Better Boy - This Guinness World Record holding plant yields abundant harvests of bright red, one-pound tomatoes. One Better Boy plant once yielded more than 340 pounds (154 kg) of fruit, earning it a Guinness World Record. You may not pick that much from your own plant, but plan on growing plenty of bright red, 16-oz. (455-g) fruits perfect for slicing, canning and making into sauces. These tomatoes need at least one inch (2.5 cm) of water per week and prefer six hours or more of direct sun each day.
Celebrity - These large, glossy tomatoes have light green shoulders at the top of the fruit. This All-America Selections Winner produces huge yields of exceptionally flavorful fruit all season long. Celebrity is perfect for first-time gardeners, producing large tomatoes you can use sliced on sandwiches and burgers, in sauces and even as an ingredient in many salsas. These tomatoes need at least one inch (2.5 cm) of water per week and prefer six hours or more of direct sun each day.
Early Girl - This variety starts bearing fruit earlier and produces for longer than other medium-sized tomatoes. Early Girl produces bright red, meaty tomatoes with incredible flavor and aroma earlier than other varieties. Its globe-shaped fruit is perfect for slicing on sandwiches and for salads. These tomatoes need at least one inch (2.5 cm) of water per week and prefer six hours or more of direct sun each day.
Jet Star - Jet Star's tasty and mild-flavoured red fruit matures early with tremendous yields. Home gardeners will enjoy large, attractive, globe-shaped tomatoes with very few scars or cracks. This popular and versatile slicer is delicious on sandwiches and in salads. Great for canning too.
Oh Happy Day - Enjoy lots of tasty, large tomatoes in clusters of 3 to 7 fruit. These beefsteak/slicers are quick to harvest, too, as they snap off easily from the stem. Oh Happy Day has an incredible disease-resistance package! The plants produce an outstanding crop of 5 to 6-oz (141 to 170-g) beefsteak tomatoes in clusters. This indeterminate variety resists Early Blight, Late Blight, Verticillium and Fusarium with a flavor that’s top notch!
Tasti Lee - Combines superior sweet flavour with the health benefits of 40% more lycopene of similar types. This grocery-store favourite is now available for home growing. Bred in Florida, Tasti-Lee stands tough in the hottest weather! This strong-performing variety combines superior sweet flavor with the health benefits of up to 40% more lycopene than similar types. Deep red flesh tastes great fresh or cooked, with true tomato flavor. (TASTI-LEE is a registered trademark of Florida Foundation Seed Producers, Inc.)
Taxi Heirloom - Yellow fruit
Little Sicily - Features compact determinate tomato plants with a compact, tidy habit and healthy green foliage that looks good in the store and on the patio. At less than 2 ft./61 cm tall, this tasty trio flourishes in mid-size containers, stays a manageable size and produces lots of tomatoes at the peak of Summer.
Light requirements Full sun.
Planting Space 18 to 36 inches apart, depending on type. (Read the stick tag that comes with the plant for specific spacing recommendations.) Plant deeply, burying 2/3 of the stem.
Soil requirements Tomatoes need well-drained, nutrient-rich soil. Amend soil with compost or other organic matter prior to planting. Soil pH should be 6.2 to 6.8.
Water requirements Keep soil consistently moist throughout the growing season. Moisture is critical to prevent cracked fruits and blossom end rot. Mulch soil to reduce water evaporation.
Frost-fighting plan Tomato is a warm-weather crop—even a light frost will damage plants. Protect newly planted seedlings by covering plants with a frost blanket.
Common issues Pest-wise, watch out for tomato hornworms (big green caterpillars), slugs, pill bugs, rodents. In addition, humid weather invites fungal diseases like early blight and late blight. Plants may stop setting fruit when temperatures dip below 12˚C or climb above 30˚C. Blossom end rot can be a problem, as can misshapen fruit.
Harvesting In general, perfectly ripe tomatoes show deep colour but still feel firm when gently squeezed. Look up your specific variety for more details. Tomatoes do continue to ripen after being picked. Gently grab and twist until the tomato pulls free from the stem, or use a pair of clippers. Cut stems close to fruits.
Storage Store picked tomatoes at room temperature indoors, or in a shady place outside. Never refrigerate tomatoes, because temperatures below 12°C because flavour compounds to break down. Tomatoes will store longer if you allow stems and caps to remain in place until you’re ready to eat them. For peak flavor and nutrition, use within a week, although keeping time depends on how ripe fruit is when you pick it.
