Best Tomatoes to Grow for Every Garden

Why Choosing the Right Tomato Variety Matters

When I first started growing tomatoes, I thought a tomato was just… well, a tomato. But after a few seasons of trial and error, I realized how wrong I was. Picking the best tomatoes to grow depends so much on what you’re actually going to use them for. Want juicy slices for burgers? That’s one kind. Need something that holds up in a rich pasta sauce? That’s another. Some even thrive in small pots, while others need a ton of space and sun.

The point is, every tomato variety has its own flavor, size, growing habit, and sunlight needs. Some mature quickly, others take their sweet time. So don’t just grab the first seed packet you see—this decision can truly make or break your tomato-growing season.

If you’re still working on your garden layout or your soil isn’t quite right yet, I’d recommend checking out how to prepare soil for tomatoes the right way 🌱. You’ll want to set the stage before you even think about planting.

Best Tomatoes to Grow for Fresh Eating & Salads

Let’s kick things off with the tomatoes I reach for when I just want a fresh snack, a summer salad, or something to toss in a wrap. The flavor here is everything—sweetness, tang, and that juicy crunch that screams “homegrown.”

1. Sun Sugar Cherry – These are my go-to cherry tomatoes. They’re bright orange, super sweet, and honestly, I eat half of them before they even make it to the kitchen.
2. Juliet – A little bigger than most cherries, and they’re shaped more like mini romas. They’re super productive and hold up well even in the heat.
3. Chadwick Cherry – This variety has old-school flavor and does especially well if you’ve got good drainage and full sun.
4. Brandywine (for a slicer-salad crossover) – Huge, meaty tomatoes with rich flavor. Not as disease-resistant as others, but worth every bite.

If you’re growing in containers or a small raised bed, don’t worry—you can still get amazing flavor. I’ve had great success using these heavy-duty tomato cages and grow bags 🪴. They support the plants well and keep airflow nice and balanced.

Best Tomatoes to Grow for Rich, Hearty Flavor

When I’m in the mood for a tomato that packs a punch—one that tastes like summer with every bite—I reach for these richer, bolder varieties. These are perfect for sandwiches, burgers, or just thick slices with a sprinkle of salt and pepper.

1. Beefsteak – This is the heavyweight champ. Enormous size, super meaty, and packed with deep, classic tomato flavor. If you’ve got the space and sunlight, this one delivers.
2. Better Boy – One of my longtime favorites. It’s dependable, has a full flavor profile, and resists common tomato diseases. It’s kind of my garden’s safety net.
3. Big Beef – Slightly faster to mature than Beefsteak but still gives that meaty goodness. It’s a winner if you want large fruit with fewer issues.
4. Cherokee Purple – If you want an heirloom with a smoky, rich taste, this is it. It’s beautiful too—purple-reddish skin with green shoulders and a marbled interior.

If you’re wondering whether your soil can handle these larger varieties, I’d suggest running a quick check with this easy-to-use soil pH & nitrogen test kit 🌿. The right nutrient balance makes a noticeable difference in flavor and size.

Best Tomatoes for Canning and Saucing

Some tomatoes were just made for sauce—and these are the ones I go back to every canning season. They’re thicker, lower in moisture, and don’t get watery when cooked down. If you’re stocking up for the winter or planning to make big batches of marinara, these varieties are perfect.

1. Roma – Classic paste tomato. Small, oval-shaped, low seed count, and ideal for thick sauces.
2. San Marzano – Italy’s pride and joy. Grows beautifully even here and gives that old-world tomato flavor every cook dreams about.
3. Amish Paste – This heirloom variety is sweet, thick, and perfect for both sauces and salsas. It’s a bit more delicate to grow, but it rewards you well.
4. Ace 55 & Celebrity – These are more rounded but still firm and perfect for canning. Plus, they tend to resist splitting which helps when you’re harvesting big batches.

If you’re doing container gardening for your sauce tomatoes, don’t miss the best soil mixture I’ve used in containers 🍅. It’s made all the difference in my yield.

Sweetest-Tasting Cherry Tomatoes to Grow

If you love popping tomatoes straight off the vine into your mouth (guilty!), cherry varieties are your go-to. They’re low maintenance, super productive, and kids love them too.

1. Sun Sugar Cherry – This is hands-down my favorite cherry tomato. It’s bright orange, super sweet, and hardly ever cracks. Once you grow it, you’ll never skip it again.
2. Chadwick Cherry – An heirloom variety with a fuller, balanced flavor. A little bigger than your average cherry but totally worth the space.
3. Juliet – This is more like a small Roma, but it grows in clusters like a cherry. It’s sweet, versatile, and perfect for salads or quick roasting.
4. Moscow – A lesser-known gem, but really reliable and packed with sweetness. It ripens fast and produces like crazy.

Growing these in containers? You’ll want sturdy support—check out these tomato cages with grow bags 🍃. They’re tall enough to handle the vigorous cherry varieties without tipping over.

