As tomato growers, disease prevention is crucial for us. We want to avoid issues like black stems, spots on leaves, early and late blight, and fusarium wilt, among others.
Thankfully, there are numerous disease-resistant tomato varieties available that can bring us some peace of mind in the garden.
In this article, I have compiled a list of over 20 disease-resistant tomato varieties for you to consider growing yourself. Each variety has its own resistance to specific diseases, so it’s important to keep in mind the common diseases in your area when choosing which ones to grow.
I will provide information on the diseases or pathogens that each type is known to tolerate. Rest assured, there are disease-resistant varieties available for every type of tomato.
Disease Resistant Cherry Tomatoes
Cherry tomatoes, oh how they are adored! These delightful little fruits are a gardener’s dream, offering a bountiful harvest and endless possibilities in the culinary world. And let me tell you, growing disease resistant cherry tomatoes is a game-changer when it comes to convenient and oh-so-satisfying snacks. So why not give it a try? Your taste buds will thank you!
Super Sweet 100 (Hybrid)
The plant exhibits resistance to various diseases including Early Blight, Late Blight, Fusarium Wilt, Fusarium Wilt 1, Tobacco Mosaic Virus, Verticillium Wilt, Verticillium Wilt 1, and Verticillium Wilt 2.
The Super Sweet 100 is a cherry tomato variety known for its high yields, delicious flavor, and resistance to diseases. If you are a fan of indeterminate cherry tomatoes, this could be the only variety you need to cultivate.
Mountain Magic (Hybrid)
The disease resistance of this plant includes Alternaria Blight, Early Blight, Late Blight, Alternaria Stem Canker, Corky Root Rot, Fusarium Wilt, and Verticillium Wilt.
If you are seeking a cherry type that is slightly larger, the ~2oz fruits from Mountain Magic may be an ideal choice. This hybrid variety offers a comprehensive list of disease resistance, including protection against common fungal infections.
Aosta Valley (Heirloom)
Disease resistance includes Early Blight and Late Blight.
The Aosta valley is a type of cherry tomato that originated from the Italian Alps. It produces clusters of 6-10 tomatoes per truss and is resistant to both early and late blight. If you are looking to prevent blight on your tomatoes, consider trying this particular variety.
Indigo Rose
Disease resistance includes Early Blight, Late Blight, and Powdery Mildew.
If you prefer experimenting with different and unique tomato varieties, you may be interested in indigo rose. This tomato has high levels of anthocyanin, which gives its fruits a purple/black color. Additionally, it is resistant to blight and powdery mildew, making it highly desirable throughout the season.
Jasper (Hybrid)
The plant exhibits resistance to diseases such as Alternaria Blight, Early Blight, Late Blight, Fusarium Wilt 1 & 2.
The tiny jasper tomato variety is known for producing a large quantity of 7-10 gram fruits. It has resistance to various blight diseases and is also crack resistant, which contributes to its attractive appearance and continuous harvests.
Disease Resistant Plum Tomatoes
If you enjoy making tomato sauce or paste, it is recommended to grow plum varieties due to their thick, meaty flesh, which is ideal for juicing or cooking into sauces. Consider growing these resilient plum varieties.
Roma (Heirloom)
This variety of disease resistance includes Alternaria Stem Canker, Fusarium Wilt, Fusarium Wilt 1, Late Blight, Root Knot Nematode, Verticillium Wilt, and Verticillium Wilt 1.
The roma tomato is popular due to its high productivity, delicious taste, and natural resistance to diseases. If you have not yet tried this Italian heirloom tomato, you are missing out.
Supremo (Hybrid)
The disease resistance of this plant includes Bacterial Leaf Spot, Fusarium Wilt 1, 2 & 3, Gray Leaf Spot, Root Knot Nematode, Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus, and Verticillium Wilt.
You can try the Supremo hybrid for exceptional disease resistance and high heat tolerance. It reliably produces crops mid-season. The large, elongated fruits are ideal for sauces. If you have a longer summer season, you can even succession plant them.
