Tomato Types Aplenty

tomatotypes1

When deciding which tomato types to plant, there are lots of different things to consider.  Most people are surprised to find that there are so many different species and varieties of tomato out there.  Things to consider range from climate, to pest and disease resistance, to taste.  You can simplify all of this information and decide which tomato is right for you with just a basic understanding of how tomato species are broken down.

The basic classification of tomatoes includes two types, determinate and indeterminate.  A determinate tomato is produced on a plant of the “bush” type, which grows to a certain height then stops.  Its entire tomato crop is harvested and ripened within a short period of time, usually around two weeks.  After its bounty is picked, the plant won’t produce any more tomatoes.  These plants are easier to care for as they don’t require much staking, and the bushes don’t need to be pruned.  These plants are great for people who want to jar their tomatoes or make sauces.

The second type of plant is known as an indeterminate.  These are also called “vine” plants because they continue to growing to greater heights than determinates.  Unlike its cousin, the indeterminate plant continues to bear fruit throughout the growing season until it succumbs to the first frost.  These tomato types require more care in the form of staking or caging the plants, and periodically pruning them.  If you prefer to enjoy fresh tomatoes all summer long, this is the plant for you.

As if that isn’t enough to consider, there is yet another breakdown in tomato types, heirloom and hybrid.  I’m sure you’ve heard the term heirloom, but do you know what it means?  It is a tomato seed that has been passed down generation to generation, not having been cross pollinated with any other tomato species.  When you hear your grandparents speak of the big, red, juicy tomatoes they remember eating on the farm in their youth, they are talking about heirlooms.  The seeds are carefully preserved season after season to continue enjoying the delicious qualities of the tomato.  The downside of heirlooms is that they are generally more vulnerable to disease and pests.  Another negative against them is that the plants tend to yield smaller crops, and produce later in the growing season.

<b>Celebrity Tomato</b>

Celebrity Tomato

To combat the problems associated with heirloom tomatoes, growers looked for ways to combine the best traits of the different varieties of tomato into one plant.  They began cross breeding tomatoes to achieve this goal.  This was the birth of the hybrid.  Large commercial growers prefer the hybrid because they have succeeded in breeding disease resistance, and have also created plants that produce large bounties of tomato crops.  This is the type of tomato that you will commonly see at the supermarket.  Many of these hybrids lack the juicy, delicious flavor of their heirloom cousins.  Don’t fret though, there are quite a few varieties of hybrid out there that are full of flavor, and also have the desirable qualities of the hybrid.

There are quite a few factors you need to consider when choosing which tomato types you will be planting.  You should consider your climate and the length of your growing season, as well as how much time you have to spend caring for your plants.  Those folks living in colder climates should choose a species that bears fruit earlier in the season than someone in a warmer area.  Conversely, hot and humid climates are harsh on tomatoes, and if you live in such an area, there are tomato varieties that will fare better than others.  No matter where you live, your local garden shop or nursery can give you valuable advice on which tomato to choose.