Have you ever wondered about the amazing variety of tomatoes out there? From tiny cherry tomatoes to huge beefsteaks, tomatoes come in many colors, shapes, and tastes. Whether you grow your own or love to cook, knowing about different tomatoes can really expand your cooking world.
Tomatoes are super versatile in the kitchen. They’re great in salads, sandwiches, and salsas, or in sauces, soups, and stews. Each tomato type has its own special taste and texture. Cherry tomatoes are sweet, while plum tomatoes are meaty.
In this guide, we’ll look at all the tomato varieties. We’ll talk about their unique features, tastes, and uses in cooking. If you want to try new tomatoes or just learn about heirloom vs. hybrid, this article has everything you need to know.
Key Takeaways:
- Tomatoes come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and colors, each with its own unique flavor profile and culinary uses.
- Cherry and grape tomatoes are perfect for snacking and adding to salads, while beefsteak tomatoes are ideal for slicing and enjoying fresh.
- Plum and Roma tomatoes, known for their meaty texture and low water content, are the go-to choice for making sauces and pastes.
- Heirloom tomatoes, prized for their rich flavors and unique appearance, are available mainly during the summer months.
- Understanding the different types of tomatoes can help you choose the best variety for your specific culinary needs and preferences.
Introduction to Tomato Varieties
There are thousands of tomato varieties out there. It can be hard to pick the right ones for your needs. From sweet cherry tomatoes to juicy beefsteaks and flavorful heirlooms, each type has its own special qualities. Knowing the differences can help you find the perfect tomatoes for your cooking and garden.
Tomato plants can grow in different ways. Determinate varieties, like roma tomatoes, are compact and produce fruit all at once. They’re great for canning or cooking in big batches. Indeterminate varieties, such as grape tomatoes, grow on vines and keep producing fruit until it gets cold or you prune them. Semi-determinate tomatoes are a mix, staying compact but producing fruit all season.
It’s also important to know if a tomato is an heirloom or a hybrid. Heirloom tomatoes are loved for their unique looks and tastes. They’re often sold locally and are not made for long-distance travel. Hybrid tomatoes, like campari tomatoes, are a mix of different varieties. They’re bred for better yield, disease resistance, and other good traits. But, hybrid seeds don’t always produce the same offspring.
| Tomato Type | Characteristics | Best Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Cherry | Small, sweet, grows in clusters | Salads, roasting, snacking |
| Grape | Small, oblong, sweet flavor | Salads, snacking |
| Roma (Plum) | Oval, low moisture, thick flesh | Sauces, canning, pizza |
| Beefsteak | Large, juicy, meaty texture | Sandwiches, burgers, slicing |
| Heirloom | Unique colors, shapes, flavors | Salads, sandwiches, canning |
When picking tomatoes, think about how you want to use them and how they grow. Cherry and grape tomatoes are perfect for salads and snacking. Roma and heirloom tomatoes are great for sauces and canning. Beefsteak tomatoes are a classic choice for sandwiches and burgers. By knowing what each variety offers, you can pick the best ones for your taste and needs.
Cherry Tomatoes: Sweet and Snackable
If you’re looking for a tomato variety that packs a punch of flavor in a small package, look no further than cherry tomatoes. These bite-sized beauties are perfect for snacking straight from the vine or adding a burst of sweetness to your favorite dishes.
Characteristics of Cherry Tomatoes
Cherry tomatoes come in a rainbow of colors, from classic red to sunny yellow and even deep purple. Some popular cherry tomato varieties include:
- Black Cherry: These heirloom tomatoes have a rich, complex flavor and a Brix value of 9, indicating a high level of sweetness.
- Blondkopfchen: Originating from Germany, these yellow cherry tomatoes have a Brix value of 8 and a delicate, sweet flavor.
- Green Envy: These unique cherry tomatoes maintain their green color even when ripe and have a Brix value of 8.