Juliet (Hybrid)
The plant has resistance to diseases such as Alternaria Blight, Early Blight, Late Blight, and Septoria Leaf Spot.
The Juliet hybrid variety is a cross between a grape and a plum tomato. The fruits are approximately 2.5″ long and can be used for snacking, fresh salads, or making pasta sauce. The plants have strong disease resistance and the fruits rarely experience cracking.
Plum Regal (Hybrid)
The tomato variety has resistance to diseases such as Alternaria Stem Canker, Early Blight, Fusarium Wilt 1 & 2, Late Blight, Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus, and Verticillium Wilt.
The plum regal tomato variety is highly resistant to late blight and moderately resistant to early blight, making it a great choice for those who struggle with these diseases. The fruits are around 4oz in size, and the large leaves offer good protection against sun scald.
Sunrise Sauce (Hybrid)
Disease resistance includes Fusarium Wilt 1 and Verticillium Wilt.
The sunrise sauce hybrid tomato is a suitable choice for warm climates with high humidity due to its high disease resistance to fusarium wilt. Additionally, it offers the option of a sauce with an orange color instead of the traditional bright red.
Disease Resistant Globe (Slicing) Tomatoes
Globe tomatoes are versatile and can be used for slicing on burgers and sandwiches or for sauces and salsa. These types of tomatoes are known for their durability and disease resistance.
Celebrity (Hybrid)
This variety of disease-resistant traits includes resistance to Alternaria Stem Canker, Fusarium Wilt 1 & 2, Gray Leaf Spot, Root Knot Nematode, Tomato Mosaic Virus, Tobacco Mosaic Virus, Verticillium Wilt 1 & 2.
The celebrity F1 hybrid tomato is a popular choice among growers due to its extensive disease resistance and ability to produce consistent yields of ~8oz tomatoes. It is often recommended as a starter tomato variety and is suitable for canning, slicing, or sauces.
Caiman (Hybrid)
The tomato variety has resistance to diseases such as Fusarium Wilt, Leaf Mold, Root Knot Nematode, Tobacco Mosaic Virus, Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus, and Verticillium Wilt.
The caiman F1 hybrid is a beautiful tomato variety. It produces large, round fruits with 4-6 tomatoes per truss. The plants have excellent disease resistance, including TMV and wilt diseases. The open growth pattern of the plants naturally helps prevent disease.
Ace 55 (Heirloom)
The plant exhibits disease resistance to Alternaria Stem Canker, Fusarium Wilt 1, and Verticillium Wilt.
If you experience reflux from tomatoes, you may want to consider trying the Ace 55 variety. It is known to have lower acidity compared to other tomatoes. This heirloom variety is perfect for slicing, canning, or making sauce, and it also offers natural disease resistance.
Golden Jubilee (Heirloom)
One of the disease resistances observed in plants is Alternaria Stem Canker.
If you want to add vibrant color to your tomato garden, consider planting the golden jubilee variety. This heirloom dates back to 1943 and has won the AAS award. It features thick walls and a rich flavor.
Green Zebra (Heirloom)
Disease resistance includes Late Blight and Septoria Leaf Spot.
This variety lacks significant disease resistance, but it does exhibit resistance to late blight and septoria leaf spot, which are major diseases in the Northeast region. The resistance to these two diseases alone can have a significant impact.
This tomato variety is visually appealing with its stripes of green and yellow, making it a standout in any vegetable garden.
Marglobe (Heirloom)
Disease resistance includes Fusarium Wilt 1 and 2.
If you are dealing with fusarium wilt as a major concern, the marglobe heirloom variety could be a suitable option for cultivation. This determinate heirloom exhibits resistance to fusarium wilts 1 and 2, and yields large, visually pleasing round fruits.
Disease Resistant Beefsteak Tomatoes
If you prefer large tomatoes, beefsteaks are likely one of your favorites. However, these varieties often experience diseases and disorders. Explore these disease-resistant beefsteak tomato options.
