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Comparing Heirloom Tomato Varieties: Growth Characteristics

Comparing Heirloom Tomato Varieties: Growth Characteristics
Home » Heirloom Tomatoes » Tomato varieties growth characteristics

Every spring I sell heirloom tomato plants at the farmers’ markets and I’m always trying to organize the information in a way that is not so overwhelming for people.  Based on the questions I have received over the years, I’ve put together a chart that compares popular heirloom tomato varieties against each other.

Of course there are many varieties that do not show up in these charts. While the charts below primarily compare growth characteristics, I also wrote a post that compares heirloom tomatoes by flavor in each of their color categories

Although these charts were developed in 2012, very little has changed. I still grow most of these.

Red Globe (aka Slicer) Heirloom Tomatoes

Red globe heirloom tomatoes

Easy to Grow Heirloom Tomatoes

Comparison of easy to grow heirloom tomatoes
Comparison of easy to grow heirloom tomatoes

Bi-Color (Striped) and White Heirloom Tomatoes

Comparison of bi-colored heirloom tomatoes

Black Tomatoes

Comparison of heirloom black tomatoes

Orange Heirloom Tomatoes

Comparison of orange heirloom tomatoes

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  1. […] Some will look beautiful in salads, while others provide the perfect slices for a BLT.  Dorothy’s heirlooms chart is a big help here. For example, she notes that Black Mauri is great in salads, Japanese Black […]

  2. […] a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors.   See more on these and other heirloom varieties on the Comprehensive Comparison Chart on this […]

  3. […] a milder flavor than others, some tend to be sweeter and others tangier, etc. (check out Dorothy’s heirloom tomato chart for guidance).  In addition, depending on what you’re making, consider cutting your tomatoes in […]

  4. […] Cracking can occur at all stages of fruit growth, but as fruit mature they become more susceptible, especially as color develops.  Some varieties of tomatoes are more susceptible to cracking than others, regardless of whether it is an heirloom variety or a hybrid variety.  For information on heirloom varieties that are more or less prone to cracking, see the heirloom variety chart. […]

  5. […] to the extent that I can in a blog post.  For a more complete summary of growing attributes,  see Heirloom Tomato Summary Charts.  For my favorite catalogs for ordering heirloom tomato seeds, see Top 5 Seed Catalogs for Heirloom […]

  6. John Steinmeyer says:

    Great Website!!

    But I cannot find Cherokee :Purple listed anywhere. I am growing 20 plants this year for myself and friends and it is the most tasteful tomato we have tasted and very prolific.

    Thanks for considering. John

    • Hi John, I go back and forth growing Cherokee Purple. I will be growing it this year, but didn’t last year, so it wasn’t in the roundup. I like Cherokee Purple… I just find it very similar to a lot of the other large pink-to-purple varieties, so I switch it up a bit.

  7. […] market.  For more specific information on size, growth habit, flavor, and disease resistance see this post which gives more in-depth information (*note that the previous post is for 2012 varieties, so a […]

  8. Lisa Sharpe says:

    Very helpful charts on tomatoes that are not as commonly grown. So thanks for that. Would you be willing to expand the charts to include some info about disease resistance?
    Thanks!

  9. Inge sinclair says:

    Marvelous it helped me a great deal to see it written compared to trying to remember what goes with what.companys should do this

  10. Priscilla Alessandro says:

    I am searching for a high acid tomato that I remember from my childhood. Lots less sweet
    Suggestions please

    • Well, my favorite high acid one is called Druzba…..it’s a Czechoslovakian heirloom. Box Car Willi and Mortgage Lifter might be options. Basically stick with the bright red heirlooms as they tend to have more acid.