Epic Gardening's 21 Top Tomatoes for Your Patch

This article from Epic Gardening highlights a selection of 21 tomato varieties chosen for their diverse characteristics, suitable for various gardening needs and culinary preferences. The choices span a wide range, from classic heirlooms to modern hybrids, each offering unique attributes in terms of flavor, size, color, growth habit, and disease resistance.

For those seeking robust, disease-resistant options, several varieties are presented. The 'Big Beef' tomato is noted for its large, flavorful fruits and strong resistance to common tomato ailments, making it a reliable choice for consistent yields. Similarly, 'Celebrity' is praised for its adaptability and disease resistance, producing medium-sized, firm tomatoes ideal for slicing. Another resilient option is 'Defiant PHR,' a determinate variety known for its early maturity and excellent resistance to late blight and other diseases, making it a good choice for cooler climates or areas prone to fungal issues. 'Mountain Magic' is another hybrid recognized for its exceptional disease resistance, particularly to early and late blight, and its sweet, crack-resistant fruits.

Heirloom enthusiasts have several appealing options. 'Brandywine' (Sudduth's Strain) is a classic, celebrated for its large, pinkish-red fruits and rich, complex flavor, though it requires a longer growing season. 'Cherokee Purple' is another popular heirloom, known for its dusky purple-brown skin, green shoulders, and intense, smoky-sweet taste. 'Black Krim' offers a similar dark hue and rich flavor profile, originating from Russia. For a unique color, 'Pineapple' is a large, bi-colored heirloom with yellow and red marbling, offering a sweet, fruity taste. 'Green Zebra' stands out with its distinctive green and yellow stripes and tangy flavor, maturing relatively early.

Cherry and small-fruited varieties are also well-represented for snacking and salads. 'Sungold' is a highly favored hybrid cherry tomato, known for its incredibly sweet, golden-orange fruits that ripen early and produce abundantly. 'Sweet Million' is another prolific cherry tomato, producing clusters of small, red, sweet fruits over a long season. 'Black Cherry' offers a darker, richer flavor profile in a small, round fruit. For a slightly larger, pear-shaped option, 'Yellow Pear' is an heirloom cherry tomato with a mild, sweet taste.

The selection also includes varieties suitable for specific culinary uses. 'Roma' (or 'San Marzano' type) is a classic paste tomato, ideal for sauces, canning, and drying due to its meaty flesh and low seed count. 'Amish Paste' is another heirloom paste tomato, known for its large, flavorful fruits that are excellent for processing.

Beyond these, other notable mentions include 'Early Girl,' a popular hybrid known for its early production of medium-sized, flavorful fruits, making it a good choice for shorter growing seasons. 'Mortgage Lifter' is a large, pink heirloom tomato celebrated for its impressive size and balanced flavor. 'Costoluto Genovese' is an Italian heirloom with deeply ribbed, medium-sized fruits and a rich, acidic flavor, often used in sauces. 'Indigo Rose' is a unique variety with high anthocyanin content, giving its skin a deep purple-black color when exposed to sunlight, offering a tart flavor. Finally, 'Patio' is a compact, determinate variety, well-suited for container gardening or smaller spaces, producing medium-sized, flavorful fruits.

Overall, the article provides a comprehensive guide to selecting tomato varieties, emphasizing the importance of considering factors like flavor, disease resistance, growth habit, and intended use to ensure a successful and rewarding harvest.