There are thousands of varieties of tomatoes! With this many options, choosing the right variety can be intimidating to a first-time grower. Tomatoes come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, with each variety differing in taste and suggested cooking use, but also in its need for proper growth and care. The following breaks down some important tomato terminology and walks through the important aspects to consider when choosing the right tomato plant for your garden.

In deciding which tomato plant is right for you, you should consider the following:

  • The desired harvest timeline
  • Personal preferences in shape, size, and use for the tomato
  • Your climate
  • Disease Resistance

Harvest Timeline

Determinate vs. Indeterminate

Tomatoes are classified as determinate or indeterminate. These terms allow growers to consider certain characteristics of the plant critical for proper growth and care such as structure, yield, and timeline. Use this calendar for the best time to plant tomatoes in your area.

Determinate tomato plants are named so as they will reach a set plant height at maturity and stop further growth. The fruit from these plants grows from the ends of branches and typically reaches maturity in 60 days. Determinate varieties are ideal for growers that would like to harvest all fruit at one time. Due to their pre-determined size, these plants need little to no pruning. They are often smaller varieties that can be grown in pots and can use simple stakes or cages for support if their stems are not sturdy. These tomato varieties are typically great for sauce and canning uses.

Indeterminate tomato plants grow and produce tomatoes along their stems throughout the growing season. Because they do not have a set height, they often need extra tall supports of at least five feet. To optimize fruit size, pruning is recommended. Indeterminate varieties provide great fresh fruit for gardeners looking for a consistent harvest throughout the duration of growing season.

Note: Some plants are in-between determinate and indeterminate characteristics and are often classified as semi-determinate or compact indeterminate.

Personal Preferences

Heirloom vs. Hybrid

Hybrid tomatoes are bred by crossing varieties. This allows for better disease resistance, higher yield, and other improved traits. Hybrid varieties are typically newly cross bred each year. Heirloom tomatoes are defined as any tomato that is at least fifty years old and not a hybrid. These tomatoes are developed over many years using the old-fashioned growing method. This indicates that they were grown from seed, and seedlings were kept that retain desired qualities (undesirable varieties were bred out).

Cooking Use

Cherry, grape, and pear varieties are small, sweet, and easy to grow varieties well suited for fresh use on salads or snacking. The most popular slicing tomatoes for burgers are the larger beefsteak variety. For an extensive list of varieties of tomatoes click here.

Climate

To find your personal climate zone, visit the USDA’s Plant Hardiness Zone Map. It will let you know which plants will thrive in your area.

Resistance to Disease

Tomatoes can have genetic resistance to diseases, and they will often be coded like the following at purchase:

A — Alternaria leaf spot

F — Fusarium wilt

FF — Race 1 and Race 2 Fusarium

L — Septoria leaf spot

N — Nematodes

T — Tobacco mosaic virus

V — Verticillium wilt

There are many factors to consider when choosing the right tomato for you,. This overview provides a basic understanding of the terms you’ll need to know. We suggest bringing your preferences to your local nursery. They can assist in finding a suitable tomato plant for you!