Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
There are probably more tomato cultivars available to the home gardener than any other garden vegetable. A few will be named here, but it's worthwhile talking to other local gardeners to find out what other cultivars do well in your area; or just experiment by trying one or two new cultivars each year.
When choosing cultivars, keep in mind the different ripening times of the fruit. Tomatoes are usually categorized as early, mid-season or late.
Another consideration is whether the tomato cultivar you choose is determinate or indeterminate in growth habit.
Determinate (D) tomato plants grow to a certain height and then stop. They also flower and set all their fruit within a relatively short period of time. This is an advantage if the tomatoes are being grown primarily for canning purposes.
Indeterminate tomato plants grow, flower, and set fruit over the entire growing season. Another characteristic to look for when choosing tomato cultivars is disease resistance.
Many cultivar names are followed by one or more letters indicating resistance to Verticillium wilt (V), Fusarium wilt (F), or nematodes (N). Verticillium or Fusarium wilt makes the foliage blight and then it wilts and plants whither and die.
Plant resistant varieties that are VFN resistant. Rotate planting location every year. Do not sprinkle late in the day.
Disease resistance can be an important consideration, especially if you have experienced these problems with tomatoes in the past.
Recommended varieties: Early: Glacier, Oregon Spring, Pixie Hybrid, Sub Arctic Max.
Cherry: Presto Hybrid, Sweet 100 Hybrid, Toy Boy Hybrid, Sweet Million Hybrid, Sun Sugar.
Medium size: Early Cascade Hybrid, Early Girl Hybrid, Fantastic.
Large size: Celebrity Hybrid, DX52 12 or Hamson, Jet Star Hybrid.
High solids: Roma, Royal Chico, Square Paste. Environmental conditions:
Light: Plant in sunniest part of the garden.
Temperature: Most varieties set less fruit when night time temperatures are below 60F. Excessive daytime temperatures (95F+) can inhibit fruit set.
Moisture: Thoroughly soak soil about once each week. Do not sprinkle late in the day. Mulch soil around plants with grass clippings or sawdust after the soil warms to maintain uniform moisture level.
Fertilization: Over fertilization causes excess foliage and delays fruit ripening. Put 3 to 4 tablespoons of 16 16 8 into a 6 in. deep hole about 4 in. to side of tomato transplant
Transplants should be dark green, stocky, 6 to 8 in. tall and have 7 to 9 leaves. Do not buy plants with fruit on them.
Plant extra plants to allow for diseased plants to be removed and still have enough healthy tomatoes for a plentiful harvest.
Larry Sagers
Horticultural Specialist
Utah State University Extension Service
Thanksgiving Point Office
© All Rights Reserved