- Matt’s Wild Cherry: These currant-sized tomatoes pack an intense flavor with a balance of sweet, tangy, and slightly sour notes. They have a Brix value of 9.
Most sweet cherry tomatoes fall within the Brix range of 5-12, which is a measure of sugar content on a scale of 0 to 100. In addition to their delightful flavor, cherry tomatoes are also a good source of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, potassium, and lycopene.
Uses for Cherry Tomatoes
The versatility of cherry tomatoes makes them a favorite among gardeners and home cooks alike. Here are a few ways to enjoy these snacking tomatoes:
- Pop them in your mouth for a fresh, juicy treat straight from the garden.
- Toss them into salads for a burst of color and flavor.
- Skewer them onto kebabs with your favorite vegetables and proteins for a delicious grilled dish.
- Slow-roast them to concentrate their natural sweetness and add depth to sauces and pasta dishes.
- Pickle green cherry tomatoes post-harvest for a tangy, crunchy snack.
| Variety | Color | Size | Flavor Profile | Growth Habit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Cherry | Deep purplish-red | 1 inch | Rich, complex, slightly tangy | Indeterminate |
| Sungold | Orange | 1 inch | Very sweet | Indeterminate |
| Sweet Million | Red | 1 inch | Sweet, crack-resistant | Indeterminate |
| Lemon Cherry | Pale yellow | 1 inch | Sweet, juicy | Indeterminate |
Beefsteak Tomatoes: Large and Juicy
Craving a juicy, meaty tomato for slicing? Look no further than the beefsteak tomato. These extra-large tomatoes have a mild flavor and a succulent texture. They are a favorite among gardeners and tomato lovers.
Beefsteak tomatoes come in many varieties. For example, the Brandywine Pink can weigh up to 14 ounces. The Burpee’s Supersteak Hybrid can grow up to 2 pounds. For smaller sizes, try the Brandy Boy Hybrid or Delicious varieties, which weigh between 14 ounces and 1 pound.
| Beefsteak Tomato Variety | Average Fruit Weight | Days to Maturity |
|---|---|---|
| Brandywine Pink | 14 oz. | – |
| Burpee’s Supersteak Hybrid | 2 lbs. | 80 days |
| Brandy Boy Hybrid | 14 oz. | 75 days |
| Delicious | 1-2 lbs. | 77 days |
The Big Beef tomato is a favorite, earning the All-America award. It produces fruits of 10 to 12 ounces and has great disease resistance. Start Big Beef tomatoes from seed. Transplant them when they are 2 inches tall and plant them outside when it’s warm enough.
“There’s nothing quite like biting into a fresh, juicy beefsteak tomato straight from the garden. The flavor is unbeatable, and the meaty texture makes them perfect for sandwiches and burgers.”
To enjoy your beefsteak tomatoes, harvest them when they are fully red-ripe. They’re great for slicing but not for cooking down into sauces. When buying, choose firm fruits with soft flesh and shiny skins for the best taste and texture.
Heirloom Tomatoes: A Flavorful Tradition
Step back in time and enjoy the rich history of heirloom tomatoes. These special tomatoes have been loved for 50 to 100 years. They are known for their unique tastes, bright colors, and shapes, making summer even better.
What Makes a Tomato an Heirloom?
Heirloom tomatoes come in two types: commercial and created. Commercial ones have been around for over 50 years, starting in the 1940s. Created ones are made by mixing two known parents, a process that takes 8 to 10 years.
Heirlooms have a wide range of colors, like deep browns, purples, yellows, and pinks. This makes them stand out from regular red tomatoes.
Popular Heirloom Tomato Varieties
Explore the world of heirloom tomatoes, each with its own special traits. Some favorites include:
- Brandywine: Known for its large size and rich flavor.
- Cherokee Purple: Has a smoky, complex taste and a purple color.
- Green Zebra: Striped green and yellow, with a tangy flavor.
- Yellow Brandywine: A yellow variety with a sweet taste.
