounces. 75 days. Indeterminate. Requires staking or trellis. Not a heavy producer, but unique flavor.
□ Violaceum Krypni-Rozo (open-pollinated). Excellent, sweet flavor, dark pink to purple, deeply scalloped fruit to about 8 ounces. European heirloom. 80 days. Indeterminate.
prawl on the ground; compact vines, good foliage cover. Best in southeastern region.
□ Watermelon Beefsteak (open-pollinated). Sweet, mild, oblate, dark-pink fruit up to 2 pounds. Heirloom. 75 days. Indeterminate.
□ West Virginia 63 (open-pollinated). Excellent for slicing, uniform, smooth, bright red fruit averages 6 to 8 ounces. 70 days. Indeterminate. Resists cracking. High yield.
□ White Potato Leaf (open-pollinated). Mild and sweet fruity flavor, meaty medium size ruffled fruit creamy white streaked reddish pink. Use for sauce. 80 days. Indeterminate.
□ Wisconsin 55. Sweet, flavorful, smooth red fruit averages 8 ounces. Developed in Wisconsin in the 1940s. 78 days. Indeterminate. Widely adapted.
□ Yellow Cherry (open-pollinated). Mild, sweet flavor, small, round bright-yellow fruit to 1 inch in diameter for garnish and salads. 75 days. Indeterminate. Long season.
□ Yellow Marble (open-pollinated). Mild, sweet flavored, marble-sized, golden-yellow fruit. 75 days. Indeterminate.
□ Yellow Oxheart (open-pollinated). Sweet flavor, large, meaty, bright yellow fruit up to 1 pound. 79 days.
□ Yellow Pear (open-pollinated). Mild, sweet flavor, small, pear-shaped, clear-yellow fruit for salads and pickling. 75 days. Indeterminate. Abundant in clusters.
□ Yellow Perfection (open-pollinated). Mild flavor, medium-small, round, deep golden-yellow fruit. 70 days. Indeterminate. Ripens in cool and warm weather. Fruits in clusters of 4 to 6.
□ Yellow Plum (open-pollinated). Mild, sweet flavor, small, plum-shaped, clear-yellow fruit to 1 inch in diameter, averages 1 ounce. Heirloom. 75 days. Indeterminate. Bears in clusters until frost.
□ Yellow Ruffled (open-pollinated). Excellent flavor, yellow stuffing tomato with ridges to 3½ inches in diameter. 80 days. Indeterminate. Productive.
Grow More Veggies: THE KITCHEN GARDEN GROWERS’ GUIDE
