Tomato Plant Varieties For Your Garden

Spring is just around the corner and the urge to plant our gardens is upon us. One of the more popular vegetables that people enjoy growing is the tomato plant. A good plant can produce up to 10 pounds of fruit in a single season. Yes, the tomato is a fruit and not a vegetable, but who am I to argue with popular opinion. In general, tomato plants can be grown just about anywhere you want, but like any plant it will need the basics of 8-10 hours of direct sunlight, warm temperatures of 70-90 degrees Fahrenheit, a decent soil, plenty of fertilizer, (I like Miracle grow), and plenty of water. If you fail to water your plants regularly, you will either have fruits that are anemic and small or split depending on your particular watering habits. So if possible, put your plants on a timer and water on a regular schedule. If the temperatures rise above 90 degrees for too long, you will find that your plants will not be able to set their fruit, so if you live in a too warm of a climate, you may need to shade your plants.

There are a number of varieties of tomato plants, probably as many types as there are ways to describe them, but they are still good never the less. My particular favorite is the cherry or grape versions, but I have had a few of the blood purple and even a zebra striped tomato from time to time. In order to help you on your journey into spring and all that it brings, I have made a list of some of the varieties of tomatoes that you can order by seed online. Try it, as you may find these much more fun to grow and eat than those that are normally sold at the big orange box stores.

Black Krim Heirloom Tomato- this tomato is a reddish black beefsteak tomato from the Russian Black Sea that has a red-green interior. It is great for slicing or eating like an apple, but as an heirloom, it will need natural pollination, (bees), to set fruit. Maturity takes about 75 days.

Beam’s Yellow Pear Heirloom Tomato- is a pear shaped yellow tomato that has a sweet flavor. This tomato is an indeterminate vine that will grow to 6 feet in height and will produce clusters of 1 ½” fruits. It is an excellent addition to salads, stir frys, and salsas. For those who enjoy a bit of trivia this heirloom has been popular since before 1800.

Early Girl Bush Tomato- is a popular version of the tomato plant. This particular variety matures in only 65 days, while producing a fruit about 4” in size and weighing about 6 ounces. It is a small plant that won’t exceed 18” in height so it will be great for those patio gardens.

Grape Tomato- will produce bright red grapelike clusters of sweet fruit with a complex flavors. It gets its name from its size and clusters and most people have seen this in the supermarket at prices as high as $5.00 per pint. This plant is tolerant to heat and will mature in 60 days.

Black Zebra Tomato- is a cross between the Green Zebra Tomato and the Black Tomato plants. It produces a fruit that is about a 1 ½” in size and weighing about 4 ounces. This tomato will have a nice rich flavor that complements the brown/purple/green stripes that surround the fruit. The Black Zebra Tomato will mature in 85 days.

There is an endless supply of varieties of tomato plants and more versions are created each year. So take a few minutes this year and pick a variety or two that you normally wouldn’t see in the big orange box store. I know you will love them!

Enjoy!