In this Article
The spring season is just around the corner and now is the best time to start planning your garden. You might be wondering what kind of tomato seeds you’d like to grow this year. Well, we have a lot to say about that! Today, we would like to talk about all the latest tomato varieties we have in store and why they’re fabulous! Let’s take a tour, shall we?
How to Select the Right Tomatoes Seeds for Your Garden
When choosing which seeds to invest in, it’s a good idea to get a variety of different seeds. This is because some tomato plants produce earlier or later than others, and each tomato variety has its own unique qualities. Some tomatoes are great for cheese boards, while others go great on sandwiches, and others still are best used for soups and sauces. No matter what you’ve got cooking in the kitchen, there is a unique tomato variety cultivated especially for that purpose. Plus, by having a variety of tomato plants, you will be assured of having a larger harvest throughout much of the growing season.
Before selecting your seeds there are a few things to consider. First things first, you want to know what you’re looking for. Here are the variables to think about. You’ll want to decide the main uses you intend to utilise your tomatoes for, how early you want them to be fruiting, and the amount of space you have for growing.
Vining Cordon vs Bush Varieties
Vining Cordon tomatoes feature small to large clustering fruits that branch from single stems. They are sprawling and can grow quite large. They often need significant support structures to grow well. Additionally, they may need pruning and the removal of bottom suckers to improve fruit production and airflow. Vining cordon tomatoes are also indeterminate, meaning they will continue to produce fruit well into autumn and possibly even up until the frost comes. Because they can grow quite large, plan to space them at least 3 feet apart.
Bush tomato varieties are more compact and require less maintenance. Pruning and sucker removal is optional with bush varieties. Because they are so compact and relatively maintenance-free, bush varieties are great candidates for patio and container gardening. Additionally, bush tomato varieties are usually determinate, offering only one large harvest. After the harvest, the tomato plant is done fruiting for the season.
Heirloom and Organic Varieties
We are proud to say that many of our tomato seed varieties are either organic or of heirloom quality. The reason this matters is that organic and heirloom varieties are natural. Many people feel that produce from such seeds is healthier and unadulterated.
Heirloom seed varieties are distinctively NON-GMO. The term GMO stands for Genetically Modified Organism. In other words, heirloom seed varieties have been used for hundreds of years and have been passed down from generation to generation. They may be specially adapted to certain regions or growing conditions. Heirloom seeds are truly spectacular because they have never undergone genetic manipulation in a corporate lab.
The organic label refers to the use of organic heirloom seeds, which have not been exposed to industrial chemicals like herbicides or pesticides. In other words, “organic” simply means that the seeds possess another level of purity. In order to qualify for the organic label, growers and farmers alike have to adhere to strict regional certification laws.
Cherry Tomatoes
Cherry tomatoes are smaller, about the size of a cherry, when compared to most other tomatoes. Don’t let their small size fool you though, they are packed with flavour! Their petite nature makes them great for salads and cheeseboards, or just to snack on their own! Additionally, they tend to produce very well and are often the first tomatoes to ripen. They are vigorous too, and plans can grow to be quite large. Therefore, be sure to give them plenty of growing room.
Cocktail Crush (aka Crimson Cherry)
This tomato plant features small to medium orange-red fruits (35 to 45 grams) that are sweet to the taste and come with a flavourful tang. The plant itself has a cordon style growth habit and can be grown outdoors or within a greenhouse. For best results, side shoots should be removed. The Cocktail Crush tomato can be grown in place of Mountain Magic and is similar to Ailsa Craig in terms of growth habit and taste.
Of notable importance, Cocktail Crush is blight resistant.
Germination: about 7 days.
Harvest: indeterminant type, July through October.
Black Cherry
These dark maroon tomato fruits feature a unique brown-black colour that makes them look like actual cherries. They have a wonderfully rich flavour to match. They have a cordon style growth habit and may set fruit earlier than some other cherry tomatoes.
Germination: 7 to 14 days.
Harvest about 70 to 75 days from transplanting, August through October. Indeterminate fruiting all summer long and continues to thrive even in cooler weather.
Black Moon
The Black Moon tomato features a unique colour variation wherein the top portion of the fruit is black and fades into red toward the bottom. It is a medium sized (30 g) and plum-shaped cordon that is ideal for salads and sandwiches. It has a somewhat savoury sweet flavour, balanced with just the right amount of tang.
Germination: within 7 – 10 days.
Harvest: about 105 days from sowing.
Saucy Tomatoes
These tomatoes have a firm and fleshy texture. Their flavourful fruits are great for soups, stews, pastes, and for making sauces.
San Marzano
Don’t let these Italian plum tomatoes fool you. Though they look like bright red peppers, these meaty cordon tomatoes are a sweet treat beloved for their use in traditional Italian recipes. They are sizeable at about 70 to 100 grams each and contain very little juice or seeds. They are great for drying, canning, cooking, and making into pastes. San Marzano is also a world-famous tomato, celebrated as the best tomato for making sauces.
They germinate in about 7 – 14 days.
Harvest: about 75 to 80 days, enjoy fruits as early as June and lasting through October. They are an indeterminate type and will continue to fruit all summer until frost.
Golden Sunrise
Bright yellow-orange fruits adorn this heirloom tomato plant. These attractive medium tomatoes (70-90 grams) have a sweet-tart taste and are considered to be one of the most flavourful tomatoes available. This firm-fleshed cordon variety is excellent for sauces and salads alike. Remove the lower side shoots as needed.
Germination: 7 – 14 days
Harvest: fruits mature in about 70 – 75 days from planting, July through October. This variety is indeterminate and will set fruit all summer long.