- Black Brandywine: Deep maroon in color, with a strong, earthy flavor.
Other notable varieties include Hillbilly, Cosmonaut Volkov, and Striped Cavern. Each brings its own unique qualities to the table.
Uses for Heirloom Tomatoes
Heirloom tomatoes are best enjoyed fresh. Here are some ways to enjoy them:
- Make a stunning tomato platter with different heirloom varieties.
- Enhance salads with a mix of heirloom tomatoes.
- Use them in sandwiches and burgers for extra flavor.
- Enjoy them simply sliced with salt and olive oil.
When picking heirloom tomatoes, look for color saturation, not firmness. Some, like Cherokee Purple, may have green shoulders even when ripe. For the best taste, eat them within 1-2 days.
Fun Fact: Over 80% of tomato varieties from 1910 are now extinct. Heirloom tomatoes are a valuable link to our culinary past.
Plum and Roma Tomatoes: Perfect for Sauces
Plum and Roma tomatoes are the top choice for homemade tomato sauces. They have a meaty texture, fewer seeds, and thinner skins. This makes them perfect for cooking down into rich, flavorful sauces.
Plum tomatoes, like San Marzano, are loved for their sweet flavor and low acidity. If you plan to make a lot of sauce, grow at least eight tomato plants. This ensures you have enough for your needs.
Characteristics of Plum and Roma Tomatoes
Plum and Roma tomatoes stand out for several reasons:
- Dense, elongated fruits with a balanced acid and sugar content (Brix 4.7 to 5.4)
- Meaty flesh with plenty of pulp and few seeds
- Low moisture content, which reduces cooking time and minimizes the risk of scorching
- Thick skins that hold up well during canning and processing
Some popular plum and Roma tomato varieties include:
| Variety | Growth Period | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| San Marzano | 80-90 days | Dense, red fruits with classic Italian flavor |
| Roma | 75 days | Sweet, deep red, flavorful fruits |
| Amish Paste | 85 days | Large, meaty plum tomatoes on indeterminate vines |
| Jersey Giant | 75-80 days | Huge, orange-red plum tomatoes up to 6 inches long |
| Speckled Roman | 85 days | Red and golden-orange striped fruits for sauce or fresh eating |
Using Plum and Roma Tomatoes in Cooking
Plum and Roma tomatoes are very versatile. They’re great for making sauces, canning, cooking, stewing, dehydrating, slicing, and adding to salads and soups. Their low moisture content helps cook sauces faster and prevents scorching.
For the best flavor, these tomatoes need warm summer days and nights. Cool summer nights can affect their sugar development, making them less flavorful. Support the vines with cages or stakes for easier pruning and harvesting.
“Plum tomatoes like San Marzano and Roma are my go-to varieties for making homemade sauces. Their meaty texture and sweet, balanced flavor make them perfect for cooking down into rich, delicious sauces that can’t be beat.”
Whether you’re a home gardener or a sauce lover, plum and Roma tomatoes are a great choice. They make mouthwatering sauces that everyone will love.
Grape Tomatoes: Small and Flavorful
Grape tomatoes are a favorite for snacking. They are small, oblong, and have a denser texture than cherry tomatoes. Their burst of flavor makes them great for snacking or salads.
There are many grape tomato varieties, each with its own traits. Some popular ones include:
- Brad’s Atomic Grape: A mix of purple, green, and yellow with a shockingly sweet and juicy flavor.
- Green Envy: Praised for their meaty texture and juiciness, these tomatoes hold up nicely on kebabs.
- Yellow Pear: Low-acid, visually stunning, and mild in taste.
- Honeycomb: Has a characteristic honey flavor that pairs well with chevre.
- Lucky Tiger: Oblong green tomatoes speckled with red and yellow, suitable for snacking and caprese salads.
