If you’ve ever bitten into a store-bought tomato and thought “meh,” you’re not alone. Most grocery store varieties are bred for shipping, not flavor. But grow your own? That’s when you discover what tomatoes are supposed to taste like.
We asked American gardeners across the country to share their favorite tomato varieties, and the results were clear. These 14 picks kept coming up again and again for their incredible taste. Some are sweet, others are tangy, and a few might surprise you.
1.) Cherokee Purple
Cherokee Purple brings a rich, smoky sweetness that makes it a favorite among home gardeners. The large, dusky purple-pink fruits can weigh up to a pound each and have that old-fashioned tomato flavor many modern varieties lack.
Expect your first harvest about 80 days after transplanting. These indeterminate plants thrive in zones 3-9 and need sturdy stakes or cages since they’ll keep growing all season long.
Give them full sun and consistent watering to prevent splitting. The thin skin means they’re better eaten fresh than stored for long periods.
2.) Brandywine
Brandywine is an heirloom tomato that’s been around since the 1880s, and gardeners still can’t get enough of its rich, sweet flavor. These pink-red tomatoes can grow quite large, sometimes reaching over a pound each.
You’ll need patience with Brandywine since it takes about 80-90 days to produce fruit. The plants grow tall and need sturdy stakes or cages for support. They do best in zones 3-9 with full sun and consistent watering.
The taste makes the wait worthwhile—many gardeners say it’s the best tomato they’ve ever grown.
3.) Sun Gold
Sun Gold cherry tomatoes have earned their reputation as one of the sweetest varieties you can grow. These little orange tomatoes taste more like candy than vegetables, with a perfect balance of sugar and tang that keeps you coming back for more.
The plants are indeterminate, meaning they’ll keep producing fruit all season long until frost hits. They do well in zones 3-11 and need full sun with consistent watering. Expect them to get tall—staking or caging is a must.
Plan to harvest handfuls of tomatoes daily once they start ripening in mid-summer.
4.) Black Krim
Black Krim brings a rich, smoky flavor that tomato lovers consistently rank among their favorites. The dark, brownish-purple fruits grow large, often weighing a pound or more, with that perfect balance of sweet and savory notes.
These heirloom tomatoes need full sun and regular watering to produce their best fruit. They thrive in zones 3-9 and take about 70-80 days to mature.
Stake them well since the plants grow tall and the heavy fruits need support. The flavor really shines when you let them fully ripen on the vine.
5.) Green Zebra
Green Zebra brings something different to your tomato garden with its yellow-green striped skin that stays greenish even when ripe. Don’t let the color fool you—these medium-sized tomatoes pack a tangy, sweet-tart flavor that works great in salads or fresh eating.
These plants grow well in zones 3-11 and prefer full sun with regular watering. They’re indeterminate, so you’ll need sturdy stakes or cages since they keep growing throughout the season.
Expect fruit in about 75-80 days after transplanting.
6.) Mortgage Lifter
The Mortgage Lifter has an interesting backstory—a West Virginia gardener supposedly paid off his mortgage by selling these seedlings during the Great Depression. The name stuck, and so did the reputation for great flavor.
These beefsteak tomatoes can weigh up to two pounds each and have a sweet, low-acid taste that works well for fresh eating. They grow best in zones 4-9 and need full sun with consistent watering.
Expect fruit about 80-85 days after transplanting. Stake these plants well since they’ll get tall and heavy with tomatoes.
7.) Sungold Select II
These golden-orange cherry tomatoes are seriously sweet—some gardeners say they taste more like candy than a vegetable. Sungold Select II produces clusters of bite-sized fruit all summer long, and each one packs an incredible fruity flavor that keeps you coming back for more.
The plants grow tall and need sturdy staking or caging, reaching 6-8 feet in good conditions. They’re indeterminate varieties that keep producing until frost hits. Grow them in full sun with regular watering, and you’ll be snacking straight from the vine all season. They do well in zones 3-11 when planted after your last spring frost.
8.) Stupice
Stupice is a Czech heirloom that starts producing fruit earlier than most tomatoes, usually within 55 days. The small to medium red tomatoes have a nice balance of sweet and tangy flavors that works well in salads or eaten straight off the vine.
This variety handles cooler weather better than many other tomatoes, making it a good choice for northern gardens in zones 3-9. The indeterminate plants keep producing throughout the season, so you’ll get a steady harvest rather than all at once.
9.) Amish Paste
Amish Paste tomatoes are a favorite among gardeners who love making sauce and canning. These meaty, plum-shaped tomatoes have fewer seeds and less water than other varieties, which means you’ll spend less time cooking down your sauce.
They grow best in full sun and need regular watering to produce well. The plants are indeterminate, so they’ll keep producing fruit until the first frost. Most gardeners stake or cage them since they can get pretty tall.
Expect rich, sweet flavor that works great for both fresh eating and preserving.
10.) Pink Berkeley Tie Dye
Pink Berkeley Tie Dye brings something different to your garden with its unusual marbled pattern of pink and yellow streaks running through the flesh. The flavor is sweet and fruity with just enough acid to keep things interesting. These beefsteak-style tomatoes can get pretty big, sometimes reaching over a pound.
You’ll want to stake these plants well since they grow tall and produce heavy fruit. They do best in zones 3-11 and need full sun with regular watering.
The plants are indeterminate, so expect tomatoes throughout the growing season until frost hits.
11.) Paul Robeson
Named after the famous singer and activist, Paul Robeson produces dark, brick-red tomatoes with a rich, smoky flavor that makes them stand out in taste tests. The beefsteak-style fruits typically weigh around 8-12 ounces and have that old-fashioned tomato taste gardeners love.
This heirloom variety grows best in zones 3-9 and needs full sun with consistent watering. The indeterminate plants keep producing throughout the season, so make sure to stake them well.
Expect your first harvest about 90 days after transplanting.
12.) Kellogg’s Breakfast
Kellogg’s Breakfast brings a sweet, fruity flavor that makes it a favorite among tomato lovers. These large, orange-yellow beefsteak tomatoes can weigh up to two pounds each and have a mild, low-acid taste that works great for fresh eating.
The plant needs full sun and regular watering to produce its best fruit. It grows well in zones 3-9 and takes about 80-85 days to mature. Stake or cage these indeterminate vines since they’ll keep producing tomatoes throughout the growing season.
Support is important because the fruits get heavy and can break branches if left on their own.
13.) Mr. Stripey
Mr. Stripey brings a fun look to your garden with its yellow-and-red striped fruits that can weigh up to two pounds each. The flavor is sweet and mild with low acidity, making it perfect for fresh eating and sandwiches. Gardeners love that it produces reliably throughout the season.
This indeterminate heirloom needs staking or caging since it grows tall. Plant it after your last frost in zones 3-9. Give it full sun and consistent watering for the best harvest. The fruits ripen in about 80 days and keep coming until frost hits.
14.) Aunt Ruby’s German Green
Aunt Ruby’s German Green proves that looks can be deceiving. These large beefsteak tomatoes stay green when ripe, with a yellowish tint that signals they’re ready to pick. The flavor is sweet and slightly spicy, making them perfect for fresh eating and sandwiches.
You’ll need patience with these heirloom tomatoes since they take about 80 days to mature. They grow best in zones 4-9 and prefer full sun with consistent watering. Support the vines well because the fruits can weigh over a pound each.
