Classic — Red

Variety Name

Description and comments

Growth Habit

Days to Maturity

Seed Source

Box Car Willie

(OP)

High yielding, reliable producer of medium large round, juicy fruit, with very good tomato flavor.

Indet

80

TG

Carmello

(hybrid)

Consistently productive French hybrid of medium to large round red juicy tomatoes with tender skin and excellent flavor. Good disease resistance.

Semi

70-75

R

Costoluto Genovese

(OP)

Large, flattened red fruit w/fluted profile, deeply ridged and heavily lobed of Italian origin, good disease resistance, meaty, full flavored w/good acidity, great for sauces & gorgeous sliced.

Indet

80-85

TG

Dona

(hybrid)

French variety, prolific producer, excellent flavor, small to medium size fruit, meaty with few seeds. A winner!

Semi

80

TF

Fabulous ATSt

(hybrid)

Large tomatoes are just a bit smaller than a beefsteak. Very sweet yet with just enough tomato kick. Good production, healthy plant.

Det

77

P

Kootenai

(OP)

Stocky plant with dark-green leaves. Fruits are 2-3" across, thin-skinned and tasty. Abundant yields all summer.

Det

70-75

WCS

Reif’s Red Heart

(OP)

Excellent tasting heart-shaped variety. Plant is tall & spindly, like most heart-shaped varieties, but bears surprisingly well, better than most.

Indet

75-80

J

Santa Clara Canner

(OP)

Delicious, large fruit, very prolific. Juicy yet solid. Big robust healthy plant. Historically used in CA canning industry.

Indet

80

TG

Stupice

(OP)

Czech origin, very early, cold tolerant, highly productive, small very flavorful fruit. Holds well.

Indet

52

TG

Classic — Pink

Anna Russian

(OP)

Pink oxheart w/ orange shoulders, heavy producer of variable-sized meaty fruits. Excellent acidic tomato flavor, great for sauces. Disease-resistant foliage. Excellent trellised on a metal fence with 4" grid. Too wispy to cage. 4' tall.

Semi

70-75

TG

Classic — Yellow/Orange

Glory of Moldova
(OP)

Gorgeous golden globes grow in clusters of 4-6. Flesh is a deep golden orange and flavor is fruity & sweet. Highly rated in taste tests. Consistently productive throughout the season.

Semi

80

M

Orange Blossom F1
(hybrid)

Medium-sized orange fruits are sweet, balanced with a little acidity. Productive plants are 2 1/2' tall, suitable for a small cage.

Det

60

J

Orange Strawberry

(OP)

Beautiful bright orange, strawberry-shaped fruit with rich, very sweet, fruity flavor & succulent texture. Great sliced, excellent for sauces. Almost no seeds. A favorite.

Indet

80

TG

Classic — Bi-color

Ananas Noire

(Black Pineapple) (OP)

Multi-colored fruit is green, yellow, & red outside and green with pink & red streaks inside. Juicy & sweet, great acid balance. Not a black tomato, despite the name. Taste test winner!

Semi

85

T

Copia

(OP)

Med-size yellow fruit with striking “hand-painted” red stripes, firm & juicy, sweet & fruity. A natural cross between Green Zebra and Marvel Stripe.

Indet

80-90

TG

Gold Medal

(OP)

Large, golden yellow fruit, streaked red; firm and smooth. Very little acid. The sweetest tomato you ever tasted. Taste test winner!

Indet

90

T

Mary Robinson’s German Bi-Color (OP)

Large, meaty, golden fruits have even more red streaking than most bi-colors. Delicious, productive and beautiful.

Indet

80

M

Orange Russian 117
(OP)

Beautiful bicolor oxheart has smooth golden flesh with streaks of red. Delicious, sweet, & fruity, meaty with very few seeds. Best in a narrow cage as plant is not an aggressive grower.

Indet

85

TG

Classic — Black

Black from Tula

(OP)

Rose brown with green shoulders, this very beautiful and very delicious Russian heirloom is highly productive. One of our favorites.