The sweetness of grape tomatoes can vary. The Brix scale measures sugar content. Here are some grape tomato varieties and their Brix levels:
| Variety | Brix Level |
|---|---|
| Golden Sweet | Sufficient for specific industry standards |
| Fantastico | 12 |
| Favorita | 8.8 |
| Candyland Red | 12 |
Grape tomatoes are versatile. They add flavor and texture to salads. Enjoy them as a snack or with your favorite dip. Roasting or sautéing them brings out their sweet and savory taste, perfect for pasta or stir-fries.
With over 100 cultivated varieties of cherry tomatoes and new types being developed annually, there’s always a new grape tomato to discover and enjoy.
Next time you’re looking for a small but flavorful tomato, try grape tomatoes. Their sweet, juicy goodness is a treat.
Green Tomatoes: Unripe but Delicious
Tomatoes are often seen as red fruits. But, there’s a special group called green tomatoes. These tomatoes are picked before they’re fully ripe. They have a firm texture and a tart taste, perfect for many dishes.
Characteristics of Green Tomatoes
Green tomatoes are picked when they’re firm and green. They taste more acidic than ripe tomatoes. Some popular types include:
- Green Zebra: Known for its striped appearance and color change from green to golden yellow when ripe.
- Aunt Ruby’s German Green Cherry: Produces fruits around four centimeters in diameter.
- Cherokee Green: Introduced in 1997 by Craig Lehoullier, it offers an aromatic flavor.
- Green Doctors: A cocktail tomato variety that’s easy to grow, making it a favorite among beginner tomato growers.
Uses for Green Tomatoes
Green tomatoes are great in specific dishes. Here are some ways to use them:
- Fried Green Tomatoes: A Southern classic, sliced green tomatoes are coated in cornmeal and fried until crispy.
- Pickled Tomatoes: Green tomatoes are perfect for pickling, adding a tangy and slightly sour flavor to sandwiches and salads.
- Green Tomato Relish: Chopped green tomatoes, onions, and spices make a zesty relish that pairs well with grilled meats.
- Green Tomato Pie: Similar to an apple pie, this dessert features sliced green tomatoes baked with sugar and spices.
| Tomato Variety | Days to Harvest | Yield | Flavor Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Zebra | 80 days | High | Tangy and slightly sweet |
| Aunt Ruby’s German Green | 80-85 days | High | Spicy and sweet |
| Berkeley Tie Dye Green | 70 days | Fair to Good | Flavorful and bright |
| Green Giant | 85 days | Very High | Excellent, complex, sweet flavor |
Green tomatoes need the right nutrients to grow well. Plantura Organic Tomato & Vegetable Compost gives them a strong start. Plantura Tomato Food provides nutrients for a long time. Harvest them when they’re slightly golden or yield to pressure, usually in May.
“Green tomatoes may not be as well-known as their ripe counterparts, but they offer a unique flavor and texture that’s worth exploring in the kitchen.”
Exploring Unique Types of Tomatoes
There’s a world beyond the usual red tomatoes. You’ll find tomatoes in many colors, shapes, and sizes. Each one has its own taste and uses in cooking.
Purple and Black Tomatoes
Purple and black tomatoes like Cherokee Purple and black krim have a deep flavor. They’re known for their rich taste. The Cherokee Purple is big and has a strong tomato taste. The Black Krim is salty and smoky, great for salads and sandwiches.
Striped and Bi-Color Tomatoes
Striped tomatoes make any dish colorful and interesting. Green Zebra and Marvel Stripe are both tasty and look great. The Green Zebra is bright and green, with a unique taste. The Marvel Stripe is sweet and juicy, with red and yellow stripes.
| Tomato Variety | Color | Flavor Profile | Best Uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Zebra | Green and yellow stripes | Bright acidity, subtle sweetness | Summer salads, salsas |
| Marvel Stripe | Red and yellow stripes | Sweet, juicy | Salads, garnishes, raw snacking |
Pear and Teardrop Tomatoes
Pear tomatoes are sweet and juicy, and look great too. The Yellow Pear tomato is small and sunny, perfect for snacking and salads. The Blush tomato is elongated and orange-pink, with a sweet flavor that’s best raw.
