Tomato Varieties

Determinate tomatoes grow to a fixed height and ripen most fruit at once, which suits containers and canning. Indeterminate tomatoes keep growing and fruiting until frost, so they need staking and give a longer harvest.

Dwarf and patio varieties are best for containers. Types like Tiny Tim, Patio, and Tumbling Tom stay compact, need little staking, and crop well in pots of 5 gallons or more.

Paste tomatoes are best for sauce. Roma and San Marzano types are meaty and low in water, so they cook down fast into a thick sauce with less simmering.

Hybrid varieties bred with VFN resistance are the most disease-resistant. Look for the letters V, F, and N on the label, which mark resistance to verticillium wilt, fusarium wilt, and nematodes.

Cherry tomatoes are best for beginners. Types like Sweet 100 and Sungold are vigorous, forgiving, and ripen in about 55 to 65 days, giving quick, reliable results.

Cherry and early-season varieties grow the fastest. Many ripen in 55 to 65 days from transplant, while beefsteak types often need 80 days or more.