Nutritious and versatile fruit tomatoes offer many health benefits. There are more than 3000 tomato species including many that are important economically. Here we will discuss the best tomatoes to grow commercially. The list of health benefits of tomatoes is huge.
Tomatoes are rich in antioxidants, including vitamin C and lycopene, which can help protect against cellular damage and reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease.
Tomatoes contain high levels of potassium, which is important for maintaining healthy blood pressure levels and reducing the risk of heart disease.
Tomatoes are high in fiber, which can help promote healthy digestion and prevent constipation, and may reduce the risk of certain cancers, helping to promote healthy skin.
It not only boosts eye health but also supports a healthy immune system. It’s important to note that while tomatoes can be a healthy part of a balanced diet, it’s still important to eat a variety of different fruits and vegetables in order to get a full range of nutrients.
Table of Contents
Best Tomatoes to Grow Commercially
1. Tomato ‘Incas’
The Inca tomato is a hybrid variety of tomatoes with a round shape, a bright red color, and thick skin.
It is a determinate variety, meaning it will produce all of its fruit at once and then stop growing.
The Inca tomato typically matures in 65-75 days after transplanting and can produce an average of 50-60 fruits per plant.
The average size and weight of an Inca tomato are approximately 2-3 ounces and 2-3 inches in diameter.
Its thick skin and firm texture make it ideal for canning and preserving. The Inca tomato is an excellent choice for gardeners who want to enjoy fresh tomatoes throughout the season.
2. Tomato ‘Ildi’
The Ildi tomato is a small, yellow-orange heirloom variety of tomatoes that is known for its sweet flavor and high sugar content.
It is a determinate variety, meaning it grows to a certain height and then stops growing.
The plant form is an upright, bushy plant with small leaves and short internodes. The fruit form is round and slightly ribbed, with a thin skin and firm flesh.
It is typically ready to harvest in 70 to 80 days. On average, each plant will produce around 35 fruits, with each fruit weighing an average of 30-50 grams.
The Ildi tomato is particularly suited for fresh eating, in salads, and in sauces. Its flavor is sweet and tangy, with a slight citrus-like aftertaste.
3. Tomato ‘Costoluto Fiorentino’
Costoluto Fiorentino is a traditional heirloom tomato variety with a unique and flavorful taste.
It is an indeterminate variety, meaning that it will continue to grow and produce fruit until the first frost. This variety produces either red or yellow fruits depending on the ripeness.
The fruits have a distinctive ribbed, fluted shape, and range in size from 1-2 inches in diameter. They have a sweet and tart flavor; some describe them as having a sweet and lemony taste.
The fruits are usually ready to harvest after 75-85 days. On average, each plant produces 40-45 fruits, although it can produce more in optimal conditions.
The average weight of each fruit is 2-4 ounces. Costoluto Fiorentino is a great addition to any garden, providing a sweet and juicy treat that is sure to please.
4. Tomato ‘Astro Ibrido’
Astro Ibrido is an indeterminate tomato variety, meaning it will produce fruits and foliage throughout the growing season.
It is a vigorous variety, with an open plant form and wispy foliage. The fruits are oblong and slightly ribbed, with a deep red color and thick, firm flesh.
It matures in about 80 days and yields an average of 50-60 fruits per plant. Each fruit averages 4-5 ounces in weight.
This variety is known for its sweet flavor and low acidity, making it a great choice for salads, sauces, and sandwiches. It is also resistant to many common tomato diseases, such as fusarium wilt and verticillium wilt.
5. Tomato ‘Rio Grande’
The Rio Grande is an indeterminate tomato variety that produces large, red, juicy fruits with an excellent flavor.
These tomatoes are well-suited for slicing and canning. The plants grow to a medium height and have an open, sprawling form. The fruits are typically round and can weigh up to 8 ounces.
On average, a plant can produce around 40-50 fruits, depending on the growing conditions.
Rio Grande tomatoes usually reach maturity in 70-75 days after transplanting. They are an excellent choice for gardeners in areas with a long growing season.
The fruits are typically juicy, sweet, and low in acid. They are also an excellent source of vitamins A and C, as well as lycopene.
6. Tomato ‘Tigerella’
Tigerella is an heirloom tomato variety that is known for its distinctive red and yellow stripes.
It is a determinate plant with a compact, bushy form and grows to a height of around 90 cm (3 ft).
The fruits are medium-sized and round with a weight of around 80-90 g (2.8-3.2 oz). Maturity takes around 75 days after transplanting.
On average, you can expect to get around 50-70 fruits per plant. Tigerella tomatoes are known for their sweet, tart flavor, and they make an excellent addition to salads and sandwiches.
