Master Gardener Favorite Tomato Varieties

In January of  2021, Piedmont Master Gardener (PMG) Judy Kirby conducted an informal survey of other PMGers. Her question:  What’s your favorite tomato variety to start from seed?   Judy reported the results of this “non-scientific” survey to the PMG, and we decided to share it with you, our readers.  We couldn’t resist adding the favorites of the writers of The Garden Shed, whether grown from seed or not.

When all was said and done, the most popular favorites were:  Cherokee Purple and Sungold cherry tomato.  A runner-up was Juliet, another cherry type.   Bear in mind that many of those surveyed grow their tomatoes from seed, so the list contains some varieties not typically sold as plants at your local nursery.  Here’s a list of all the favorites, along with comments from the Master Gardeners who favor them:

Amish Paste grows well in our area and is a heavy producer. It makes fabulous sauce. 

Aunt Ruby’s German Green is green when ripe, has a large size, and is spicy but with a low acid flavor. This heirloom has a lower resistance to diseases and lower production, but the flavor makes it well worth it.

Barnes Mountain Orange is a low-acid tomato with huge fruit.

Believe it or Not (yes, that’s the name, believe it or not!) is productive and good for preserving. 

Better Boy hybrids are an easy and tasty variety. 

Big Beef is a big favorite for its long period of productivity.  A great canning tomato. 

Big Boy has a flavor and size that works for all meals. 

Big Daddy is another productive tomato that is great for canning. 

Black Krim is a dark red-purple tomato with a great flavor.  

Husky Cherry Red is an easy to grow great tasting cherry tomato.

Brandywine has a great flavor and good size. 

Cherokee Purple was a top choice for many Master Gardeners for its flavor, and also for how prolific and easy it is to grow. 

Dr. Wyche’s Yellow is an heirloom tomato. It is a large, 1 lb. or larger yellow tomato with low acid and great flavor. It has smooth skin and can be a heavy producer. It is great on a burger, BLT or just big flavorful slices. The downside is that it needs a good cage and extra staking to support the large fruit and being an heirloom, it is susceptible to multiple tomato diseases. 

Early Girl is a favorite tomato for Melissa King.  She says, “I’ve had great success with Early Girl tomatoes, an indeterminate variety. These medium-sized tomatoes are prolific producers with memorable flavor that lingers on the palate. Excellent for salads and sandwiches.” 

German Johnson is an heirloom variety that is rosy-red in color, very meaty, and holds up well in our summer heat and humidity.  Pat Chadwick shared that she grows this one for sentimental reasons, “My father grew a particularly tasty tomato variety from seeds someone gave to him back in the 50s or 60s.  I never knew the name of the variety, but he called it a “German” tomato.  German Johnson is the closest I’ve come to it in taste and appearance.  It’s not watery like some tomato varieties, so it makes a great slicing tomato.   In fact, I had a nice thick slice of one on a burger last night. Heavenly!”

Golden Jubilee is a favorite yellow tomato grown by Cleve and Fern Campbell.

Green Zebra is a unique tomato with tangy green flesh — both colorful and flavorful.

Jetstar is a great all-purpose tomato with good flavor, resistant to many diseases and cracking, a round shape that is easy to slice, prolific and is indeterminate.

Juliet is a hybrid cherry tomato.  The fruits have an unusual oblong shape and are larger than those of other cherry tomato varieties.  Juliet is a prolific variety that keeps producing well into fall, long after other varieties are finished for the season. The fruits don’t split open in the heat, which is another big plus.  Fern Campbell shared, “I love Juliets for dehydrating. I cut them in half and drizzle in olive oil, Italian seasoning/basil and coarse salt and then dehydrate ….then put in freezer baggies, and when I want a snack, appetizer or addition to a sauce….it is very fresh tasting.”

Matt’s Wild Cherry produces “little flavor bombs,”  according to Bill Sublette.

Mortgage Lifter is a very large, delicious, classic beefsteak tomato.  Chris Stroupe has found it to have pretty good disease resistance…at least so far.

Mr. Stripey is another colorful tomato — it is named for its red and yellow coloration. 

Park’s Whopper is a large, tasty, meaty tomato with strong disease resistance. According to Melissa King, when you bite into one, there’s a robust burst of flavor with lots of juice. These big red beauties are noticeable when growing in a vegetable garden. 

Rutgers is an heirloom, red tomato with great flavor and versatility.  Ralph Morini tells us, “I became a Rutgers fan this year. After fighting wilts and blights for the past couple of years, I grew Rutgers from seed this year and have had minimal disease issues, with a strong yield. The flavor is good enough that the squirrels prefer them to the hickory nuts that are all over the woods floor. Luckily, ripening them off-vine (inside a paper bag with a bunch of bananas) doesn’t compromise their flavor or texture. The indeterminate plants look like they’ll keep going until frost.”  

San Marzanno is a plum tomato and a favorite for tomato sauce. 

Sungold is a hybrid cherry, vigorous and high-yielding, super-sweet. 

SunSugar is an early season cherry, and they are so delicious that they rarely make it into the refrigerator. 

Sweet 100 is a hybrid cherry tomato with a “pop” of flavor when you bite into one.

 

 

With thanks to the following Master Gardeners who contributed to our list of favorite tomatoes: Linda Birch, Gena Breakiron, Alison Brill, Fern Campbell,  Cleve Campbell, Pat Chadwick, Charles Greiner, Ralph Hall, Melissa King, Judy Kirby, Ellen Mayoue, Ralph Morini, Bill Sublette, Chris Stroupe, Mary Voorhees, and Nancy Watkins. 

Featured Image:  Bev Thierwechter