“The Sungold cherry-style tomato is a current favorite in the tomato world, praised for being a sweet snack enjoyed by both kids and adults.”
With over 10,000 tomato varieties, there’s always something new to try. Whether you like striped tomatoes, black krim tomatoes, or pear tomatoes, there’s endless inspiration in the world of tomatoes.
Hybrid vs. Heirloom Tomatoes
Choosing between hybrid and heirloom tomatoes requires understanding their differences. Hybrid tomatoes are bred for specific traits like disease resistance and consistent size. They are favorites among farmers and gardeners for their reliability.
Heirloom tomatoes, on the other hand, are open-pollinated and passed down through generations. They are known for their unique flavors and colors. Varieties like Black Beauty and Brandywine have been around for centuries.
Hybrid tomatoes are good at fighting off diseases and growing consistently. But, they have some downsides. They might not produce seeds that grow, and their fruits may not match the parent plant’s. Heirloom tomatoes, when allowed to ripen fully, taste better. Yet, they often yield less than hybrids, with some plants only producing a few fruits.
“Locally grown heirlooms allowed to ripen on the vine may taste better than typical supermarket hybrids” (Source)
Many think heirloom tomatoes are more nutritious, but research shows they’re not always the case. The choice between hybrid and heirloom tomatoes depends on what you value most: taste, appearance, or growing conditions.
Conclusion
There are many tomato varieties, from sweet cherry tomatoes to big beefsteaks and unique heirlooms. Each type suits different tastes and cooking needs. Whether you grow tomatoes at home or cook with them, knowing the types can help you pick the best.
Growing tomatoes well means paying attention to soil, temperature, and water. Tomatoes need good soil, steady moisture, and the right temperature to grow well. Greenhouses and special watering systems help control these factors for better tomatoes.
Tomatoes are not just tasty; they’re also full of vitamins and carotenoids. Things like where you live, drought, and heat can change how nutritious tomatoes are. Choosing the right tomatoes and growing them well can make them even healthier.
For gardeners, chefs, or tomato lovers, exploring different tomato varieties is exciting. They can add flavor to salads, sauces, and more. There’s a tomato for every dish, ready to make your food even better.
FAQ
What are the main differences between cherry tomatoes and grape tomatoes?
Cherry tomatoes are small and round, often sweeter. Grape tomatoes are smaller and oblong, with a meatier texture. They have a less intense flavor than cherry tomatoes.
Are heirloom tomatoes and heritage tomatoes the same thing?
Yes, they are the same. Heirloom and heritage tomatoes are varieties passed down through generations. They are loved for their unique flavors, colors, and shapes.
What is the best type of tomato for making homemade pasta sauce?
Plum tomatoes, like San Marzano, are the top pick for pasta sauce. They have a meaty texture and a sweet flavor. This makes them perfect for a rich sauce.
Can I use beefsteak tomatoes for canning or making preserves?
You can use beefsteak tomatoes for canning or preserves, but they’re not the best choice. Plum tomatoes, like Roma or San Marzano, are better. They have a meaty texture and a more concentrated flavor.
What is the difference between determinate and indeterminate tomato plants?
Determinate tomato plants grow to a fixed size and produce fruit quickly. They’re great for small spaces. Indeterminate plants keep growing and producing fruit all season. They need more space and support.
Are greenhouse tomatoes different from tomatoes grown outdoors?
Greenhouse tomatoes are grown in controlled conditions. This can make them more consistent in size and flavor. But outdoor tomatoes often have a more robust taste from natural sunlight and temperature changes.
What are Campari tomatoes, and how do they differ from other types?
Campari tomatoes are a type of cocktail tomato. They’re known for their sweet flavor and juicy texture. They’re larger than cherry tomatoes but smaller than slicing tomatoes. They’re great for snacking, salads, or adding flavor to sandwiches and pasta.