Indet

80

TG

Black Pear

(OP)

Beautiful dark brown pear-shaped medium-sized tomatoes with excellent, rich taste, great acid-sugar balance. Healthy potato-leafed plants produce abundantly.

Semi

80

TG

Black Sea Man

(OP)

Good producer of beautiful, med-size, reddish brown flattened fruit w/ green shoulders & exquisite flavor. Short shelf life due to tender skin. Blossom end zippered. Taste test winner!

Det

80

M

Black Zebra

(OP)

Stunningly beautiful bi-colored tomato, rich mahogany brown with green stripes. 1 1/2" diameter fruits have a sweet, complex flavor with hints of smoke.

Indet

85

TF

Cherokee Purple

(OP)

Beautiful rose-purple fruit has sweet, rich, complex flavor,. Consistently productive. Often found at farmers markets. Cherokee Indian origin

Indet

75-85

TG

Japanese Black Trifele

(OP)

Medium-sized pear-shaped tomatoes are a deep mahogany brown with rich, intense flavor, very productive. A taste test winner. "Trifele" is Russian for "truffle".

Indet

90

TF

Southern Night

(OP)

Russian heirloom. Delicious pinkish–purple fruit with vertical green striping and rich, complex flavor. Tender flesh. Use narrow (18") diameter cage as plant is not aggressive.

Semi

84

TG

Classic — Green

Green Zebra

(OP)

Sweet sprightly flavor. Beautiful, yellow-green with dark green stripes. Small fruit (1 3/4" – 2"). Very unusual & ornamental on plate. Wow your dinner guests.

Indet

78

TG

Lime Green Salad

(OP)

Delicious, tangy, small fruit, chartreuse inside, excellent for a container. Beautiful compact plant, only 1 to 1 1/2' tall.

Det

58

TG

Beefsteak — Red

Variety Name

Description and comments

Growth Habit

Days to Maturity

Seed Source

Aker’s West Virginia

(OP)

Vigorous plants produce big harvests of delicious 1 lb tomatoes with sweet, rich flavor and very little cracking or other blemishes. Family heirloom from West Virginia. Taste test winner!

Indet

80

TG

Aussie
(OP)

Huge red tomatoes, 1-2 lbs. Borne abundantly on large, vigorous plants. Full old-fashioned tomato taste. Heirloom variety from Australia.

Indet

85

TG

Brandywine OTV

(OP)

Vigorous, sturdy, highly productive plant with huge potato leaves, huge thick stems. Rich complex flavor, huge tomatoes. A favorite! (See Beefsteak – Pink for other Brandywines.)

Indet

85

TG

Cuostralee

(OP)

Very large 1-2 lbs. 4" across, blemish free, deliciously intense & balanced flavor. Taste test winner!

Indet

85

TG

Ed’s Millennium

(OP)

Highly productive Brandywine-type that is a top taste winner. One of our very favorites. Saved by Master Gardener Ed Lo.

Indet

85

MG only

Ernie’s Plump

(OP)

Large, delicious orangey-red fruit, meaty and productive. Strawberry shape with excellent flavor and texture.

Indet

80

MG only

Legend

(OP)

Big 4-5 inch fruit are early & productive, sweet flavor with just the right amount of acid. If late blight has been a problem in your garden, you should try growing Legend.

Det

68

TG

Magnum

(OP)

Superbly flavored 1+ lb beefsteak with outstanding production. The result of several years of selection of a volunteer. Disease resistance is super.

Indet

80

M

Pomodoro Red Pear

Selezione (OP)

Huge red, pear-shaped fruits. Old North Italian variety specially selected by Franchi Sementi. Very tasty. (This is a totally different tomato from the small red pear cherry.)

Indet

80

FS

Quali T 23

VFFNTSt (hybrid)

Huge, 5-6 inch, deep red fruit with excellent quality, uniformity, and flavor. Widely adapted, vigorous, determinate variety. High yield.

