Tomatoes to Grow in 2022
12 Award-Winning Tomato Varieties Worth a Try This Year in Your Garden
Looking for award-winning tomato varieties to grow this year? How about proven varieties of peppers, greens, squash, okra, melons, as well as pollinator-friendly flowering plants such as begonias and petunias? Give a listen to Episodes 168 and 169 of the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast.
In Episode 168, we chatted with Sacramento County Master Gardener and vegetable expert Gail Pothour. She and the other Master Gardeners there have been growing an array of All-America Selections winners for several years at the Fair Oaks Horticulture Center’s AAS Display Garden…along with some staff favorites. Not only are the vegetable varieties she mentions winners here in USDA Zone 9, but the majority of them are All-America Selections national winners, having proven their mettle in trial gardens from coast to coast.
In Episode 169, Diane Blazek, the Executive Director of the All-America Selections organization, lengthens this “you oughta grow this!” list considerably. In all, between the two episodes, we chatted about 45 different varieties of vegetables worth trying…and, my condolences to you if you were trying to jot them all down while driving.
And condolences to me for trying to fit all of them in to one newsletter. Last week we played “show and tell” about all the best pepper varieties to try in your garden. Today, it’s tomatoes. Next Friday, it will be the varieties of chard, lettuce, squash, eggplant, okra, melons and flowering plants that we talked about in those two podcasts.
Here, then, are the tomato varieties we mentioned (in alphabetical order), along with the usual effusive catalog and AAS descriptions, as well as personal thoughts on those varieties we mentioned that are not AAS Winners (yet). All of the AAS winners mentioned can be found at all-americaselections.org.
First, though…
The Tomato Dictionary.
Determinate: Tomato plants whose vines make little or no growth once fruit is set. Most of the fruit develops at the same time. A desirable trait for those wishing to can or process their crop.
Indeterminate: Vines keep producing new shoots, blossoms and fruit throughout the growing season.
V: A tomato variety with this letter listed after the name is resistant or tolerant to verticillium wilt.
F: Tolerance to fusarium wilt.
N: Nematode resistance.
T: resistance to tobacco mosaic virus.
F1: According to Wikipedia, F1 hybrid (also known as filial 1 hybrid) is usually reserved for agricultural cultivars derived from two parent cultivars. These F1 hybrids are usually created by means of controlled pollination, sometimes by hand pollination. F2 hybrids, the result of self or cross pollination of F1s, lack the consistency of F1s, though they may retain some desirable traits and can be produced more cheaply, because hand pollination or other interventions are not required. Some seed companies offer F2 seed at less cost, particularly in bedding plants, where consistency is less critical. (Don’t worry. This won’t be on the final exam.)
Tomatoes to Grow in 2022
Big Beef F1 Tomato
1994 AAS Edible – Vegetable Winner
“For over nineteen years, Big Beef has remained one of the most popular red tomatoes in North America. Almost foolproof, 8 to 12 ounce fruit can be harvested beginning about 73 days from transplanting into warm garden soil. Easy to grow from seed or plants is an understatement. The hybrid vigor is obvious from seedling size to vining plant. Big Beef began a trend toward multiple disease resistances packed into plant genes using old fashioned breeding techniques. Big Beef is resistant to Verticillium, Fusarium Race 1 & 2, Stemphylium, Tobacco Mosaic Virus, Nematode, and Alternaria Stem Canker.
Colen Wyatt, at Seminis Vegetable Seeds, was one of the most successful home garden vegetable plant breeders in the last half of the 20th century. He bred Big Beef, Celebrity and Husky Gold tomatoes, all very successful AAS Winners. In addition to tomatoes, he bred cucumbers, pumpkins, and winter squash. Early Butternut Squash was a 1979 AAS Winner bred by Colen. In 1998 AAS presented the prestigious Medallion of Honor to him for the abundance and superior quality of his vegetable introductions.”
https://all-americaselections.org/product/tomato-big-beef/
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Big Beef Plus tomato
(Not an AAS winner. Just new and interesting)
“New! An even better Big Beef.
