From colorful hybrids to timeless heirlooms, explore unique tomato varieties that are perfect to grow for yourself or for donation ...or both!
Guest Contributor: Cassey Anderson, Horticulture Agent, Colorado State University Extension
Overwhelmed by options? There are so many amazing varieties of tomatoes, from hybrids to heirlooms. Whether you're making your list for the coming season, or the season's already coming to a close and you're looking for inspiration for next year, it's always a great time to talk tomatoes!
I’ll go through a few newer and unique tomato varieties you can try out, discuss a few classic reliable types and discuss where to find these next season.
The basics
First let's start with some terms to be familiar with when selecting tomatoes.
Open Pollinated (sometimes called Heirloom) vs Hybrid
These terms let you know how the plant was bred and how it will grow. Open pollinated and heirloom varieties can be successfully planted as seeds in future years as they will grow true-to-type. Hybrid tomatoes have been bred from two distinct parent types and will not grow true if you save the seed. Hybrid varieties can be a good choice if you have had pressure from diseases such as early blight, tomato spotted wilt virus or others in your garden or are seeking a higher yielding plant. Be aware when saving seed that some bacterial and viral diseases can persist even in seed. If you suspect disease in your plants it may be best to discard the seeds and purchase from a reputable seller for the following season.
Determinate, semi- determinate, indeterminate
Tomatoes have different growth habits that can have benefits or drawbacks depending on your goals. If a tomato is determinate it will grow to a determined size (sometimes very dwarf, sometimes larger), grow a specific number of flowers and fruit and then be done. They often require minimal, if any, trellising. Sometimes you can harvest the tomatoes and continue good care and you may get another crop. Semi-determinate tomatoes set several flushes of growth in the season. Indeterminate tomatoes will continue to grow throughout the season until a freeze. Trellising and pruning is very important for indeterminate tomato plants as they can rapidly grow ungainly and are not self-supporting. See our expert advice on trellising here.
Learn more about tomato basics in our Tomato 101 blog post here.
5 newer options (and there are SO many more!):
Atta Girl
An open pollinated determinate beefsteak tomato. This tomato plant is ideal for smaller spaces. Because it is a determinate tomato it will require less fuss around pruning and trellising and may fit in a smaller space. Flavor is going to be sweet, comparable to the class “Early Girl” tomato. Because the plant is open-pollinated it is possible to save the seeds from one season’s harvest to plant the next year.
Raya Rey
Indeterminate heirloom variety that has gorgeous stripes of green throughout. The flesh is firm allowing for use as both fresh and cooked purposes. The plant is highly productive and resistant to many diseases especially when properly pruned and supported.
Brandywine cherry tomato
A newer twist on a classic tomato. If you love the brandywine tomato but don’t like waiting for the larger beefsteak style to grow and mature you can seek out. This is a determinate hybrid plant, so pruning and support are less necessary, but can still be prudent. You will not be able to save the seed and have them grow to type.
Chocolate Sprinkles F1
Another indeterminate hybrid, this smaller fruit variety has high disease resistance while not skimping on flavor as some hybrids do. The fruit is small and “cherry” like with a slightly elongated shape. It features an overall red color with hints of chocolate/purple patterning. This variety is also resistant to cracking that is common in many sweet cherry type tomatoes.
Eye candy
Are you looking for an exotic looking but durable tomato? Eye candy features deep red flesh with stripes of black, orange, red and gold on the skin. It also stores well at counter temperatures (up to 3 weeks!) while retaining amazing flavor. This is an indeterminate plant but is described by growers as compact and stocky, so could be a good choice for smaller spaces. If you haven’t grown varieties with unique colors, it can be good to test for firmness and flavor to determine the “just right” time to harvest.
3 "old reliable" options
Yellow Pear
An indeterminate open pollinated class, yellow pear has a unique shape. For tomato lovers who like the flesh more than the gel of a tomato this is a must-try variety! They are prolific, one plant can easily supply enough fruit for a family. The fruit is, as described, a yellow pear-shape about the size of a typical cherry tomato.
Cherokee Purple
A classic but tasty beefsteak, indeterminate open pollinated variety, Cherokee purple often wins taste-off competitions. Fruit develops a deep rose color but may have some green at the stem even when fully ripe. Due to the size of the fruit it is important to practice good pruning and staking/trellising for this plant to get the best production. One plant may produce as many as 20 fruits in a season.
Sun Gold
An indeterminate cherry tomato, sun gold wins taste-off competitions as well. It has an intense sweet flavor profile. It is an open pollinated variety so in theory once you have a plant you can grow them in perpetuity (and you may want to!). The plant does need good pruning and staking for ideal production, but can still produce well without. Uniform watering is important as erratic watering can lead to fruit splitting.
What about that new GMO purple tomato?
In the 2024 growing season a company called Norfolk Healthy Produce began sales of genetically modified tomatoes. They inserted genes from a snapdragon into the tomato plant so that fruit produces higher levels of anthocyanins – thus creating a truly purple tomato, inside and out. The plants germinate easily and grow robust. The flavor is good, but not extraordinary. They are most likely beneficial as a color pop and for potential health benefits with the additional expressed nutrients. This is the first GMO seed available to backyard growers and can be safely saved and grown in the home setting.
Where to find tomatoes?
Online reputable retailers can be a great start. Some companies really focus on tomatoes such as Totally Tomatoes, Wild Boar Farms, and Tomato Growers Supply. Many of the bigger seed companies may source from them or have their own varieties as well. Of course, it is also a good idea to support your local nursery whether by buying seed or starts. If you contact your nursery early enough in the year (late fall can be a good time) you may be able to request some specific varieties as seedlings. The main message is: grow some of your tried-and-true favorites, but throw something new and unique in there as well, there are too many options NOT to try something different!
Hopefully this list helps you with planning for next season! As always, be sure to reach out to your local Extension office for more specific information and details that pertain to your area.
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