As the weather warms up on the Southeastern coast of North Carolina, tomato season is fast approaching. After years of trial and error, I’ve found five tomato varieties that have become essential in my garden. These tomatoes have stood the test of heat, humidity, and disease while delivering incredible flavor. Let me take you through the varieties I’ll never grow without and explain why each one is a standout.
1. Sun Gold Tomato: The Sweetest Cherry Tomato
The Sun Gold tomato is widely recognized as one of the best-tasting cherry tomatoes you can grow. With its candy-like sweetness and balanced tomato flavor, it’s no wonder this hybrid variety is a favorite for many. In fact, its flavor is so exceptional that I often find myself eating them right off the plant.
Sun Gold also excels in other areas. Its heat-set capabilities allow it to thrive even during the hottest months, making it an ideal variety for gardeners in warmer climates. However, Sun Gold is not without its downsides. Once the rainy season begins, the thin skin of the fruit makes it prone to splitting. This means if you experience heavy rain in your area, you might lose a portion of your harvest.
For those concerned about this, Sun Sugar, a similar yellow cherry tomato, offers better crack resistance and vigor. However, I still prefer the taste of Sun Gold, making it my go-to cherry tomato despite its tendency to split.
2. Brandy Boy: The Best Heirloom Hybrid
Brandy Boy is a hybrid tomato that delivers the same incredible flavor of the classic Brandywine heirloom but with added vigor and disease resistance. Growing Brandywine tomatoes in the cooler climates of Pennsylvania and New Jersey was easy, but in North Carolina, it was a challenge. Fortunately, Brandy Boy has become the solution to my heirloom tomato woes.
This variety produces large, picture-perfect tomatoes that are perfect for slicing. The fruits are uniform, which is rare for heirloom hybrids. Unlike other Brandywine hybrid varieties like Chef’s Choice Pink, Brandy Boy offers the best overall quality and flavor, and it’s a reliable performer even in tough conditions. If you want the classic taste of a Brandywine with the resilience to withstand hotter climates, Brandy Boy is your best bet.
3. Big Beef: A Vigorous Slicing Tomato
If you’re looking for a slicing tomato that can stand up to extreme conditions, the Big Beef is a must-have in your garden. This indeterminate variety is known for its robustness, producing consistently large, one-pound fruits. What sets Big Beef apart is its remarkable disease resistance and ability to produce perfect tomatoes even after heavy rainfall.
Big Beef is an All-America Selection winner, and for good reason. While its flavor isn’t quite as intense as a Brandywine, it still delivers a classic tomato taste that will satisfy any gardener or home cook. Its flawless appearance, excellent yield, and durability make it a reliable choice for any tomato garden.
4. Rosella Purple: Early Season Dwarf with Unmatched Flavor
The Rosella Purple is one of the earliest tomatoes to ripen in my garden, making it a fantastic variety to kickstart the season. It thrives in cooler temperatures and can be grown in containers, allowing me to get a head start by bringing it indoors on cold nights.
What makes Rosella Purple truly special is its flavor. It’s a black or purple tomato variety with a sweetness and low acidity that rivals other purple tomatoes like Cherokee Purple. However, unlike Cherokee Purple, Rosella Purple is much easier to grow and offers better yields.
Its biggest downside is its poor disease resistance in hot and humid conditions. However, by growing it in a container and keeping it dry during the rainy season, I can extend its life and enjoy its delicious fruits well into early summer.
5. Celeste Tomato: A Cool Climate Determinate
The Celeste Tomato is another standout that deserves a place in your garden if you’re looking for an early-season determinate tomato. Bred specifically for the cool climate of the Pacific Northwest, Celeste thrives in temperatures between 60-70°F, making it perfect for early spring and fall planting.
Though it’s not suited for the heat of summer, this variety produces some of the most flavorful tomatoes I’ve ever had, particularly for a determinate type. Its compact size makes it ideal for containers, and its yields are impressive for a small plant. Like the Rosella Purple, Celeste can also extend your growing season, providing delicious tomatoes well into the cooler months.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the best cherry tomato for hot climates? The Sun Gold tomato is one of the best cherry tomatoes for hot climates due to its heat-set capabilities, allowing it to produce fruit well into the summer.
- Is Sun Sugar a better option than Sun Gold? While Sun Sugar offers better crack resistance and disease resistance, many gardeners, including myself, prefer the taste of Sun Gold.
- Which tomato variety is best for slicing? Big Beef is an excellent choice for slicing tomatoes. It produces large, consistent fruits that are perfect for sandwiches and salads.
- Can Brandy Boy tomatoes grow in hot and humid conditions? Yes, Brandy Boy is a hybrid heirloom that thrives in hot and humid climates, unlike its parent variety, the classic Brandywine.
- How do I prevent Rosella Purple tomatoes from succumbing to disease? Grow Rosella Purple in containers and keep it in a sheltered spot to avoid rain and humidity. This will help extend its growing season and prevent disease.
- Are determinate tomatoes better for small gardens? Yes, determinate varieties like Celeste are ideal for small gardens and containers due to their compact size and shorter growing season.
- What is the most disease-resistant tomato variety? Big Beef offers excellent disease resistance and is a reliable performer even in challenging conditions.