One of the best-loved beefsteaks, now with improved flavor, color, and adaptability. Sweeter than the original, with added TSWV resistance for protection in warmer climates. Crimson gene lends a richer red internal color. Very similar in size, shape, and yield to Big Beef. High resistance to Alternaria stem canker, Fusarium crown and root rot, Fusarium wilt races 1 and 2, gray leaf spot, tomato mosaic virus, and Verticillium wilt; and intermediate resistance to nematodes and tomato spotted wilt virus. Indeterminate.”
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Blush Tiger Tomato
(from Baker Creek Seeds. Comparable to Sunset Torch)
“Indeterminate. A gorgeous saladette tomato that glitters and shines, with superb flavor to boot! Bred by Artisan Seeds, this 2-2.5 inch long cocktail-type tomato has become a standout favorite in our trials. The slightly crunchy texture, eye catching “blushed” color, and perfectly balanced, sugary flavor put it into a different class entirely. A gourmet choice for market gardeners or anyone with a hankering for a phenomenal tomato! One of the first tomatoes we eat out of the garden.” https://www.rareseeds.com/
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Tomato Buffalosun F1
2020 AAS Edible – Vegetable Winner
“All that an heirloom has to offer but better! Buffalosun shone in the trials with fruit that had a better texture than the comparisons (Margold and Striped German), a higher yield, and less cracking. This indeterminate tomato should be staked for best garden performance and you will be rewarded with fruits long into the season. The unique yellow with red/orange flame coloration is beautiful on the outside and results in a nicely marbled interior. Good tasting sweet, tender flesh gives the look of an heirloom without the mushiness often associated with heirlooms. Buffalosun also outlasted the comparisons when disease hit in late summer, notably thanks to its late blight resistance.”
Fun fact: Buffalosun exhibited “good locule development”. What’s a locule? That space between tomato sections where the seeds and gel are formed.
https://all-americaselections.org/product/tomato-buffalosun/
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Celebrity Tomato
1984 AAS Edible – Vegetable Winner
“Multiple disease resistance and hybrid vigor for strong, healthy plants and a harvest you can count on. It will produce under a broad range of conditions and is widely adaptable as a bush, cage, or short stake tomato. Celebrity is a mid-early determinate variety that starts producing in about 70 days from transplant. Its large, deep fruits are firm and exceptionally flavorful.”
https://all-americaselections.org/product/tomato-celebrity-hybrid/
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Celebrity Plus Hybrid Tomato
(Not an AAS winner. Just new and interesting)
“NEW! (VFFFNTASt TSWV) 70 days. Large, smooth 8 oz. fruits have an outstanding flavor. Widely adaptable for fresh markets and home gardens. PLUS it's highly resistant to Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus. Semi-determinate.”
https://www.totallytomato.com/product/T00195/87
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Tomato Chef’s Choice Green F1
2016 Edible – Vegetable Winner
“Looking for a uniquely colored yet delicious tomato with which to impress your foodie friends? Then look no further than this AAS Winner, Tomato Chef’s Choice Green F1. The newest addition to the Chef’s Choice series produces beautiful green colored fruits with subtle yellow stripes and a wonderful citrus-like flavor and perfect tomato texture. You’ll enjoy this disease-free plant throughout the season with its dark green leaves and well-behaved form. You’ll be the envy of all your tomato loving friends!”
https://all-americaselections.org/product/tomato-chefs-choice-green/
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Tomato Chef’s Choice Orange F1
2014 AAS Edible – Vegetable Winner
“Chef’s Choice Orange F1 is a hybrid derived from the popular heirloom Amana Orange which matures late in the season. Now you can experience the wonderful flavor of an orange heirloom tomato in only 75 days from transplant. Its disease resistance is an added bonus. Chef’s Choice Orange has a wonderfully bright, almost neon, internal color and superior flesh taste and texture for an early maturing orange tomato. Excellent for soups and sauces because the intense color does not fade or discolor when cooked. Home chefs are going to love cooking with this variety as well as eating it fresh.
