Home gardening is a hobby that’s fast making a comeback.
Growing, harvesting, and preserving one’s food takes quite a bit of time, but can be just as exciting as other activities.
Being able to eat tomatoes from one’s backyard, for instance, is a pleasure only home gardeners have.
Tomatoes are a popular plant to grow at home because they are ingredients included in tons of recipes.
However, choosing to grow tomatoes at home isn’t as easy as heading to the local grocery store and picking the first pack of tomato seeds on the shelf.
There are hundreds of tomato varieties, and not all of them may be right for one’s garden.
Some of the factors home gardeners should consider before choosing which tomatoes to grow are the varieties disease resistance, shelf life, and preferred climate.
The following are the top five tomato varieties grown at home.
1. Celebrity Tomato
The Tomato Celebrity hybrid was named the 1984 All-America Selections Edible – Vegetable winner because of its decent harvest and multiple disease resistance.
It doesn’t require much maintenance and thrives in various conditions.
The plant can grow up to 10 feet tall but usually measures just 3 feet, bearing medium to large fruits after around 70 days.
Once harvested, the tomatoes can be used in sauces and other recipes.
2. Black Cherry Tomato
Black cherry tomatoes are bite-sized, black tomatoes that are small but grow in large quantities.
The plants mature after around 64 days, after which, their sweet taste can complement dishes such as barbecues and salads.
The plant can grow up to 8 feet tall, so gardeners usually have black cherry tomatoes grow in cages.
3. Chocolate Stripes Tomato
Chocolate stripes tomatoes were given their name due to their brown or orange stripes.
It’s a kind of heirloom tomato that needs to be under direct sunlight for several hours a day.
Without enough sunlight, the plant may not bear any fruit after a regular period of 80 days.
One tomato can weigh up to one pound and can be used in salads, sandwiches, or salsa.
4. Beefsteak Tomato
Beefsteak tomatoes are large fruits with thick flesh.
Because of their size, growing beefsteak tomatoes require stable and substantial support structures such as cages.
Once planted, the tomatoes take around 85 days until they are fully mature.
Each fruit weighs around 1 pound.
There are different varieties of beefsteak tomatoes, with some producing even more abundant fruits and others more popular in different climates.
The plant itself can grow up to 8 feet tall.
5. Brandywine Tomato
These large, red tomatoes are known for their taste and colossal size.
Though it takes longer to grow Brandywine tomatoes (around 100 days) and don’t always look the best, they are favored by home gardeners because they’re flavorful and sweet.
Unfortunately, Brandywine tomatoes don’t last very long, so they should be eaten soon after they have matured.
Beginners shouldn’t feel discouraged if their crops aren’t successful.
Sometimes it takes years for gardeners to perfect their harvest.
