How to choose tomatoes to grow: tips for beginners

Red, yellow, dark or striped: there are many varieties: so how do you choose tomatoes for cultivation? In the show “Here is my garden” I interviewed tomato collector, agronomist Vilija Juškevičienė. Vilija shared tips on what to consider when choosing tomatoes.

Goals and expectations

Some like juicy, others drier. Someone needs the tomato to be round and red, while another is looking for something exotic, says Vilija. The choice is wide, so before buying tomato seeds, consider:

• Taste characteristics. Think about whether you like sweet or sour? Some like the flour, while others prefer the flavoring. Do you remember the tastiest tomato you ate: what was it?
• Purposes of use. Do you promise to eat only fresh tomatoes or do you plan to juice, preserve or dry them? Different varieties for different purposes.

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How to choose tomatoes: how do they differ?

Vilija said that tomatoes are usually classified by color, they are:

• Red;
• White;
• Yellow/orange;
• Two-tone;
• Black;
• Blue – otherwise known as anthocyanins.

If you are interested in darker colors, keep in mind that tomatoes called blacks ripen with deep red, even brown flesh. An example are tomatoes of the ‘Ciornoje serdce s nosikom’ variety.

Tomatoes, called anthocyanins, are dark on the outside, but their flesh is white. For example, these are tomatoes of the “Dirty Curty Yellow” variety.

Sliced ​​tomatoes of different colors will look incredibly beautiful on a plate.

Tomatoes for special consumption

There is no perfect variety of tomato suitable for all occasions, but there are some that are particularly suitable for a certain way of consumption:

• Hollow tomatoes like the ‘California tulip’ are perfect for stuffing as they are easy to stuff inside;
• Tomatoes that do not have much juice are particularly suitable for drying. These are ‘Slivka gurman’ tomatoes with an elongated shape;
• Dried, firm tomatoes are also suitable if you bring food to work: they do not rub or stretch;
• Elongated tomatoes are perfect for canning, because they are a lot of fun to put together in a jar;
• You can also preserve various cherry tomatoes, such as the heart-shaped ‘Gardener’s Flower’;
• For those with more sensitive stomachs, Vilija recommends choosing tomatoes with thin skin (“Rozalie de Budila”). All ox heart tomatoes are like this. Their skin is easy to peel;
• People prone to allergies can choose lighter tomatoes – they have a more delicate taste and do not cause as much acidity. They are particularly suitable for small children.

Indeterminate or determinant

Tomatoes differ not only in appearance, taste, properties, but also in growth characteristics. Tomatoes are divided into indeterminate and determinate. Let’s take a closer look at what this means.

Indeterminate tomatoes there is unlimited growth. If there were no diseases and summer lasted forever, these tomatoes would grow and the fruit would probably ripen forever. To control growth we must prune. We adjust the height of the bush by pruning the top, and the width by pruning the axillary shoots that grow above the leaves. It is necessary to constantly prune, because otherwise the bush will give its strength to the growth of shoots, and not to the ripening of fruits.

Due to their unlimited growth, these tomatoes require supports and stakes, so suitable site conditions must be planned in advance. As Vilija states, it is a great choice for those who intend to grow tomatoes in a taller greenhouse and are not afraid of maintenance challenges.

Determinants — shorter, limited-growing tomatoes. They reach their growing height and stop growing. For this reason they are suitable for cultivation not only in the greenhouse, but also in pots, on the balcony or on the terrace.

These tomatoes do not need to be pruned: they bear fruit on all branches. This is a great choice for beginners.

The greenhouse of the tomato collector Vilia is dominated by indeterminate tomatoes, but several varieties of inferior tomatoes always find their place here.

When choosing seeds, you won’t necessarily see these terms on the packaging – look for clues about growth limitation or height of the variety.

You can learn more about the differences between indeterminate and determinate tomatoes found here.

When to sow tomatoes

When you have already chosen the desired tomato varieties, all that remains is to sow. The agronomist recommends sowing tomatoes at the end of March, when there is more spring sun.

You will find detailed instructions on how to sow seeds and how to care for them afterwards in this article.

We thank Vilija Juškevičienė for the advice and for the visit to the impressive greenhouse. You can watch our entire conversation on the LRT TV show “Here is my garden”.

READ ALSO:

“Tomatoes that don’t need pruning, it’s all about them”

“Tomato pruning: video instructions for beginners”

“Best Tomato Varieties 2021: Which One Worked for Me”

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