Hey everyone! I'm heading to a tomatofest next weekend and I'm eager to find some unique tomato varieties to check out while I'm there. I usually prefer fruity tomatoes and tend to grow indeterminate varieties that can spread out a bit. Last year, I had great success with 'Midnight Snack' and an unidentified orange heirloom that I really loved. However, I tried 'Gold Nuggets' and wasn't impressed, plus 'Black Strawberry' didn't produce as much as I hoped. The event is said to have a wide selection of heirloom and hybrid tomatoes, so what would you suggest I keep an eye out for? Just as a heads up, I live in a hot, dry area where most tomato plants do well through the summer, but they slow down during the highest heat. I'm hoping to find some tasty options!
6 Answers
You might want to try 'Mochi' from Johnny's Seeds. They’re a cherry variety with a slightly sweet flavor that reminds me of gummy candy—definitely different from the usual tomatoes!
If you're into canning, 'Amish Paste' is fantastic for that! Also, 'Stupice' is one of my go-to early tomatoes that has a nice flavor. You might find that useful too!
If you’re looking for some open-pollinated varieties, I recommend KBX, Prudens Purple, and Indian Stripe. They're not super rare, but they really thrive in hot, dry summers like yours. For something sweet and fruity, check out the larger yellow, orange, or bicolor types like Pineapple or Kellogg's Breakfast. They’re popular, but not all do well in extreme weather—KBX is the exception, performing much better than the regular Kellogg's in my experience. If cherry tomatoes are your thing, consider multiflora types like Barry's Crazy or Blondkopfchen; they usually offer a fun twist!
I’m really into dwarf varieties! They’re compact but pack a punch in flavor. Check out Dwarf Speckled Heart or Dwarf Wild Feed if you can find them; they're awesome!
For a hearty beefsteak option, you can't go wrong with Brandywine or Pink Brandywine. They might not produce as much, but the flavor is unbeatable! If you want something meaty and a bit salty, try Chef's Choice Black—it’s a great F1 hybrid.
I've heard great things about Brandywine! I think I'll plant a few this season along with the Chef's Choice Black for variety.
The 'Woodstock' variety from Johnny's Seeds looks promising. It's new and seems to have a great potential for flavor and yield!
Those look interesting! I appreciate the recommendation; definitely going to add that to my list.
Awesome suggestions! I'll definitely look into those. I think I might have found my mystery tomato after looking at Kellogg’s Breakfast—definitely the tastiest tomatoes I've grown so far!