Det

83

T

Russian 117

(OP)

Large (2 lbs.), oxheart shape with many doubles, rich acidic tomato flavor, few seeds, solid flesh. Needs narrow cage as plant is not an aggressive grower.

Indet

90

TG

Beefsteak — Pink

Aunt Ginny’s Purple

(OP)

Large, delicious, dense flesh, w/ deep pink smooth skin & green shoulders. Flavor equals Brandywine. Potato leaf. Magnificent variety every year.

Indet

75-85

TG

Brandywine from

Croatia (OP)

Productive, large, meaty pink tomato with delicious, complex flavor. Very tender skin. Regular leaf. Rare, only available from Santa Clara Master Gardeners.

Indet

85

MG only

Brandywine, Sudduth

(OP)

Large, vigorous, healthy & productive plants over 7' tall. Huge pink fruit up to 2 lbs. with delicious flavor. Potato leaf.

Indet

90

SS

Caspian Pink

(OP)

Very heavy producer of large, flattened sweet pink delicious fruit. Curly leaves, healthy plants. Must clip fruit as does not detach. Taste test winner!

Semi

80

TG

Dr. Neal
(OP)

Rose-pink, 1-2 lbs. Solid meat with few seeds, outstanding flavor, sweet yet rich and complex. Very tall vines produce heavy crops of this wonderful heirloom variety.

Indet

80

TG

Ernie’s Round

(OP)

Big round delicious pinkish-red meaty fruit, highly productive. A favorite! Only available from Santa Clara Master Gardeners.

Indet

80

MG only

Marianna’s Peace

(OP)

Large dark pink beefsteaks have full tomato flavor with good acid-sweet balance. Potato-leaved plant is vigorous and healthy.

Indet

80

TG

Mexico

(OP)

Large, dark pink fruits with outstanding, sprightly flavor and good acid-sugar balance. Light producer, but worth it. Grow in narrow cage or tie to trellis. Highly rated in taste tests.

Indet

80

TG

Stump of the World

(OP)

Dark pink 1 lb beefsteak, outstandingly rich, complex flavor, healthy potato-leafed plants. From the Ben Quisinberry Collection, which also contributed Brandywine. Taste test winner!

Indet

80

TG

Sabre

(OP)

Pink 1 lb beefsteaks with outstanding flavor. Good yield. The name comes from the sharp taste. This one is for anyone who wants a more acidy flavor.

Indet

90

SH

Beefsteak — Bi-color

Big Rainbow

(OP)

Beautiful, very large bi-color fruit, golden yellow with pinkish red swirl inside & out. Mild sweet flavor, juicy, and productive. Gorgeous when cut into slices on a plate.

Indet

90-100

TG

Hillbilly

(OP)

Huge fruit, 1-2 lb, sweet, delicious, very productive. Gorgeous yellow with red streaking throughout flesh. Slicing reveals its striking beauty.

Indet

85

TG

Marvel Striped

(OP)

Medium to large-sized fruits are streaked with beautiful orange, yellow and rose swirls. Sweet and juicy with few seeds.

Indet

90-110

TG

Beefsteak — Other colors

Aunt Ruby’s German Green (OP)

Beautiful, large juicy light bright green fruit with pink blush, tender skin. Deliciously sweet & slightly spicy taste. Keeps on bearing and bearing. One of our favorites every year.

Indet

80

TG

Green Giant (OP)

A pure green when ripe tomato, with no pink or yellow blush. Great flavor, firm, succulent flesh, and good sweet-acid balance. A taste test winner.

Indet

80

TF

Kellogg’s Breakfast

(OP)

Vibrant orange 1 lb beefsteaks, very good flavor. Quite meaty with few seeds. Juice has the same bright color as orange juice and is delicious.

Indet

80

TG

Paul Robeson

(OP)

Large fruits with beautiful mahogany color Wonderful, complex flavor.. Taste test winner!