7. Tomato ‘Super Sweet 100’
Super Sweet 100 is a hybrid tomato variety. It is a vining plant with a determinate growth habit, meaning the plant stops growing after it reaches a certain height.
The fruit form is globe-shaped, and the fruit reaches maturity 65-75 days after planting. Each plant produces an average of 100 tomatoes.
The average fruit size is 1-2 ounces, with some reaching up to 4 ounces. The tomatoes have a sweet flavor and contain high levels of sugar, which is why they are known as Super Sweet 100.
8. Tomato ‘Red Alert’
Red Alert is an indeterminate, heirloom tomato variety that produces large, round, deep red tomatoes. The plants are vigorous and have good leaf cover.
The fruit is juicy and sweet with a mild flavor. Red Alert tomatoes typically mature in 75-85 days and produce an average of 30-40 tomatoes per plant.
The average size and weight of a Red Alert tomato are about 4-8 ounces and 2-3 inches in diameter.
Red Alert tomatoes are great for slicing, salads, and sandwiches. They are also an excellent choice for canning or making sauces.
9. Tomato ‘Gardeners’ Delight’
Gardener’s Delight is a popular determinate variety of tomatoes known for its sweet, juicy flavor.
This variety produces abundant small, round, red fruits about 2 cm in diameter. It is an early producer and reaches maturity in around 65 days.
On average, each plant produces around 60-65 fruits. The average weight of each fruit is approximately 20-25 grams.
This variety is easy to grow, disease-resistant, and can thrive in both hot and cold climates. Gardeners’ Delight is perfect for eating fresh, canning, and making sauces. It is also a great choice for container gardening.
10. Tomato ‘Moneymaker’
Moneymaker tomato is an old heirloom variety that is widely acclaimed for its sweet flavor and high yields.
It is an indeterminate variety, meaning it will continue to produce fruit over a long growing season.
The fruits are round and medium-sized, usually weighing between 4-6 ounces. Moneymaker tomatoes are usually ready to harvest in about 80-85 days from planting.
On average, each plant will produce about 50-60 tomatoes. The fruits have a bright red color and a sweet, juicy flavor.
Moneymaker tomatoes make an excellent choice for canning, as their firm texture makes them well-suited for the task.
11. Tomato ‘Sungold’ AGM
Sungold AGM tomato is an indeterminate variety of tomatoes that is widely known for its sweet flavor and golden-orange color.
The plant itself is an indeterminate variety, meaning that it will continue to produce fruit until it is killed off by frost or disease.
The fruit form is round to slightly oval, with a deep orange color. The days to maturity for Sungold AGM tomato is about 70-80 days from transplant.
The average fruit per plant is about 50-60, depending on the vigor of the plant. The average fruit size ranges from about 2-4 inches, and it weighs about 2-4 ounces.
Sungold AGM tomatoes are perfect for salads, sandwiches, and sauces due to the sweet flavor and juicy texture that they offer.
12. Tomato ‘Tumbling Tom’
Tumbling Tom tomato is a determinate variety of tomatoes, meaning that it produces one large crop of tomatoes instead of multiple harvests.
The plants are bushy and will spread out, growing to a height of around 30-45cm. The fruits are small to medium-sized, weighing around 28-50g, and have a bright red color when ripe.
They are very juicy and have a mildly sweet flavor. The maturity time for Tumbling Tom tomatoes is around 65-70 days.
On average, each plant can produce around 40-50 tomatoes, although this can vary depending on the growing conditions. This variety of tomatoes is great for container gardening, as it is easy to manage and produces a good yield.
13. Tomato ‘Ailsa Craig’
Ailsa Craig is a variety of tomatoes that was introduced to the United Kingdom in 1887. It is a large, beefsteak-type tomato with an average fruit size of 8 ounces. This variety is highly sought after due to its sweet and juicy flavor.
Ailsa Craig tomatoes are an indeterminate variety, meaning they will keep growing and producing fruit until the first frost. Each plant can produce up to 20 tomatoes, depending on the size of the plant.
Ailsa Craig tomatoes usually take between 80 and 90 days to reach maturity. On average, each Ailsa Craig tomato weighs 8 ounces.
They have a deep red color with green shoulders and are firm and juicy. The flesh of the tomato is thick and meaty, and the flavor is sweet and slightly acidic.
14. Tomato ‘Shirley’ AGM
Shirley AGM tomato is an indeterminate, vining variety with large, red-orange, smooth-skinned fruits. It is an early maturing variety with days to maturity of around 68 days.