Tomatoes for Fresh Eating, Slicing, and Sandwiches

There’s nothing quite like a big, juicy tomato slice sliding off the side of your burger. For that perfect slice, these tomatoes shine in the fresh eating category.

1. Brandywine – This heirloom is famous for a reason. Huge, pink-red fruit with rich, old-fashioned flavor. Not the easiest to grow, but the reward is unbeatable.
2. Jet Star – A great hybrid if you want dependable yields and smooth, crack-free fruit. It’s less acidic too, so it’s easy on sensitive stomachs.
3. Better Boy & Big Boy – These are always safe picks for consistent results. Flavorful, juicy, and big enough to cover your entire sandwich.
4. Bush Goliath – If you don’t have much space, this determinate plant stays compact and still gives you generous-sized fruit with sweet flavor.

If you’re new to growing in containers or limited on space, you might like these 10-gallon grow bags 🪴—they work surprisingly well for slicing varieties too.

Tomatoes with Rich, Bold Flavor for Cooking or Sauces

If you’re after tomatoes that bring a deep, robust flavor—ideal for sauces or simmered dishes—these varieties are your go-to. I keep a few of these planted every year just for weekend cooking.

1. Beefsteak – The classic. Huge, meaty, and packed with rich flavor. I slice these for grilling or toss them into chunky tomato stews. Just be sure to give them full sun and solid support.
2. Better Boy – Yup, it’s on this list again—because it does it all. You can use it fresh, cooked, or canned. The flavor holds up even when roasted.
3. Big Beef – A high-yielding hybrid that brings together heirloom taste with modern disease resistance. If you’ve had trouble with disease before, this one’s worth a try.
4. Cherokee Purple – A beautiful heirloom with deep purplish skin and an earthy, almost smoky flavor. Not the prettiest, but the taste makes up for it big time.

Rich-flavored tomatoes thrive in well-balanced soil. If you’re unsure about your mix, check out this guide to the best tomato soil mix for containers 🌱.

Best Tomatoes for Canning and Preserving

I like to keep tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and even salsa on hand year-round, and these are the varieties I turn to when it’s time to fire up the canner.

1. San Marzano – Probably the most famous sauce tomato out there. Long, firm, and low in seeds. If you’re making marinara or pizza sauce, this is your guy.
2. Roma – The standard paste tomato. Not flashy, but reliable. You’ll get tons of fruit from a few plants, and they’re easy to process.
3. Amish Paste – Another heirloom favorite with excellent flavor. Bigger than Roma and more moisture, but still great for canning or roasting.
4. Celebrity – This hybrid is kind of a jack-of-all-trades, but its uniform fruit and low water content make it a strong contender for preserving.
5. Ace 55 – Low-acid and firm, making it ideal for people who want a smoother tomato product. Plus, it resists cracking during hot, dry spells.

If you’re planning to grow several of these for canning, consider investing in a larger growing area—a metal raised bed like this one 🛠️ makes it easier to manage multiple plants in one organized space.

What Tomatoes Can I Grow in Hanging Baskets?

Not everyone has room for a big garden—trust me, I’ve been there. If you’re short on space, there are some surprisingly great tomato varieties that do well in hanging baskets or containers.

1. Tiny Tim – This dwarf cherry tomato is one of the best choices for baskets. It grows just a foot tall and still produces a decent crop.
2. Tumbling Tom – Like the name says, this one “tumbles” out of the basket, producing small, sweet cherry tomatoes all season long.
3. Red Robin – A favorite of container growers, this compact plant gives lots of fruit with minimal maintenance.

Make sure you use a quality container—these 10-gallon grow bags 🧺 work even for small spaces and help with drainage and root health.

Companion Plants That Help Tomatoes Thrive

When I first started growing tomatoes, I focused only on the tomatoes themselves. But adding a few companion plantsnearby made a noticeable difference.

1. Basil – It’s not just for the kitchen. Basil can actually help repel insects that mess with tomatoes.
2. Marigolds – These bright flowers keep nematodes and aphids at bay, and they look great in the garden.
3. Garlic or Chives – The smell helps deter pests like spider mites and whiteflies.

Planting smart companions can boost growth and protect your crop. If your tomatoes are showing signs of stress or discoloration, it might be a soil issue—check out this post about tomato leaves turning white 🥀 to fix the root of the problem early.

So, What Tomatoes Should You Grow?

The answer really depends on how you’ll use them—fresh eating, canning, sauces, or growing in small spaces. I recommend trying at least two to three types, even if you’re new to this. Tomatoes aren’t one-size-fits-all, and tasting the difference between a Sun Sugar cherry and a Brandywine slicer is part of the fun.

And before you plant, make sure you’re using the right soil—this is the mix I swear by 🧪. It’ll save you from a lot of frustration.

Want to go deeper into prep? I wrote a full guide on how to prepare your soil for tomatoes the right way 🌱, especially useful if you’re starting from scratch this season.