Brandywine (Heirloom)
Disease resistance: Early Blight, Fulvia Blight
If size and flavor are your priority, then brandywine is a winner. With fruits often well-exceeding 1 lb, the brandywine heirloom tomato is impressive. To top it off, it has some blight resistance, and excellent flavor.
Tip: Looking for even more disease resistance? Try the brandywise variety – this hybrid adds late blight and septoria leaf spot resistance (without sacrificing flavor)!
Big Beef Plus (Hybrid)
Disease resistance: Alternaria Stem Canker, Fusarium Wilt 1 & 2, Fusarium Crown and Root Rot, Gray Leaf Spot, Root Knot Nematode, Tobacco Mosaic Virus, Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus, Verticillium Wilt
If you want a wide range of disease resistance, look no further than the big beef plus hybrid. While the fruits are not enormous (typically around 10oz), the plants are extremely well protected. These slicers are perfect for trellising and getting consistent harvests all season long.
Champion 2 (Hybrid)
The tomato plant exhibits resistance to various diseases, including Alternaria Stem Canker, Fusarium Wilt 1 & 2, Gray Leaf Spot, Root Knot Nematode, Tobacco Mosaic Virus, Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus, and Verticillium Wilt.
The medium-sized tomatoes have lightly creased tops and a rich color. Although they aren’t the largest, their wide variety of disease resistance makes these tomatoes a great option.
Cherokee Purple (Heirloom)
The tomato has disease resistance to Bacterial Speck, Fusarium Wilt 1, 2 & 3, Root Knot Nematode, Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus, and Verticillium Wilt.
The Cherokee purple is a variety of beefsteak tomato that is known for its attractive purple color and excellent taste. It is also an heirloom tomato, which means that you can save its seeds and grow them again in future years.
Buffalo Steak (Hybrid)
The tomato plant exhibits resistance to diseases such as Fusarium Wilt, Root Knot Nematode, Tomato Mosaic Virus, and Verticillium Wilt.
These tomatoes have a high juice content and are resistant to diseases, making them a suitable choice for your garden if you have encountered tomato mosaic virus.
Tips For Reducing Tomato Disease
Selecting tomato varieties that are resistant to diseases is the most effective method of preventing diseases. However, it is important to note that no plant is completely immune. Here are some additional tips that can help decrease the likelihood of your tomatoes developing any diseases:
Here are 10 tips for reducing tomato disease.
1. Rotate your crops: Avoid planting tomatoes in the same location year after year. This helps reduce the buildup of soil-borne diseases that can affect the plants.
2. Choose disease-resistant varieties: Look for tomato varieties that are specifically bred to be resistant to common diseases such as tomato blight or Fusarium wilt.
3. Properly space your plants: Plant tomato plants with enough space between them to allow for good air circulation. This helps prevent the spread of fungal diseases.
4. Mulch your plants: Apply a layer of organic mulch around the base of your tomato plants. This helps to prevent soil-borne diseases from splashing onto the leaves during watering.
5. Water at the base: Avoid overhead watering, as this can promote the spread of fungal diseases. Instead, water at the base of the plants to keep the foliage dry.
6. Practice good sanitation: Remove any diseased plant material promptly and dispose of it properly. This helps prevent the spread of diseases to healthy plants.
7. Use clean gardening tools: Clean your gardening tools regularly, especially if you’ve been working with diseased plants. This helps prevent the transfer of pathogens from one plant to another.
8. Avoid excessive nitrogen fertilization: Too much nitrogen can promote lush, succulent growth that is more susceptible to diseases. Use a balanced fertilizer and follow the recommended application rates.
9. Use organic fungicides: If needed, use organic fungicides to control fungal diseases. Look for products containing copper or sulfur, which are effective against many tomato diseases.
10. Monitor your plants regularly: Regularly inspect your tomato plants for any signs of disease, such as yellowing leaves, spots, or wilting. Early detection allows for prompt action and better disease control.