There are so many wonderful tomato varieties out there that it can be difficult to know which to choose. From tiny yellow cherry tomatoes to gargantuan beefsteaks, there’s something for every taste and preference. In this post, we’ll be exploring some of the very finest varieties to help you come to a decision.

If you’re pressed for time, then here’s what you need to know: ‘Sungold’ are our choice of cherry toms for eating fresh off the vine, ‘Roma’ tomatoes make the best sauces and purees, while ‘Brandywine’ tomatoes work exceptionally when sliced and used in Caprese salads.

Jump to:

• Which tomato varieties are best overall?
• What types of tomatoes are best for beginners and children?
• What tomato is best for pots and hanging baskets?
• What tomato is best for growbags?
• What is the best cordon tomato?
• What is the largest tomato variety?
• What is the best heirloom tomato?
• Which tomato variety is sweetest?
• Tips for growing tomatoes

Which tomato varieties are best overall?

While it’s hard to list a single ‘best’ tomato variety, given the inherently subjective nature of taste, there are certainly a few that spring to mind that combine both superb flavour with other attractive attributes, such as productivity and disease resistance, for instance.

‘Sungold’

With its fantastic sweet flavour and plump juiciness, ‘Sungold’ is an RHS-award-winning variety with real star quality. Add to that the impressive yields and resistance to common tomato problems like tobacco mosaic virus, and you begin to see just why this variety is so many people’s pick when it comes to their favourite cherry tomato.

‘Roma’

A classic Italian variety, ‘Roma’ is arguably the most popular plum tomato, and with good reason. It’s the typical choice when it comes to canning and pureeing, thanks to the lower water content of the fruit, and delivers satisfying yields from its neat framework. Suitable for the open ground, growbags and containers, this dependable little tomato deserves a role in any garden.

‘Brandywine’

As far as heirloom varieties go, ‘Brandywine’ is up there with the very best. Reportedly of Amish origins – though this might well be more urban legend than genuine fact – ‘Brandywine’ is a meaty beefsteak tomato with real oomph. Weighing up to 700g each, these heavy hitters deliver big on both flavour and yield. Why choose quality over quantity when you can have both?

What types of tomatoes are best for beginners and children?

‘Tigerella’

With their distinctive stripy appearance, easy-to-grow ‘Tigerella’ tomatoes are, unsurprisingly, a big hit with both children and adults alike! Suited to growing in cooler conditions and a variety of soils, ‘Tigerella’ salad tomatoes are sweet and juicy, have a pleasant texture and are typically produced in decent quantities. Most importantly, they look like a tiger – who doesn’t want that?

What tomato plant is best for pots and hanging baskets?

‘Tumbling Tom Red’

A relatively compact trailing cherry variety, ‘Tumbling Tom Red’ is the ideal variety for growing in pots and hanging baskets, producing countless little cherry tomatoes from the middle of summer onwards. Why not get a pair of hanging baskets? That way, you can plant ‘Tumbling Tom Red’ in one and its yellow sibling, ‘Tumbling Tom Yellow’ in the other!

What is the best tomato plant for growbags?

‘Tumbling Tom Yellow’

The best tomatoes for growbags are those that remain relatively compact. That means bush, rather than cordon tomatoes, are the way to go – and ‘Tumbling Tom Yellow’, like its red-skinned brother, is well-suited to growing in pots, hanging baskets and any other containers – and what is a growbag at the end of the day, if not a single-use container?

What is the best cordon tomato?

‘Gardener’s Delight’

Cordon tomatoes (also known as indeterminate tomatoes) differ from bush (determinate) tomatoes in that they grow taller and require staking. ‘Gardener’s Delight’ is a variety with real pedigree, having been a firm favourite here in the UK since the 1870s. Reliably producing lengthy trusses of cherry tomatoes, ‘Gardener’s Delight’ is a doddle to grow and delicious, too.

Which tomato variety is largest?

‘Beefmaster’

Beefsteak varieties are typically the largest tomatoes; we’re particularly fond of ‘Beefmaster’ here at Roots, whose tomatoes can come in at a whopping 1kg per tomato. Both disease and split-resistant, as well as being reliably productive and an Award of Garden Merit recipient, ‘Beefmaster’ reasserts the notion that sometimes – just sometimes – bigger does equal better.

What heirloom tomato variety is best?

‘Peardrop’

Having been brought over to Europe in the 1800s, pear-shaped tomatoes have been popular ever since. Delightfully shaped and seriously tasty to boot, these little yellow gems have a fabulous flavour profile, pairing sweetness with acidity, and make for an excellent lunchbox snack. Despite its relatively diminutive size, it produces impressive yields, too.

Which tomato variety is sweetest?

‘Supersweet’

The clue’s in the name! Is it objectively sweeter than all the other tomatoes? Well, we’ve not gone around and done scientific research or anything, but trust us, when you bite into a ‘Supersweet’ tomato, you’ll know it’s been named appropriately! An ‘F1 hybrid’ variety, ‘Supersweet’ tomatoes are more vigorous, healthier and less susceptible to pests and diseases.

Tips for growing tomatoes

Tomato plants like moist but well-drained soil and a spot somewhere nice and sunny (at least six hours of direct sunlight per day). Bush tomatoes are compact and don’t require support, while cordon tomatoes are larger and need staking. If growing in a container or growbag, a multipurpose compost will suffice nicely, while garden soil can be enriched/have its drainage improved by amending with well-rotted compost.

Plant companion plants such as marigolds and tagetes in close proximity to your tomato(es) to ward off pests like aphids, and make sure to feed with liquid tomato feed throughout the growing season. For more detailed growing guidance, as well as tips on when and how to prune for maximum results, check out our tomato growing guide!

Final thoughts

So, there you have it! All the tomatoes you could ever possibly want, just waiting for you to go and grow. Whether you’re a newbie to growing fruit and vegetables, or a seasoned veteran of the horticultural scene, growing tomatoes is a must. All of our tomato plants are lovingly grown on the nursery using the best methods, and sent to you at the perfect time for planting. What’s not to like?