On average, one Shirley AGM tomato plant can produce up to 40-50 fruits with an average weight of 130-150 grams per fruit. This variety of tomatoes is juicy, sweet, and flavorful, making it a favorite for gardeners and cooks.
Its disease resistance is also quite high, making it a great choice for gardeners in areas prone to disease. In addition, it is also resistant to cracking and splitting, making it an ideal choice for gardeners who are looking for a reliable, high-yielding, and tasty tomato variety.
15. Tomato ‘Marmande’ AGM
Marmande AGM tomato is a classic French heirloom variety with a delicious flavor and a deep red color.
It is an indeterminate type of tomato, meaning it will keep producing fruit throughout the season until the first frost. The plants are vigorous and can reach up to a height of 1.8m (6ft) with regular pruning and staking.
The fruits are large, typically reaching up to 150g (5oz) and have a flattened globe shape with a deep red color.
On average, each plant produces 40-50 fruits and takes around 75 days to reach maturity. Marmande AGM is perfect for slicing and has a sweet, rich flavor that is ideal for salads and sauces.
16. Tomato ‘Golden Sunrise’ AGM
Golden Sunrise AGM tomato is an indeterminate variety with vigorous growth and a high yield. It produces large, bright yellow, globe-shaped fruits with a pleasant flavor.
The average fruit weight is around 70g, and the average fruit size is about 10cm in diameter. The plants can reach up to 2m in height and will require staking or caging support.
Golden Sunrise AGM tomatoes typically mature in approximately 75-85 days after transplanting and will produce around 30-42 fruits per plant.
They are best suited for greenhouse or outdoor cultivation and are resistant to late blight and verticillium wilt. This variety can be harvested when the fruits are still slightly green and allowed to ripen off the vine.
17. Tomato ‘Rosada’
Rosada tomato is a variety of tomato which is widely grown in warm climates.
It is a determinate plant that grows to a height of 24-36 inches and has a spread of 24-36 inches.
The fruit form of the Rosada tomato is round and deep pink in color. It takes around 75-80 days to reach maturity and can yield up to 45-50 tomatoes per plant.
The average size of the Rosada tomato is 4-6 ounces and the average weight is between 3-4 ounces. The flesh is firm, sweet, and juicy and is ideal for salads, sandwiches, and sauces.
18. Tomato ‘Black Russian’
The Black Russian tomato is an heirloom variety of tomatoes. It is an heirloom variety that dates back to the early 1900s and is believed to have originated in Russia.
It is an indeterminate variety that grows to a height of 6 feet and produces an abundance of dark red, juicy fruits.
The fruit form is round and slightly flattened, with deep, rich flesh and a distinctively smoky flavor. It is a late variety that typically takes 65-75 days to reach maturity.
On average, each plant produces 50-62 tomatoes with an average fruit size of 5-8 ounces each. The average weight for a single Black Russian tomato is about 5 ounces.
This variety is known for its excellent flavor and is a popular choice for salads and sandwiches.
19. Tomato ‘Orange Santa’
Orange Santa tomato is a popular heirloom variety of tomatoes that produces large, round, red fruits.
It is a determinate plant, meaning it will only grow to a certain height before producing flowers and fruit. It has an indeterminate growing season and typically takes around 70-80 days to reach maturity.
On average, each plant will produce 20-30 fruits, each of which can grow to weigh around 12-14 ounces.
The tomatoes have a mild, sweet flavor and are great for slicing and salads. They can also be used for canning and preserving.
20. Tomato ‘Black Cherry’
Black Cherry tomatoes are a type of cherry tomato that is known for their sweet and tart taste.
They are a determinate variety, meaning that they are bush-type plants that will only grow to a certain height and will not require staking or pruning.
The fruits are round and typically 1-2 cm in diameter. The average number of fruits per plant is around 50-60.
The days to maturity are around 55-70 days, depending on the season and the region. The average weight of a single fruit is around 8-10 grams.
These tomatoes are perfect for salads, sandwiches, or eating fresh out of the garden. They are also a great source of Vitamin C and Vitamin A.
The best type of tomato to grow commercially will depend on several factors, including the region’s climate, market demand, and the intended use of the tomatoes. Here are some examples of tomato varieties that are well-suited to specific regions.
Beefsteak tomatoes are best suited to regions with hot summers, such as the southern United States, Mexico, and Central America, Roma tomatoes are for the Mediterranean and parts of the United States, including California, Arizona, and Florida.
Cherry tomatoes are a good choice for farmers in areas with shorter growing seasons. Ultimately, the best type of tomato to grow commercially will depend on a variety of factors, and it’s important to research the local market and growing conditions before selecting a variety. So which one do you want to cultivate?
