Grow Great-tasting Tomatoes

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“Get rid of old, infected vines, fruit and tubers from tomatoes and potatoes, and do what you can to keep the foliage dry,” Myers says. He also suggests removing leaves that show early signs of late blight (wilted, water-soaked leaves), but only if you can do so when the foliage is dry. Myers, Gardner and other breeders are working hard to develop blight-resistant varieties, which should become available within the next five years

How do these varieties taste? In a taste test, they won’t blow away the sweet ‘Sun Gold’ or the subtly salty ‘Black Krim.’ But when the choice is among having no tomatoes, watery grocery store hardballs and sun-ripened beauties from your own back yard, healthy, blight-resistant varieties are the best-tasting tomatoes in the world.

Favorite Varieties

“Flavor varies so much that you have to choose a variety that tastes the way you like a tomato to taste,” says Hope of Appalachian Seeds. “There are sweet ones, tart ones, smoky ones, or they can be spicy, fruity or tangy. Then there is what people call ‘old-time tomato flavor,’ which is usually a balance of sweetness and more complex flavor factors.”

Some tomatoes have especially intense flavors. Among slicing tomatoes, so-called “black” or “purple” indeterminate heirloom tomatoes such as ‘Black Krim,’ ‘Pruden’s Purple’ and ‘Cherokee Purple’ — and a half dozen others — have to be put at the end of taste tests because they have such outstanding, complex flavors that they would overpower any tomato that followed them

Many people, including Morris of Cedar Knoll Farm, like the light, lemony zing of ‘Lemon Boy,’ and the Dwyers say that ‘Red Sun’ is a remarkably delicious red slicer, deserving of the finest salads. Another tomato they recommend is ‘First Lady,’ as a full-flavored change of pace for fans of ‘Early Girl.’

Pretty, productive and delightful to eat, small-fruited cluster tomatoes are well represented on many “favorites” lists. Morris says she likes ‘Stupice,’ and if Hope had to pick just one tomato, he says it would be ‘Thai Pink,’ a sweet, iridescent pink saladette that doesn’t crack and that develops big tomato flavor. A yellow variety with a faint blush of pink, ‘Garden Peach’ gets high ratings for intense fruitiness.

Cherry tomatoes are among the sweetest types of tomatoes you can grow. Two varieties that come highly recommended are the yellow ‘Sun Gold’ and orange ‘SunSugar.’ The supernutritious ‘Peacevine Cherry’ is another favorite of many people; this variety is especially rich in vitamin C.

Can’t decide? Always diversify by growing more than one or two varieties, and keep trying new ones every chance you get. Eventually you’ll find it — your perfect tomato.

Tomato Platter with Vinaigrette

Many heirloom tomatoes, especially beefsteak varieties, look and taste great when served on a platter and drizzled with this simple but tangy dressing 6 to 8 large beefsteak tomatoes, approximately 4 pounds total

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