Tomatoes are one of those plants that just has a surprise around every corner. They are technically berry, but we know them as fruits. We know they are fruits, but we use them as vegetables. They’re sweet to the taste, but we use them in savory recipes.
Tomatoes seem like they are a contradiction to themselves, but they work so well with so many ingredients. The only thing people seem to agree about them on is that they are delicious!
Originally growing in Central and South America, these plants were grown and eaten by many of the native groups of people indigenous to the Americas before colonists from Europe introduced them to the rest of the world.
Since then, they’ve become a staple in a whole range of cuisines: Italian, Spanish, German, Indian, Middle Eastern, British, American. If you can think of it, chances are there’s at least one recipe of the cuisine that uses Tomatoes. That’s pretty impressive for a plant that was discovered by the rest of the world in the last few hundred years.
With this huge range of different peoples using this vegetable, it’s not too surprising that so many kinds of tomatoes have appeared over the years, or cultivars, to use the botanical term for them.
That’s why we’ve compiled this list of a whole range of different kinds of tomato plants for you. We’ll be discussing how the plants grow, where they were first grown, and what the tomatoes are like, of course!
Matt’s Wild Cherry Tomato
Starting off our list is Matt’s Cherry tomato. An older type of tomato, this variety was originally grown in Mexico, the seeds being purchased from a friend of their original cultivator, Dr Matt Liebman.
Being closely related to the less domesticated Mexican tomato, this plant shares a lot of features in common with its wild counterpart. They can grow very large and have a great tolerance against cold elements, which makes them an excellent plant to grow in your garden is located in a colder garden, where other tomato plants might struggle to thrive.
The tomatoes themselves are, as the names hint at, of the cherry variety, being about half an inch in size. They’re packed full of sweet and juicy goodness and pop when you bite into them. All great qualities for a cherry tomato to have.
Corazon Tomato
Going from one end of the tomato-size spectrum to the other, the Corazón tomato is another classic from the Central American region, which has become very popular in Italy and France in recent years.
Also known as a Beefsteak tomato, this unique vegetable does not yield as many fruits as its other, more commercial counterparts, and tends to spoil more quickly as well. This is probably why Beefsteak tomatoes make up 1% of tomato production if that. However, they are popular amongst home gardeners who have the time and patience to grow them in their gardens.
The reward for their extra patience speaks for itself; Corazón tomatoes are one of the largest types of tomatoes you can grow, with some of the biggest ones weighing almost a pound on their own! The ribbed, almost, pumpkin-looking skin that many older kinds of tomatoes have, allows for a rick, fleshy texture that goes well with any sort of tomato dish.
Sweet Million Cherry Tomato
A classic little vegetable at any dinner table, the Sweet Million is one of just a variety of Cherry tomato cultivars you can find from the United Kingdom, although, like many cherry tomatoes, their ancestors come from South America.
They have a very high yield, with as many as 50 fruits per truss that you grow! The main issue for them, however, is because of their compact nature when they grow, they are often at the risk of catching fungal infections, with such a dense amount of plant matter to hide and grow in.
Sweet Millions, being cherry tomatoes, are usually very small, very rarely reaching the size of a golf ball. Whilst not the sweetest of tomatoes, they are very juicy, making a popping sensation when they are bitten down in the mouth. They’re also a very round kind of tomato, although overwatering can cause them to split, spoiling that smooth outside that they are prized for.
Campari Tomato
Originally cultivated by the Enza Zaden company in Holland, Campari is a very recent breed of tomato, only being grown in the late 20th century. This plant can grow very tall, up to 7-8 feet in some cases.
They’re also a very resistant type of tomato, especially against diseases that would destroy other plants, and they grow when in most conditions too, provided that they are getting enough sunlight. For this breed of tomato, that’s about 6 hours of sunlight per day.
As for the tomatoes, Campari’s are very round, and are generally bigger than their cherry counterparts, but still being smaller than most other tomatoes, growing to about the size of a golf ball for the most part.
Also like cherry tomatoes, Campari is also packed with flavor, and is relatively low on calories too, with one Campari being as little as 16 calories. Great if you’re trying to cut down on your eating habits, but still want something sweet in your diet.
Roma Plum Tomato
A unique little example of this amazing fruit, Roma tomatoes are a popular kind of plum tomato, originally grown in Maryland in the United States, but now popular across the world, especially in Europe. They grow compactly on the plants, much like their cherry tomato relatives, producing a massive yield for their small size.
Like Cherry Tomatoes, this pear-shaped tomato is often packed with juices, and is also very sweet, with a slightly bitter aftertaste. Their shape makes them popular options for supermarkets, as they can be packaged well, They are also a popular kind of tomato to be caned, and make for excellent sauces.
Crimson Plum Tomato
Another variety of plum tomato, the Crimson Plum is a popular variety grown in the UK, where it is equally comfortable being grown outdoors, or in a greenhouse. The plants usually grow from 5-7 feet tall, with a fairly narrow spread. Being bred to be blight-resistant, it is a popular choice for people who are just starting to learn how to garden vegetables.
Like many other smaller types of tomatoes, Crimson Plums are compact, sweet, and full of juice. They’re popular in many salads and dishes. Crimson Plums can also be harvested for a good portion of summer and early fall.
Brandywine Tomato
Going back to the larger variety of tomatoes, Brandywine tomatoes are considered an heirloom cultivar across the world. This means that they are both an old variety of tomatoes, and are quite likely an ancestor of many of the different kinds of tomatoes you see around today.
The plant of the Brandywine tomato looks very similar to a potato plant, only it grows to over 9 feet tall! Plus, with a cultivation time of up to 100 days, it is probably one of the slowest tomato plants to grow to maturity.
However, the fruit it gives makes it all worthwhile. They are huge by tomato standards, with a single one growing as large as /12 pounds! In a single tomato! Plus, they are considered to be one of the best-tasting tomatoes you can find out there. Small wonder that they’re so popular, even if they can be a handful to grow and care for. Still, for those dedicated enough, there are some serious rewards to growing this king of the tomato family.
Better Boy Tomato
Probably the greatest example of a classic tomato, better boys are one of the most popular kinds grown and eaten in the United States. With their resistance to many kinds of diseases, their large leaves protecting them from sunlight damage, and large yield, it’s no wonder they are so popular with gardeners and sellers alike.
Plus, this 5-8 foot tall plant is resistant to a lot of different soil conditions and ripens in s little as 72 days. Just make sure you’re planting it after the snowing season!
Being a larger tomato, the texture of a Better Boy Tomato makes it great to be used in salads and sandwiches alike. It’s the balance of sugar and acid that gives it that classic tomato flavor. If you’re looking for a vegetable to put in your salad, you can’t go wrong with this titan of the tomato world.
Plants have always been a big interest of mine, and I’ve always wanted to learn more about the different types of species. I have gained a vast knowledge of the subject over the years, and I have decided to share this information with others.
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