Average size fruits are 12 ounces but can weigh up to 1 pound. Large 5-foot tall plants are indeterminate and the leaves cover fruit well to protect from sunburn.”
https://all-americaselections.org/product/tomato-chefs-choice-orange/
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Juliet Tomato
1999 AAS Edible – Vegetable Winner
“The one-ounce tomatoes are produced in clusters like grapes on the long vigorous indeterminate vines. The fruit shape is unusual, an elongated cherry type, easy to hold for cutting. The sweet flavor is welcome with glossy red skin. The improved quality is the crack resistance. Juliet tomatoes do not crack, waiting for your harvest. Grow several vines this summer or fall.”
https://all-americaselections.org/product/tomato-juliet/
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Lemon Boy Plus
New! A delicious yellow tomato.
“An updated version of the classic Lemon Boy tomato with added disease resistance and sweet, tangy flavor — a marked improvement over typical yellow tomatoes. The flattened-round, 7–8 oz. beefsteak fruits are consistent in size, shape, and quality with very few blemishes. A high-yielding variety with good firmness. Comprehensive disease package offers wide adaptability and keeps the plants healthy and the fruits clean. Can be harvested bright lemon-yellow to deeper golden-yellow when fruit exhibits light checking and a subtle blush at the blossom scar. Harvest a bit underripe if you prefer a more acidic flavor profile. High resistance to Alternaria stem canker, Fusarium crown and root rot, Fusarium wilt races 1–3, gray leaf spot, tomato mosaic virus, Verticillium wilt; and intermediate resistance to nematodes and leaf mold. Indeterminate.”
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Purple Zebra Tomato
2022 Edible – Vegetable Winner
“Purple Zebra tomato is a fun new addition to striped tomatoes, producing tomatoes that are rich with complex flavors and a moderately firm texture. Dark red fruits with green stripes and a deep mahogany red interior do not produce muddy coloration like other tomatoes of this type. The taste is sweet and acidic leaning to sweet. Overall, this tomato has a better taste and thinner skin than comparisons with excellent disease resistance. Judges in the know say this is a very marketable fruit for farmers’ market growers. High disease resistance to ToMV, Verticillium Wilt Va/Vd, Fusarium Wilt Race 1, Leaf Mold A-E, Late Blight PH2/PH3, and intermediate resistance to TYLCV and TSWV.” OMG! TMI.
https://all-americaselections.org/product/tomato-purple-zebra/
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Sunset Torch F1 Tomato (Regional West AAS Winner)
2022 AAS Edible-Vegetable Winner
“You might just carry a lifelong torch for this cute new tomato! Sunset Torch has strong, dramatic striping from stem to tip. This is a very vigorous grower and was the first to ripen in multiple regions. As one judge explains the appeal, “The open growth habit displays fruit that pleases the eye before reaching the mouth!” Overall better performance, less splitting, good yields, a mildly sweet, fruity flavor, and disease resistance make this cutie a winner. Sunset-colored fruits are produced on easy-to-harvest trusses. High disease resistance to ToMV, Verticillium Wilt Va/Vd, Fusarium Wilt Races 1 and 2 and intermediate resistance to TYLCV and TSWV.”
https://all-americaselections.org/product/tomato-sunset-torch/
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Fred Hoffman is also a University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardener in Sacramento County.
I was surprised that Celebrity merited mention here. I think it has a relatively large core that is inedible and thus have ceased to grow it. One of the most popular tomatoes at our Linden Garden Club plant sale is "Sun Gold" which is like eating tomato candy it is so sweet. If I had only one tomato to plant it would be 'Early Girl' which starts early and produces all season with very sweet tomatoes.