Roma
Roma’s are medium sized red fruits (about 60 – 80g) with an elongated plum shape that fits nicely in the palm of your hand. They are meaty heirloom tomatoes that have a pleasingly mild flavour with a little bit of zest.
They have few seeds and are less juicy than other tomato varieties. Roma’s are prolific producers, semi-determinate, and as a bush tomato variety, provide an abundant harvest. They are a fabulous tomato for homemade sauces, pasta, soups, or just to slice and eat. Plants will need an adequate support structure to grow best. Roma tomatoes are versatile and can be grown outside or in a greenhouse. They also need a bit of early pruning, especially the lower leaves and sucker branches.
Germination: 7 – 14 days
You can enjoy them in about 70 to 75 days from sowing. They will set fruit anytime between July through October, depending upon when seeds were sown.
Sungrape
This tomato plant produces cherry sized fruits with a distinctive and elongated plum shape. Fruits are glossy with a bright red colour and are only about 10 grams each. Fruits are meaty, firm, and resistant to cracking. Sungrape tomatoes have a robust sweet flavour with an acidic kick making them a wonderful addition to salads.
Germination: 7 to 10 days
Harvest: about 105 days. Enjoy their fruit as early as June and lasting into October. This tomato variety is indeterminate and will fruit all summer long.
First in Field
Seeds from this heirloom variety produce medium red fruits. It is an excellent tomato plant for outdoor growing. First In Field is known for its distinctive potato-like leaves. It has a tall and bushy growth habit. Fruit is sweet and juicy. This variety is determinate, meaning that it only has one harvest. Once it sets fruit, the plant is done for the season.
Germinates in about 7 to 10 days.
Harvest: as early as 45 days and can set fruit anytime between June through October, depending upon when it is sown.
Beefsteak
Beefsteak tomatoes are large, juicy, and a bit meaty. They have firm flesh though, which makes them ideal for slicing. They come in a variety of colours and some even grow up to a size of 3 pounds! They can be enjoyed on sandwiches, burgers, or simply grilled. They tend to have a milder flavour that elevates whatever dish they are added to.
Black Krim
This lovely dark heirloom tomato boasts a sweet flavour as decadently rich as its brownish-red colour and hails from Russia. This beefsteak tomato is very large (about 500 grams) and is ideal for chefs and gourmet food enthusiasts. This plant needs significant staking and support.
Germination occurs in about 7 – 14 days.
Harvest: matures in about 80 days and has an indeterminate growth style.
Gigantomo
A meal in and of itself, the Gigantomo tomato variety is sure to impress. Gigantomo may be the largest tomato available, weighing in at about 700g to 1kg, This tomato has a fabulous taste as well and has meaty firm flesh. It can be grown outside or within a greenhouse. Be sure to space plants appropriately. For best results, only grow 4 to 6 tomatoes on each plant and prune off excess fruits. Be sure to provide an adequate support structure as well.
Germination: 8 to 10 days.
Harvest this indeterminate type July through October, or about 80 days from sowing.
Shirley
This beefsteak tomato is a first-generation (F1) hybrid variety that provides reliably robust yields. It features a cordon style of growth with medium-sized red fruit (70 – 90 grams). Shirley tomato seeds can be sown both outside and within a greenhouse.
Shirley is resistant to late blight.
Germination: about 7 – 10 days.
Harvest: about 105 days from planting and grows all summer long, fruiting as early as July and lasting into October, or up until frost.
Blight Resistant Tomatoes
Late blight can be a major issue here in the UK. These varieties have been developed to help reduce infection or the severity thereof.
Crimson Crush
This tomato was developed right here in the UK and is celebrated as the most blight resistant tomato of its kind. It is a wonderfully delicious large cordon cultivar that provides rounded tomatoes with a bright red colour. The plant is super easy to grow, produces well, and is ideal for small home gardens. It is sure to provide basketfuls of juicy sweet tomatoes (180 to 200 grams) for you and your family to enjoy!
Germination: usually within 7 days, but possibly up to 14.
Harvest: in 100 to 120 days after planting, August through October.
Honey Moon
These delightfully bright pink cordon tomatoes are not only blight resistant but super delicious too. Fruits are fleshy, juicy, and have the perfect balance of sweetness. Each fruit can reach 250 to 300 grams. This tomato plant provides an abundant harvest also. These tomatoes are great for cooking, salads, or slicing fresh. Honey Moon seeds are best sown in a greenhouse.
This variety is especially resistant to late blight.
Germination: about 7 – 14 days
Harvest: in about 73 days, intermediate type, August through October.
Buffalosun
This cordon beefsteak tomato is an heirloom seed variety that also comes with late blight resistance. It features a yellow-orangish-red exterior with a subtle variegation of these colours. The sliced interior is just as striking in colour and offers a sweet flavour. Plus, it’s big. The Buffalosun tomato is known to grow up to 700 grams (about 24 oz) and resists cracking. Its flesh is firm and void of the mushiness that accompanies some other tomatoes of the same size. It makes a great addition to sandwiches, cheese boards, burgers, or grilled. Buffalosun can be grown outside.
Germination: 7 to 10 days
Harvest: about 105 to 112 days from planting. It is an indeterminate type of tomato that will continue to fruit all season. Enjoy its fruit July through October.
Conclusion
No matter what tomato seeds you decide to grow this year, just having a variety of tomato plants growing in your garden is sure to bring a lot of joy to you and the whole family!
Sometimes, like us, tomatoes need a little help from their friends. There are many plants that grow exceptionally well with tomatoes. In the gardening world, we call this companion planting. For instance, herbs like basil or flowers like marigolds and calendula have special properties that optimise tomato production. If you would like to learn more about companion planting and which plants enable tomatoes to thrive, click here.
