Best Tomato Varieties to Grow This Year

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From sizable slicers to short-season cherries, you can find a new favorite tomato variety within this article’s selections. Whether you need disease resistance or want the perfect stuffing tomato, we’ve got you covered.
From sizable slicers to short-season cherries, you can find a new favorite tomato variety within this article’s selections. Whether you need disease resistance or want the perfect stuffing tomato, we’ve got you covered.
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Bred by market farmer Ruth Zinniker of Wisconsin, ‘Ruth’s Perfect’ is a vigorous, red slicing tomato.
Bred by market farmer Ruth Zinniker of Wisconsin, ‘Ruth’s Perfect’ is a vigorous, red slicing tomato.
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‘Paul Robeson’ tomato has a distinctive sweet, earthy flavor.
‘Paul Robeson’ tomato has a distinctive sweet, earthy flavor.
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‘Black Cherry’ tomato is expert-rated for top flavor.
‘Black Cherry’ tomato is expert-rated for top flavor.
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‘Plum Regal,’ a paste tomato variety, offers resistance to multiple common diseases.
‘Plum Regal,’ a paste tomato variety, offers resistance to multiple common diseases.
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Popular, zingy-tasting ‘Green Zebra’ tomato ripens to a green-streaked, eye-catching color.
Popular, zingy-tasting ‘Green Zebra’ tomato ripens to a green-streaked, eye-catching color.
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‘Mr. Stripey’ is a gorgeous heirloom tomato variety that produces mild, low-acid fruits.
‘Mr. Stripey’ is a gorgeous heirloom tomato variety that produces mild, low-acid fruits.
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If you love stuffed peppers, try growing a stuffing tomato variety. You won’t be sad you did when you fill the fruits with cheesy goodness.
If you love stuffed peppers, try growing a stuffing tomato variety. You won’t be sad you did when you fill the fruits with cheesy goodness.

As you choose tomato varieties for this year’s garden, summon the mantra “Change is good.” Branching out can be great fun, and also tremendously rewarding, when a new-to-you variety solves a chronic problem with an unmanageable tomato disease.

Most MOTHER EARTH NEWS readers prefer open-pollinated (OP) tomato varieties that have been selected for flavor, texture and color. These include some heirlooms, a term that has various definitions but generally refers to an open-pollinated variety that’s at least 50 years old. Open-pollinated varieties allow gardeners to save their own seeds from year to year, too. On the other hand, hybrids may be the best tomato varieties to prevent devastation in disease-prone climates.

To help you choose the best tomatoes for your inclinations and situation, we’ve selected some classic, representative varieties in a few broad categories, which we chose based on reader feedback from a tomato survey. Then, we’ve offered up top recommendations among both open-pollinated and hybrid varieties based on eating quality and disease resistance. (See the key for disease-resistance codes.) Some of these tomatoes are sure to climb their way to the top of your must-grow list!

Best Tomato Varieties for Big Slicers

Most gardeners feel pure pleasure when they haul in a basket full of perfect, round slicing tomatoes. True tomato perfection comes in a range of colors, shapes and sizes. Bright red is the most popular color, but pink-red and purple-hued varieties offer unique flavors worth adding to your mix.

  • Published on Jan 7, 2016
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