Indet

80

TG

Yellow Brandywine
Platfoot Strain (OP)

Large yellow fruit, smooth, creamy texture, delicious flavor, excellent acid-sugar balance. Tall robust vines with healthy, potato-leafed foliage.

Indet

90

TG

Cherry — Red

Variety Name

Description and comments

Growth Habit

Days to Maturity

Seed Source

Elfin

(OP)

Same wonderful sweet flavor, size, and shape as the original Grape, with the advantage of shorter plants.

Det

55

TG

Gardener’s Delight

(OP)

Very compact bush that shouldn’t be caged. German origin, grape-like clusters, vigorous, very attractive plant, great for container. Good acidity.

Det

72

BI

Sweet Chelsea VFFNT

(hybrid)

Medium-large cherry tomato with good sweet flavor. Displays high crack-resistance, as well as drought tolerance. Low in acid.

Indet

67

TG

Cherry — Yellow/Orange

Beam’s Yellow Pear

(OP)

Produces an abundance of cherry-sized, pear-shaped, brilliant yellow tomatoes. Sweet, mild and fresh flavor.

Indet

80

SS

Galinas

(OP)

Flavor is delicious, complex, and sweet with good acid balance. Fruit size is 1/2-1" & a beautiful yellow. A favorite of many.

Indet

75

TG

Sun Sugar

(hybrid)

Incredibly sweet golden cherry size tomatoes, high in Vitamin A. Vigorous vines produce hundreds of fruit. Crack resistant.

Indet

62

TG

Cherry — Black

Black Pearl

(Hybrid)

A delicious black cherry type with a good sweet-acid balance and tender skin.

Indet

65

B

Black Cherry

(OP)

The first truly black cherry with classic black tomato flavor; sweet & complex. Heavy producer of large cherry tomatoes on tall vigorous vines. A hit for everyone who grew it!

Indet

65

TG

Cherry — Other colors

Isis Candy

(OP)

3/4" cherry with orange-yellow marbled coloration and translucent skin. Winner at Carmel Tomatofest.

Indet

67

SS

Paste — Red

Variety Name

Description and comments

Growth Habit

Days to Maturity

Seed Source

Amish Paste

(OP)

Sweet flavor is great for canning, sauce/paste, or slicing fresh. Paste tomatoes are excellent for salads and salsas because they're firm and flavorful, and won't leak a lot of juice.

Indet

75

BI

Heidi
(OP)

Prolific 2-1/2-inch, pear-shaped, bright-red fruit with rich tomato flavor. Delicious fruit are solid with few seeds. Tender skin is easy to remove. Great for salads as well as canning.

Indet

75

TF

Jersey Devil
(OP)

4-5" long, bright red fruits are shaped like banana peppers. Prolific, very meaty & sweet, few seeds. Excellent for canning as well as eating fresh. Taste test winner!

Indet

80

TG

Mom’s Paste

(OP)

Large red paste tomato with great tomato flavor and good acid-sweet balance. Excellent for cooking, nice texture and no watery separation.

Indet

80

TF

Opalka

(OP)

Large sausage/chile pepper shaped tomato has few seeds, and a very meaty, delicious, rich flavor. Polish origin.

Indet

85

SS

Principe Borghese

(OP)

Excellent for drying, little juice, good acidic old-fashioned tomato flavor with few seeds. Prolific producer.

Det

70

FS

Paste — Other colors

Amish Gold

(OP)

Beautiful brilliant golden color 1 1/2-2" long, oblong with pointy end fruit. Flavor and color of Sungold, but denser meatier flesh good for sauces. A favorite.

Semi

80

TF

Roman Candle

(OP)

Spectacular smooth iridescent pure-yellow banana-shaped fruits that are 2" wide by 4" long. Very meaty with nice flavor.

Indet

85-90

SS

Speckled Roman

(OP)

Gorgeous 3" wide by 5" long fruits w/ jagged orange and yellow stripes, red inside. Meaty, great taste, especially cooked. Very productive, few seeds. Cross of Antique Roman & Banana Legs.

Indet

85

SS