Delicious, healthy, organic tomatoes are by far some of the most well-liked vegetables cultivated all across the U.S. Believe it or not, tomatoes, called “love apples” in the past, were considered poisonous for a long period of time and grown solely for aesthetic purposes. At this point, these popular fruit represent a great ingredient contributing to the amazing taste of numerous dishes, including pizza, salads, and soups. If you want to grow your own tomatoes in your backyard, then you might be wondering: how many types of tomato plants are there, and which ones are better?
How many tomato plants are there?
Picking the right type of tomato plants can be quite confusing, since there are no less than 7,500 varieties currently available on the market. They are cultivated for different purposes and display several differences in terms of color, shape, size, disease resistance, and harvesting time. Greenhouses offer a generous selection of tomato varieties; therefore, you should evaluate your needs and your possibilities (total cultivable surface, climate, humidity, soil, and so on) before choosing the most suitable type of plant for your garden.
Picking the right varieties
Tomato plants can be divided into two main categories: those that grow in height indefinitely, called indeterminate, and those that stop growing after a determined period of time, called determinate. Tomatoes are also classified according to their harvesting time.
You should know that there are four main types of tomato plants: first-early red, requiring less than 2 months to harvest, displaying small or medium-sized fruits, like the Quick Pick, Early Girl, or Early Cascade; medium-early red, requiring up to 70 days to harvest, like Champion or Mountain Spring, for instance; main-crop red, demanding up to 80 days; and extra-large red, or the late-maturing varieties, which may take a little less than 3 months to harvest. In terms of color, one could easily find red, pink, orange, or yellow tomatoes. Each type has its unique taste and can be used for both culinary and aesthetic purposes.
Ask an expert
Finding the best types of tomato plants for your garden can be quite stressful and time-consuming. Want to create and maintain your very own vegetable garden without investing too much time in this project? In this case, think about hiring a good landscaper. Find the most competent ones in your area by consulting TalkLocal, your number one source of information, putting you in contact with respectable professionals who are just one call away.
