Types of Tomatoes

According to the US Department of Agriculture, there are approximately 25,000 varieties of tomatoes worldwide.  They can be categorized into four main groups.  

Slicing Tomatoes

These are the tomatoes you buy in the grocery store. They are globe-shaped and the right size for sandwiches. 'Early Girl' and 'Big Boy' are slicing tomatoes. They are also referred to as beefsteak tomatoes, but beefsteak refers to the size and shape of the tomato, not a specific variety of tomato.

Cherry or Grape Tomatoes

These tiny tomatoes are eaten fresh in salads or added to kabobs on the grill. They may also be used in stir-fries or halved and cooked on pizza.  Many prefer to set a bowl of cherry tomatoes on the counter as a quick snack. Children tend to like cherry tomatoes.

Sauce or Paste Tomatoes

These tomatoes are meatier than slicing tomatoes. They include pear and other oval tomatoes, like 'Roma'. Because they contain fewer seeds and less juice they are used primarily for canning sauces or in cooking. They may be added to salads, but are not typically used in sandwiches.
​

Heirloom Tomatoes

Heirloom tomatoes come in many sizes, shapes and colors. The term heirloom refers to tomatoes that have been passed down through the generations keeping the variety pure. There are many varieties of Heirloom tomatoes. Heirloom tomatoes can be slicing tomatoes, cherry or grape tomatoes, or sauce and paste tomatoes.

Determinate vs Indeterminate Tomatoes

Determinate Tomatoes

Determinate tomatoes grow to a predetermined height - usually 18 to 24 inches - and stop growing. They bloom and set fruit all at once. All the fruit from a determinate tomato plant ripens within a week or two. It does not produce more blooms or set more fruit. Determinate tomato plants do not require staking or caging. 

Indeterminate Tomatoes

Indeterminate tomato plants continue to grow taller until they are killed by the frost in the fall. They produce new blooms and new tomatoes all summer. Tomatoes ripen over the course of several weeks. These plants need to be staked or caged as they will grow to heights of 6 feet or more during the summer.

More About Tomatoes

How to Harden Off Tomato Plants

How (and when) to Prune Tomatoes

Magnesium Sulfate (Epsom Salt) for Tomatoes

Blossom End Rot in Tomatoes

Growing Cherry Tomatoes

4 Best Tomatoes for Short Seasons - Early Tomatoes

5 Early Maturing Tomatoes for Short Season Gardening

How to Ripen Green Tomatoes

How to Make Sun-Dried Tomatoes at Home

Grow Your Own Amazing Pomato Plant - Tomatoes on the Top and Potatoes on the Bottom